Claire Weinstein, 17, Leads Off 4×200 Free Relay in 1:54.88, Fourth-Fastest American Ever

by Riley Overend 20

August 01st, 2024 National, News, Paris 2024

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Claire Weinstein clocked a personal-best 1:54.88 leading off the U.S. women’s 4×200 freestyle relay, becoming the fourth-fastest American ever in the 200 free at just 17 years old.

Weinstein dropped a few tenths off her previous-best 1:55.24 from the 200 free semifinals earlier this week. Her best time before this week stood at 1:55.26 from last June.

Weinstein put her American squad in 3rd place after her leadoff leg before Paige Madden (1:55.65), Katie Ledecky (1:54.93), and Erin Gemmell (1:55.40) brought home a runner-up finish in 7:40.86 behind Australia (7:38.08). The silver medal represents Weinstein’s first Olympic medal of any color, while Ledecky became the most decorated U.S. female Olympian in the process.

Among American women, only Allison Schmitt (1:53.61), Ledecky (1:53.73), and Missy Franklin (1:54.81) have been faster than Weinstein’s 1:54.88 on Thursday night in Paris. The Sandpipers of Nevada product now ranks No. 19 all-time.

Fastest Americans, Women’s 200 Free

  1. Allison Schmitt – 1:53.61, 2012
  2. Katie Ledecky – 1:53.73, 2016
  3. Missy Franklin – 1:54.81, 2013
  4. Claire Weinstein – 1:54.88, 2024
  5. Dana Vollmer – 1:55.29, 2009

At last month’s U.S. Olympic Trials, Weinstein placed 2nd behind Ledecky (1:55.22) with a time of 1:56.18. One of six high schoolers competing for Team USA in Paris, Weinstein is committed to Cal for next fall. She’s incredibly versatile, having dominated the women’s 10km at the 2023 Open Water Swimming World Cup stop in Portugal last December.

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Gail Jones
3 months ago

I saw the qualifications with Simone Manuel who helped them to the final, but that was not commented..
I hope that the ones who got the finalists for the Americans getting a silver 🥈 medal would get their silver 🥈 medal too!!!
Simone Manuel got them in first of the third place for the anchor leg who was Gemmel.. now that was impressive!!
Even the commentators said and gave Simone Manuel a good comment!!
I don’t know if Claire Weinstein was in the qualification, but I am glad for her because she is resilient!! She is a World Champion for a seventeen years old!!!!!
Good job!!!

Luis
3 months ago

If the next on the list is Dana Vollmer with 1:55:29, Weinstein was already the fourth fastest with 1:55:24…

Steve Nolan
3 months ago

I extremely did not expect to see Dana Vollmer’s name on that list, totally forgot about that.

Asher Green
Reply to  Steve Nolan
3 months ago

Same.

Yozhik
3 months ago

I well remember those old good days (and not really that much long time ago) when 1:54.81 by Missy Franklin won for her the gold medal of world champion making her the fourth fastest swimmer ever at 200FR (Barcelona 2013)
Like it was possible to win world championships in this event with 1:55.16 (Ledecky, 2015 Kazan)
Swimming under 1:55 was a great and rare achievement of world class level and 1:53 (in textile) was beyond comprehension.
The best swimmers in this event was packed with their pb so densely that outcome of competition was hard to predict bringing a lot of excitement of uncertainty and chances.
And what do we have now – everything is well… Read more »

NCSwimFan
3 months ago

When moving to Las Vegas in 2021, Weinstein was a 1:58.9 200 freestyler already, entering into an entirely different training program than what she was with in New York. The year-by-year progression since has been 1:56.7-1:55.2-1:54.8, and she’s now solidly one of the best domestic 200 freestylers ever. Given how much a change of scenery can throw off an already-impressive athlete, Ron and Sandpipers absolutely deserve credit for guiding Weinstein’s growth from a great 200 freestyler into a world-class one. Congratulations!

‘Murica
3 months ago

Nice. Only up from here

Just joining
3 months ago

Great swim for all – amazing race!

Only wish Claire would have done a swim like this in the individual 200 free final. She’s so inconsistent. Hopefully, Cal will help her to be more consistent.

Calalum
3 months ago

Great work, kiddo!

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

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