2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Indiana University Natatorium
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
On Wednesday evening, USA Swimming released the pre-scratch psych sheets for the 2025 U.S. National Championships, which serves as the sole selection meet to determine the U.S. rosters for the World Championships, World Junior Championships, and World University Games.
The meet begins on Tuesday, June 3, and concludes on Saturday, June 7. The competition will be held at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The biggest absence from the entry lists is Caeleb Dressel, the nine-time Olympic gold medalist who recently returned to competition at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series—his first meet since the Paris Olympics. While Dressel didn’t collect any individual medals in Paris, he still walked away with two relay golds.
In Fort Lauderdale, the Florida Gator posted times of 22.21 in the 50 freestyle and 23.32 in the 50 butterfly, placing 5th and 4th, respectively.
His absence is not too surprising, as he is expecting his second child in the coming weeks.
Dressel’s training partner, nine-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky—the most decorated American female swimmer in history—is entered in her signature events: the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 free. At last year’s Trials, she won the 200 free but ultimately chose not to swim it individually at the Olympics.
She heads into this meet with huge momentum, fresh off a world record-setting 800 free (8:04.12) at the aforementioned Fort Lauderdale meet. That same event will open the competition on night one—and it’s sure to bring fireworks.
Virginia senior Gretchen Walsh, coming off two world record-setting 100 fly performances in Fort Lauderdale, is entered in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, and 100 fly. She is not entered in the 50 back, despite speculation from fans about her potential in the event.
Torri Huske, the reigning Olympic champion in the 100 fly, is entered in the 50, 100, and 200 free, 50 and 100 fly, and 200 IM. The 100 fly and 200 IM conflict at Worlds, and she faces a potential scheduling decision on the final day between the 50 free and 200 IM. If she secures a spot in the 100 fly, she is likely to focus on the 50 free. If she is upset by someone else for a Worlds spot in the 100 fly, possibly by Regan Smith, she would likely pursue the IM route instead.
Walsh’s training partner, Kate Douglass, the reigning Olympic champion in the 200 breast and two-time defending world champion in the 200 IM, is entered in seven events: the 50, 100, and 200 breast; 50 and 100 free; 50 fly; and 200 IM. She faces the same 200 IM/50 free double as Torri Huske on the final day. With no long course 200 IM appearances since the Olympics, a scratch from that event in favor of the 50 free appears likely.
Bob Bowman-trained Regan Smith, the world record holder in the 100 back, is entered in the 50, 100, and 200 back, as well as the 100 and 200 fly. She won silver in the 100 back, 200 back, and 200 fly at the Paris Olympics and enters the meet as the heavy favorite in those three events. She is also a co-favorite in the 50 back alongside NC State pro and 100 back Olympic bronze medalist Katharine Berkoff, who is entered in all three backstroke distances as well as the 50 and 100 free.
On the men’s side, Smith’s training partner Shaine Casas is entered in seven events, including his signature 200 IM, as well as the 50 and 100 back, 50 and 100 fly, and 100 and 200 free. Texas training mate Carson Foster will join him in the 200 IM and 200 free, and will also contest the 200 fly and 400 free, in addition to his best event—the 400 IM—where he won silver at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships before earning bronze in Paris.
Virginia’s Claire Curzan, a 2021 Olympian in the 100 fly and 2024 World champion in all three backstroke events, is dropping fly entirely and is entered in all backstroke distances, plus the 50 and 100 free.
Additionally, 100 breaststroke world record holder Lilly King is focusing solely on the sprint breast events, opting out of the 200 entirely. She is the third-fastest American ever in the 200 breast with her 2:19.92 from the 2021 Olympics, where she earned silver.
Questions remain about the finalized lineups of America’s most versatile swimmers, many of whom are way over-entered.
Below is a list of some of USA Swimming’s top stars’ entries. This list is not comprehensive.
Women:
- Katie Ledecky — 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
- Kate Douglass — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Fly, 200 IM
- Alex Walsh — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 IM
- Torri Huske — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 IM
- Claire Curzan — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 50 Free, 100 Free
- Katie Grimes — 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM, 200 Fly, 200 Back
- Gretchen Walsh — 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly
- Regan Smith — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Fly, 200 Fly
- Lilly King — 50 Breast, 100 Breast
- Rylee Erisman — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 50 Back, 100 Back
- Audrey Derivaux — 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Back, 200 IM, 400 IM
- Erin Gemmell — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 IM
- Bella Sims — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 IM
- Simone Manuel — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Fly
- Jillian Cox — 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
- Leah Hayes — 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
- Emma Weber — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
- Katharine Berkoff — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 5o Free, 100 Free
- Phoebe Bacon — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Fly, 200 IM
- Skyler Smith — 50 Breast, 100 Breast
- Leah Shackley — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 50 Free
- Claire Weinstein — 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
- Alex Shackell — 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Free, 200 IM
- Anna Moesch — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
- McKenzie Siroky — 50 Breast, 100 Breast
- Rhyan White — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back
- Emma Weyant — 200 Free, 400 Free, 400 IM
Men:
- Shaine Casas — 50 Back, 100 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 200 Free, 200 IM
- Carson Foster — 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Fly
- Kieran Smith — 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Back
- Jack Alexy — 50 Free, 100 Free
- Luke Hobson — 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free
- Chris Guiliano — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
- Michael Andrew — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 50 Back, 50 Free
- Bobby Finke — 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM
- Rex Maurer — 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 400 IM
- Maximus Williamson — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 IM
- David Johnston — 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM
- Luka Mijatovic — 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM
- Brooks Curry — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
- Destin Lasco — 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 IM
- Matt King — 50 Free, 100 Free
- Jack Aikins — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back
- Aaron Shackell — 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 Fly
- Jonny Kulow — 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly
- Patrick Sammon — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
- Campbell McKean — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 50 Fly, 200 IM
- Nate Germonprez — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 IM
- Josh Matheny — 100 Breast, 200 Breast
- Will Modglin — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 IM
- Thomas Heilman — 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 50 Free, 200 Free, 200 IM
- Luca Urlando — 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Free
- Dare Rose — 50 Fly, 100 Fly
- Quintin McCarty — 50 Back, 100 Back, 50 Free, 100 Free
- Keaton Jones — 100 Back, 200 Back
- Gabriel Jett — 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Free
- Ryan Held — 50 Free
- Santo Condorelli — 50 Free
Does anyone know what the dollar signs ($) mean on the psych sheet?
No Julian Smith, wanted to see what he could do LC after NCAAs.
He announced his retirement after NCAAs. Going to dental school. Definitely going to be one of the big “we’ll never know” stories of this generation. Would have loved to see him train through Trials – presuming he doesn’t start dental school until the fall anyway – but totally understand the temptation to just chill for a little bit before ramping up a new grind.
What’s the TV schedule?
The person the US men’s team needs this year is the 2 year forward extrapolation of Maximus Williamson using his 2023 trendline
To sum up the situation, Braden Holloway is Morris Buttermaker and the men’s swimming team are The Bad News Bears.
A lot have expressed this sentiment already, but I’m very excited to see fresh faces and young up-and-comers on the mens side 🙂
Last chance for Beata Nelson to make a big team?
this will be the summer to do it, want it for her so bad.
Beata Nelson looked good at the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.
I’m curious to know who you think is the best swimmer in the country, since there may be a tie after Ledecky.
Gretchen Walsh
Torri Huske
Regan Smith
Kate Douglass
??
I’d say Douglass due to her being able to swim so many different events, jack of all trades type
Why are you asking this on every single article?
Probably Walsh but it’s a good question. Maybe the answer changes after next week!