2024 US Olympic Swim Trials Prelims Recap Day 2: Gabrielle Rose, Chase Kalisz, and More

Enthusiasm and substantial emotions greeted day two of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Swimmers got ready for a full schedule of preliminary heats, which included the women’s 200 freestyle, women’s 400 individual medley, women’s 100 breaststroke, and men’s 100 backstroke. The energy in the pool reflected the growing anticipation of both competitors and supporters as the morning sun rose.

The significance of the 200 freestyle heats increased significantly once the 400 freestyle races were completed on the first day. Potential positions were at stake in the men’s and women’s 200 free events, marking them important. Let’s look at the highlights of the second day of preliminary competition for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE — PRELIMS RESULTS

World Record: 1:42.00 — Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
American Record: 1:42.96 — Michael Phelps, 2008
U.S. Open Record: 1:44.10 — Michael Phelps (USA), 2008
World Junior Record: 1:42.97 — David Popovici (ROU), 2022
2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Kieran Smith, 1:45.29
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 1:47.06

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

Luke Hobson (LAKE), 1:45.95
Blake Pieroni (ISC), 1:46.09
Drew Kibler (NYAC), 1:46.39
Brooks Curry (CAL), 1:46.49
Patrick Sammon (SUN), 1:46.72
Kieran Smith (RAC), 1:46.77
Coby Carrozza (TXLA), 1:46.81
Daniel Diehl (WOLF), 1:46.83
Jake Mitchell (FLOR), 1:47.01
Chris Guiliano (ND) / Aaron Shackell (CSC), 1:47.05
–
Jake Magahey (SA), 1:47.06
Zhang Wen (AFA), 1:47.24
Baylor Nelson (TAMU), 1:47.25
Grant House (SUN), 1:47.35
Rex Maurer (TXLA), 1:47.39

Highlights:

Luke Hobson swam in a solid 1:45.12 to lead the field. Both Kieran Smith and Drew Kibler came in close behind, finishing under 1:46. Jake Mitchell and Aaron Shackell also posted competitive times, so the battle was fierce.

Insights:

With a time of 1:46.77 this morning, Kieran Smith distinguished himself as the only swimmer from Heat 6 to place in the top eight. In addition to earning him a place among the elite, this outstanding performance improved his season-best time. Smith, an exceptional swimmer for the United States, is currently the third-fastest American of all time, with a personal best time of 1:44.74 from the Tokyo Olympics.

MEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY — PRELIMS
World Record: 4:02.50–Leon Marchand (FRA), 2023.
World Junior Record: 4:10.02–Ilya Borodin (RUS), 2021.
American Record: 4:03.84–Michael Phelps (2008)
U.S. Open Record: 4:05.25–Michael Phelps (USA), 2008.
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Chase Kalisz, 4:09.09
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 4:12.50

Final Qualifiers:

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE — PRELIMS
World Record: 1:04.13 — Lilly King (USA), 2017
American Record: 1:04.13 — Lilly King, 2017
U.S. Open Record: 1:04.45 — Jessica Hardy (USA), 2009
World Junior Record: 1:04.35 — Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Lilly King, 1:04.79
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 1:06.79

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

Lilly King (ISC), 1:06.05
Emma Weber (CA-Y), 1:06.67
Kaelyn Gridley (DUKE), 1:06.80
Lydia Jacoby (STSC), 1:07.25
Kaitlyn Dobler (TPDS), 1:07.26
Ella Nelson (NAC), 1:07.66
McKenzie Siroky (UN-MI), 1:07.80
Alex Walsh (NAC), 1:07.82
Hannah Bach (OSU), 1:08.05
Zoie Hartman (ABSC), 1:08.31
Gabrielle Rose (ALPH), 1:08.43
Skyler Smith (UNC), 1:08.48
Piper Enge (BC) / Raya Mellott (CROW), 1:08.50
–
Abby Arens (WOLF), 1:08.67
Lucy Thomas (EBSC), 1:08.81

Highlights: The women’s 100-breast preliminary event included some exciting moments that the audience got to see. Indiana native Lilly King seized the spotlight by taking home the top seed. Gabrielle Rose, 46, astounded everyone with an exceptionally strong swim that guaranteed her a spot in tonight’s session. King, the 2016 Olympic champion and a hometown favorite, demonstrated her supremacy by finishing in 1:06.05 in the last heat. She finished more than six-tenths of a second ahead of her closest rival, cruising into the semifinals.

Insights: King has been at an incredible pace this season, setting the American record at the Knoxville Pro Swim earlier in 1:05.67.

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE — PRELIMS

World Record: 51.60 — Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 2022
American Record: 51.85 — Ryan Murphy, 2016
U.S. Open Record: 51.94 — Aaron Peirsol (USA), 2009
World Junior Record: 52.53 — Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Ryan Murphy, 52.33
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time — 53.74

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

WOMEN’S 200 FREE — PRELIMS
World Record: 1:52.23 — Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2024
American Record: 1:53.61 — Allison Schmitt, 2012
U.S. Open Record: 1:54.13 — Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
World Junior Record: 1:53.65 — Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Katie Ledecky, 1:55.11
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 1:57.26

And with that, the 2024 US Olympic Swim Trials’ second round of heats is over! How did you feel about the other night? Comment below!