Road to Paris has already created an ultra-competitive swimming environment for athletes, with the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials –scheduled for June 15-23. Meanwhile, many slated international and domestic qualifiers along the way are helping competitors hone their talents for the final cut. Among America’s favorites for the Olympics swimmers’ list is the 22-year-old youthful phenom Regan Smith. 

Taking time off since falling sick in the first event of the 2024 Pro Series in Knoxville, Smith looks promising as ever ready to enter the second stop of the series.

Why did Regan Smith miss the last TYR Pro Series? 

At the four-stop 2023 Pro Swim Series which concluded in May, Regan Smith won 8 medals in total. At the top of female contenders, she then won five medals including four individuals in the 2023 World Championship further establishing her name in swimming. Despite being slated to enter the pool in the American kickoff starting 11 Jan in Knoxville, Smith tested positive for mono.

Mono short for Mononucleosis is an infectious disease caused by a virus. Reflecting on the pressure post-diagnosis, Smith said, “It’s been really hard to stay positive when I’m not able to be at my best, knowing Paris is only seven months away…It’s honestly an ongoing battle.” However, this isn’t the first time she had to pull out of the meet costing her time out of training.

Last year in the first session of the meet, the three-time Olympic medalist opted out of two A-finals and two prelims races. She later confirmed coming down with “a stomach bug/food poisoning,” yet remains the top seed in multi-distant swim disciplines. Returning to compete after taking some time to recover, Smith will be entering the TYR Pro Swim Series slated for 100 and 200 back and 100 and 200 butterfly taking place in Westmont, California.

How has she prepared for the TYR Pro Series 2024

Smith will be wearing Speedo’s famous ‘fastest swimsuits’ when she makes an appearance simply highlighting her natural talent. During her training at the Arizona State University campus, she told Reuters, “I think wearing it has improved my sense of speed.”

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Looks like the scene is already set to test the gear, as the two-time individual backstroke world champion will be competing against her former Stanford teammate and Olympian Torri Huske. Each one entering the Pro Swim as America’s medal pursuit hopeful, the event serves as prelims for swimmers headed to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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