Maximus Williamson Swims 1:48.45 in the 200 Meter Free at Only 15 Years Old

2022 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Maximus Williamson is now the third-fastest American ever in the 200 meter free in the 15-16 age group after posting a 1:48.45 in prelims on Wednesday to kick off the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. The swim also makes him the fastest American 15-year-old ever in the event.

That knocked more than two seconds off his previous best time of 1:50.56 set about six weeks ago at the Austin Sectionals meet in Texas.

Only Luca Urlando (1:47.43) and fellow 16-year-old Henry McFadden (1:48.27) have been faster than Williamson in the event as a 15-16, and with a September birthday, he has more than a full year to continue chasing that record.

All-Time Top US Performers, 15-16 200 LCM Freestyle:

  1. Luca Urlando, 2019 – 1:47.73
  2. Henry McFadden, 2022 – 1:48.27
  3. Maximus Williamson, 2022 – 1:48.45
  4. Carson Foster, 2018 – 1:48.57
  5. Caeleb Dressel, 2013 – 1:48.64
  6. Jake Magahey, 2018 – 1:48.65
  7. Drew Kibler, 2016 – 1:49.04
  8. Dare Rose, 2019 – 1:49.26
  9. Ian Crocker, 1998 – 1:49.48
  10. Maxime Rooney, 2014 – 1:49.54

Along with McFadden (who swam 1:49.22 in prelims, and will head to the B final as the third American), the US has had a pair of 16-year-olds go sub-1:50 in the 200-meter free this season, with four others having been sub-1:51 already.

Williamson is the #2 seed on Thursday behind Flynn Southam, who is now 17 years old but who was a 1:46.77 at 16 (which, stunningly, is not as fast as Australia’s National Age Record of 1:46.00, held by Ian Thorpe). Southam swam 1:48.35 in prelims.

The third seed is American Rex Maurer, an uncommitted high school senior, who swam 1:48.97, his best time by half-a-second. That moves him up to 26th in the all-time US 17-18 rankings.

Williamson’s Remaining Schedule

Williamson might not have to wait long for a record, though, even if he doesn’t get the 200 free in finals. He is only two seconds away from the 15-16 National Age Group Record in the 200 IM (Carson Foster, 1:59.45). If he drops the same amount of time in the 200 IM as he did in the 200 free, that record would belong to Williamson.

He also has remaining entries in the 50 free, 100 free, 400 free, 100 back, 200 back, and 400 IM. The 100 back is later in the session on Thursday.

Williamson’s drops come after undergoing a coaching change this summer, joining the Lakeside Aquatic Club in suburban Dallas-Fort Worth.

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boknows34
1 year ago

1.48.21 in the final.

H20MOM
1 year ago

Correction on the article..
While Maximus has switched teams as of July 28th to Lakeside Aquatic. He was still being coached, from July 28 – August 19, by Dan Balint his previous coach at NTN.

Ghost
1 year ago

SwimSwam should write an article of swimmers here who have parents that were also elite swimmers….Gemmell, Williamson, Shackells just from today and not knowing everyone’s parents.

Swimmer
Reply to  Ghost
1 year ago

Julia Podkoscielny too

Ghost
Reply to  Swimmer
1 year ago

Yep. I didn’t look at roster to double check. Or I didn’t want to spell her last name! 😏

Swim Fan
1 year ago

His addition to keller high school will be huge

Anonymous
1 year ago

He is basically the fastest 15yo ever

OLOAP
Reply to  Anonymous
1 year ago

Galossi went 1:48.16 in April and he was about to turn 16 in May

Joel
Reply to  Anonymous
1 year ago

Thorpe was 1.46.70 at 15 years

Mr Piano
Reply to  Joel
1 year ago

In underwear too

Go Kamminga Go
Reply to  Anonymous
1 year ago

Laughs in 15 yo Ian Thorpe wearing BRIEFS, TWENTY FOUR YEARS AGO

Last edited 1 year ago by Go Kamminga Go
OLOAP
1 year ago

I keep saying that entering top 8 final at Olympic Trials in the 2 free will be all but easy for anyone so guys have to push hard already in semis and scratches from athletes swimming other events (like Foster, or Julian or why not Williamson) could be crucial for determining the Olympic Team

Last edited 1 year ago by OLOAP
Tim boy
1 year ago

Crocker with that sick nasty time in ‘98

Tim boy
Reply to  Tim boy
1 year ago

How can you downvote the sick nasty crock? Salty mane…salty

ReneDescartes
Reply to  Tim boy
1 year ago

Salty Maine (where Crocker is from)

MarkB
Reply to  Tim boy
1 year ago

The whole top 10 a Who’s Who.

Scott Bonney
1 year ago

Did you mean Wednesday instead of Thursday for his prelim swim ?

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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