2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: Day 1 Prelims Preview

Yanyan Li
by Yanyan Li 26

June 15th, 2024 News

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

DAY 1 PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

In the opening session of the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials, the preliminary heats of the women’s 100 butterfly, women’s 400 freestyle, men’s 100 breaststroke, and men’s 400 freestyle will be contested.

Kicking things off will be the women’s 100 fly, where Torri Huske sits as the top seed with an entry time just 0.06 seconds off of her own American record. She’s the only swimmer under 56 seconds, but the event is still competitive behind her. Sitting in second is Gretchen Walsh, who is racing in her first major long course meet since having a historic short course season where she broke NCAA records in four different individual events. She qualified for Worlds last year in this event, but will she have what it takes to bring it up a notch this year? It’s also worth keeping an eye on third-seeded Regan Smith, who has been putting up strong numbers in the 100 fly but hasn’t raced it at a trials meet since 2021. In fourth is Claire Curzan, who represented Team USA in the 100 fly in Tokyo but missed the Worlds team last year.

The women’s 400 free will be the first we see of Katie Ledecky, one of the headliners of this meet. She’s the heavy favorite to win this race, and is the top seed by nearly five seconds. Behind her are a myriad of teenagers, which includes second seed Bella Sims (who qualified for Worlds in the 400 free behind Ledecky last year), fourth seed Claire Weinstein, sixth seed Katie Grimes, seventh seed Jillian Cox, and eighth seed Erin Gemmell. However, there are still quite a few veterans. Leah Smith and Paige Madden are the third and fifth seeds respectively — both swimmers have experience racing the 400 free at past Olympic games. This event is one of Smith’s chance sto bounce back after missing the Tokyo Olympics, while Madden will look to build momentum after setting a best time two weeks ago.

Nic Fink has been the epitome of consistency in the 100 breast during this Olympic cycle, and will be the favorite in this race as well. The second spot behind him is very wide open though. 2023 Worlds finalist Josh Matheny (second seed) will be a factor, and so will third seed Noah Nichols, who was just a few tenths from a Worlds berth last year. And of course, don’t forget about Michael Andrew. He’s seeded fifth with a time of 59.52 and missed finals during trials last year, but he’s also the American Record holder — so it wouldn’t be wise to count him out totally.

Prelims will end with the men’s 400 free, which is arguably the most wide open event of the session. SwimSwam’s pickems and preview article have Kieran Smith winning — he’s been the most consistent racer in the field, having represented Team USA in this event since 400 free. However, he’s not the top seed, as that belongs to David Johnston, who qualified for Worlds alongside Smith last year. Don’t forget about third seed Jake Mitchell, who famously qualified for the Tokyo Olympics through a solo time trial. Something to keep an eye on is that only two swimmers on the psych sheet have seed times faster than the Olympic ‘A’ cut of 3:46.78, so we may be in for another Mitchell situation this year.

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Anonymous
6 days ago

I’m in Canada looking to watch the trials for free. Anyone got any solutions?

swimlacrosse
6 days ago

Were these MAs splits? lap 1: 27.38 / lap 2: 32.34?

Horninco
6 days ago

HT: Foster swims a 3:43

Big Swim fan
6 days ago

Won’t be able to do another “Mitchell” scenario bc World Aquatics announced that they wouldn’t be taking time trials as A cuts.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
6 days ago

comment image

Kudzai Makova
6 days ago

I am really excited. Can Ledecky break the championship record or she’ll “train through” this meet and taper for Paris.??.. Anything under 4 mins tonight will be a good result

Last edited 6 days ago by Kudzai Makova
Swimfan27
6 days ago

Gretchen American record in Semifinals, Torri World Record in Finals. You heard it here first.

KSW
Reply to  Swimfan27
6 days ago

I think a Torri or Regan wr is seriously on the table

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Swimfan27
6 days ago

comment image

Konner Scott
Reply to  Swimfan27
6 days ago

This is getting heavily downvoted but I don’t think it’s an unreasonable take

Yikes
6 days ago

Finally!!! Here’s hoping we have at least one world record go down to keep up with Australia!

The Real AJC
Reply to  Yikes
6 days ago

When was the last individual WR set by an American?

Last edited 6 days ago by The Real AJC
Yikes
Reply to  The Real AJC
6 days ago

It’s definitely been awhile. Caeleb’s 100 fly and men’s medley relay in Tokyo? Ahh couldn’t be? Huske is close in the 100 fly, if anyone sets one I’m guessing it’s her.

Brian
Reply to  The Real AJC
6 days ago

Does the men’s 50 backstroke count

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Brian
6 days ago

It’s not an event contested at the Summer Olympics but don’t tell Michael Andrew.

PhillyMark
Reply to  The Real AJC
6 days ago

Does Ledecky 1500 SCM count. Still a while back

Swim fan
Reply to  Yikes
6 days ago

And Canada

About Yanyan Li

Yanyan Li

Although Yanyan wasn't the greatest competitive swimmer, she learned more about the sport of swimming by being her high school swim team's manager for four years. She eventually ventured into the realm of writing and joined SwimSwam in January 2022, where she hopes to contribute to and learn more about …

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