McKenzie Siroky, the recently turned 21-year-old breaststroker, has put the rest of the US breaststrokers on watch with her performances thus far during the Mare Nostrum tour.
In Monaco, Siroky won the 50 breast in 29.86, having also turned in the top time in the heats (29.73), as well as the 1/8 final (29.64), quarterfinals (29.83), and semifinals (30.00) in the event.
Her 29.64 also moved her up to the #2 American woman all-time in the 50 breast, only trailing Lilly King‘s American Record of 29.40.
Just today in the 100 breast in Canet-en-Roussillon, France, Siroky fired off a 1:06.31, the 8th fastest time in the world this season, just besting fellow American Kate Douglass‘s time of 1:06.41.
Aside from Douglass, since King’s departure, the US women’s breaststroke scene has had its ups and downs, and Siroky is just one name who could potentially make a run at an Olympic team as we inch closer to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Among those other swimmers in potential contention is Skyler Smith, who actually came 2nd to Siroky in the 50 breast in Monaco. She also finished 6th in the individual 100 breast in 1:08.41. Earlier today, Smith swam a career best 1:07.42 to finish 5th in Canet.
Emma Weber, a 2024 Olympian, is among the fastest American performers this year in the 100 breast with her 1:07.62 at the Fort Lauderdale Open. Weber has shown flashes of potential, especially at the 2024 Olympic Trials, where she posted a 1:06.10, making her the 14th-fastest American ever in the event.
Piper Enge, the 5th place finisher in the 100 breast at NCAAs for Texas, holds a career best of 1:07.27 from the Speedo Sectionals in Federal Way in 2024. In more recent results, Enge raced at the AP Race in London this past week, clocking a 1:08.11 in the 100 breast and 30.66 in the 50 breast.
As for the current state of women’s breaststroke, Douglass seems to have a pretty firm grasp on it, in both the 100 and 200 breast, but come two years from now, the landscape could look significantly different, as it seems to evolve through each Olympic cycle.
In the section “IN THIS STORY” Lydia Jacoby is linked but I did not see her name in the actual story, what did I miss.
Or the alternative headline, US Breaststroke still trails the rest of the world. 8th is great for her but not really moving the needle much for team usa especially given that she is 21 already/
True that she is 21, but the stories I have read online she has only been fully committed to swimming for a few years. It is not always someone’s age to determines the improvement they have left.
Weber’s done with swimming – UVA’s instagram has her starting a new job in the summer
What? Wow. Does that mean she is giving up her spot on the pan pacs team?
It said she will be working at Deloitte. It didn’t say when her start date is. Are you sure she won’t swim at Pan Pacs?
Maybe she swims for Pan Pacs, retires, and starts her new job after the meet is done
She’s definitely swimming Pan Pacs.
Great swim by Siroky, she’s got a lot of upside now that she’s focusing on swimming.
I thought Tan swam for Singapore (World Juniors)? Is she changing allegiance?