“I’m going to be in Indy on Friday,” confirmed the 23-time Olympic gold medalist about his presence at the Lucas Oil Stadium. This is the location in Indiana where the 2024 US swimming trials have been kicked off. Though Michael Phelps retired after the 2016 Rio Olympics, audiences love to see him still be present for milestone swimming events. 

His participation promises to elevate excitement and intensify competition as athletes vie for a spot on the US Olympic team. It’s no doubt that his presence will not only boost spectators’ spirits, but also inspire all the swimmers present to strive for his level of glory. 

Anticipation builds at US Swimming Olympics trials for Michael Phelps’ return

Recently on the Pat McAfee Show on Instagram, Michael Phelps gave us some veteran perspective on the US swimming trials. They posted a video with the caption, “WE ARE LIVE ON THE AIR,” Phelps stated, To be able to have the Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium is amazing.” Swimming legend Michael Phelps has officially declared his return to the competitive arena. Phelps, who is going to be in the Thunderdome on Friday, talked about how the trials this year are on another level completely. He said, “To be able to have the Olympic trials inside a football stadium, are you kidding me? You cram 20,000 people in there. It is the biggest venue we’ve ever had in the sport.” 

Additionally, he mentioned that the trials might actually be more intense than the Olympics Games themselves. Because in the Trials in Indianapolis, 2000-2500 swimmers are competing for just 52 spots. Newbies are also going up against absolute legends like Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Murphy. Phelps will be working with NBC during his visit to the stadium. He expressed his excitement saying, “Honestly, this thing, it’s the greatest.” On the McAfee Show he also said that there are many new faces to look forward to, there are many “studs coming up in this sport”. So far, we’re already midway through the trials. As of 20th June, 11 events are left. Women’s 200m butterfly, men’s 200m backstroke and women’s 200m breaststroke for Thursday.

Men’s 50m freestyle, women’s 200m backstroke and men’s 200m IM for Friday. Men’s 100m fly, women’s 200m IM and women’s 800m freestyle on Saturday. Finally, women’s 50m freestyle and men’s 1500m freestyle for Sunday. The top contenders to look out for are Kate Douglass who has the best time for 4 events. These include 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 50m and 100m freestyle. As well as Torri Huske, with the fastest time in 100m butterfly. There’s 2x Olympian Ryan Murphy who is eager to qualify the 200m backstroke after already making it into the team with the 100m event. Regan Smith is also a strong competitor and so is 5x Olympic medallist Lilly King, who is returning for her last Olympic cycle.

Tokyo Olympic swimmers making a comeback this season

The 2024 US swimming trials are a mix of anticipation and nostalgia, featuring seasoned Olympians and rising stars chasing their dreams in the pool. Among the luminaries returning from the 2020 Tokyo Games is Katie Ledecky, an icon in the sport aiming for her fourth Olympic appearance. In fact in Tokyo, Ledecky won her 10th Olympic medal. Even 5X Tokyo gold medallist Caeleb Dressel, the indomitable force with five gold medals from Tokyo, commands attention as he seeks to extend his legacy again. Ryan Murphy, known for his backstroke prowess and a gold medalist in the 4x100m relay in Tokyo, returns with determination to defend his title.

Lilly King, world record holder in the 100m breaststroke and a dominant figure in the pool. She seeks Olympic glory with a rich history of gold, silver, and bronze medals from past Games. The roster is not short on promising talents either, with Tokyo medalists such as Torri Huske, Regan Smith, Bobby Finke, and Katie Grimes poised to leave their mark once again. Already, the team has seen some stars secure their spots for Paris. Notably, Ledecky after winning the 400m and 200m freestyle events has already qualified. So have Grimes and Murphy after winning the 400m IM and 100m, 200m backstroke events respectively.

King’s dominant breaststroke skills secure her place alongside talents like Gretchen Walsh and Carson Foster, poised to excel on the grand stage. So is Hobson and Nic Fink. As the final selections draw near, anticipation mounts for who else will join these illustrious ranks. We still have to wait till the 23rd to know the full strength of the team. With each stroke and record shattered, these athletes embody Olympic excellence, setting the stage for Paris 2024.