Thomas Heilman Breaks Own 15-16 NAG Record (Again) With 51.19 100 Butterfly

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 3 Finals Heat Sheets

MEN’S 100 FLY — FINALS

  • World Record: 49.45, Caeleb Dressel (USA) — 2021
  • American Record: 49.45, Caeleb Dressel (USA) — 2021
  • U.S. Open Record: 49.76, Caeleb Dressel (USA) — 2021
  • Championship Record: 49.76, Caeleb Dressel (USA) — 2021
  • World Junior Reocrd: 50.62, Kristof Milak (HUN) — 2017
  • World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 51.96
  • 2022 U.S. Trials Top 2 Time: 50.88
  • 2022 Worlds Medal Time: 50.97

Top 8:

  1. Dare Rose (CAL) — 50.74
  2. Thomas Heilman (CA-Y) — 51.19
  3. Shaine Casas (TXLA) — 51.42
  4. Zach Harting (CARD) — 51.56
  5. Caeleb Dressel (GSC)/Gabriel Jett (CAL) — 51.66
  6. (tie)
  7. Trenton Julian (MVN) — 51.87
  8. Luke Miller (WOLF) — 52.22

After breaking his own National Age Group record this morning in the men’s 100 butterfly in a 51.78, Thomas Heilman swam even faster in tonight’s final with a 51.19.

Split Comparison:

Indy (Finals) Indy (Prelims) Jr Pan Pacs
50 24.05 24.37 24.73
100 27.14 27.41 27.25
51.19 51.78 51.98

Heilman swam his fastest two-50s ever, breaking his NAG by a total of 0.79 seconds today.

With his second-place finish tonight, the 16-year-old adds the 100 butterfly to his Worlds schedule next month. On night 1 of the meet, Heilman finished second in the 200 butterfly, breaking Michael Phelps‘ NAG record in the process. He also became the youngest swimmer to qualify for Worlds or the Olympics since Phelps.

Heilman is also entered in the 200 IM and 50 free later in the meet. He is the 45 seed in the 200 IM (he is in with a yards entry time) and the 54th seed in the 50 free.

Heilman is now only 0.09 seconds off of Phelps’ 17-18 boys 100 fly NAG record of 51.10.

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OLOAP
1 year ago

I mean I don’t want to spoil the mood here…no doubt kid is posting insane times and it’s definitely remarkable…BUT…I remember Minakov having a very similar trajectory in his 15-16 when he went 51.1 at Youth Olympics and started plateauing since then (I perfectly he took silver medale at 2019 Worlds going 50.8 but it’s “just” 0.3 progress given the age)

Anyways, good luck to Thomas and we’ll see how fast he keeps improving

dan
1 year ago

Heilman is super exciting to watch. Constantly dropping time, and he does very well under pressure. Looking forward to see what he swims in Japan

Verram
1 year ago

Soon USA will be like – Caeleb who?

Orange
Reply to  Verram
1 year ago

Good – he betrayed the nation in international competition.

misterman
Reply to  Orange
1 year ago

Keyboard warrior attacks again! Caeleb has been the face of USA swimming for years now. I have a feeling he is trying to give back to the sport and the youth now. Let him be him.

Foreign Embassy
Reply to  Orange
1 year ago

Betrayed sounds a little harsh, orange.

PFA
1 year ago

This kid is the greatest flyer in a generation and I think he could like Popovici could go after the 100 world record but this time in butterfly before he’s 19!

Last edited 1 year ago by PFA
Eric
Reply to  PFA
1 year ago

Milak’s World Junior record will be broken by Heilman in 2024 at the Paris Olympic Games

Swim2win
1 year ago

Even peak Dressels clock might be ticking with this kid in the rise….

henry
Reply to  Swim2win
1 year ago

he’s the definition of sky high ceiling. whoever gets to coach him at the next level has a huge task. but nonetheless is going to make a beast

Hank
Reply to  henry
1 year ago

Why change what works? He has a couple more years at Cavalier aquatics?

Tyler
1 year ago

0.09 off the next age group is crazy, the fact it’s Phelps’ NAG is insane.

PFA
Reply to  Tyler
1 year ago

I still wouldn’t put it past him to go 50. Low next month definitely a possibility

Swim2win
Reply to  PFA
1 year ago

If he goes 50 point at all I’m gonna piss myself. If he preps for US Open in December he could take out Milaks WJR as a 16YO (watch him take it out this summer tho lol)

Last edited 1 year ago by Swim2win

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 European Championships …

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