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2022 Swammy Awards: Age Group Swimmers of the Year – 15-16

To see all of our 2022 Swammy Awards, click here.

2022 15-16 AGE GROUP SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR: THOMAS HEILMAN & KATIE GRIMES

Editor’s note: because of ongoing challenges with the USA Swimming results database, identifying all of the top candidates for this year’s age group awards in an objective way has been challenging. We’ve done our best to find them, but it’s possible that we missed someone obvious. If that’s the case, please let us know in the comments!

GIRLS’ AWARD: KATIE GRIMES, SANDPIPERS OF NEVADA

It’s not a difficult decision to decide who should be the Swammy Award honoree for the 15-16 age group when an eligible swimmer is vying for individual World Championship titles.

That was the case in 2022 for Sandpipers of Nevada star Katie Grimes, who picked up a pair of silver medals at the 2022 World Championships in the women’s 1500 free and 400 IM, setting a new National Age Group Record in the latter.

The 16-year-old went head-to-head with another teenage sensation, Canadian Summer McIntosh, in the 400 IM final at Worlds, finishing just six-tenths shy of the gold medal in a time of 4:32.67, breaking Elizabeth Beisel‘s 14-year-old NAG record of 4:32.87 in the process.

Grimes also placed second to Katie Ledecky in the 1500 free in Budapest, swimming a time of 15:44.89 to rank second in the 15-16 age group behind the world record holder, who swam to a time of 15:36.53 in 2013.

Grimes added a second NAG record to her resume in December, touching in 3:57.02 to obliterate the 15-16 400 IM SCY mark by more than three seconds, downing another record from 2008, this one belonging to Dagny Knutson (4:00.61).

NAG Records

Event Course Time Date
400 IM LCM 4:32.67 6/25/2022
400 IM SCY 3:57.02 12/9/2022

Grimes added a World Junior Record to her long list of accomplishments in November, swimming a time of 15:42.05 in the SCM 1500 free at the FINA World Cup stop in Indianapolis.

On top of the record swims, Grimes also ranked inside the top 10 in the girls’ 15-16 age group across 15 other events in 2022.

  • 200 free SCY, 1:43.83 – #2 in 2022, #9 all-time
  • 500 free SCY, 4:29.53 – #1 in 2022, #2 all-time
  • 1000 free SCY, 9:26.10 – #2 in 2022, #4 all-time
  • 1650 free SCY, 15:26.17 – #1 in 2022, #2 all-time
  • 100 back SCY, 52.89 – #6 in 2022, #52 all-time
  • 200 back SCY, 1:51.46 – #2 in 2022, #9 all-time
  • 100 fly SCY, 52.63 – #5 in 2022, #32 all-time
  • 200 fly SCY, 1:52.28 – #1 in 2022, #2 all-time
  • 200 IM SCY, 1:55.33 – #2 in 2022, #12 all-time
  • 200 free LCM, 1:58.22 – #1 in 2022, #7 all-time
  • 400 free LCM, 4:05.77 – #1 in 2022, #3 all-time
  • 800 free LCM, 8:22.73 – #1 in 2022 (PB of 8:17.05 is 2nd all-time)
  • 1500 free LCM, 15:44.89 – #1 in 2022, #2 all-time
  • 200 back LCM, 2:09.52 – #1 in 2022, #11 all-time
  • 200 fly LCM, 2:12.38 – #6 in 2022, #62 all-time

Honorable Mentions

  • Leah Hayes, Fox Valley Park District Riptides – Although she aged up in October, Hayes had a phenomenal 10-plus months in the 15-16 age group this year, highlighted by a bronze medal victory in the women’s 200 IM at the World Championships in Budapest. Hayes became the first swimmer in the girls’ 15-16 age group to go sub-2:10 in the event at the International Team Trials, setting a NAG record previously held by Katie Hoff (2:10.41) in 2:09.99, and then ultimately got down to 2:08.91 in the World Championship final to place third. Hayes also clocked 4:39.65 in the 400 IM at the Trials to rank sixth in age group history, and she also finished the year among the top LCM performers in the 100 free (54.89) and 200 free (1:59.14).
  • Claire Weinstein, Sandpipers of Nevada – Less than two months after her 15th birthday, Weinstein qualified for her first World Championship team by placing second in the women’s 200 free at the U.S. International Team Trials, becoming the fastest 15-year-old in the nation’s history with a time of 1:57.08. After improving that down to 1:56.94 to finish 10th at Worlds, Weinstein led off in 1:56.71 as the American women broke the world record and won gold in the 800 free relay in Budapest. Weinstein’s breakout year also included ranking inside the top three in five different SCY events in the 15-16 age group, including first in the 1000 free (9:25.06) and second in both the 500 free (4:33.03) and 1650 free (15:53.83).
  • Alex Shackell, Carmel Swim Club – Shackell’s incredible 2022 saw her rank first in the 15-16 age group in six different events, punctuated by the five medals she won at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in August. Shackell won gold in the girls’ 100 fly (58.44), bronze in the 200 fly (2:09.71) and added three relay medals in Honolulu, and the 16-year-old followed up by winning four events at Winter Juniors – East in early December. Her performance in Greensboro included ranking second all-time in the girls’ 100 fly (50.97), 50 free (21.73) and 100 free (47.44).

