2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
WOMEN’S 400 IM – BY THE NUMBERS
- World Report: 4:24.38, Summer time McIntosh (CAN) – 2024 Canadian Trials
- American Report: 4:31.12, Katie Hoff – 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
- U.S. Open Report: 4:28.61, Summer time McIntosh (CAN) – 2022 U.S. Open
- World Junior Report: 4:24.38, Summer time McIntosh (CAN) – 2024 Canadian Trials
- 2021 Olympic Champion: Yui Ohashi (JPN), 4:32.08
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Emma Weyant, 4:33.81
- 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Minimize: 4:49.89
- 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time (‘A’ Minimize): 4:38.53
On the worldwide stage, Canadian phenom and world document holder Summer time McIntosh dominates the dialog within the girls’s 400 IM. Nonetheless, the U.S. girls have been a constant medal presence at main meets over the previous three years. Whereas there’s a clear frontrunner, the race for second is shaping as much as be one of the crucial thrilling in Indianapolis.
Grimes Leads the Method
Katie Grimes has already certified for the Paris Olympics, courtesy of her bronze medal end within the 10km open water race on the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, however she’ll be on the hunt to make a reprise look within the pool occasions this summer season.
The Sandpipers star made her Olympic debut within the 800 free in Tokyo, however has since added the 400 IM to her worldwide slate. It’s been a fruitful endeavor, as Grimes collected back-to-back silver medals in 2022 and 2023 behind McIntosh. Notably, these medals got here throughout a interval the place she and her coach Ron Aitken publicly declared she wouldn’t be totally tapered till the Paris Olympics.
With simply over a month till Trials, Grimes scorched a 4:32.45 on the Fran Crippen Swim Meet of Champions to higher her season-best by over 4 seconds. That’s her third-fastest efficiency of all time, and simply 1.04-seconds off her finest time. She additionally ranks third on the earth this season.
Grimes will doubtless tackle a busy schedule of occasions at Trials, however the 400 IM falls early on within the meet. If she follows the same program to earlier trial meets, at most she’ll have swum two rounds of each the 200 and 400 freestyle.
Nonetheless, Grimes is over 4 seconds forward of her doubtless opponents (extra on that later) and is an athlete who swims as much as the 10km. She ought to simply earn the possibility to swim this occasion in Paris, although with McIntosh reducing her world document on the Canadian Trials the race on the large stage will doubtless be for the minor medals. We must also be on look ahead to the American Report, which is inside three-tenths of Grimes’ finest time.
Walsh‘s Absence Opens the Door
The second quickest American girl within the qualifying interval is Alex Walsh, who owns a finest time of 4:34.46 from her 4th place end on the 2023 World Championships. Regardless of incomes her third-straight NCAA title within the yards model of the occasion and turning into the #2 performer of all-time, she made the stunning announcement that she wouldn’t be searching for an Olympic berth within the 400 IM.
The writing might have been on the wall for Walsh followers, as she hasn’t logged an extended course 400 IM through the 2023-24 season, however her absence makes the race for the second spot far more attention-grabbing.
Emma Weyant and Hali Flickinger have been the U.S. representatives on this occasion in Tokyo, accumulating silver and bronze medals respectively. Flickinger has since introduced her retirement however Weyant will probably be on the hunt for her second Olympic berth this summer season. She clocked 4:39.00 earlier this season on the Atlanta Traditional, however has been as quick as 4:37.76 throughout the qualifying interval.
Notably, Weyant was disqualified in prelims on the 2023 U.S. Nationals for a fly kick violation within the breaststroke leg, which denied her an opportunity to qualify for Worlds. She earned the bronze medal in 2022.
Rating 2nd this season amongst People is Leah Hayes, who scorched a finest time of 4:36.84 to take residence the World Junior title again in September. She just lately beat Grimes head-to-head on the Westmont cease of the Professional Swim Collection and tasks to make her first Olympic Trials closing, and maybe a ticket to Paris.
2023-24 U.S. Rankings, Ladies’s 400 IM (LCM)
- Katie Grimes, 4:32.45 – 2024 Fran Crippen SMOC
- Leah Hayes, 4:36.84 – 2023 World Junior Championships
- Regan Smith, 4:38.77 – 2023 U.S. Open
- Emma Weyant, 4:39.00 – 2024 Atlanta Traditional
- Lucy Bell, 4:41.64 – 2024 Southern California Invite
- Lilla Bognar, 4:42.83 – 2023 World Junior Championships
- Katie Ledecky, 4:44.20 – 2024 PSS – Knoxville
- Megan Van Berkom, 4:45.01 – 2024 Gopher Invite
- Ella Nelson, 4:45.08 – 2024 PSS – San Antonio
- Kelly Pash, 4:45.50 – Texas vs. TCU
NCAA Finalists Journey Momentum
After Walsh and Weyant, who positioned 1st and 2nd respectively within the NCAA closing, there are a variety of collegiate athletes who will look to translate their yards success into the large pool. Whereas nobody else has been underneath the Olympic Qualifying Time, the environment of Trials might result in somebody having a giant breakout.
