Carson Foster Erases 500 Free American Record, Sets New (Unofficial) Mark of 4:05.81

Texas Hall of Fame Invite

UPDATE: Texas Longhorn, Rex Maurer, later in the same meet swam 4:04.45 to become the first American under 4:05. Read more about that swim here.

After making his first Olympic Team over the summer, Carson Foster has returned to the short course yards pool on Wednesday in an exhibition swim at the Texas Hall of Fame Invite. There, he shattered the American Record in the 500 free, stopping the clock unofficially in 4:05.81.

The time improves the old record of 4:06.32  by over half a second and makes Foster the second fastest performer ever, behind only French star Leon Marchand in the all-time rankings. The American Record was previously Kieran Smith‘s time of 4:06.32, which Smith swam twice, once at the 2020 SEC and then again a year later at the 2021 SEC as a Florida Gator.

When splits become available, we will update the chart below,

Splits Comparison:

MARCHAND, 2024 NCAAS FOSTER, 2024 Texas Hall of Fame Invite FOSTER, 2022 Minnesota Invite SMITH, 2020 SECS SMITH, 2021 SECS
50 21.09 22.37 22.45 22.04
100 44.62 (23.53) 46.90 (24.53) 47.28 (24.83) 46.31 (24.27)
150 1:08.61 (23.99) 1:12.10 (25.50) 1:12.07 (24.79) 1:10.81 (24.50)
200 1:33.12 (24.51) 1:37.55 (25.45) 1:37.08 (25.01) 1:35.70 (24.89)
250 1:57.94 (24.82) 2:03.18 (25.63) 2:02.25 (25.17) 2:00.86 (25.16)
300 2:22.31 (24.37) 2:28.98 (25.76) 2:27.35 (25.10) 2:26.23 (25.37)
350 2:47.18 (24.87) 2:54.54 (25.60) 2:52.40 (25.05) 2:51.53 (25.30)
400 3:12.30 (25.12) 3:19.85 (25.31) 3:17.25 (24.85) 3:16.90 (25.37)
450 3:37.76 (25.46) 3:45.28 (25.43 3:42.19 (24.94) 3:42.06 (25.16)
500 4:02.31 (24.55) 4:05.81 4:10.31 (25.03) 4:06.32 (24.13) 4:06.32 (24.26)

The swim, besides being a new American record, holds some very interesting side stories. Foster, who swam collegiately in Texas, competed under Eddie Reese but is now part of the pro group under the new Texas Director of Swimming, Bob Bowman. Bowman, before taking over this position, was the ASU head coach and is the coach of Marchand, who, in addition to holding the NCAA and US Open record in the 500 (4:02.31) beat Foster in Paris in the 400 IM.

Marchand, however has not yet returned to Texas after his home Olympics, as the Frenchman has opted to train in his hometown of Toulouse, through the World Short Course Championships, which kick off in less than a month.

Foster as well as Smith will both represent the United States in Hungary at Worlds. Foster did not swim the 400 free at the Olympic Trials and did not qualify for the Worlds team in the 400, but with only Smith likely entered in it, Foster may find himself chasing after Smith and his American record of 3:34.38. Foster has a personal best of 3:45.29, dating back to 2022, and based on tonight’s results and the PB drop of over four seconds could be in line for a strong swim in Budapest. The men’s 400 Free does not conflict with either of the IM events.

 

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Captain Bubbles
12 days ago

Hard to believe, his first American record!

Neve Stolan
12 days ago

The undisputed king of fast swims in Austin Texas with little to no competition (runner up: Joe Schooling)

Don’t ask about when the spotlight is on him at a real meet

BOBFROMTHEISLAND
Reply to  Neve Stolan
12 days ago

You suck

Neve Stolan
Reply to  BOBFROMTHEISLAND
12 days ago

Why? He’s the GOAT of defending his home turf

ADB
Reply to  Neve Stolan
12 days ago

Silver at world championships to the current goat isn’t indicative of a great performance when it matters? Medaling at the Olympic final? You are a prime example of why not everyone needs their voice to be heard

I_Said_It
Reply to  Neve Stolan
12 days ago

Aren’t you just a delight.

Hank
Reply to  Neve Stolan
12 days ago

You mean like the Olympics or Worlds where he is an individual medalist?

Horninco
Reply to  Neve Stolan
12 days ago

Says the guy that’s never been in that position

2Fat4Speed
Reply to  Neve Stolan
12 days ago

It was mean but warranted in the past. He has done enough to shed this label. You win an individual medal at the Olympics, you deserve a baseline level of respect.