Courtesy of Competitor, a SwimSwam partner.
The 2024 U.S Olympic Team Swimming Trials are wrapped, but before we shift focus to this year’s games, we want to dive into the highlights from the event in Indy. As the official lane line provider for USA Swimming, the team at Competitor had the opportunity to attend and witness qualifying performances that are sure to make waves in swimming history. From world-record-breaking times to photo-finishes, the level of talent and competition had everyone in Lucas Oil Stadium on their feet. Here were our favorite moments:
1. Watching athletes perform at their personal best.
Watching the country’s top swimmers compete was thrilling in and of itself, but seeing so many of them achieve personal best times throughout the trials was especially exciting. Kate Douglass became one of only four women in the world to swim the Women’s 200-meter IM in under 2:07.00, finishing with a personal best time of 2:06.79. And for some athletes, like Gretchen Walsh and Regan Smith, achieving their personal bests also meant shattering world records. Walsh set a world record in the Women’s 100-meter butterfly, while Smith did the same in the Women’s 100-meter backstroke.
Matt Fallon also set a new personal best and American record in the Men’s 200-meter breaststroke, securing him a spot on Team USA. These athletes will be among the ones to watch at this year’s Olympics, where they will showcase their talents on the world stage.
2. The photo-finish races
In competitive swimming, winning often comes down to just fractions of a second, and the Women’s 50M freestyle at this year’s trials was no exception. Simone Manuel, a gold medalist from the 2016 Rio Games, had crowds jumping out of their seats as she beat Gretchen Walsh, world record holder in the 100-meter butterfly, by a mere .02 seconds. It was a photo finish if we’ve ever seen one, highlighting the razor-thin margins that separate the best in the sport.
3. The medal ceremonies
During the nightly finals, the top swimmers in each event took the stage to be welcomed to Team USA and receive their medals from a former Olympian. While each of these ceremonies were special, the 2024 4×100-meter freestyle relay team’s medal ceremony was particularly exciting to watch.
On Wednesday night, Kate Douglass, Simone Manuel, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske secured their places on this year’s relay team by clinching the top four spots in the 100-meter freestyle. Seeing them come together on stage to accept their medals was truly memorable, and Simone Manuel’s return to the top after her hiatus added an extra layer of emotion to the moment.
4. Seeing an Olympic-sized pool, IN Lucas Oil Stadium!
Whoever decided to put an Olympic-sized pool in an NFL stadium should also win some sort of medal, because it turned out to be one of the coolest (and most attended) Olympic swimming trials event in history. Walking into the transformed Lucas Oil Stadium was an experience, and it’s safe to say the bar has been set for future events.
All Eyes on Paris
It’s hard to believe that in a few short weeks, Team USA will be heading to this year’s Olympic Games. The 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials were a true testament to the incredible talent these athletes possess, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve in Paris. Check out the full roster of swimmers who qualified for Team USA here.
Since 1960, Competitor Swim® has been the leader in the production of racing lanes and other swim products for competitions around the world. Competitor lane lines have been used in countless NCAA Championships, as well as 10 of the past 13 Olympic Games. Molded and assembled using U.S. – made components, Competitor lane lines are durable, easy to set up and are sold through distributors and dealers worldwide.
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