While there are so many exciting things surrounding the U.S. Olympic Trials, one of the best parts of the meet is watching a swimmer make their first Olympic team. From moments like Aaron Shackell becoming the first swimmer to punch his ticket to Paris in the 400 free and later watching his younger sister Alex Shackell qualify in the 200 fly, to seeing Gretchen Walsh finally earn her spot (with a world record to boot) in the 100 fly, to Shaine Casas’ emotional reaction to his second-place 200 IM finish, it’s always heartwarming to see someone achieve a goal of this magnitude.
This year’s team of 22 Olympic newcomers consists of seven women and 15 men, ranging in age from 17 to 26, with seven teenagers representing the stars and stripes. Fifteen states and 11 universities are represented, alongside many accomplishments, ranging from NCAA titles to world records.
TRIALS HISTORY
As described by veteran Caeleb Dressel in an on-deck interview immediately following his final swim, “It’s tough making it through the Trials. This truly is the hardest part … It’s tough to make the team here. And that’s how it should be”. Making the Olympic team is such an accomplishment within itself, and making the team at your first Trials is all the more impressive. Three swimmers will make their Olympic debut after competing only this year. For the majority of these newcomers, this was their second Trials.
First Trials
Competed in 2021 (Wave I or Wave II)
- Jack Alexy, Shaine Casas, Matt Fallon, Erin Gemmell, Chris Guiliano, Luke Hobson, David Johnston, Josh Matheny, Anna Peplowski, Aaron Shackell, Alex Shackell, Luca Urlando, Emma Weber, Claire Weinstein
Competed in 2016 and 2021
HOME STATES
Fifteen states are represented by the 22 newcomers, spread across the contiguous United States. The Indianapolis-area hometown trio of Aaron Shackell, Alex Shackell, and Luke Whitlock push Indiana to the top of the state rankings. The map below shows the concentration of swimmers from each state.
States represented: Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Washington
COLLEGE AFFILIATIONS
These newcomers all hail from eleven different Division 1 programs across the country, from nine states. With each swimmer being at a different point in their career, a select few have yet to begin their collegiate careers while some have graduated and are training with various clubs and pro groups around the nation. The list below shows where swimmers have committed, currently swim, or the most recent school they’re associated with.
California
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Michigan
NC State
Notre Dame
Pennsylvania
Texas
Texas A&M
Virginia
*Committed
NCAA TITLES
Between the 18 swimmers who are currently competing for their university or have graduated, there are 33 D1 National Championship titles (counting both individual and relay titles) in their midst. Among newcomers, Virginia holds more than half, with 18 (shoutout Gretchen Walsh), Texas boasts six, NC State holds five (all attributed to Katharine Berkoff), Texas A&M has three (Shaine Casas), and Cal has one. Two events have been won by an Olympic newcomer each year since 2021: the Women’s 100 backstroke (Katharine Berkoff/Gretchen Walsh) and the Men’s 800 freestyle relay (Jack Alexy, Cal and Luke Hobson/Carson Foster, Texas). Complete list of all NCAA Titles:
2024
- 800 Freestyle Relay
- 100 Backstroke
- 200 Freestyle
- 50 Freestyle
- 100 Butterfly
- 100 Freestyle
- 200 Freestyle Relay
- 200 Medley Relay
- 400 Freestyle Relay
- 400 Medley Relay
2023
