A sense of excitement fills Day 4 of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials as some of the best swimmers get ready to compete in important events. Athletes plan to give it their all in the pool as they compete for an opportunity to represent Team USA in Paris, whether it be in the men’s 100 freestyle or the women’s 1500 freestyle.

With athletes like Kate Douglass and Caeleb Dressel leading the way, the environment is set for a spectacular competition and a fulfillment of Olympic ambitions for many. However, the 21-year-old icon Jack Alexy topped the scoreboard with stunning moves.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

World Record: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (HUN) – 2022 World Championships
American Record: 1:51.51, Michael Phelps – 2009 World Championships
U.S. Open Record: 1:52.20, Michael Phelps (USA) – 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
World Junior Record: 1:53.79, Kristof Milak (hun) – 2017 European Junior Championships
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: 1:55.06, Zach Harting
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 1:55.78

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

Mason Laur (FLOR), 1:55.09
Luca Urlando (DART), 1:55.52
Dare Rose (CAL), 1:55.94
Colby Mefford (CAL), 1:56.36
Jack Dahlgren (TRI), 1:56.45
Trenton Julian (MVN), 1:56.53
Chase Kalisz (TXLA), 1:56.71
Thomas Heilman (CA-Y), 1:56.77
Zach Harting (CARD), 1:57.30
Kaiser Neverman (UOFM), 1:57.31
Drew Hitchcock (BAY), 1:57.41
Tommy Bried (UOFL), 1:57.60
Alex Colson (SUN), 1:57.62
Mitchell Schott (PRIN), 1:57.90
David Schmitt (EVO), 1:58.32
Carl Bloebaum (VT) / Logan Robinson (GPAC), 1:58.37

Highlights:

In the men’s 200 fly penultimate heat, Mason Laur of Florida made waves with a personal best time of 1:55.09. With a swim that was almost six-tenths quicker than his earlier best, he secured the top berth going into the semifinals.

Dare Rose for Cal got off to a fast start, leading the heat with an opening 100 of 53.82. Keeping up his speed, he finished in 1:55.94, only 0.01 seconds short of his personal best from the previous summer. As one of the three swimmers to finish the session under 1:56, he finished third overall with his performance.

Insights:

Luca Urlando of DART Swimming, who has been recovering from shoulder problems over the previous two years, looked powerful and fluid in the final heat. With a time of 1:55.52, he won the heat and qualified for the semifinals in second place. His season-best time of 1:55.63, which he posted at the Pro Swim Stop in San Antonio, was marginally better this time.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE — PRELIMS

World Record: 46.80 — Pan Zhanle (CHN), 2024
American Record: 46.96 — Caeleb Dressel, 2019
World Junior Record: 46.86 – David Popovici (ROU), 2022
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Caeleb Dressel, 47.39
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 48.34

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

Jack Alexy (CAL), 47.08 US OPEN
Chris Guiliano (ND), 47.65
Caeleb Dressel (GSC), 47.82
Hunter Armstrong (NYAC), 47.93
Destin Lasco (CAL), 48.14
Ryan Held (NYAC), 48.15
Patrick Sammon (SUN), 48.18
Matt King (TFA), 48.26
Kieran Smith (RAC), 48.46
Blake Pieroni (ISC), 48.52
Brooks Curry (CAL) / Henry McFadden (JW), 48.59
–
Macguire McDuff (FLOR), 48.60
Jonny Kulow (SUN), 48.68
Reese Branzell (ABSC), 48.70
Drew Kibler (NYAC), 48.72

Highlights:

The men’s 100-free final heat was illuminated by rockets as Jack Alexy triumphed, surpassing Caeleb Dressel’s eagerly awaited meet debut. With a time of 47.08, silver medallist Alexy from the 2023 Worlds made an amazing performance. His splits, which were the fastest in the race (22.44 for the first 50 and 24.64 for the second), shattered Dressel and Ryan Held’s previous U.S. Open Record of 47.39.

