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Kenneth McGlothen, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American at George Washington High School in Charleston, West Virginia, has verbally committed to swim and study at West Virginia University beginning in the fall of 2026.
“I chose WVU for the amazing facilities, excellent coaching staff, and the opportunity to proudly represent my home state and the flying WV”
McGlothen will join his sister, Kentucky sophomore Madi McGlothen, as the third generation of D1 swimmers in the family. Their grandfather, Greg Olson, was an All-American at Bucknell. He went on to run the HYCAT swim program in Charleston for over 40 years. Their mother, Melissa Olson, was an All-American at Kentucky. She was the silver medalist in the 400 IM at SECs as a freshman in 1997 and held the Kentucky program record for almost 16 years. Melissa Olson is McGlothen’s club at YMCA Kanawha Valley Kraken.
In his three years of high school swimming, the polyvalent McGlothen has won the 500 free twice (4:42.62 in 2023, 4:39.78 in 2024), the 200 IM (1:51.92 in 2024), the 200 free (1:40.48 in 2025), and the 100 back (50.34 in 2025). He was runner-up in the 200 IM as a freshman (1:57.91 in 2023).
In December 2024, McGlothen competed in the 200 back at the U.S. Open. He swam the 100 breast in time trials and went a best time of 58.44. A week later, he competed at Winter Juniors East and picked up new lifetime bests in the 100 back (50.50), 200 back (1:48.15), and 100 breast (58.09).
More recently, he won the 500 free, 200 back, and 200 breast; was runner-up in the 100 breast and 200 IM; and came in 5th in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly at the 2025 West Virginia Short Course Championships. He came away with new PBs in the 200 back (1:47.85), 200 breast (2:08.44), and 100 fly (52.24).
Two weeks later at the 2025 YMCA Short Course National Championships, McGlothen came in 4th place in the 200 back, dropping another 1.3 seconds to improve his own WV state record to 1:46.56. He also finaled in the 100 back (21st) and the 200 IM (18th), the latter with a PB of 1:51.50.
In long course, McGlothen was a top 8 finisher in the 200 back at Futures in each of the last two summer. He placed 7th in Richmond last summer (2:06.92) and was 15th (2:07.62) in 2025. He owns the West Virginia 15-18 state record in the event (2.06.41)
Best SCY times:
- 200 back – 1:46.56
- 100 back – 50.34
- 200 IM – 1:51.50
- 500 free – 4:39.78
- 200 free – 1:40.48
- 100 breast – 58.09
- 200 breast – 2:08.44
Outside the pool McGlothen enjoys playing guitar, gaming with friends, and traveling with the family.
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Kid prolly has no work ethic. At this point being a 3rd generation d1 swimmer, you can hop in the pool 3 times a week and get lit every weekend and still rip a 1:46 2 back, hence this guy.
Kid looks like a diverse add for the Mounties and strong 2 back times
Let’s go Mountaineers!