“Olympians are made right here,” the NCAA proclaimed in a industrial this summer season through the build-up to the 2024 Olympic Video games. The advert definitely rings true within the pool, as many individuals suiting up in La Protection Area competed within the league. This yr, 4 particular person Olympic medalists and extra finalists are getting ready to get underway with the 2024-25 NCAA season.
Josh Liendo, Florida
- 2024 Olympics: Silver, 100 butterfly — 49.99
Josh Liendo (picture: Jack Spitser)
In Paris, Josh Liendo turned the fifth man to interrupt the 50-second barrier within the 100-meter butterfly. Within the Olympic last, he snuck underneath the mark with a 49.99, profitable silver for his first Olympic medal. He additionally positioned 4th within the 50-meter freestyle on the Olympics, lacking the medals by two-hundredths after scratching into the ultimate.
With a full season of yards expertise underneath his belt, Liendo had a sensational 2023-24 season. He went three-for-three in his particular person occasions at 2024 NCAAs, becoming a member of Leon Marchand in that feat. He neared iconic time boundaries in every occasion, swimming 18.07 within the 50-yard freestyle, 43.07 within the 100-yard butterfly, and 40.20 within the 100-yard freestyle. He added two extra titles within the relays, dropping an 18.97 50-yard fly cut up within the 200 medley relay on the meet’s opening night time, and a runner-up end within the 400 free relay.
Liendo has continued to enhance in each yards and meters since arriving at Florida and can intention to proceed that development along with his eyes set on attaining the milestone occasions he got here so near final season.
Luke Hobson, Texas
- 2024 Olympics: Bronze, 200 freestyle — 1:44.79, Silver, 4×200 freestyle relay — 7:00.78
Luke Hobson (picture: Jack Spitser)
The lads’s 200-meter freestyle last wasn’t as quick as anticipated, nevertheless it was nonetheless probably the most thrilling races of the Olympics, because it got here all the way down to the contact between 4 swimmers to find out the medals. Luke Hobson acquired his hand on the wall for bronze in a lifetime greatest 1:44.79, edging out Tokyo silver medalist Duncan Scott by eight-hundredths.
He broke the NCAA 200-yard freestyle document twice at 2024 NCAAs, first main off the relay (1:29.13) after which once more within the particular person race (1:28.81), snatching the document again after Marchand took it away one warmth after Hobson’s relay lead-off. It was a becoming farewell to legendary Longhorn head coach Eddie Reese and made him the primary particular person to interrupt a person Marchand document.
Now coaching underneath Bob Bowman, Hobson appears to be like to three-peat within the 200-yard freestyle and enhance his document. With out Marchand within the 500-yard free, Hobson is a menace to re-take that title and he’s additionally proven velocity within the 100-yard free, ending eleventh (41.45) after clocking 41.35 in prelims.
Hubert Kos, Texas
- 2024 Olympics: Gold, 200 backstroke — 1:54.26
Hubert Kos (picture: Jack Spitser)
The 2023 200-meter backstroke World Champion backed up his title from Fukuoka, utilizing a powerful back-half to beat Apostolos Christou’s velocity and make his first particular person Olympic medal gold. Hubert Kos is again within the NCAA this season, although this time in a Texas cap, having adopted Bowman to Austin.
At 2024 PAC-12s, Kos set an NCAA document within the 200-yard backstroke (1:35.69), which Destin Lasco later broke to win the NCAA title. Kos completed second in that race (1:35.90), his highest end on the meet as he took third within the 200 IM (1:39.66) and 4th within the 100 again (44.13).
We all know Kos may be quicker—he added from his seed occasions at 2024 NCAAs, and now he’s making use of his abilities to a rebuilding Longhorn staff. At Arizona State, Kos contributed on the 800 freestyle relay (1:32.29 cut up) and 400 medley relay (44.61 backstroke) however will not be wanted for the 800 freestyle relay this season, giving him house to focus on his particular person swims.
Ilya Kharun, Arizona State
- 2024 Olympics: Bronze, 100 butterfly — 50.45, Bronze, 200 butterfly — 1:52.80
Ilya Kharun (picture: Jack Spitser)
Now a sophomore, Ilya Kharun returns for to Arizona State after shocking for medals in each the 100 and 200 butterfly on the Paris Video games. First, Kharun set a nationwide document 1:52.80 within the 200-meter butterfly, then shared the 100 butterfly podium along with his countrymate Liendo because the pair went 2-3 for Canada.
Kharun remained at Arizona State after lots of his 2023-24 teammates departed within the offseason. He’s their lone returning particular person NCAA champion from final season. Now absolutely damaged out in long-course, he’s aiming to defend his 200-yard fly NCAA crown this season.
He scored 39 factors for the Solar Devils final season and was the one freshman on the meet to win a person race. Along with profitable the 200 fly, he positioned fifth within the 100 fly (44.26) and twelfth within the 50 free (19.04). He’s damaged 19 seconds within the 50 free earlier than—a powerful sprinter and 200 flyer, he’s a key piece for Arizona State’s relays this yr.
Olympic Particular person Finalists
- Jack Alexy, Cal — 100 free (1 gold — males’s 4×100 free relay, 1 silver — males’s 4×100 medley relay)
- Jordan Crooks, Tennessee — 50 free
- Aaron Shackell, Texas — 400 free
- Keaton Jones, Cal — 200 again
- Josh Matheny, Indiana — 200 breast
- Krzysztof Chmielewski, USC — 200 fly
- Martin Espernberger, Tennessee — 200 fly
- Cedric Buessing, UIndy (D2) — 400 IM
- Chris Guiliano — 100 free 1 gold — males’s 4×100 free relay, 1 silver — males’s 4×100 medley relay)
- Guiliano is within the switch portal due to the Notre Dame males being suspended for at the least one yr however has but to floor wherever.
