2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – BY THE NUMBERS
- World Document: 8:04.79, Katie Ledecky (USA) – 2016 Olympic Video games
- American Document: 8:04.79, Katie Ledecky (USA) – 2016 Olympic Video games
- U.S. Open Document: 8:06.68, Katie Ledecky (USA) – 2016 Professional Swim Collection, Austin
- World Junior Document: 8:11.00, Katie Ledecky (USA)
- 2021 Olympic Champion: Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:12.57
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Katie Ledecky, 8:14.62
- 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Reduce: 8:45.79
- 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time (‘A’ Reduce): 8:26.71
A Small Disclaimer
Let’s get one factor clear: this race is all Katie Ledecky. Since her debut on the 2012 Olympic Video games nearly 12 years in the past, Ledecky has been nearly unstoppable on this occasion. Over that point span, Ledecky’s resume in simply the 800 freestyle may very well be amongst the best swimming careers of all-time:
Katie Ledecky’s 800 Freestyle Resume:
- 3x Olympic Champion (2012, 2016, 2021)
- Present World Document Holder (8:04.79, 2016 Olympic Video games) which additionally stands because the Olympic Document
- 6x World Champion (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023)
- Solely swimmer to win the identical occasion at 6-consecutive World Championships
- Holds the 16 quickest 800m freestyle instances ever and 28 out of the highest 29 instances
Along with the accolades listed above, till January of this 12 months when Canadian Summer season McIntosh threw down a monster 8:11.39 on the Southern Zone Sectional Championships, Ledecky had not misplaced a 800 freestyle remaining since 2010. She nonetheless hasn’t misplaced a 800 freestyle remaining to an American since 2010. That means that until McIntosh immediately decides to vary her citizenship between now and the beginning of Trials, Ledecky needs to be a lock to qualify for her 4th straight Olympic Video games on this occasion.
The Race for Second Place
On condition that Ledecky is sort of untouchable, the race for second ought to have loads of drama with a number of notable contenders.
Katie^2
World Aquatics Championships
Fukuoka (JPN)
14-30 JULY 2023
On the 2021 US Olympic Trials, 15-year-old Katie Grimes had a stunning race on this occasion to assert a spot on the Olympic Group. After qualifying eighth to the ultimate in a private better of 8:31.73, Grimes went all-out within the remaining, taking the race out with Ledecky and holding on to submit a large 11 second drop off of her prelims swim, touching the wall in a time of 8:20.36. Although she had been on folks’s radar on the time, many in contrast her gusty swim to that of Ledecky herself again in 2012. Grimes went on to complete 4th on the Olympic Video games, simply lacking out on the rostrum.
Since then, Grimes has established herself as one of many high US distance swimmers, turning into the primary American to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Video games by way of her bronze medal within the 10km open water swim on the 2023 World Championships. Nevertheless, it’s notable to say that whereas Grimes has expanded her repertoire lately, she has but to match her 2021 pace within the 800 freestyle, lacking the 2022 and 2023 World Championship groups within the occasion. She was slated to race the occasion on the 2024 World Championships, however pulled out of the pool competitors all-together, opting simply to concentrate on open water.
On condition that she is already certified for the Olympics, it’s onerous to inform simply how rested Grimes can be at Trials. Plus, she could have a fairly busy schedule on the meet, possible together with the 200 free, 400 free, 1500 free, and 400 IM along with this occasion. Regardless of this, Grimes needs to be the early chief for the second spot as she holds the #2 time within the nation this season along with her 8:21.51 from the Fran Crippen Meet.
Veterans Coming to Play
2016 Olympian Leah Smith is trying to make a rebound after narrowly lacking the staff in 2021. Smith, who was thought-about a favourite to qualify for the staff on this occasion in 2021, completed sixth on this race on the 2016 Olympics. On the 2021 Olympic Trials meet, Smith struggled throughout all of her occasions, lacking the finals of the 800 freestyle all-together by ending tenth out of prelims. Following that defeat, Smith got here again stronger than ever in 2022, storming to a time of 8:17.52 on the US Worldwide Group Trials, her quickest time since 2019, to qualify for the 2022 World Championships.
