2024 US OLYMPIC TRIALS
Women’s 1500m freestyle – IN NUMBERS
- World record: 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (United States) – 2018 Pro Swim Series, Indianapolis
- American record: 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (United States) – 2018 Pro Swim Series, Indianapolis
- US Open record: 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (United States) – 2018 Pro Swim Series, Indianapolis
- Junior world record: 15:28.36, Katie Ledecky (UNITED STATES)
- 2021 Olympic Champion: Katie Ledecky (United States), 15:37.34
- 2021 US Olympic Trials Champion: Katie Ledecky3:40.50 p.m.
- 2024 US Olympic Trials Cup: 16:45.69
- 2024 Olympic qualifying time (“A” cut): 16:09.09
Katie LedeckyBread and butter
The women’s 1500 freestyle is being contested at the Olympic Games for only the second time this year after its introduction into the event programming in Tokyo. In Tokyo, Katie Ledecky took the top spot on the podium by a wide margin, swimming a time of 15:37.34, finishing almost 5 seconds ahead of the field. Since then, Ledecky has only gotten faster, posting a time of 15:30.15 at the 2022 World Championships before dropping to a time of 15:26.27 in 2023. In fact, at the 2023 World Championships, Ledecky finished with more than 15 seconds ahead of the peloton, only increasing his margin of victory over Tokyo. So it seems imminent that Ledecky will win this race at the trials and then progress to gold in Paris.
It might also be worth keeping an eye on the world record line in this race, with Ledecky’s current record being 15:20.48. Although she hasn’t reached this time since 2018, Ledecky hasn’t had many opportunities to run the tapered 1500 and could have more in the tank with some rest.
The only question remaining is: who will join Ledecky in Paris?
Young distant stars
Behind Ledecky, there are a large number of young stars in the background who are eager to take their chance at Olympic glory.
Katie Grimes (photo: Jack Spitser)
Katie Grimes was the youngest member of the 2021 U.S. Olympic team, making the 800 freestyle team at just 15 years old (reminiscent of a young Ledecky). Since then, Grimes has become a seasoned distance star. In addition to finding her rhythm in the pool, Grimes has become one of the best open water swimmers in the world. Last year, she completed a stunning 10km open water race at the 2023 World Championships to book a ticket to her second Olympics in Paris. This season, she holds the 2nd fastest time in the country with her 15:57.31 from the CA Meet of Champions, just behind Ledecky. Additionally, Grimes’ time put her more than 10 seconds ahead of her remaining competitors.
Given that Grimes is already qualified for Paris, it is almost certain that she will not be fully rested at the Trials. However, because she trained to run 10K at the Olympics, she will likely have a very good anaerobic base for the longer pool event.
Jillian Cox has also climbed the rankings since Tokyo, qualifying for the 2023 World Championships in the 800 freestyle thanks to a massive personal best at the US National Championships. At those same championships, Cox finished 5th in the 1500m in a personal best time of 16:18.40. Just before this competition, she swam a time of 16:31.00 in the Mission Viejo Pro Swim Series. This season, she has already achieved a time of 16:20.83, preparing very well for this event at the Trials.
Kate Hurst may not be that well known at the senior level right now, but she sure will be after the tryouts. Hurst won the 1500 freestyle at the 2023 World Junior Championships, swimming a personal best in 16:09.37. This time currently ranks her 3rd in the country this season behind Ledecky and Grimes. Although she hasn’t competed much in the 1500m since the end of the World Juniors last September, Hurst has proven she can show up when it counts, beating some of the best junior swimmers in the world. The only question remains: will she be able to translate this success to the next level?
Kayla Han was the other participant in the 1500 freestyle at the Junior Worlds last fall, where she finished 5th in a very close race (16:19.07), missing out on a medal by less than a second. Since then, Han has gained even more valuable experience, representing the United States at the 2024 World Championships in several events. Han is also no stranger to the Olympic trials scene as she was the youngest competitor in the 2021 trials competition at just 13 years old. Her best time is only 16:16.94, slower than Grimes and Hurst, but Han is still very young having just turned 16, giving her plenty of room to take big falls.
Claire Weinstein (photo: Jack Spitser)
Another junior swimmer to watch is Grimes’ teammate from the Nevada Sandpipers. Claire Weinstein. Although best known for her prowess in the 200 freestyle, Weinstein has recently experimented with longer events, placing 3rd in the 800 freestyle at the 2023 U.S. National Championships. Weinstein is currently registered to swim this event at the Trials, holding the 4th seed series with his 2023 best time of 16:09.85. In the past, there has been an event conflict between the 200 free and the 1500 free at many major international meets, limiting the possibility of Weinstein testing the ‘event. However, this conflict does not exist in Paris or at the Trials. If Weinstein decides to enter this event, she could very easily be in the running, especially if she’s close to her best.