Lucy Bell seems to have the most popular hand. She capped off her sophomore season with Stanford with a third place end and finest time within the 400 IM, bouncing again massive time from a barely disappointing efficiency at Pac-12s. Extra just lately, on the Southern California Invite, Bell set a pair of finest occasions within the 200 IM (2:13.28) and 400 IM (4:41.64). She additionally nabbed silver finally yr’s Pan American Video games in what was then a finest time (4:44.27).
Caroline Bricker, Bell’s first-year teammate, completed 4th in that closing. She snuck underneath the OT qualifying time by simply one-hundredth of a second on the San Antonio cease of the Professional Swim Collection, however holds a finest time of 4:46.44 from 2021.
Megan Van Berkom sits eighth this season (4:45.01), simply forward of Ella Nelson (4:45.08). Each have been sooner of their careers and may very well be within the combine for a finals spot.
Lastly, although she had a disappointing NCAAs, Justina Kozan must be a swimmer to maintain an eye fixed out for. She made her first OT closing in 2021 at 17 years previous, ending eighth after setting a private finest in prelims (4:40.57). She was simply four-tenths off that point on the U23 LEN European Championships final August for the gold medal. If Kozan is in that type or higher, she must be a lock for an additional finals look.
Juniors Look to Make a Splash After Worldwide Expertise
Youthful athletes generally is a wildcard by way of how they’ll carry out within the high-pressure atmosphere of Trials, however these juniors have already got some worldwide expertise underneath their belts from the previous yr. That may very well be the boldness increase these swimmers must have a giant displaying subsequent month.
Whereas Leah Hayes swept the IM occasions at World Juniors final September, she was joined by teammates Haley McDonald and Lilla Bognar within the finals of the 200 IM and 400 IM respectively.
McDonald has been as quick as 4:44.28, but in addition hasn’t raced lengthy course for the reason that Knoxville Execs Swim Collection in January based on the USA Swimming database.
Alternatively, Bognar obtained some helpful worldwide expertise in Doha, the place she missed advancing to the ultimate by only one place (4:44.22). Her finest time comes from the 2023 U.S. Nationals, the place she clocked 4:40.97.
Becoming a member of Bognar in Doha was Kayla Han, who completed thirteenth total (4:47.12). She hasn’t raced a lot since then, however is the reigning Junior Nationwide Champion within the occasion courtesy of her private finest (4:42.32).
The Veteran
This occasion is dominated by kids who’ve established themselves over the previous quad. The one exception is Leah Smith, who at 28 years of age is the oldest qualifier.
She final represented the U.S. on this occasion on the 2017 Worlds and her finest time comes from that summer season (4:33.86). Solely Grimes and Weyant have sooner profession bests, although we haven’t seen Smith in 4:33-form shortly.
She is simply outdoors of the highest 10 this season with a 4:45.89 from the Knoxville cease of the Professional Swim Collection.
Unlikely Entrants
We’ve averted mentioning just a few names who’re throughout the high 10 this season as a result of it appears unlikely they’ll throw their hat within the ring. Let’s have a look.
We are able to in all probability instantly write off Katie Ledecky as an entrant on this occasion. Whereas Ledecky holds a PB of 4:35.77 and can be arduous to depend out making the ultimate, she hasn’t deviated from her 200-400-800-1500 freestyle lineup at a Trials meet in current reminiscence.
Even much less prone to throw their hat within the ring is Regan Smith, who can be anticipated to have a busy lineup. She additionally faces a fierce home area within the 100 backstroke, the place the prelims and semifinals coincide with the 400 IM.
Kelly Pash slots in at tenth on this record along with her private finest, set at a twin meet in February between Texas and TCU (4:45.50). Nonetheless, that was her first official lengthy course 400 IM in almost 5 years. Pash will doubtless be an element within the 200 fly, nevertheless it doesn’t appear to be she’s placing her focus within the longest IM occasion within the run-up to Trials.
SWIMSWAM PICKS
Darkish Horse: Isabelle Odgers – The USC graduate is healthier identified for her breaststroke prowess, however just lately shaved 3.3 seconds off her finest time within the 400 IM to hit the qualifying time and rank twelfth amongst People this season. Granted, earlier than this season she hadn’t logged a time on this occasion since 2022, but when she chooses to contest this occasion in Indianapolis she has some momentum behind her.
