With 1:48.79 200 Breast, Josh Bey Becomes Second-Fastest Freshman Ever Behind Leon Marchand

2026 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Dates: Wednesday, March 25–Saturday, March 28
• Location: McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA
• Defending Champions: Texas (1x)
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  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

En route to finishing second in the 200 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships, 19-year-old Indiana Hoosier Josh Bey became the 10th-fastest performer of all-time with his mark of 1:48.79. That time also makes him the second-fastest freshman ever, only behind Leon Marchand, who went 1:48.20 during his freshman year of college at Arizona State also at age 19.

That said, Marchand is French, which makes Bey the fastest American freshman to swim the 200 breast. The Frenchman went on to become the fastest 200 breaststroker of all-time by over a second — if Bey improves on a similar trajectory, it bodes well for the rest of his career.

Cal sophomore Yamato Okadome, the only swimmer to out-touch Bey Friday night, also improved from his best time to become the No. 6 performer of all-time. Okadome has been as 1:50.19 as a freshman, ranking him seventh all-time in freshman rankings.

All-Time Top Performers, Men’s 200-Yard Breaststroke:

1. Leon Marchand, Arizona State — 1:46.35 (2024)
2. Will Lincon, Texas — 1:47.91 (2017)
3. Jassen Yep, Indiana — 1:48.30 (2025)
4. Matt Fallon, Penn — 1:48.48 (2024)
5. Reece Whitley, Cal — 1:48.53 (2020)
6. Yamato Okadome, Cal — 1:48.61 (2026)
7. Kevin Cordes, Arizona — 1:48.66 (2014)
8. Andrew Seliskar, Cal — 1:48.70 (2019)
9. Max McHugh, Minnesota — 1:48.76 (2022)
10. Josh Bey, Indiana — 1:48.79 (2026)

Bey is the second swimmer to ever break 1:49 as a freshman. Also joining him in the top freshmen list is his Big Ten rival Luka Mladenovic, who finished third in a time of 1:49.34. Mladenovic notably beat Bey for the Big Ten title a month ago.

All-Time Top Freshman Performers, Men’s 200-Yard Breaststroke:

1. Leon Marchand, Arizona State — 1:48.20 (2022)
2. Josh Bey, Indiana — 1:48.79 (2026)
3. Matt Fallon, Penn — 1:49.03 (2022)
4. Luka Mladenovic, Michigan — 1:49.34 (2026)
5. Max McHugh, Minnesota — 1:49.41 (2019)

Notably, Bey opened his 200 breast just 0.03 seconds slower than Marchand when he set his freshman record. It was the back half that differentiated them, as their third 50 was separated by 0.22 seconds while their closing laps were 0.34 seconds apart — meaning Marchand was 0.56 seconds faster on his final 100.

Split Comparison:

Bey has seen massive improvements throughout his first season at Indiana. He came into college with a best time of 1:53.74, and lowered it throughout fall 2025 and winter 2026. Entering NCAAs, his seed time was a 1:50.03, which he clocked to place second at the Big Ten championships behind Mladenovic.

Alongside the 200 breast, Bey has raced the 400 IM, where he placed seventh with a time of 3:37.23. He is scheduled to race the 200 IM on Saturday.