Cody Miller won’t be surprised if he sees Kate Douglass and a teenager from Beach Cities Swimming Club huddling with each other in the 50m free event in the upcoming 2024 US Olympic swimming trials. But if he is told that the same teenage swimmer is just 13 years old and has already decimated Kate Douglass’ age-based timing in the same event, the reaction could be hard to imagine.

This time, the 2024 US Olympic swimming trials will witness a 13-year-old swimmer as the youngest one to cut into the participant list. However, the oldest participant in this year’s trial can give similar goosebumps as well. The two-time Olympian Gabrielle Rose, 46 will enter the Lucas Oil Stadium-based trial as the oldest one among the swimmers.

The road to the 2024 US Olympic swimming trials 

According to Swimming World magazine’s Instagram account, 13-year-old swimmer Gabi Brito has qualified for an upcoming event by beating Kate Douglass’ previous time. Specifically, Brito’s 25.71-second finish in the 50m freestyle surpassed the Southern California LSC record previously held by Dara Torres.

Torres is a highly accomplished Olympian, having won 12 Olympic medals in women’s swimming events, which remains an unsurpassed record. The question now is whether young Brito can follow in Torres’ footsteps and earn a spot at the 2024 US Olympic swimming trials through her performances this year.

Another swimmer making waves is Gabrielle Rose, who at age 46 has become the oldest-ever qualifier for the US Olympic swimming trials by securing her entry into the upcoming meet at Lucas Oil Stadium. She will compete in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events. This surpasses Dara Torres’ previous record as the oldest at 45 years old when she competed in the 50m freestyle trials in 2012.

Though born in Brazil and having represented that nation at the 1996 Olympics, Rose later obtained US citizenship and aimed to make the American Olympic team. However, she fell short in the 2000 and 2004 US trials before taking an extended break from elite competition. Now, almost two decades later, Rose has made a remarkable comeback bid to try to qualify for the Olympics one final time.

The tales of grit, endurance, and hard work

Despite missing the elite swimming contests or practice, Gabrielle Rose remained a regular sight in the masters swimming. Describing those memorable experiences, she once said, “Masters swimming has been like a lifeline for me. I just enjoy the camaraderie and community and staying connected to the water.” Eventually, her swimming endeavors at the masters nationals kept her ahead of the rest of the participants in the age group of 45-49. Meanwhile, something came into her life that turned things upside down. 

In Gabrielle’s hometown, Memphis, her family owned the sole Olympic-sized swimming pool in the entire region. This was a source of pride for her late father, Mike, who made Gabrielle promise to preserve the pool after his passing. Honoring his wish, the 46-year-old decided to restart long course swimming training there.

Her 9-year-old daughter, also a swimmer, strongly encouraged her mother to pursue this swimming endeavor. After her journey from master’s swimming competitions to the Olympic trials, Gabrielle can now confidently state, “Age is a big way that we limit ourselves. I just hope I can encourage people to question that a little bit more, and be curious and be brave.“

For Gabi Brito, her biggest motivator is her older sister Bella, who has already committed to the USC swim team and was ranked the #14 recruit in May. However, both Gabrielle and Bella will face intense competition in the 2024 US Olympic swimming trials. In 50m free, Gabi Brito will have to face the duo Kate Douglass (the American record holder in the event) and Gretchen Walsh (the NCAA standout).

Olympic medalist Simone Manuel will also feature in the same event. On the other hand, in the 100m breast, Gabrielle Rose will compete against Lilly King (Olympic medalist) and Kate Douglass (Olympic medalist). In the 200m breast, Gabrielle will find Kate Douglass again, with Lilly King and Alex Walsh (Olympic medalist). The trial is set to roll on June 15-23, in Indianapolis.