2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Indiana University Natatorium
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
Lilly King has entered the 50 and 100 breaststrokes for US Summer Nationals next week. She is not entered in the 200 breast, an event she made finals in at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
King is the top seed in the 100 breaststroke, entered with a 1:05.43, the time she swam to win the event at US Olympic Trials last summer. She also is the #2 seed in the 50 breast with a 30.55, just behind Skyler Smith who swam a 30.49 to win the event at the Pro Series stop in Fort Lauderdale earlier this month.
The top two seeds in the 200 breaststroke are Kate Douglass (2:19.24) and Alex Walsh (2:22.38). No other swimmer is under 2:27 as Leah Hayes is the #3 seed with a 2:27.60. King’s lifetime best stands at a 2:19.92 that she swam to win silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while she swam a 2:23.25 in semifinals last summer in Paris before swimming a 2:25.91 in finals.
King has not raced the 200 breast since Paris as she did not swim the event at SCM Worlds. She also did not swim the LCM version of the event at either of her two stops of the Pro Series this year.
The World Record holder in the 100 breast has already announced her plans to step away from the sport before the 2028 LA Olympics. Last summer she also said she would not step away directly after last summer’s Olympics. At the Fort Lauderdale Pro Series stop, King also said that the addition of the 50 breast at the Olympics has not changed her plans.
In addition to being the World Record holder in the 100 breast, King is the American Record holder in the 50 breast. She swam all three breaststroke events at the last edition of the World Championships back in 2023. There she won silver in the 50 breast and finished just off of the podium in the 100 breast and 200 breast as she was 4th.
sarah Zhang 14 year old seeded 10th
I’m curious to know who you think is the best swimmer in the country, since there may be a tie after Ledecky.
Gretchen Walsh
Torri Huske
Regan Smith
Kate Douglass
??
I think it depends on your definition of best.
All around it’s probably Gretchen Walsh because she’s so good in short course.
If it’s just LCM, she’s the best in the world inn2 events (50/100 fly). The only other one that can say that might be Douglas in the 2 breast.
Unfortunately Regan Smith goes up against McKeown and McIntosh. And even though Huske won the 1 fly last summer I don’t think many think she’s better than Walsh.
I honestly do think Huske is better than Walsh, as she arguably won the most important race at the most important time. In addition to her career and her level in the freestyle, I would highlight that Gretchen is a swimmer who could draw more attention from the public due to her times and level.
But I don’t think I could say she’s better than Huske.
I think it’s a hard debate- but going solely off Huske beating Walsh in Paris is a tough dilemma. Last summer was Walsh’s LC breakout year. She’s been on the international stage for a few years, but sold in 2023 at Fukuoka. Huske has been a dominant force since 2021, and had the prior Olympic experience Walsh did not. I think for the next few years, we will not see Walsh lose the 100 fly again at any level. Not to mention, with 50s being added at the Olympic level, I don’t think it will be surprising if we see Walsh enter the 50 fly and 50 back in addition to her 50 FR/100 FR, 100 fly program. She is… Read more »
Sjostrom is not swimming this year, but gretchen is not a better 50 flyer than her
Not surprised at all
This isn’t news Lilly King has been telling us for months that she’s focused exclusively on sprint breaststroke going forward.
Damn no Schoenmaker, Schouten or King at Worlds this year although I dont think King would’ve qualified anyway.
Will be a great fight for bronze at Worlds between likely Alex Walsh and Angharad Evans. Hopefully a battle for Gold too between Chikunova and Douglass.
Great decision, she should focus on 50 and 100
As she should
Been a great few days of news for Alex Walsh
she was going to make the team in this event regardless
Dawg, you had a better chance of top 2 in the 2BR than LK.
😂😂😂😍❤️❤️
It’s Alex Walsh’s responsibility to play second fiddle to Kate Douglass in the W 200 BR, as was the case at the 2024 Short Course World Championships.
Thanks for the info. I’ll let her know