2026 Sacramento Pro Series
- May 20-23, 2026
- Sacramento, CA
- LCM (50 meters)
- Psych Sheets
Claire Weinstein will not compete in the Sacramento Pro Series this week after she ended up in the emergency room on Monday night. She did not compete in prelims this morning of the 200 freestyle where she was the top seed coming into the meet with a 1:54.67.
Weinstein said on TikTok that on Monday evening she went through the “worst pain I have ever experienced. It felt like someone was crushing my brain.” She also said that her body just gave up and she ended up in the emergency room. Doctors think she had an extreme migraine and on top of that, Weinstein said she was extremely dehydrated and sleep deprived. She said, “I think it was just me disregarding my body and what it needed.” According to her TikTok, she was excited to swim in the meet this week and is “feeling much better now.”
Weinstein was also entered in the 400 free as the top seed (4:00.50), 800 free as the top seed (8:19.67), and 100 free as the #3 seed (53.72). This was expected to be her second meet since concluding her freshman season with Cal where she most notably swam to an NCAA title in the 500 free with a 4:30.09.
The 19 year old recently made the move back to the Sandpipers of Nevada and is training under her club coach Ron Aitken. Weinstein is set to train alongside Bella Sims again as Sims also returned to SAND for the summer after spending this past season at Michigan. Weinstein also stated in her TikTok that she thinks the move back to the desert with the climate and altitude also contributed to her experience on Monday.
Weinstein represented the U.S. last summer at the 2025 World Championships, swimming to an individual bronze medal in the 200 free. She also helped the women’s 4×200 free relay to silver.
Having chronic pain is never fun, and it can often be debilitating, but it is nice to have positive representation of chronic pain/illness and young athletes who are good role models for the sport. Seeing elite athletes choose to prioritize their health and wellbeing instead of pushing through and making their symptoms/episodes worse, is really good for people (especially kids) who feel bad about taking time off to recover and rest. You’re not letting anyone down, so please don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Migraines are the worst!!!
She gets sick a lot. Poor girl I hope she’s alright.
Most people get sick a lot, it’s just more noticeable with her
No reasons to stress over a pointless pro swim, head injuries of any kind aren’t worth messing with
If I had to pick between a crippling migraine or visiting Sacramento, I’d pick the migraine.
Sad to hear, hope she gets better soon!