2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Indiana University Natatorium
- LCM (50 meters)
- World Championship Selection Criteria
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Meet Central
- Live Results
- Prelims Live Recap: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
- Finals Live Recap: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
Despite Kieran Smith falling victim to the 26-swimmer roster limit for the men’s Worlds team in the very final event, as Santo Condorelli qualified for his first US National Team, the American men’s 4×200 free relay looks stacked for this summer.
Kieran Smith actually ends up as the only member of the 200 freestyle ‘A’ final not to make the squad, with Luka Mijatovic (400 free) and Chris Guiliano (4×100 free relay) qualifying in other events.
The winners of the 200 freestyle ‘B’ final (Destin Lasco) and ‘C’ final (Patrick Sammon) also made the cut for Singapore through their top-four finishes in the 100 freestyle.
In total, there are 10 men on the 26-strong roster who have been 1:46.5 or better so far this season
Season-Best Performances from U.S. 2025 Worlds Team, Men’s 200 Free
- Luke Hobson, 06/04/2025 – 1:43.73
- Gabriel Jett, 06/04/2025 – 1:44.70
- Rex Maurer, 06/04/2025 – 1:45.13
- Henry McFadden, 06/04/2025 – 1:45.22
- Carson Foster, 06/04/2025 – 1:45.45
- Chris Guiliano, 06/04/2025 – 1:45.73
- Luke Mijatovic, 06/04/2025 – 1:45.92
- Destin Lasco, 06/04/2025 – 1:46.32
- Shaine Casas, 05/02/2025 – 1:46.49
- Patrick Sammon, 06/04/2025 – 1:46.54
Nine of the 10 here set best times this season, with all of those coming in the last five weeks. Chris Guiliano is the only one not to have done so as his best of 1:45.38 is from 2024 Olympic Trials, and Shaine Casas set his best at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series at the start of May.
Add in Luca Urlando, who was 1:46.98 last season, and the U.S. can go any number of ways with this relay. If this event had semi-finals, they would almost be able to trot out a unique team of sub-1:47 swimmers in each round just from the swimmers already on the team.
This is by far the strongest and deepest team the U.S. has had over the last half-decade.
| Year | Top-10 Average |
| 2021 | 1:46.85 |
| 2022 | 1:47.36 |
| 2023 | 1:46.98 |
| 2024 | 1:46.06 |
| 2025 | 1:45.52 |
That average is 1.46 seconds faster than in 2023, and whilst this is strongly affected by the makeup of the team it displays a cut-throat level of competition in the squad. It may not be an easy decision to decide who will be swimming prelims this summer.
That competition has been reflected in the projected add-up for the top four, which this year is only 0.23 seconds slower than the 4×200 World record of 6:58.55. That was set at the infamous 2009 World championships in Rome and has endured despite the close attention of the British team over the last four years.
Team GB were 6:58.58 in Tokyo for the third-fastest swim of all-time (the U.S. were 6:58.56 in 2008), but have been in the 6:59 range at the last two major international meets.
The quartet of Tom Dean, Matt Richards, James Guy and Duncan Scott own three of the top six swims all-time in this event, and will all return in Singapore. Tom Dean did take time off last fall while competing on Strictly Come Dancing (the UK version of Dancing with the Stars), so this may be the best chance for the U.S. to return to the top of the podium for the first time since 2016.
The versatility of the U.S. team does stand in stark contrast to their biggest rival for the 4×200 free relay crown this summer. Great Britain will likely have a pool of only seven men for this relay, four of whom have been under the 1:46.5 mark in 2024-25.
Season-Best Performances from GB 2025 Worlds Team, Men’s 200 Free
- Duncan Scott/James Guy – 1:45.08
- –
- Matt Richards – 1:45.35
- Jack McMillan – 1:46.40
- Evan Jones – 1:47.48
- Max Litchfield – 1:47.89
- Tom Dean – 1:48.05
The last time the British quartet of Dean, Richards, Guy and Scott were beaten was by Russia at the 2021 European Championships. However, that was evidently not a taper meet for GB and they were nearly six seconds faster in Tokyo than the 7:04.61 they went in Budapest. Tapered, they are unbeaten in their last three swims (2021, 2023, 2024)
Nevertheless, the race in Singapore this summer looks to be shaping up into a mouthwatering clash between the big-game experience of Great Britain and the youthful speed of Team USA.
USA won the event in 2022 Budapest.
I think it might have missed.
It is cool to think go prelims, semies and finals with three different strongest foursomes
Since the World Aquatics switched the World Championships biennially back in 2001, USA Swimming has recently suffered its worst two year stint:
Gold Medals
2003-04: 11+12=23
2007-08: 20+12=32
2011-12: 16+16=32
2015-16: 08+16=24
2019-20: 14+11=25
2023-24: 07+08=15
The swimming federation, coaches, and athletes have run out of excuses. It’s high time for accountability and transparency, not just “transparency”.
USA wins AND continues distancing our 800 FRR away from all countries through 2028. Gold for the golden USA squad and who cares which country finished second!
With the male contingent of USA Swimming losing its grip on men’s 4 x 100 M-R, it’s imperative USA Swimming win the men’s 4 x 100/200 FR-R at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. It’s time to stop the bleeding.
If I were to make a guess right now without any context of the next few weeks, right now I’d pick the final relay to be Hobson-Foster-Maurer-Jett, that might crack the WR but too many unknowns till we get to Singapore. My guess is at least Hobson and Jett will rest for the prelim relay. And McFadden will lead off the prelim relay along with either Guiliano or Mijatovic being on the prelim relay and I would bank to Luka being on the relay to get the experience because he’s on the rise and better to get the experience now than not plus wouldn’t be shocked if he were to split 45 low.
Posting a season best time in heats while going slower in the final does USA Swimming no favors.
This isn’t the time to screw around with the men’s 4 x 200 FR-R. The coaching staff should place Chris Guiliano in the geats of the M 4 x 200 FR-R since he needs to gain more experience to compete for a spot in the final.
This actually is the time to play with the prelim relay. A year after the olympics is the opportunity to see what does/doesn’t work. If we were in 2027 maybe not but now’s the time to experiment with swimmers and play with lineups (as well as training camp) to see what will be the most ideal for the U.S. Only way both get to swim is if Rex also rests for the prelim relay but I think 1/2 the finals relay should swim in the prelims. Besides let’s say everyone were to split between 1:45-1:46 anything in the prelim gives us a 7:03-7:06 which will likely be more than enough to final here by at least 2 seconds.
I really hope Luka gets a prelims spot, he’s got enormous upside and is going to be a mainstay on that relay in the coming years
Can we please break that relay World Record already. It has been on borrowed time for like 5 years now
It never pays to underestimate an established all-time champion like this GB crew when they’ve proven what they can do in the biggest occasions multiple times. That said, it will be exciting to see how the young guys on the US swim when the pressure is on. Nothing more fun (or inspiring) to me than watching athletes step up and do something great when they have their chance.
Good analysis. Anyone know how deep into the meet the 4×200 is so the coaches know who’s on or a bit off for their personnel choice?
Normally it’s like day 3/4. No idea this year