Leah Smith (photograph: Jack Spitser)
Although Smith has solely been 8:38.90 this season, sitting effectively again within the US rankings, it’s simple to see that she has a variety of room to maneuver up. Her time from the 2022 Trials meet at present stands because the 2nd quickest time from an American since 2021, solely behind Ledecky. In reality, it stands practically 2 seconds forward of anybody else within the discipline, minus Ledecky, placing her in an awesome place to pursue one other Olympic berth.
One other veteran to be careful for is Paige Madden. Like Smith, Madden swam collegiately on the College of Virginia. Throughout the 2021 season, Madden had a significant breakout in brief course, setting herself up for a implausible Trials meet that culminated in an Olympic berth (and eventual silver medal) within the 4×200 freestyle relay and a person berth within the 400 freestyle. On the 2021 Olympic Trials, Madden solely completed thirteenth on this occasion, the one occasion that she didn’t qualify for a remaining in. Nevertheless, since then, she has proven a variety of progress, posting a greatest time of 8:27.64 again in January. Simply final week, Madden threw down a greatest time of 4:03.02 within the 400 freestyle, displaying her high kind only a few weeks shy of the large present.
Ashley Wall (previously Twichell) didn’t contest this occasion at Olympic Trials in 2021, however appears to be focusing on it this time round. Because the 2021 Olympic Video games, the place she competed in Open Water, Wall has gotten married and had a baby. Nevertheless, nothing has stopped the brand new mother from having an affect within the pool as she at present ranks tenth nationally on this occasion this season along with her 8:36.97 from the Japanese Zone Spring Championships. Wall’s greatest time stands at 8:25.31 from 2016, however the veteran shouldn’t be counted out as a menace to make the ultimate.
Although not likely a “veteran” by conventional requirements, Mariah Denigan has already earned an Olympic berth within the open water occasions, placing herself amongst the highest swimmers on the planet. Denigan is just seeded thirteenth right here along with her greatest time of 8:34.93. Nevertheless, given the truth that she already has a visit to Paris booked, Denigan would possibly take some dangers right here and will push herself to a significant efficiency.
Youth Invasion
Like Ledecky in 2012 and Grimes in 2021, there are a number of rising age-group stars who may set themselves up for large drops on this occasion to make a stunning look within the Trials finals or discover themselves on the Olympic staff.
As members of the 2023 World Championships staff, technically neither Claire Weinstein nor Jillian Cox can actually be thought-about “rising stars” however each swimmers have youth on their aspect.
Jillian Cox (photograph: Jack Spitser)
Regardless of ending solely thirty fourth on this occasion on the 2021 US Olympic Trials meet, Weinstein has come a good distance in a brief period of time, particularly after shifting to coach with Grimes on the Sandpipers of Nevada in 2022. At solely 15-years-old, Weinstein was the youngest member of the 2022 World Championships staff by way of her qualification within the 200 freestyle. At Worlds that 12 months, she went on to win a gold medal as a member of the 4×200 freestyle relay, splitting an important 1:56.71 on the opening leg of the race. Since then, Weinstein has solely improved her instances throughout all of her occasions, together with a private better of 8:21.00 within the 800 freestyle that she posted on the 2023 US Nationwide Championships en path to a third place end, simply lacking a spot on the World Championship staff within the occasion. Weinstein has already been as quick as 8:23.73 this 12 months, placing herself third within the nation coming into Trials.
Cox has additionally seen an enormous surge in her instances because the final Olympic Trials meet. On the 2021 Trials meet, Cox posted a time of 8:47.77 to put twenty third total within the occasion. Nevertheless, she had a breakout season in 2022, shifting herself up the ladder on this occasion considerably with a sixth place end on the US Worldwide Group Trials, swimming a private greatest 8:33.83. By the point that the 2023 US Nationals had rolled round, Cox had established herself as a contender for her first World Championships staff, and he or she didn’t disappoint, delivering a runner-up efficiency within the 800 with an enormous PB (8:20.28) to make the staff. At Worlds, Cox held on for a sixth place end, dropping much more day off of her greatest, to determine her lifetime better of 8:19.73. This season, Cox’s quickest time stands at 8:27.95, an awesome indication that she may have one other large drop in retailer. Previous to her breakout swim at Nationals final 12 months, Cox’s season greatest was practically 8 seconds slower (8:33.36).
