2024 U.S. Olympic Selection
Day 4 Qualifying Heat Sheet
Tomorrow is the first day we'll get to see what our freestyle sprinters are capable of. The 200m freestyle saw some very talented swimmers, including: Simone Manuel and Brooks Curryand top swimmers in the 100 butterfly, e.g. Gretchen Walsh and Tori FuskeTomorrow is the first time for Indy and Abby Weitzeil, Jack Alexie And of course Caleb Dressel.
The men's 100m freestyle is the second event on the schedule, but with so many stars in the field, we'll preview it first. Alexi, the 2023 World Championship silver medalist, leads the 100m freestyle with an entry time of 47.31 seconds. He's not far behind his fellow swimmers at the World Championships. Chris Julianois seeded second with a time of 47.49 seconds. This is an interesting field with a mix of veteran and top-tier athletes. Ryan Held, Justin Lesand Dressel are the only three players in the top 16 born before the turn of the century. This could be the most important tournament since his return and perhaps of his career.
Dressel, who was the star of American swimming in Tokyo, unexpectedly retired and withdrew without explanation midway through the 2022 World Championships in Budapest. Since her return, every swim has felt like a test of whether she will make the Olympic team for the third time. Dressel is seeded 10th and entered with a time of 48.30 seconds, but she has the experience and pedigree to certainly move up the ranks.
Women's 100m freestyle Kate Douglas Douglas, the top seed in the 100m freestyle, clocked a time of 52.57, nearly half a second faster than Weitzeil's 52.92. Weitzeil is looking to qualify for his third Olympic Games and will be looking to win his third straight title in the 50m freestyle later in the meet. Greg Walsh and Husk, the winner and runner-up in the 100m butterfly, are next in the heat sheet, but Husk is seeded slightly ahead of Walsh in the berth order. Manuel, the 2016 Olympic co-champion, is seeded fifth. Last night, Manuel finished seventh in the 200m freestyle, just 0.08 seconds away from a possible Olympic berth.
In the first event of the morning, the men's 200 butterfly, Thomas Heilmann Heilman was one of the athletes to watch at the U.S. and World Championships in 2023. As a high school senior, Heilman made the team in two events but fell just short of a medal in the event. Carson FosterWith his Olympic dream now fulfilled, he may feel more relaxed and free to swim with less pressure and post some impressive times.
The women's 1500 is the men's 200 fly and the men's 100 freestyle separated from the women's 100 freestyle and the men's 200 breaststroke. Katie Ledecky And of course, she's the top seed in the event by exactly 30 seconds. Ledecky, who entered in 15:26.27, will be fighting the clock. But she's not the only one to watch in the race. Grimes The No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 seeds are all under the age of 20, leading a strong field of young swimmers. Grimes is the only seed with a time under 16:00, but Kate Hurst and Claire Weinstein Less than a second difference. As previously reported, No. 5 seed Paige Madden Withdrew from the event
The morning ended with the men's 200m breaststroke. After making the team in the 100m breaststroke, Nick Fink and Charlie Swanson They will return to the event as the No. 4 and No. 8 seeds, respectively. Matt Fallon And Texas Jake FosterFallon and Josh MathenyAfter placing third in the 100-meter breaststroke on Sunday, she will represent the United States in Fukuoka.