Ancient Sandpiper Bella Sims is also entered in this event, holding the 11th seed. However, Sims is currently entered in 11 events, meaning she will likely drop this one, especially given how close she is to the 100 free at trials if she wants to compete for a relay spot.
The 2021 Olympians looking for a rebound
Three members of the 2021 Olympic team will attempt to return to the world’s biggest stage.
Erica Sullivan (photo: Jack Spitser)
Erica Sullivan is one of the biggest names to watch at this event. Sullivan won the silver medal in that event in Tokyo, setting a huge personal best in 15:41.41 to finish quite close to Ledecky and give the Americans a 1-2 finish in the event. Since then, Sullivan has suffered a few injuries that have hampered his progress, including a shoulder injury that kept her from participating in the 2022 U.S. International Team Trials, preventing him from continuing his Olympic performance. Although she hasn’t been close to her best time since 2021, Sullivan ran a time of 16:16.94 at the US National Championships last summer to finish 4th. a finish promoted to 3rd place following the recent suspension of Kensey McMahon for positive doping control.
Paige Madden was also part of the Olympic team in 2021, competing in the 400 freestyle and the 4×200 freestyle relay. Like Sullivan, Madden has struggled a bit since Tokyo, failing to qualify for the 2022 or 2023 World Championship teams. However, Madden appears to be on a roll recently, recording a personal best in the 400 freestyle ago a few weeks (4:03.02). Like Weinstein and Sims, Madden could choose to drop this event in favor of shorter races. Still, she holds the No. 5 seed with a best time of 16:09.93, which she set this year at the Pro Swim Series in Westmont.
Ashley Twichell represented the United States in open water at the 2021 Olympics. Since then, Twichell has taken a significant break from the sport, having her first child with husband Derek Wall in May 2022. However, that has not stopped Wall to chase another Olympic berth, this time in the pool. She clocked 16:22.69 in the 1,500 freestyle at the Atlanta Classic earlier this year, good for 10th in the country this season. Although Twichell will need to miss a lot of time to get a shot at another Olympic team, she has proven she is not to be underestimated.
Newcomers to the NCAA
Rachel Stege (photo: Jack Spitser)
has slowly built her NCAA and international resume over the past few seasons to become one of the best distance swimmers in the country. At the 2024 NCAA Championships, Stege finished 5th in the 500 freestyle (4:37.26). Earlier in the season, she represented the United States at the 2023 Pan American Games, her first senior international team. At the Pan American Games, she ran a personal best in the 1500 freestyle en route to a major gold medal, swimming a time of 16:13.59 which ranked her 6th on the competition psychology sheets.
Aurora’s Choice also had a huge year. The Stanford star capped a strong NCAA season with a personal best and second-place finish in the 1650 freestyle at nationals (15:41.11). She then continued that momentum during the long course season, recording a personal best of 16:19.79 in the 1,500 freestyle at the Trojan Invite last month. This time, she currently ranks 12th on the psychic sheets and 8th in the country this season. If Roghair continues this trend, Trials could be another huge opportunity for her.
Another name to watch is Paige McKenna, who won the 1650 freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Championships. McKenna didn’t have the best season in the NCAA this year, finishing just 9th out of 1650 at the NCAAs. However, she posted a time of 16:22.76 last summer at the U23 European Championships, taking 2nd place at the competition. She currently enters the competition seeded 13th behind Roghair.
Like Grimes, Mariah Denigan is already qualified to swim in Paris in the open water events. The Indiana swimmer had a strong showing at the NCAA Championships this year, but hasn’t competed in any competition since then. She holds a lifetime best of 16:12.44 at the 2022 International Team Trials, which would put her right in the mix.
Top 8 picks:
Darkhorse’s choice: Abby McCulloh – Reigning NCAA 1650 freestyle champion McCulloh had a breakout season this year, losing her best time in the 1650m to 15:37.74. McCulloh has already posted several best times in the long course pool this season, dropping his personal best in the 1,500 freestyle to 16:24.90 last month at the Atlanta Classic. With this time, McCulloh currently ranks 15th entering the competition. However, if his NCAA performance indicates anything, it’s that he may have more left in the tank at tryouts.