How Fast Will Carson Foster Swim 400 IM At U.S. Olympic Trials?

Gold Medal Minute presented by SwimOutlet.comOlympic hopeful Carson Foster turned heads in Austin, Texas dropping a 4:11 best time in the 400 meters IM three weeks out from the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Carson has made big gains since NCAA championships, and he shared that his training has gone better than expected. He was a kid back in 2016, but he did get vital U.S. Olympic Trials experience. That matters. Olympic Trials in Omaha is a pressure-cooker, especially for swimmers competing in the 400 IM, which is the first event on the first day of finals.

SEE 14 YEAR OLD CARSON’S RACE VIDEO, MAKING HIS 2016 OLYMPIC TRIALS CUT.

U.S. Olympic Trials – Carson Foster Predictions:

Making the U.S. Olympic Team so young is a tall order. Carson is an outlier, a rare talent who can do it.

400 IM in the U.S. is a little soft, but someone’s going to go 4:08 or 4:09 low in Omaha to make Team USA in this event. I think that person is Carson. I see a 4:08.9.

I also think Carson can make the men’s 4×200 freestyle relay. I see him him advancing to the 200 free final in Omaha. Youth and enthusiasm powers him past no less than two swimmers in that race final, putting him on the Team USA relay. 

But who cares what I think. What do you think?

Follow Carson Foster on Instagram here.

See Caron Foster’s swim bio here.

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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

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swimfan210_
2 years ago

I’d say he takes the top seed in prelims with a 4:09 or 4:10 low, but adds about a second in finals to narrowly miss the team.

Bub
2 years ago

I think Foster will make the team, but its more likely he makes the 200 IM.

anonymous
Reply to  Bub
2 years ago

tough with MA kalisz seliskar lochte around

more likely he is going to make the 4*200 free relay team just sneaking in at 6th

Daniel Smith
2 years ago

Mel: you got me; I was figuring 4:09 at Trials to make the top 2. Hope Carson gets there.

Comet
2 years ago

He can go 4.08 but the questions are: will he and would it be enough ?

GATOR CHOMP 🐊
2 years ago

All I have to say is don’t sleep on Bobby Finke

anonymous
Reply to  GATOR CHOMP 🐊
2 years ago

if he is in the camera frame at the turn for the freestyle leg
he is making the team

swimfan210_
Reply to  GATOR CHOMP 🐊
2 years ago

Yes, he should swim 400 IM instead of 400 free, better shot at making the team. He ran down Foster at 2019 Nats and 2021 NCAAs and the endurance will certainly help in LC. He dropped 4 seconds in yards this season, and he has gone 4:13 in LC before. He was 4:17 at the 2021 Atlanta Classic, was 4:21 in 2019 at the same meet. He is so consistent and can do it. I can picture the surprise rundown on free.

SwimReason
2 years ago

I don’t really care what people think of Carson Foster – in my opinion, he’s brought life to an event that’s been hibernating since 2002 (courtesy of the GOAT). That alone is worth respect. A LOT of respect. I really hope he makes it.

Togger
Reply to  SwimReason
2 years ago

Lochte? Kalisz? The US won gold at every Olympics from 1996 to 2012, putting 2 on the podium at many of them.

Pretty active hibernation.

Swimmerfromjapanandtheuk
Reply to  Togger
2 years ago

Kalisz hasn’t made the podium in the Olympics before, or at least not to my knowledge so not sure where he comes in to your point

ClubCoach
Reply to  Swimmerfromjapanandtheuk
2 years ago

400 IM Silver medal in Rio I believe

Pvdh
Reply to  Swimmerfromjapanandtheuk
2 years ago

Kalisz was second behind Hagino in 2016 in the 4IM…

Swimmerfromjapanandtheuk
Reply to  Pvdh
2 years ago

Oh yeah forgot he has. It was the first gold medal for my country at that games so didn’t remember the rest in that field apart from hagino and seto

Pvdh
Reply to  Swimmerfromjapanandtheuk
2 years ago

That makes sense. Most countries only get 1 medal to separate. American fans have so many we become pretty good at remembering them all.

Swimmerfromjapanandtheuk
Reply to  Pvdh
2 years ago

Lol the flex

SwimReason
Reply to  Togger
2 years ago

Yup. Lot’s of people have won the 400 IM. How often have the 400 IM attracted attention since 2002? You see my point now…?

Last edited 2 years ago by SwimReason
Khachaturian
2 years ago

I am routing for Carson. I think he is the future of the medley scene for America.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Khachaturian
2 years ago

Everyone said that about Chase also, hope Carson steps up, he has a better attitude and demeanor

Swimgeek
Reply to  Khachaturian
2 years ago

MA is the future of 2IM. He might be the present too.

SwimCanada
2 years ago

I’m a Carson fan! I think he makes it!

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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