Kaii Winkler Logs 48.41 100 Free Prelim Swim For New German Age Record

2025 GERMAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

We entered day two of the 2025 German Swimming Championships and the first national age group record of the competition bit the dust in this morning’s prelims.

Kaii Winkler produced a huge new lifetime best of 48.41 while racing in the heats of the men’s 100m freestyle.

The 19-year-old captured the 2nd seed behind top performer Josha Salchow who pulled out an AM effort of 48.09 to land lane 4 for this evening’s final.

As for NC State’s Winkler, the teen opened in 23.40 and closed in 25.01 to register the new age record, becoming Germany’s 7th-swiftest performer in history.

Entering this competition, Winkler had never before been 48-low, with his previous PB resting at the 48.81 put up at the 2023 Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale. That represented the only time he’d been under the 49-second barrier in the event.

While the World Aquatics ‘A’ selection standard for this summer’s World Championships sits at 48.34, the German Swimming Federation set its own qualification time at a quicker 48.20. Salchow’s time dipped under that while Winkler will need to shave off another .21 to meet the mark in tonight’s main event.

Top 8 Heats Finishers in Men’s LCM 100 Free at German Championships

  1. Josha Salchow – 48.09 *Worlds qualifying
  2. Kaii Winkler – 48.41 *German Age Record
  3. Luka Armbruster – 49.09
  4. Lukas Märtens  – 49.16
  5. Martin Wrede – 49.23
  6. Tobias van Aggelen – 49.65
  7. Timo Sorgius – 49.68
  8. Moritz Schaller – 49.69

As a refresher, after competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials last year, Winkler changed his sporting citizenship to represent Germany at the actual Games in Paris.

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Steve Nolan
20 days ago

19yo age group records are weird, right?

Thomas The Tank Engine
20 days ago

Kaii Winkler is German???

I thought he’s an American.

Postgrad Swimmer
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
20 days ago

He swam for Germany last summer

sam
21 days ago

Julian Koch who is the same age and also German dropped from 50.5 to 49.0 yesterday in Fort Lauderdale. Between them and Wrede looks like a promising future relay

Clutch
21 days ago

Sven Schwarz with a European Record in the 800 free! 7:38.12, 5th fastest time of all time.

Samuel Huntington
21 days ago

Winkler with big new PBs in SCY and LCM this year. Great to see NC State is working for him.

Breezeway
Reply to  Samuel Huntington
21 days ago

He’s had a great year. 🐺

Swimfan27
21 days ago

What is the process like for switching what country you represent internationally? It looked for a while like he was on the way to representing the USA, and he is such a talent that I’d love to see on team USA in 2028

Clutch
Reply to  Swimfan27
21 days ago

Under the new rules he can still has plenty of time to switch. Waiting period is one year now, so he can’t compete at WC 2027 for Germany but everything before is fine.

That said, I wonder how attractive switching is under the new rules. With 50s being added but the previous roster limit still in place, it‘s even tougher to get into the American team. While in Germany he’s basically being guaranteed to have two individual starts.

captain bubbles
Reply to  Clutch
21 days ago

When did that change? In 2024, Santo Condorelli was kept out of trials because the limit was 3 years…

NornIron Swim
Reply to  captain bubbles
21 days ago

They re-changed the rules recently. Seems like Santo was the main casualty of this.

Breezeway
Reply to  Clutch
21 days ago

He competed for Germany at the 2024 Olympics

Swimmer
Reply to  Breezeway
21 days ago

Santo? Nothing would surprise me with him.

Tarheel
21 days ago

Too bad he took the easy route, should be at U.S. trials

Question
Reply to  Tarheel
21 days ago

Why downvote?

PlayBowlFan
21 days ago

PlayaaaBuzzz Kuzz good job

Gerbalt
Reply to  PlayBowlFan
13 days ago

Playa buzz w the Bruzz = peak training

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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