- 800 Freestyle Relay
- 200 Freestyle
- 500 Freestyle
- 800 Freestyle Relay
- 100 Backstroke
- 100 Freestyle
- 200 Freestyle Relay
- 200 Medley Relay
- 400 Freestyle Relay
- 400 Medley Relay
2022
- 100 Backstroke
- 800 Free Relay
- 800 Free Relay
- 100 Freestyle
- 200 Freestyle Relay
- 200 Medley Relay
- 400 Freestyle Relay
- 400 Medley Relay
2021
- 100 Backstroke
- 200 Medley Relay
- 400 Medley Relay
- 100 Backstroke
- 200 Backstroke
- 200 IM
- 800 Freestyle Relay
NAG RECORDS
On top of becoming newly-named Olympians, some of these swimmers have been making waves in the sport for quite some time now. A whopping 59 individual and relay records are held by the newcomers on this year’s Olympic team. The following swimmers hold National Age Group (NAG) records either individually or as a member of a relay:
SHORT COURSE YARDS
- 15-16: 200 Medley Relay
- 17-18: 400 IM/200 Mixed Medley Relay
- 15-18: 200 Mixed Medley Relay
- 13-14: 400 Freestyle Relay/400 Mixed Medley Relay/400 Mixed Freestyle Relay
- 15-16: 800 Freestyle Relay/400 Mixed Medley Relay/400 Mixed Freestyle Relay
- 17-18: 800 Freestyle Relay
- 10 & Under: 100 Butterfly
- 11-12: 50 Freestyle/100 Freestyle/200 Freestyle/50 Butterfly/100 Butterfly/200 Butterfly
- 13-14: 100 Freestyle/200 Freestyle/100 Butterfly/200 Butterfly/400 Freestyle Relay
- 15-16: 50 Freestyle/200 Freestyle/100 Butterfly/200 Butterfly/200 IM
- 15-18: 400 Medley Relay
- 17-18: 500 Freestyle/1000 Freestyle
- 17-18: 200 Breaststroke
- 17-18: 200 Butterfly
- 15-18: 200 Medley Relay
- 17-18 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
- 13-14: 1650 Freestyle
- 15-18: 400 Freestyle Relay/800 Freestyle Relay
LONG COURSE METERS
- 17-18: 200 Breaststroke
- 10 & Under: 50 Butterfly
- 15-16: 400 IM
- 17-18: 800 Freestyle Relay
- 13-14: 50 Freestyle/100 Freestyle/100 Butterfly
- 15-16: 100 Butterfly/200 Butterfly
- 17-18: 100 Butterfly
- 13-14 200 Backstroke
- 15-16: 100 Breaststroke/200 Breaststroke
- 15-16: 400 Freestyle Relay/800 Freestyle Relay
- 17-18: 200 Butterfly
- 15-18: 400 Medley Relay
- 17-18: 200 Butterfly
- 13-14: 200 Freestyle
- 15-18: 800 Freestyle Relay
- 17-18: 800 Freestyle
SENIOR RECORDS
As to be expected when representing one of the world’s biggest swimming countries, these swimmers already have an impressive collection of records under their belt. On top of the National Age Group Records mentioned earlier, the following swimmers boast these accolades:
NCAA (SCY)
- 800 Freestyle Relay
NCAA/American (SCY)
- 200 Freestyle
- 100 Backstroke
- 50 Free
- 100 Freestyle
- 100 Backstroke
- 100 Butterfly
- 200 Freestyle Relay
- 200 Medley Relay
- 400 Freestyle Relay
- 400 Medley Relay
American (SCY)
- 800 Free Relay
US Open (LCM)
- Jack Alexy, 100 Freestyle
- Katharine Berkoff, 50 Backstroke
- Matt Fallon, 200 Breaststroke
- Gretchen Walsh, 50 Butterfly
- Gretchen Walsh, 100 Butterfly
American (LCM)
- Matt Fallon, 200 Breaststroke
- Gretchen Walsh, 50 Butterfly
- Gretchen Walsh, 100 Butterfly
American (SCM)
- Shaine Casas, 200 Medley Relay
- Carson Foster, 800 Freestyle Relay
- Erin Gemmell, 800 Freestyle Relay
- David Johnston, 800 Freestyle
World Junior (LCM)
- Carson Foster/Luca Urlando, 800 Freestyle Relay
World (LCM)
- Gretchen Walsh, 100 Butterfly
Matt King should also have an asterisk as is committed to IU and hasn’t swum there yet. He also swam at wave 2 trials.
damn Carson Foster really the 800 free relay goat i guess
Where is Alex Walsh on all these lists
Lol just realized this is for newcomers my bad
***Newcomers***
This isn’t her first rodeo.