2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Indiana University Natatorium
- LCM (50 meters)
- World Championship Selection Criteria
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
Luka Mijatovic followed up his stunning performance in the 200 freestyle on Wednesday with another jaw-dropper on Friday morning at the U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis.
The 16-year-old phenom dominated the penultimate heat of the men’s 400 free, putting up a time of 3:45.89 to obliterate the boys’ 15-16 National Age Group Record of 3:48.95 that he set three months ago at the Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont.
And just like he did in the 200 free, in addition to lowering his own 15-16 NAG, Mijatovic also went under the existing 17-18 record of 3:46.08, set by Larsen Jensen in the 2004 Olympic final, where he finished 4th.
Split Comparison
| Jensen, August 2004 | Mijatovic, March 2025 |
Mijatovic, June 2025
|
| 27.11 | 26.48 | 26.21 |
| 55.92 (28.81) | 55.25 (28.77) | 54.44 (28.23) |
| 1:24.21 (28.29) | 1:23.76 (28.51) | 1:22.81 (28.37) |
| 1:52.89 (28.68) | 1:52.85 (29.09) | 1:51.70 (28.89) |
| 2:21.51 (28.62) | 2:21.98 (29.13) | 2:20.46 (28.76) |
| 2:50.01 (28.50) | 2:51.34 (29.36) | 2:49.60 (29.14) |
| 3:18.37 (28.36) | 3:20.86 (29.52) | 3:18.19 (28.59) |
| 3:46.08 (27.71) | 3:48.95 (28.09) | 3:45.89 (27.70) |
In the 15-16 age group, Mijatovic is now nearly five seconds faster than any other American, with Jensen ranking 2nd all-time at 3:50.68.
All-Time Rankings, U.S. Boys’ 15-16 400 Freestyle (LCM)
- Luka Mijatovic (Pleasanton Seahawks), 3:45.89 – 2025
- Larsen Jensen (Bakersfield Swim Club), 3:50.68 – 2002
- Norvin Clontz (SwimMAC Carolina), 3:50.82 – 2022
- Jake Magahey (SwimAtlanta), 3:51.38 – 2018
- Dare Rose (Scarlet Aquatics), 3:51.41 – 2018
Among 18 and unders in the U.S., just two months after his 16th birthday, Mijatovic leads a star-studded group that includes Jensen, 2024 Olympian Luke Whitlock, and Michael Phelps, who are the only three swimmers in the 17-18 age group to break 3:47.
All-Time Rankings, U.S. Boys’ 18 & Under 400 Freestyle (LCM)
- Luka Mijatovic (Pleasanton Seahawks), 3:45.89 – 2025
- Larsen Jensen (Mission Viejo Nadadores), 3:46.08 – 2004
- Luke Whitlock (Fishers Area Swimming Tigers), 3:46.42 – 2024
- Michael Phelps (North Baltimore Aquatic Club), 3:46.73 – 2003
- Klete Keller (Brophy East Swim Team) / Aaron Shackell (Carmel Swim Club), 3:47.00 – 2000 / 2023
It’s also worth noting that when Jensen set the existing 17-18 NAG of 3:46.08, he was just a few weeks away from his 19th birthday, as the U.S. National Age Group Records don’t go by year of birth, which the World Junior Records do.
Looking at the all-time junior rankings, which includes all 18 & under swimmers according to year of birth (so anyone turning 19 later in that calendar year doesn’t qualify), Mijatovic ranks 9th all-time.
Among 16-year-olds, Australian legend Ian Thorpe is the fastest ever at 3:41.83, done in 1999, while China’s Zhang Zhanshuo went 3:45.11 at the age of 16 in December 2023. Italian Lorenzo Galossi also notably went 3:45.93, just four one-hundredths slower than Mijatovic, at 15.
All-Time Rankings, Boys’ 18 & Under 400 Freestyle (LCM)
- Ian Thorpe (AUS), 3:40.59 – 2000
- Park Tae Hwan (KOR), 3:44.30 – 2007
- Petar Mitsin (BUL), 3:44.31 – 2023
- Hao Yun (CHN), 3:44.87 – 2013
- Grant Hackett (AUS), 3:44.88 – 1998
- Mack Horton (AUS), 3:44.91 – 2014
- Zhang Zhanshuo (CHN), 3:45.11 – 2023
- Sun Yang (CHN), 3:45.39 – 2009
- Luka Mijatovic (USA), 3:45.89 – 2025
- Lorenzo Galossi (ITA), 3:45.93 – 2022
Heading into tonight’s final, Mijatovic is the top seed by more than a second, with Rex Maurer (3:47.22) sitting 2nd, Ryan Erisman lowering his best time in 3:48.19 to qualify 3rd, and 200 free winner Luke Hobson (3:48.29) lurking in 4th.
In the 200 free on Wednesday, Mijatovic clocked 1:45.92 in the prelims to shatter his 15-16 NAG record and dip under the 17-18 record of 1:45.99 set by Phelps in 2003. In the final, Mijatovic finished 8th in 1:46.39.
Hats off to Mijatovic on a bonkers swim. Seeing his name on that top 10 list with so many middle-distance monsters is very cool to see for American swimming.
Seeing some of the names on that list reminds me of what a crazy time for middle distance swimming from 2000 – 2009 was – The Thorpedo, Hacket looking up at the board in the biggest stage because he was just that dang good, Mellouli’s upset win, Park Tae Hwan’s shooting star-like career, Jensen, Vanderkaay, (and Klete Keller for a moment there)… pre-controversy Sun Yang, Paul Biedermann’s record at Rome 2009 with 3 dudes sub 3:42… and that’s not including so many absolute killers who don’t really get a lot… Read more »
we not including phelps in this? He was a star presence in the 200 free from 04 onwards and 400IM counts as mid distance
Also Luka is faster than Phelps’ official PB in the 400 free as well of 3:46.35 (although could’ve definitely been faster in it had he trained for it more than a season)
I guess I was just referring to mid distance free because so much of that time frame was dominated by Phelps and the narrative around super suits. The middle distance strokes were actually incredible in this time frame, too! Phelps, Cseh, Lochte in the IM and stroke 200s- if those three alone were t around, everyone would be talking about how incredible tyler clary was- seriously, he was like the 3rd best 200 flyer, the literal world champ in the 200 back, 3rd best in the world in the 200/400 IM… plus he can drive cars real fast! (Also, he was a blast to chat with during his fitter faster clinic). Peirsol, Irie, and Kitajima all had insane runs in… Read more »
342 high? You guys are funny af
Luka & Ryan, please spoil the Longhorns party! If Bobby can do it, say can you!
Thinking Rex loses tonight is certainly a choice!
I think Rex swims a 3:43 for the win. Hoping Luka can push to 3:44 but think he takes second regardless.
I’m similar to you, I’m thinking 3:42 high/3:43 low. I also agree with Mijatovic taking second. Idk if he can drop more time from this morning, but I think he’s already gone fast enough to ensure nobody passes him, if he can just be around that time. If it’s not Mijatovic, I don’t think anyone else goes faster than 3:45
You’re a PROPHET!
Ima say it again. Please Australia give us a make freestyle prodigy or any kind of prodigy really 🙏 😭. 14:55’s winning modern day Australian trials pissing me off
Dare Rose in the top 5 for US 15-16 year olds for the 400 Free is wild.
Not really, most flyers are solid mid distance freestylers usually.
Development at its finest
holy moly
This is wild
James Guy was 3.44.58 at 18.
The list is by year of birth (World Junior record eligible), and Guy was turning 19 later that year.