Scoring Out The Olympics With The NCAA Format: U.S. Leads Through Day 3

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

• Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
  • Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
• La Défense Arena — Paris, France
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Full Swimming Schedule
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Pick ’em Contest
• How To Watch
• Entry Lists
• Live Results
• Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
• Finals Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

From a macro perspective, medals are the be-all and end-all in quantifying success at the Olympic Games, but we all know an athlete or nation can flourish even if it means they don’t ultimately make it onto the podium.

Thanks to Michael White, the head coach and CEO of Storm Aquatics in Wisconsin, we’re able to see how the standings in the 2024 Olympic pool swimming competition would look if we used the same scoring format we see at several domestic meets, including the NCAA Championships.

Scoring Format

• 16-place scoring system: 20-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
• Relays are worth double points
• 9th through 16th-place finishers come from semi-finals
• If semi-finalist who missed final was faster than someone in the final, that was corrected

WOMEN’S RANKINGS

MEN’S RANKINGS

COMBINED RANKINGS

Observations

• Despite Australia holding the slight edge atop the medal table thus far with three gold medals, the U.S. has 11 total podium appearances and that depth is on display with the Americans leading the points standings for women, men and combined.
• The U.S. has notably won a medal in five of six men’s events, while the women have had two events with double medalists in the 100 fly (Torri Huske and Gretchen Walsh) and the 400 IM (Katie Grimes and Emma Weyant).
• Australia is a clear 2nd on the women’s side thanks to the relay victory, the 1-2 from Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus in the 200 free, and Titmus’ win in the 400 free.
• The British men hold down the 2nd spot for the men despite only two silver medals, with 4th-place finishes from Max Litchfield (400 IM), Duncan Scott (200 free) and a 5th in the 400 free relay boosting their tally.
• Germany is a somewhat surprise to sit 3rd for the men, thanks in large part to Lukas Märtens winning the 400 free, placing 5th in the 200 free, and the 400 free relay also taking 5th. Melvin Imoudu and Lucas Matzerath were also surprises to finish 4-5 in the 100 breast.
• China and Canada are jockeying for 3rd on the women’s side, which is no surprise, while the Italians sit 4th for the men, ahead of Australia, which not many would’ve predicted coming in.
• In the combined standings, the U.S. is well clear of Australia, Australia is 59 points ahead of China, and then there’s a massive drop-off after Canada in 7th. Among the top seven countries (USA, AUS, CHN, GBR, ITA, GER, CAN), Germany would have to be considered the biggest surprise. In addition the performances from their men, Angelina Köhler (4th in 100 fly) and Isabel Gose (5th in 400 free) have top-five finishes.