The swimming events at the Paris La Défense Arena really got the crowd pumped! But here’s the kicker: the year is about to end on an even higher note, thanks to the upcoming Swimming World Championships! Swimmers were totally in their element at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024 as they battled it out for a shot at these championships. And this time? The competition is going to be even more intense!

The Swimming World Championships are set to make a splash from December 10 to December 15, 2024, in the gorgeous city of Budapest, Hungary. While American swimming legends Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel were not present at the World Cup, don’t sweat it! There are still plenty of strong contenders ready to make their mark at the Championships. So, who are these exciting athletes to watch as they dive into the action?

The Kate’s and Katie’s

The Kates and Katies—Kate Douglass and Katie Grimes—made waves at the Paris Olympics! On one hand, Kate Douglass was on fire, snagging four medals: two golds in the women’s 200m breaststroke and the women’s 4x100m medley relay, along with silvers in the 200m medley and 4x100m freestyle relay. She wrapped up the 2024 Doha World Aquatics Championships with five medals, shining brightest in the challenging 200-meter individual medley. With a stunning total of 21 World Championship medals, Kate continues to prove she’s a force to be reckoned with in the swimming world!

Then we have Katie Grimes, who dazzled at the Paris Olympics, grabbing a silver medal in the 400m Individual Medley for women. At just 15 years old, she became the youngest U.S. Olympic swimmer when she qualified for the Tokyo Olympics since Amanda Beard made the 1996 team at age 14. Fast forward to today, and now, two Olympics later, she proudly wears the title of Olympic medalist! Katie reflects, “Being 18 rather than 15 is a big difference in terms of just maturity.” And guess what? This is only the beginning of an exciting lineup of the championships!

Torri Huske

Torri Huske, the two-time Olympian, kicked off Team USA’s hunt for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in style by winning the 100-meter butterfly. After just missing the podium at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by just one-hundredth of a second—Torri totally crushed it in Paris, snagging her first gold medal! “It was a surreal moment,” she said, soaking it all in. And get this: she’s not just a two-time Olympian; she’s also racked up a whopping six Olympic medals—three golds and three silvers—five shining bright from the Paris Games and one silver from Tokyo. But hold up, the excitement doesn’t stop here!

The Walsh Sisters

The journey of the Walsh sisters, Alex and Gretchen, is nothing short of extraordinary. While both compete in swimming, their paths to the Paris Olympics and the World Swimming Championships have been quite different. It all kicked off at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in 2021, where Alex made the American team for the 200-meter individual medley, while Gretchen faced a disappointing meet, showcasing the highs and lows of competitive swimming.

Fast forward to the Paris Olympics, and the tables turned! At just 21, Gretchen set a world record in the 100 butterfly on the second day of the trials. A few days later, 22-year-old Alex joined her on the team in the 200 IM. On the first day of swimming in Paris, Gretchen earned a silver medal in the 4×100 freestyle relay and then set an Olympic record in the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.38, finishing her debut Olympics with four medals. Meanwhile, Alex snagged silver in the 200-meter individual medley. Talk about sister magic! And there’s even more excitement ahead!

Regan Smith 

Remember when Regan Smith was just 17 and set the 200m backstroke world record? Even though Kaylee McKeown later took that title, these two have become fierce rivals, often trading places for the top spot. Smith continued her success at the Paris Olympics, where she clinched five medals: two golds in the women’s and mixed 4×100 medley relays, along with three silvers in the 100m and 200m backstroke and the 200m butterfly. As a top backstroke swimmer, she’s set to shine at the upcoming World Swimming Championships.

Lilly King 

Lilly King is a true powerhouse in U.S. breaststroke swimming! Known for her fierce spirit and strength, she’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder. Her Olympic journey began at the 2016 Rio Games, where she won gold in the 100m breaststroke and the 4x100m medley relay, setting an Olympic record. In Tokyo, she earned two bronze medals but narrowly missed the podium at the Paris Olympics, finishing fourth. But wait, there’s more excitement ahead!

Michael Andrew

With a stunning collection of 158 Aqua and Olympic medals, Michael Andrew is undeniably a swimming sensation. Yet, while many athletes shone brightly in Paris, Andrew found himself sidelined, opting out of the 200-meter IM and struggling in other events. Now, as he gears up for the World Swimming Championships, you can bet he’ll be diving in headfirst, ready to give it his all!

Carson Foster

Carson Foster first made waves in the swimming world back in 2012 when he shattered Michael Phelps’ Under-10 national record in the 100m butterfly. This versatile swimmer has proven to be one of the sport’s top talents, boasting the fourth-fastest 200m butterfly time globally in 2022 and the sixth-best record in the 200m backstroke. Fast forward to the Paris Olympics, where he earned a silver and a bronze, cementing his prowess. Now, he’s set his sights on the upcoming championships, ready to dive in and maintain his remarkable standard!