U.S. Olympic Trials pre-season psychology sheet released
With just over a week until the start of the U.S. Olympic Trials, USA Swimming has released the full pre-selection psychology sheet for the nine-day meet scheduled to take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Click here to see the psychology sheet.
Star players from previous Olympic and world championship teams are expected to compete for a spot on the U.S. national team for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, France. Katie Ledecky Seeded No. 1 in the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyle, Ledecky is seeking her fourth Olympic spot. During her illustrious career, she has won seven Olympic gold medals and 10 total medals.
Caleb DresselDressel, who won five gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, is scheduled to compete in the 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle and although he is not the top seed in any of his events, Dressel is quickly returning to his best form after a long break from training and the psychological outlook is anything to go by.
On the men's side, the Olympic champion was the only athlete to top the qualifying times in multiple events. Ryan MurphyShe was top seeded in the 100-meter backstroke and 200-meter backstroke. Bobby Finkeis ranked number one in both the 800 and 1500 freestyle and is the overwhelming favorite to win. Murphy will also compete in the 100 butterfly, and Finke will compete in the 400 freestyle but surprisingly removed the 400 individual medley from his race schedule.
Carson Foster He is ranked number one in the 400m individual medallists, but is unlikely to compete in all seven events, although he has also competed in the 100m, 200m, 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle. Other recent men's World Championship medallists who have topped their major events include: Nick Fink (100m breaststroke) Luke Hobson (200 free), Matt Fallon (200 breasts), Jack Alexie (100 free) and Dare Rose (200 breaststroke). Among the more versatile swimmers: Michael Andrew Competing in the 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 100m butterfly, and 50m freestyle. Shane Casas The events will include the 100m backstroke, freestyle, butterfly and the 200m individual medley.
For women, Kate Douglas Douglas enters the all-important trials as the top seed in the 100m freestyle, 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley, while also competing in the 100m breaststroke and 50m freestyle and dropping the 100m butterfly from his schedule. Douglas will likely have to choose between the 200m individual medley and the 50m freestyle in his final event of the meet, a tough decision given he is a two-time world champion in the medley and the American record holder in the splash and dash.
Regan Smith She holds the top records in both the backstroke and the 200m butterfly and has also competed in the 100m butterfly, and even without Douglas, it could be a great race featuring the 2022 world champion. Tori Fuske Sprint standouts Gretchen Walsh and Claire CurzanCurzan will miss the freestyle to focus on the 100 butterfly and backstroke, while Husk will compete in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley in addition to the 100m butterfly. Walsh, the fastest 100-yard backstroke swimmer of all time, will miss the longer version of that race to focus on the 100m butterfly and sprint freestyle.
One swimmer withdrew from a competition in which he reached the world championship final last year, but the news was expected. Alex Walsh She will not compete in the 400m individual medley as previously announced, instead choosing to focus on breaststroke alongside her stronger 200m individual medley. Lily King She is leading the 100m breaststroke and will be hoping for a strong performance in front of her hometown fans.
Speaking of the two-lap breaststroke race, there was a surprise on the psychology sheet. Caitlin Dobler Dobler, who is not entered in the meet, has missed out on a spot on the U.S. World Championship team in the event by one spot each of the past two years and is a former NCAA champion in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Swimming World An extensive preview series for the tournament has already begun, with key information from the first three days of the tournament linked below.
The top seeded athletes in each event are listed below, with events listed in order of final date.
Saturday, June 15
- Men's 400m Freestyle: David Johnston
- Women's 400m Freestyle: Katie Ledecky
Sunday, June 16
- Men's 400m Individual Medley: Carson Foster
- Women's 100m Butterfly: Tori Huske
- Men's 100 Meter Breaststroke: Nick Fink
Monday, June 17
- Women's 400m Individual Medley: Katie Grimes
- Men's 200m Freestyle: Luke Hobson
- Men's 100m backstroke: Ryan Murphy
- Women's 100m breaststroke: Lily King
- Women's 200m Freestyle: Katie Ledecky
Tuesday, June 18
- Women's 100m backstroke: Regan Smith
- Men's 800m Freestyle: Bobby Finke
Wednesday, June 19
- Women's 100m Freestyle: Kate Douglas
- Men's 200m Butterfly: Thomas Heilmann
- Women's 1500m Freestyle: Katie Ledecky
- Men's 200m breaststroke: Matt Fallon
- Men's 100m Freestyle: Jack Alexie
Thursday, June 20
- Women's 200m Butterfly: Regan Smith
- Men's 200m backstroke: Ryan Murphy
- Women's 200m breaststroke: Kate Douglas
Friday, June 21
- Men's 50m Freestyle: Ryan Held
- Women's 200 Backstroke: Regan Smith
- Men's 200m Individual Medley: Shane Casas
Saturday, June 22
- Men's 100m Butterfly: Der Rose
- Women's 200m Individual Medley: Kate Douglas
- Women's 800m Freestyle: Katie Ledecky
Sunday, June 23
- Women's 50m Freestyle: Kate Douglas
- Men's 1500m Freestyle: Bobby Finke
