2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS
- When:
- Wave I Dates: June 4-7, 2021
- Wave II Dates: June 13-20, 2021
- Prelims: 10am CDT | Finals: 7pm CDT
- Where: CHI Health Center / Omaha, Nebraska
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Cuts
- LCM (50m)
- Wave I & II Event Order
Women’s 200 Backstroke
- World Record: Regan Smith – 2:03.35 (2019)
- American Record: Regan Smith – 2:03.35 (2019)
- US Open Record: Missy Franklin – 2:05.68 (2013)
- World Junior Record: Regan Smith – 2:03.35 (2019)
- 2016 Olympic Champion: Maya DiRado
- 2016 Olympic Trials Champion: Maya DiRado
- Wave I Cut: 2:14.69
- Wave II cut: 2:12.56
The women’s 200 backstroke is one of only two women’s events where both US representatives from the 2016 Olympic Games have since retired as Olympic Champions Maya DiRado and Missy Franklin have since moved on from the sport. Despite this, the event is still loaded with talent, and it is extremely possible that the 3rd and 4th place finishers at the US Olympic trials would be capable of medaling at the Olympic Games.
Regan Smith
At the 2016 Olympic Trials, Regan Smith competed at the age of 14-years-old, coming in 33rd overall in this event. In 2021, the now 19-year-old Smith is a heavy favorite for Olympic gold after breaking Missy Franklin’s world record at the 2019 World Championships. In fact, Smith’s best time of 2:03.35 stands almost 3 seconds ahead of the next-fastest active swimmer, Kathleen Baker.
This season, Smith ranks second in the country with her time of 2:06.90 from the Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis. However, given her big taper performances, it is clear that Smith is saving some time for trials.
Everybody Else
The aforementioned Baker leads the tight battle for second place behind Smith. Baker, the former world record holder in the 100 backstroke, holds a personal best of 2:06.14 from the 2018 Pan Pacs Championships, which currently ranks her as the 5th fastest American of all-time with three of the swimmers ahead of her retired. Although Baker struggled with injuries at the 2019 World Championships, keeping her out of the final in this event, she has proven to have the speed to get the job done when it matters most. Baker has already been as fast as 2:07.54 this season, a time which would have qualified her for the Olympic Team in 2016. Incredibly, this only ranks her 5th in the country this season.
Like Smith, 18-year-old Phoebe Bacon was amongst the youngest swimmers at the 2016 Olympic Trials, competing in the 100 backstroke at only 13-years-old. In the 5 years since those trials, Bacon has exploded to become one of the top age group swimmers in history. During her freshman campaign at Wisconsin, Bacon claimed her first NCAA title in the 200 backstroke, moving to 2nd all time in the 17-18 age group with her short course time of 1:48.32, only trailing Smith. In addition, Bacon recently swam a personal best time in the long course version of the event at the Indy PSS, beating Smith head-to-head in a time of 2:06.84. With her time, Bacon holds the fastest time in the country this season, and is the 8th fastest American of all time.
Fellow NCAA stars Rhyan White and Isabelle Stadden rank directly behind Bacon, occupying the positions as the 9th and 10th fastest Americans of all-time. Both athletes posted their best times within the past month, as White swam her time of 2:07.07 at the Atlanta Classic and Stadden went a 2:07.28 at the Longhorn Invite. In addition, both White and Stadden hold international experience that could help them on a stage as big as Olympic Trials. White represented the US at the 2018 Youth Olympics Games in Argentina, finishing 4th in the 50, 100, and 200 backstroke events, while Stadden was a member of the 2018 Jr. Pan Pacs team and 2019 Pan American Games team. At Pan Ams, Stadden finished 2nd to teammate Alex Walsh in the 200 backstroke.
Assuming she does not elect to focus on the 200 IM, Walsh may also prove to be a threat in this event. A versatile swimmer, Walsh didn’t even swim this event at the NCAA Championships, instead electing to focus on the 200 IM, 200 Free, and 200 breast. However, Walsh holds a personal best of 2:08.30 from Pan Ams, which puts her in the conversation for a spot in finals, especially considering that she has improved her other times significantly since 2019.
Both Olivia Smoliga and Hali Flickinger are in a similar situation as Walsh is, as they may choose to focus on other events at trials. Smoliga, the reigning world champion in the 50 backstroke, has a much better chance of making the 100 backstroke, which she won at the 2016 Olympic Trials. In addition, Smoliga also is in contention for a relay spot in the 100 freestyle, where the top 6 finishers make the team. Flickinger, meanwhile, is the favorite to make the team in the 200 butterfly, and may also contend for a spot in one of the IM events. Regardless, both Smoliga and Flickinger are still ranked in the top-10 in the country for the 200 backstroke this season, holding times of 2:10.97 and 2:10.86, respectively.
Aggie Lisa Bratton may end up being the only returning finalist from the 2016 Olympic Trials. At that meet, Bratton finished 3rd behind Franklin and DiRado with a time of 2:08.30. After struggling in 2017, Bratton bounced back in 2018 by making the World University Games team via a 4th place finish in the 200 backstroke at Nationals. She took full advantage of the opportunity to represent the USA, breaking the World University Games meet record and winning the gold medal in a lifetime best of 2:07.91. More recently, Bratton swam a time of 2:09.69 at the Atlanta Classic, taking second behind White.
At the Atlanta Classic, Kentucky’s Sophie Sorenson finished 3rd overall in a best time of 2:11.01, ranking 11th in the country this season. Sorenson’s time puts her in the conversation for a potential final spot. Former NCAA star Beata Nelson may also be in contention. Although she has yet to hit her long-course stride in the event, Nelson owns a short course best of 1:47.24 making her the second fastest performer of all time.