Former Sandpiper and present Florida Gator Bella Sims seems on the preliminary psych sheet for this occasion, coming into the meet because the ninth seed with a 8:29.85. Over the past 4 years, Sims has established herself as one of many high mid-distance swimmers within the nation, and has continued to strengthen her repertoire with a number of different races within the course of. In reality, Sims is at present entered in a whopping 11 occasions on the preliminary psych sheets for Trials. Thus, it’s tough to see if she is going to preserve this occasion on her schedule, particularly contemplating that she didn’t race the occasion on the 2023 US Nationwide Championships nor has she raced but this season.
Kayla Han (photograph: Jack Spitser)
Kayla Han enters the race as one of many youngest rivals within the discipline. Han, who simply turned 16 on the finish of final month, enters because the eighth seeded swimmer with a lifetime better of 8:29.66, placing herself completely within the place to make the ultimate. Regardless of her younger age, Han has loads of expertise below her belt. She was the youngest swimmer to qualify for the 2021 Olympic Trials, simply turning 13 earlier than the beginning of the competitors. Han additionally gained priceless worldwide expertise on the senior degree, representing the US on the 2024 World Championships final winter, the place she swam the 800 free, 1500 free, and 400 IM. Of the entire swimmers on this discipline, Han might need the very best ceiling, particularly if historical past repeats itself.
Kate Hurst is one other age-grouper who may see some large drops at Trials. Final summer season, Hurst dropped a time of 8:34.11 at Junior Nationals to complete third on this occasion. Although she hasn’t dropped any time since then, Hurst had a giant quick course season that noticed her submit private bests in a majority of her occasions, which means {that a} taper may carry her some free pace.
NCAA Stars Searching for a Probability to Shine
With so many age-groupers overtaking the ranks on this occasion, it’s simple to overlook in regards to the depth of the NCAA distance discipline. Rachel Stege didn’t even qualify to swim this occasion on the 2021 Trials meet. Nevertheless, she now enters the 2024 Trials meet seeded eighth. Stege had her first alternative to signify the US internationally final fall on the 2023 Pan American Video games, the place she took full benefit of the possibility, dropping an enormous PB of 8:28.50 within the 800 free to win a silver medal.
Although she hasn’t competed in lots of lengthy course races this season, Cavan Gormsen completed fifth within the 500 freestyle on the NCAA Championships, dropping a private greatest 4:35.37 in that race following a giant first NCAA season at Virginia. She enters Trials with the twelfth seed within the 800, holding a greatest time of 8:34.38 from final summer season’s Junior Nationwide Championships.
Maybe one of many greater tales to return out of this NCAA season, Stanford’s Aurora Roghair had a significant breakout on the NCAA Championships posting a big private greatest within the 1650 freestyle to put 2nd (15:41.11). She saved that momentum going into the lengthy course season, posting private bests within the 200, 400, and 1500 freestyle on the Trojan Invite, putting herself as “one to look at” at Trials. Although Roghair didn’t swim the 800 on the Trojan Invite, she additionally dropped a private better of 8:35.42 in that occasion earlier within the season on the Professional Swim Collection in San Antonio. On condition that her instances from the Trojan invite had been a lot sooner than her instances from San Antonio, it appears affordable that she may very well be in for an additional massive drop within the 800.
The Verdict
Whereas Ledecky has this race below wraps, the race for 2nd would be the true race to look at. Whereas Grimes has a variety of momentum on her aspect and confidence from already having her ticket to Paris booked, I feel that Cox’s latest success will assist push her previous this discipline. I may very simply see a state of affairs through which there finally ends up being lower than a second separating the 2nd by means of fifth place finishers.
Prime 8 Picks:
Darkish Horse Choose: Lynsey Bowen – Bowen is one other teenager who may simply discover her method into the ultimate if she hits her taper correctly. With a lifetime better of 8:33.71 from 2023, Bowen enters the meet because the tenth seed. She additionally lately posted a private greatest within the 200 freestyle and 400 IM, displaying that she is on peak kind forward of Trials.
