Tommy Janton is a U.S. National champion and 2025 World Championship qualifier in the men’s 100 backstroke who is heading into his senior year at Notre Dame.
PRE-COLLEGE YEARS
Janton grew up competing for the Kennett Area YMCA Dragons in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, before transitioning to the Western YMCA Wahoos in Wilmington, Delaware, where he also attended and represented Salesianum School in high school competition.
Janton led the way for the Salesianum boys as they won four straight DIAA state titles during his high school career, with him winning the 100 back and 100 fly titles three straight seasons from 2020 to 2022. As a freshman in 2019, he placed 2nd in the 100 fly and 4th in the 100 back.
In January 2021, Janton announced his commitment to swim for Notre Dame beginning in the 2022-23 season.
He qualified for Wave I of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, placing 32nd in the 200 back (2:06.49) and 48th in the 100 back (57.57) after setting respective PBs of 2:01.33 and 56.49 in November 2020.
At the 2022 YMCA Long Course National Championships, Janton took another step with runner-up finishes in the 100 free (50.67), 50 back (25.63), 100 back (54.90) and 200 back (2:02.60) while placing 3rd in the 50 fly (25.20), setting best times in all but the 200 back.
FRESHMAN YEAR (2022-23)
Janton had a strong start to his college career at Notre Dame, placing 7th in the 100 back (45.97) and 200 back (1:41.44) at the 2023 ACC Championships before booking his ticket to NCAAs with a 1:40.30 clocking in the 200 back at the UofL Last Chance Meet.
At the 2023 NCAA Championships, Janton won a swim-off in the 100 back in a personal best time and Notre Dame School Record of 45.12 to earn a lane in the consolation final, placing 14th overall in 45.43. He was also 10th in the 200 back (1:39.45) and contributed to two of the Fighting Irish’s relays.
At the 2023 U.S. National Championships, Janton placed 8th in the 200 back (1:59.42) after setting a best time of 1:56.94 in the prelims, while he also took 7th in the 50 back (24.84 in prelims) and 12th in the 100 back (54.18).
SOPHOMORE YEAR (2023-24)
Janton won the first ACC title of his career as a sophomore in the 200 back, clocking 1:39.21 to set a new program record, and he also placed 10th in the 100 back (45.17) and 21st in the 100 fly (46.43) while contributing to Notre Dame’s winning 4×100 free relay with a 41.97 split.
At the 2024 NCAA Championships, Janton set a new ND record in the ‘B’ final of the 100 back (44.75) to place 11th, and then re-broke that record while leading off the Fighting Irish’s 400 medley relay (44.58) that finished 9th.
He also broke his own school record in the prelims of the 200 back (1:38.36) before placing 8th in the final (1:40.25). He also contributed to Notre Dame’s 8th-place finishing 4×100 free relay.
At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, Janton placed 4th in the men’s 200 back (1:57.12) after setting a PB of 1:56.87 in the semis, and he also took 8th in the 100 back (53.87) after setting a lifetime best of 53.61 in the semis.
2025 U.S. Nationals
Due to the suspension of the Notre Dame men’s swimming team for the 2024-25 season, Janton didn’t compete collegiately in 2024-25, but did have a breakthrough performance during the long course season.
At the 2025 U.S. Nationals, Janton won the men’s 100 back in a personal best time of 53.00, qualifying him for his first World Championship team.
He was also 10th in the 200 back (1:58.46) and 12th in the 50 back (25.36).
