Gianluca Urlando, 16, of DART Swimming in Northern California, became the youngest swimmer ever to break 1:41 in the 200 butterfly when he won his final at 2018 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West in 1:40.91. He crushed the meet record of 1:43.64 set in 2013 by Baylor Swim Club’s Robert McHugh, and he took a 1.19-second bite out of the 2002 National Age Group Record for 15-16 boys set by none other than Michael Phelps.
Race Video:
Urlando was the top seed in both the 200 back and 200 fly after prelims in Austin but scratched the 200 back to focus on the fly final. And it paid off. He took 1.58 seconds off his month-old PB of 1:42.49 and came within .06 of Nicolas Albiero’s 2018 NAG Record for 17-18 boys. Urlando has 3 more months in the 15-16 age group before he turns 17.
Urlando’s swim is the 2nd-fastest in the country so far this swim year (September 2018 through August 2019). Given that we have already had a slew of mid-season college invites, that a 16-year-old boy ranks second is a remarkable thing. Zheng Quah of Cal went 1:39.29 at the UGA Fall Invitational, while his teammate Mike Thomas clocked a 1:41.29. Until Saturday night those were the fastest times in the country this season.
Giving his swim more context, had he gone 1:40.91 at NCAA Division I Championships last March, he would have made the A final at #8 out of heats. Including 2018 NCAAs, Urlando has the 12th-fastest time in the country for the calendar year. Even more remarkably, he ranks 26th on the all-time performers list – for all ages – at only 16.
His splits compared to those of Phelps:
| Gianluca Urlando, Winter Juniors East, December 2018 | Michael Phelps, Spring Sectionals, March 2002 | |
| 50 | 22.88 | 22.66 |
| 100 | 48.50 (25.62) | 48.58 (25.92) |
| 150 | 1:14.08 (25.58) | 1:15.76 (27.18) |
| 200 | 1:40.91 (26.83) | 1:42.10 (26.34) |
Phelps: backed off too much on 3rd 50, rookie mistake 😂
This is probably the weakest event for the us men so great to see him ascending. i see a sub 153 by Tokyo.
Dang, this young man might be good.
Great swim! He looked a bit unhappy after.probably wanted to break 1:40 and/or it really hurt the last 50! Nonetheless an outstanding swim!
Any chance he’ll get a run at Phelps’ Long Course 15-16 Record before he ages up?
Be cool to see him and Carson Foster chasing down Phelps’ 17-18 LCM records over the next couple of years.
The fact he came back faster than Mike is nuts. The guy was a ruthlessly clutch backhalf swimmer all of his life when he absolutely needed it, and was just naturally stronger than anyone his age in the second half of races. Bread secured.
Remember that at this point in his career Phelps was one of the best swimmers in the world and never focused on SCY, especially at a meet like spring sectionals. This would have basically been a training meet for Phelps
I’ve never seen anyone so excited to break a legendary NAG before. Wow
Will someone please post a video this
Added above.