These are the faces of the American swimming team going to the Paris Olympics. Ledecky, Dressel and Douglas will take with them the hopes, expectations and immense talent of the United States. All three stars completed their U.S. Olympic trials Saturday night, each scoring a big win as they set themselves up for multiple medals at the world’s best competition in France in five weeks.
“It’s time to get back to work,” Ledecky told the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium. “Got to get ready for Paris.”
With her stunning win in the 800m freestyle, Ledecky’s Paris schedule is set. Already boasting 10 Olympic medals – seven of which are gold – Ledecky will compete in three individual races and possibly a relay at the Paris Games.
Saturday’s victory means Ledecky will have a chance to win gold in the 800 freestyle at her fourth consecutive Summer Games, matching her stunning win at the 2012 London Olympics — when she was 15 years old. Michael Phelps is the only swimmer to win four consecutive Olympic titles in the same event, claiming the 200 individual medley in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016.
But no female Olympian has ever been like Ledecky, and certainly no swimmer has made her mark on an event like Ledecky has in the 800. Her winning time on Saturday – 8 minutes 14.12 seconds – was more than 6.5 seconds better than runner-up Paige. Madden (8:20.71). But this was well short of her world record (8:04.79) and was only her 35th best time ever. It was her second fastest time this year and she certainly hopes to lower that number in Paris.
This victory ended these trials for Ledecky. Here she swam 6,000 meters – about 3¾ miles – in eight days. She won all four of her races, but did not plan to race the 200 freestyle in Paris, preferring to concentrate on longer distances.
The final day of competition on Saturday was a star-studded display that raises hopes for the U.S. team’s chances in Paris. Douglas is poised for a breakout Olympics and finished her trials with another stellar swim, winning the 200m IM in 2:06.79, the fifth-fastest time ever. He beat his University of Virginia teammate Alex Walsh (2:07.86) by more than a second.
Douglas’ Paris program is ready, and it promises to be a spectacular and unheard of assortment of races. She will be the first American woman to compete in the individual freestyle, breaststroke and IM events at the Olympics. The 22-year-old player also won the 100 freestyle and 200 breaststroke here.
“I think the goal coming into this competition was to try to win all three events, but I really didn’t think I would be able to accomplish that,” she said. “So I’m really glad I did it.”
Douglas is likely to be part of two – or possibly three – relay teams in Paris, which means she could get five or six medals. Natalie Coughlin is the only American woman to win six medals in a single Olympics.
Dressel also ensured she will have a chance at multiple podium visits in Paris by winning the 100m butterfly in 50.19 seconds, her best time in the event since April 2022. Dressel, who won five gold medals at the Tokyo Games, won eight medals. -Taking a month’s break from the sport at the end of 2022 and failing to qualify for the U.S. team competing at the World Championships a year ago. But his trials were strong and he also won the 50 freestyle on Friday. He’ll also get a chance in at least one relay in Paris – maybe more.
The 27-year-old has been open about his discomfort with the pressure and challenges that come with elite swimming and his comeback promises to be one of the major stories in Paris. Asked to guess what he was capable of, Dressel thought about it for a few seconds but could not give a concrete answer.
He said, “I don’t know if I’ll ever have a good time again, and it’s hard to say that out loud.” “I’m still working harder than ever. I’m trying to find every avenue I can to reduce those two tenths. …I’m doing everything I can. Some things are beyond my control.”
Simone Manuel, another fan favorite, is trying to set herself up for a personal event in Paris. With 24.51 seconds, the five-time Olympic medalist posted the fourth-fastest 50 freestyle time in Saturday’s semi-finals. Gretchen Walsh, who set the world record in the 100 butterfly earlier in the meet, posted the best semifinal time: 24.06, just 0.03 faster than Tori Huske. The Walsh sisters will be one of two sets of siblings on the U.S. team heading to Paris, joining Aaron and Alex Shekel.
With two events left on Sunday — the women’s 50 free and the men’s 1,500 free — the U.S. team is almost ready: a mix of new faces, seasoned veterans and at least three superstars.
No one is more accomplished than Ledecky. As Saturday’s session ended, she stood on an underground elevator waiting for the 800 freestyle medal ceremony. She slowly emerged from below the pool deck, waving to fans, flashing her familiar camera-ready smile and rising, rising, rising, toward the surface. The former child star is now a legend at 27, but she keeps reaching new heights. His next stop: Paris.
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