SwimSwam’s Picks:
| Place | Swimmer | Lifetime Best | Season Best |
| 1 | Regan Smith | 2:03.35) | 2:06.90 |
| 2 | Phoebe Bacon | 2:06.84 | 2:06.84 |
| 3 | Kathleen Baker | 2:06.14 | 2:07.54 |
| 4 | Rhyan White | 2:07.07 | 2:07.07 |
| 5 | Isabelle Stadden | 2:07.28 | 2:07.28 |
| 6 | Alex Walsh | 2:08.30 | 2:12.03 |
| 7 | Lisa Bratton | 2:07.91 | 2:09.69 |
| 8 | Olivia Smoliga | 2:08.58 | 2:10.97 |
Dark horse pick: 18-year-old Summer Smith cut over a second off of her best time at the Atlanta Classic to drop a final time of 2:11.26. Smith, who primarily specializes in the IM events, trains at Bluefish, the same age group club of Elizabeth Beisel, who earned multiple Olympic berths in both the 200 backstroke and 400 IM. Given her training patterns, Smith may be able to slide into the final in Omaha with another drop.
Wave I Standout: Former Virginia standout Megan Moroney is the top seed at the Wave I meet with a time of 2:13.16. However, Moroney has been as fast as 2:10.53 back in 2018 and her best time in short course stands at a 1:51:28, which converts to a 2:08.14 using the Swimulator. If she is able to match her best time, Moroney should easily move on to Wave II.
That U.S Open Record is in as much danger as the leftover chocolate cake sitting in my fridge
Somebody ate it already, Chad. Sorry.
Emma Atkinson from VT is dangerous also
For sure. Was super impressed with how many times she swam fast in the college season, and there seems to be some momentum in Blacksburg. She hasn’t raced long course since August 2019, though, so that’s an uphill battle for her. No 200 backstrokes in any course since NCAAs.
Who knows, maybe this month we’re going to learn that frequent racing isn’t all that important. Or maybe we’ll learn that it is.
Anyone figure out why Kathleen Baker was absent during the month of May?
I think the us open record will definitely go down at trials
If Regan Smith hits her taper.
Even others could break it. It’s a second or less under some of their best times
Just curious, what is SS’s hit rate on picking the team. How many do they get right over the years? How many predicted to make the team actually make it?
Just curious since I disagree with this pick, but I’m just as likely to be wrong as they are.
In 2016, we were:
18/26 for men’s individual events
19/26 for women’s individual events
It was rare for the actual swimmer to qualify to be lower than about pick #3 or 4.
Keep in mind that every writer has their own personal opinions, but our goal here is also to ‘set the field’ and establish baseline expectations. If a swimmer we don’t have in the final makes the team, you know that it’s really quite an upset.
Swimswam track record is very good.
The women’s backstroke races are the toughest to call this time around.
Phoebe Bacon is a tough competitor. But so are Baker and White.
I think it’s going to come down to who can improve the most on their PBs.
It will come down to the fastest two swimmers in the final.
I think the pandemic makes these predictions a bit trickier than Rio. Many of these swimmers haven’t done a properly rested LC swim in 2 years.
The big favorite to earn the gold medal in Tokyo is the Aussie though!
The same was said about the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the 2016 Summer Olympics. How did that turn out?
And about Hosszu in this exact event in 2016. And Larkin on the men’s side in this event. I think we forget how many upsets there tend to be at the Olympics
Australia Women’s National Team
2016 Summer Olympics
Women’s Individual Events
0G, 1S, 1B
Maya DiRado singlehandedly outperformed Australia women’s national team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
LOL!
while it is too early to call her a favorite I also think its a bit unfair to assume Kaylee will underperform simply because other Australian swimmers have, especially considering she has a very good history of showing up when it matters. All of her season bests in 2017/18/19 came in an international final (worlds/pan pacs/worlds) with a 4th place jwr (beating out Regan) in 2017 and a silver behind Regan in 2019. She may not be the favorite but her ability to perform in a high pressure situation should be respected.
Speaking of Aussie favorites, how about a trip down memory lane?
https://youtu.be/3dqcvSPLJQE
Aussies swim their best times at home.
The number of chokes exceeds the number of successes in big international meets.
You see their extreme anxiety behind the blocks. They’re twitching and grabbing at their goggles and suit straps. Cate Campbell even gave herself some face slaps.
Australia women’s national team
2012 Summer Olympics
Women’s Individual Events
0G, 2S, 2B
Australia women’s national team
2016 Summer Olympics
Women’s Individual Events
0G, 1S, 1B
Do you realize that Katie Ledecky has broken more world records (LCM) on Australian soil than Cate Campbell?
https://youtu.be/Nfp_V3vZfpg
LMAO!
Don’t you have some work to do ? You sound like a broken record
Yes but we have a real real real star in Cody . Does the US have any stars , I mean real Stars in your team? Nope.
“Big” favorite? A bit of a premature pronouncement. Let’s wait until these June meets have concluded shall we?
Australian choke artists will be on full display in Tokyo. Creampuff swim team
From the nation that ate too many creme puffs & got 580,000 killed off by a bat virus . On population adjustment, we’d only see off 14,000.
Bacon is the name of the game for the Olympics; Phoebe for backstroke and Sarah Bacon for diving
I am guessing a top 8 finish from Emma Atkinson. She got fourth at NCAAs this season and is a strong LC swimmer.