The Doha World Swimming Championship holds to be a near-perfect occasion before the 2024 Paris Olympics to test its capabilities. However, several big names in the swimming world already decided to keep away from that event, showing engagement with their university program camps. The 7-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky leads that pack. However, for them, the mouth-licking contest is already on the way, on January 10 in Knoxville. 

The upcoming TYR Pro Swim Series in the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center will showcase an ultimate battle royale while keeping the world’s spearheads in the psych sheets. Hopefully, that also contains some arch-rival names from Canada. 

The everlasting American swimming royalties 

USA Swimming published the list of the swimmers participating in the weekend contest of the TYR Pro Swim series. Hinting at the behemoth factors, the Instagram handle captioned, “Lots of big names headed to Tennessee this upcoming week”. The list holds some prime names from the swimming arena. Let’s have a look at that. 

The first name that pops up is Katie Ledecky. The numero uno of swimming already has 23 major titles, surpassing many bigwigs. But for her, TYR Pro Swim holds a special place as on the 2018 occasion, she broke the 1500m free world record. On the eve of the Olympics, she will participate in her ultimate 100,200,400,800 and 1500m free and 400m IM. Her recent form in the US Open Swimming Championship speaks for her. 

The second would be Caeleb Dressel. The former world champion will lock his horn in the 50, 100, and 200 free and a jubilant 100m fly. He will also find his old aura from 2021 TYR Pro Swim when he was the top seed in 100m free. Dressel’s recent form is flamboyant as well. 

The third one is Ryan Murphy. The 100m back medalist in Fukuoka would want to repeat his success in the pool. However, this time his fight would be stiff for the presence of Shaine Casas and Hunter Armstrong on the roster. 

In the fourth, Kate Douglass comes with her coruscate. The swimming prodigy would participate in 50 and 100 free, 100 fly and 100 and 200 stroke. 

The fifth one is Bobby Finke. The freestyle homebody would participate in the 400 IM as well this time.

He will have to face Carson Foster this time. However, Finke’s recent form is a plus point. But the lineup of American swimmers are going to face staunch competition undoubtedly.

The arch-rivals from Canada 

Katie Ledecky might not get a sigh of relief in the 200 free, as her Canadian nemesis, Summer McIntosh, would be present in the pool. However, the world champion left the 400m free event unattended. But McIntosh will be there in 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM, and 200 free. Reigning Olympic champion Maggie MacNeil will participate in the 100 fly against Douglass and Torri Huske. That event will also showcase Penny Oleksiak, another Canadian swimming phenom. 

Read more: “She’s That Kind of Person”: US Olympic Gold Medalist Decodes Katie Ledecky’s Swimming Legacy

The contest will continue until January 13, building the first pit of the three. Now, the ultimate winners from the star-studded pack would gain confidence before the Paris Olympics.

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