Caleb Maldari Jumps into Top 20 All-Time in U.S. 15-16 History in 200 Back

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

• When:
  • Wave I Dates: June 4-7, 2021
  • Wave II Dates: June 13-20, 2021
• Prelims: 10am CDT | Finals: 7pm CDT
• Where: CHI Health Center / Omaha, Nebraska
• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Cuts
• Wave I & II Event Order
• LCM (50m)
• Prelims Live Stream (USA Swimming)
• Prelims Live Stream (NBC Olympics)
• Finals Live Stream (Olympic Channel)
• Wave I Psych Sheets
• Wave I Live Results

16-year old Caleb Maldari of the Bluefish Swim Club will take the top seed in the 200 back into Sunday’s finals session at Wave I of the US Olympic Trials. He is also now one of the 20 best swimmers in the history of his age group in the U.S. in the event.

His time of 2:01.17 dips under his previous best time of 2:01.46 done just three weeks ago at the Atlanta Classic. That previous best time already had him ranked 22nd in the age group.

For Maldari, who just turned 16 within the last 2 months, that is the 7th personal best time in this event alone since November.

He first hit the qualifying standard in Richmond in January at the Pro Swim Series. We often see swimmers hit the qualifying standard and then, with that goal passed, be unable to improve that time until, or at, the Olympic Trials.

But those improvements have been no issue for Maldari this week, at least in the 200 back. In his previous event this week, the 100 back, he was 13th in finals in 56.26, which missed his best time.

The 15-16 National Age Group Record has stood since 2000, when future Olympic gold medalist Aaron Peirsol swam 1:57.03. The defending Olympic Champion Ryan Murphy ranks 2nd in the age group all-time with a 1:57.39 done at the 2012 Olympic Trials.

There were very few best times on Sunday morning at Wave I of the US Olympic Trials, though 6 came in the 200 back. That include the top three seeds: Maldari, Colby Mefford (2:01.62), and Blake Hanna (2:01.84).

Maldari is a rising high school junior and is one of the top recruits in the class.