Ultra Swim Swimmer of the Month is a recurring SwimSwam feature shedding light on a U.S.-based swimmer who has proven themselves over the past month. As with any item of recognition, Swimmer of the Month is a subjective exercise meant to highlight one athlete whose work holds noteworthy context – perhaps a swimmer who was visibly outperforming other swimmers over the month, or one whose accomplishments slipped through the cracks among other high-profile swims. If your favorite athlete wasn’t selected, feel free to respectfully recognize them in our comment section.
Collin Holgerson had a breakout performance at the Winter Junior Championships – East (SCY) in Indianapolis, earning him Ultra Swimmer of the Month honors for December.
Holgerson, 17, won three events and set five personal best times at the meet, highlighted by setting a new benchmark for 17-year-old boys in the United States in the 100 backstroke.
The SwimAtlanta product and Tennessee commit first clocked 45.06 in the 100 back leading off the 400 medley relay, overtaking Ryan Murphy (45.34) as the fastest 17-year-old in history while shattering his previous best of 46.87, set back in March.
The following day in the individual event, Holgerson fired off a time of 44.94 en route to winning the 100 back final, becoming the first 17-year-old under 45 seconds and moving into #3 all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group, only trailing Murphy (44.63) and Adam Chaney (44.74).
Split Comparison
| Holgerson, March 2025 | Holgerson, Winter Jrs (MR) | Holgerson, Winter Jrs (100 BK) |
| 22.74 | 21.80 | 21.65 |
| 46.87 (24.13) | 45.06 (23.26) | 44.94 (23.29) |
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On the same day as the 100 back, Holgerson showed off his versatility in the 100 breaststroke, setting a best time of 52.57 in the prelims before getting down to 52.21, comfortably winning the final and knocking more than seven-tenths off his previous best of 52.94 set in February.
The swim also made him the fastest 17-year-old since Reece Whitley in 2017 (51.81) and moves him into 20th all-time in the 17-18 age group.
The next night, Holgerson claimed his third victory of the meet in the 200 back, clocking 1:39.74 to crush his previous best of 1:43.34 and top the field by eight-tenths. He’s the fastest 17-year-old since Daniel Diehl (1:39.62) in 2022 and now ranks 7th all-time in the 17-18 age group.
Holgerson also set a best time of 1:43.23 en route to placing 2nd in the 200 IM, ranking him 22nd all-time in the 17-18 age group, and went 21.02 in the 50 back leading off the SwimAtlanta 200 medley relay, making him the quickest 17-year-old since Aiden Hayes (20.75) in 2021.
Holgerson also produced 19.64 and 43.66 50 and 100 free splits, both significantly faster than his flat start bests of 20.62 and 47.84.
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