2024 US Olympic Swim Trials Prelims Recap: Katie Ledecky Smashes 400M, Gretchen Walsh Below 56, and More

Today marked the kickoff of the 2024 US Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It is set to be an exciting nine-day event packed with top-tier swimmers from across the nation. The schedule is intense, with morning prelims, evening semifinals, and finals almost daily. This time, they have chosen the largest venue yet, making for an epic backdrop to the competition.

The action started this morning with the women’s 100 butterfly heats, setting the pace for what promised to be a thrilling tournament. Up next in the opening session were the women’s 400 free, men’s 100 breast, and men’s 400 free events. Icons of the sport like Torri Huske, Gretchen Walsh, Regan Smith, Claire Curzan, Katie Ledecky, Nic Fink, David Johnston, and Kieran Smith captivated fans’ attention, each poised to showcase their best. Let’s recap the Day 1 prelims of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

The women’s 100 butterfly prelims:

Prelim Results:

1. Gretchen Walsh (NAC) – 55.94
2. Torri Huske (AAC) – 56.26
3. Regan Smith (TXLA) – 56.68
4. Alex Shackell (CSC) – 57.07
5. Kelly Pash (TXLA) – 57.66
6. Beata Nelson (UN-WI) – 57.68
7. Claire Curzan (TAC-NC) – 58.17
8. Abby Arens (WOLF) – 58.19
9. Emma Sticklen (TXLA) – 58.22
10. Lillie Nordmann (ALTO) – 58.38
11. Leah Shackley (BRY) – 58.47
12. Josephine Fuller (TENN) – 58.56
13. Annika Parkhe (PAC) – 58.58
14. Olivia Bray (TXLA) – 58.67
15. Charlotte Crush (LAK) – 58.68
16. Dakota Luther (TXLA) – 58.73

Highlights:

• Gretchen Walsh (NAC): Walsh dominated the prelims with a blistering 55.94 seconds, becoming the second-fastest American ever in the event and securing a top spot in the semi-finals, according to the official website.
• Torri Huske (AAC): The American record holder in the event showcased her form with a solid 56.26 seconds, positioning herself as a strong contender for the semi-finals.
• Regan Smith (TXLA): Smith, known for her strong second half, topped her heat with a swift 56.68 seconds, setting a competitive tone heading into the semi-finals.
• Charlotte Crush (LAK): Crush dropped nearly three-tenths from her best time to clock 58.68 seconds, securing her place in the top 15 and highlighting her potential in the 15-16 age group.
• Audrey Derivaux (Jersey Wahoos): Derivaux impressed with a lifetime best of 59.25 seconds, moving into second place all-time in the girls’ 13–14 age group, making a notable start at the Olympic Trials.

Competition Insights:

• The competition intensity was evident with the semi-final cut-off set at 58.73 seconds, showcasing the high level of performance and the competitive atmosphere at the 2024 Olympic Trials.

The women’s 400 freestyle prelims at the 2024 US Olympic Trials:

Final Qualifiers:

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC) – 3:59.99
2. Paige Madden (NYAC) – 4:04.83
3. Jillian Cox (TXLA) – 4:06.35
4. Madi Mintenko (PPA) – 4:07.53
5. Erin Gemmell (NCAP) – 4:08.42
6. Aurora Roghair (ALTO) – 4:09.67
7. Katie Grimes (SAND) / Anna Peplowski (ISC) – 4:09.87 (tied)

Highlights:

• Katie Ledecky (GSC): Ledecky asserted her dominance with a commanding performance, finishing strong to secure the top seed for the final. Her time of 3:59.99 marked her 29th occasion breaking the 4:00 barrier, showcasing her consistency and excellence in the event.
• Paige Madden (NYAC): Madden, a Tokyo Olympic finalist, showed her form with a solid swim, qualifying comfortably in second place with a time of 4:04.83, coming off a season-best performance earlier.
• Jillian Cox (TXLA): Cox improved on her personal best, advancing to the final in third place with a time of 4:06.35, demonstrating her readiness for the competitive field.
• Madi Mintenko (PPA): Mintenko impressed by breaking the 4:08 mark for the first time, securing a spot in the final and moving up to sixth all-time in the girls’ 15-16 age group.
• Aurora Roghair (ALTO): Roghair matched her best time to comfortably qualify in sixth place, taking advantage of the opportunity with a consistent performance.
• Katie Grimes (SAND) / Anna Peplowski (ISC): Grimes and Peplowski tied for seventh place with identical times of 4:09.87, setting up an exciting showdown for the final session.

Insights:

• Claire Weinstein and Bella Sims: Weinstein started strong alongside Ledecky but faded, finishing 30th in 4:14.20, while Sims struggled and placed 20th in 4:12.49.
• Leah Smith: Despite being a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the event, Smith missed out on the final, finishing 10th in 4:10.09, citing previous injury challenges.
• Competitive Field: The competition intensity was evident, with notable swimmers like Weinstein and Smith missing the cut despite strong season performances leading into the Trials.

