INDIANAPOLIS — The fastest runners at the U.S. Olympic Trials put on a show of speed, but Chris Juliano came out on top, winning the 100-meter freestyle final in a blazing time of 47.38 seconds.
Giuliano, making his Olympic debut, took second and third place ahead of Jack Alexie and American record holder Caleb Dressel, but within 0.15 seconds of each other, showing just how close the race was for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with both Giuliano and Alexie clocking 22.51 seconds at the 50-meter mark.
“I've been working on my second half for this tournament,” Juliano told NBC Sports. “I just had to find a way and step it up another gear.”
Coming on the heels of a spectacular women's 100m race that opened the night at Lucas Oil Stadium, the sprint did not disappoint.
Giuliano and Alexie, who is also making his Olympic debut, are scheduled to compete in the 100m individual freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while Dressel and fourth-place finisher Hunter Armstrong will take part in the 4x100m freestyle relay.
“Well, we [the relay world record]”I'm not sure what to do,” Dressel, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist competing in his third Olympics, told NBC Sports. [the] The world record is 47.3 average. We have a chance to do it. That's incredibly fast.”
“I want the world record, but most importantly I need more cowbell,” Armstrong added, drawing laughter from the audience.
Following Tuesday's semi-final, it was a predictably fast race, with all eight athletes advancing to the final within 0.86 seconds of each other, making it a winnable race for anyone.
Giuliano, Alexi, Dressel and Armstrong will face off again in the 50m freestyle in the heats at a later date. Giuliano has already qualified for Paris in the 200m freestyle, Armstrong has qualified in the 100m backstroke and Dressel also has a chance to qualify individually in the 100m butterfly.
“It's so amazing,” Alexie told NBC Sports. “This experience is so surreal. [of a] I feel a sense of relief and am happy to be able to go to Paris with these people.”
