2021 US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, December 1 – Saturday, December 4, 2021
- Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Info
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live stream
- Live Results (Omega)
Thomas Heilman made history on Thursday morning in Greensboro, becoming the first American aged 14 & under to break 23 seconds in the men’s 50 freestyle (LCM).
Competing at the 2021 US Open in Greensboro, the 14-year-old Heilman dropped a time of 22.99 in the 50 free, breaking Michael Andrew‘s 13-14 National Age Group Record of 23.19, set in 2014, by two-tenths of a second.
Heilman, who represents Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA, came into the meet as the second-fastest swimmer in age group history with his best time of 23.23, set in May during the 18&U Spring Cup.
The fastest LCM 50 free time on record from a swimmer aged 14 & under, per USA Swimming’s database, is the 22.75 done by Singaporean Darren Lim back in 2013 at the age of 14.
Heilman is already the 13-14 NAG record holder in the LCM 100 free, clocking 51.20 in 2020, and also owns the age group’s all-time mark in the 100 fly (54.45).
In SCY, Heilman holds the 200 free 13-14 NAG in 1:36.25, while Andrew owns six of those records, including the 50 free (19.76).
Heilman notably finished his time in the 11-12 age group just .04 outside of the NAG held by Ronald Dalmacio (24.98) with a best of 25.02.
For his efforts, Heilman qualified for the ‘A’ final at the US Open in eighth place, and barring scratches will be the youngest swimmer in the field by five years (with 2002-born Adam Chaney the only other swimmer in the top-eight born after 2000). Heilman will also be two lanes over from Bruno Fratus, 18 years his elder.
Andrej Barna was the top qualifier for the final in 22.31.
He could step on the side of Fratus in the lane and say: “Hello, Uncle!”
I know when I am getting old when I can remember a sub-23 at 18 was a GREAT time… :[
I wonder what college recruiting will look like for Tommy when DeSorbo is his coach?
Depends who can pay more than Texas
Holy guacamole! How big is this kid?
Google is your friend, though I thought he would be bigger….
https://lacrossetribune.com/thomas-heilman/image_d75aabac-f5dc-5139-93f4-cab108265c77.html
😉
For some reason the Omega results don’t say he’s a junior swimmer lol
According to this, male swimmers have to turn 15 that year to qualify: https://swimswam.com/fina-releases-world-best-times-short-course-standards-order-identify-junior-world-record/
wonder how the college recruiting will go for Tommy with DeSorbo as his coach.
Where is Darren Lim now? 22.75 at 14 is unfathomable
The internet is your friend: https://ramblinwreck.com/roster/darren-lim/
If he’s 5’9″ as listed he probably stopped growing around then.
Ask me how I know…
When Lim swam 22.75 he was a pretty early developer in a programme that was well regarded and known for producing speedy youngsters here in the UK. Ruta Meilutyte and Ben Proud swam at the same club at the time and each had big breakouts at a similar time.
Plymouth is a crazy programme over here in the uk. They dominate nationals alongside a few other programmes
rubberized Cielo shaking right now.
I mean you never know, he could specialize in the 200 free, he’s already a 1:36 in yards.
rubberized?
supersuits
The beginning of possibly another assault on the record books both nationally and now potentially intentionally.
even intentionally too??
Lol. International may be a bit of a stretch but you never know