The men’s 100 breaststroke prelims:

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Nic Fink (NYAC), 59.24
2. Josh Matheny (ISC), 59.34
3. Charlie Swanson (NOVA), 59.44
4. Jake Foster (RAYS), 59.59
5. Michael Andrew (MASA), 59.72
6. Liam Bell (CAL), 1:00.15
7. Brian Benzing (TUS), 1:00.16
8. Luke Rodarte (CAL) / Tommy Cope (CW), 1:00.23 (tied)
9. Noah Nichols (CA-Y), 1:00.24
10. Matt Fallon (UPN), 1:00.35
11. Cody Miller (SAND), 1:00.45
12. Daniel Roy (TDPS), 1:00.57
13. AJ Pouch (VT), 1:00.61
14. Will Licon (TXLA), 1:00.78
15. Danny Kovac (TRI) / Ben Cono (TOC), 1:00.80 (tied)

Highlights:

• Nic Fink: Led the field with a dominant swim, reaffirming his status as a top contender in the event after his world championship success.
• Charlie Swanson: Achieved a new personal best, demonstrating significant improvement and securing third place overall.
• Liam Bell and Brian Benzing: Posted impressive personal bests of 1:00.15 and 1:00.16, respectively, advancing comfortably to the semi-finals.
• Danny Kovac and Ben Cono: Tied for 16th place in 1:00.80, likely leading to a swim-off for the final spot in the semi-finals. Kovac set a new personal best with this performance.
• Competitive Field: The prelims showcased intense competition, with several swimmers achieving personal milestones and setting up for an exciting semi-final round.

This sets the stage for an exciting semi-final round where these swimmers will vie for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in the Men’s 100 Breaststroke.

The men’s 400 freestyle prelims:

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Luke Whitlock (FAST), 3:46.42
2. David Johnston (TST), 3:47.17
3. Jake Mitchell (FLOR), 3:47.76
4. Aaron Shackell (CSC), 3:47.96
5. Jake Magahey (SA), 3:48.16
6. Kieran Smith (RAC), 3:48.25
7. Daniel Matheson (SUN), 3:48.57
8. Bobby Finke (SPA), 3:48.63

Highlights:

• Luke Whitlock: Secured the top spot with a commanding swim of 3:46.42, igniting the crowd as he surpassed the Olympic qualifying time. The 18-year-old clocked in at 3:46.42, demolishing his previous personal best of 3:49.10 and now stands as the second-fastest ever in the boys’ 17–18 age group, behind only Larsen Jensen’s legendary Olympic effort in 2004.Whitlock engaged in a thrilling battle with David Johnston and Jake Mitchell in the eighth and final heat, ultimately securing the three central lanes for the upcoming final. Johnston, entering as the top seed, finished closely behind in second place with a time of 3:47.17, while Mitchell rallied over the last 150 meters to claim third in 3:47.76.
• Notably, five of the eight ‘A’ final qualifiers emerged from this intense final heat, including Jake Magahey and Daniel Matheson, who also showcased their strength in the heated competition.

• Aaron Shackell: Impressed in heat 7 with a first-place finish in 3:47.96, out-touching Olympic medalists Kieran Smith and Bobby Finke. Smith secured his place in the final with a solid performance, finishing closely behind Shackell in 3:48.25.
• David Johnston and Jake Mitchell: Johnston posted a strong 3:47.17 to take second place, while Mitchell followed closely in third with 3:47.76.
• A highlight from Heat 6 featured Luka Mijatovic, who displayed a remarkable battle with Norvin Clontz and set a new lifetime best of 3:50.71. This performance placed him just three one-hundredths of a second shy of Larsen Jensen’s National Age Group Record for 15–16 boys, set in 2002. Mijatovic’s effort earned him 12th place overall, an impressive feat considering he had already broken his own 13-14 NAG record earlier in March with a time of 3:51.18.
• Further down the ranks, Sean Green of LIAC made a significant improvement, dropping his best time from 3:53.04 to 3:50.55, placing him 18th all-time in the boys’ 17–18 age group.

The men’s 100 breaststroke swim-off:

Danny Kovac and Ben Cono delivered an electrifying finish to the first session of the 2024 US Olympic Swim Trials in Indianapolis, battling stroke for stroke in the 100 breaststroke with a semifinal spot at stake. Ultimately, Kovac edged out Cono by a razor-thin margin, touching the wall just three one-hundredths of a second ahead with a time of 1:00.47 to 1:00.50, securing his place in tonight’s session.

• Danny Kovac (TRI), 1:00.47
• Ben Cono (TOC), 1:00.5

With this, the heats for the first day of the 2024 US Olympic Swim Trials have concluded! What are your thoughts on the opening night? Share them in the comments below!