With this amazing swim, Alexy beat his previous best of 47.31 from last year’s World Championship final and shot himself into a tie for eighth place all-time in the race, matching Kyle Chalmers.

Dressel also displayed encouraging form, even if Alexy’s performance was remarkable. He swam in 47.82, his quickest time in two years, to finish in the third slot and move on to the semifinals. Dressel’s swim indicates a solid comeback to competition, despite being eclipsed.

Insights:

Chris Guiliano, a Notre Dame product, continued his Olympic qualification from yesterday night’s 200 free by swimming an incredible second-to-last heat in which he dropped over three tenths off his personal best time of 47.65 to finish second and go to the semifinals.

All-Time Performers, Men’s 100 Freestyle (LCM)

Pan Zhanle (CHN), 46.80 – 2024
David Popovici (ROU), 46.86 – 2022
Cesar Cielo (BRA), 46.91 – 2009
Alain Bernard (FRA), 46.94 – 2009
Caeleb Dressel (USA), 46.96 – 2019
Cameron McEvoy (AUS), 47.04 – 2016
Eamon Sullivan (AUS), 47.05 – 2008
Kyle Chalmers (AUS) / Jack Alexy (USA), 47.08 – 2019 / 2024
James Magnussen (AUS), 47.10 – 2012

WOMEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

World Record: 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA) – 2018 Pro Swim Series, Indianapolis
American Record: 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA) – 2018 Pro Swim Series, Indianapolis
U.S. Open Record: 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA) – 2018 Pro Swim Series, Indianapolis
World Junior Record:15:28.36, Katie Ledecky (USA)
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Katie Ledecky, 15:40.50
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time (‘A’ Cut): 16:09.09

Finals Qualifiers:

Katie Ledecky (GSC), 15:39.73
Katie Grimes (SAND), 16:10.13
Rachel Stege (ABSC), 16:15.59
Aurora Roghair (ALTO), 16:17.92
Ashley Twichell (TAC-NC), 16:18.06
Kate Hurst (SCAR), 16:19.09
Mariah Denigan (ISC), 16:22.28
Erica Sullivan (TXLA), 16:25.33

Highlight:

The women’s 1500 freestyle heats included a distance swimming masterpiece from Katie Ledecky. With a record of 15:39.73, the reigning Olympian easily set the fastest time by more than 30 seconds. Not only is this swim the 23rd fastest in history, but it’s also the 22nd fastest of her remarkable career.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
American Record: 52.04 – Simone Manuel, 2019
U.S. Open Record: 52.54 – Simone Manuel (USA), 2018
World Junior Record: 52.70 – Penny Oleksiak (CAN), 2016
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Abbey Weitzeil – 53.53
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 53.61

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

Simone Manuel (SUN), 53.09
Abbey Weitzeil (CAL), 53.56
Gretchen Walsh (NAC), 53.60
Torri Huske (AAC), 53.62
Kate Douglass (NYAC), 53.66
Catie Deloof (NYAC), 53.81
Rylee Erisman (LAKR), 54.22
Beata Nelson (UN-WI), 54.30
Anna Moesch (GSCY), 54.44
Erin Gemmell (NCA0), 54.55
Olivia Smoliga (SUN), 54.56
Anna Peplowski (ISC), 54.64
Kristina Paegle (ISC) / Erika Pelaez (EA), 54.65
Erika Connelly (TNAQ) / Chloe Stepanek (LIAC), 54.72

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE — PRELIMS

World Record: 2:05.48 — Qin Haiyang (CHN), 2024
American Record: 2:07.17 — Josh Prenot, 2016
U.S. Open Record: 2:07.17 — Josh Prenot (USA), 2016
World Junior Record: 2:08.04 — Dong Zhihao (CHN), 2023
2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Nic Fink — 2:07.55
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time — 2:09.68

And with that, the 2024 US Olympic Swim Trials’ fourth day of competition is finished! What are your opinions of the night? Put them in the comments section below!