BOYS’ AWARD: THOMAS HEILMAN, CAVALIER AQUATICS/PIEDMONT FAMILY YMCA

He may still only be 15, but Thomas Heilman‘s unbelievable breakout year earns him Swammy honors for 15-16 boys after resetting the National Age Group Record across five different events.

Heilman earned the award last year in the boys’ 13-14 category after a stunning performance at Winter Juniors – East in early December, and followed the same script in 2022 as the Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA product went on a tear that saw him shatter NAG records in the 100 fly, 200 fly and 200 IM in short course yards.

But prior to that, Heilman made significant strides in the long course pool, piling up six medals at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships while adding a pair of 15-16 NAG records in the 100 free and 100 fly.

NAG Records:

Event Course Time Date
100 freestyle LCM 49.06 8/25/2022
100 butterfly LCM 51.98 8/26/2022
100 butterfly SCY 44.67 12/9/2022
200 butterfly SCY 1:40.86 12/10/2022
200 IM SCY 1:41.71 12/8/2022

Heilman broke the NAG record in the LCM 100 free previously held by Caeleb Dressel in a time of 49.06 at Junior Pan Pacs, and followed up by becoming the first swimmer to dip under 52 seconds in age group history in the 100 fly (51.98).

Then, at Winter Juniors three and a half months later, he broke Michael Andrew‘s 15-16 NAG by more than a second with a time of 1:41.71 in the 200 IM, went under the 17-18 record with a blistering 44.67 in the 100 fly, and finished up by adding a third record at the competition in the 200 fly (1:40.86).

All three butterfly records broken by Heilman previously belonged to Luca Urlando.

In addition to his record-breaking performances, Heilman also ranked inside the top 10 in the boys’ 15-16 age group in eight other events.

  • 50 free SCY, 19.63 – #1 in 2022, #7 all-time
  • 100 free SCY, 42.96 – #3 in 2022, #4 all-time
  • 200 free SCY, 1:34.10 – #3 in 2022, #7 all-time
  • 400 IM SCY, 3:49.31 – #7 in 2022, #30 all-time
  • 50 free LCM, 22.89 – #3 in 2022, #12 all-time (tied)
  • 200 free LCM, 1:50.34 – #4 in 2022, #17 all-time (tied)
  • 200 fly LCM, 1:56.52 – #1 in 2022, #4 all-time
  • 200 IM LCM, 2:04.63 – #7 in 2022, #40 all-time

HONORABLE MENTIONS

NAG Records:

Event Course Time Date
200 freestyle SCY 1:33.07 12/7/2022
200 backstroke SCY 1:40.88 12/10/2022
400 IM SCY 3:39.83 12/9/2022
200 IM LCM 1:59.01 8/27/2022

PREVIOUS WINNERS

YEAR 15-16 GIRL 15-16 BOY
2022 Katie Grimes
2021 Claire Curzan Daniel Diehl
2020 Claire Curzan Liam Custer
2019 Torri Huske Josh Matheny
2018 Regan Smith
2017 Regan Smith Carson Foster
2016 Eva Merrell Drew Kibler
2015 Courtney Harnish Michael Andrew
2014 Katie Drabot Sean Grieshop
2013 Katie Ledecky Andrew Seliskar
2012 Katie Ledecky Caeleb Dressel

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Jackson
1 year ago

Curious if some of the old records that went down were by swimmers swimming without tech suits. For instance was Dagny Knutson in a tech suit for her record?

Last edited 1 year ago by Jackson
Swimfan
1 year ago

Grimes is a beast can’t wait til world championships I can see her closing the gap on ledecky In The 400-800-1500 and going under 4:29 in the 400 IM (she closed faster than Macintosh almost ran her down) she may be the secrect weapon on the 800 free relay

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

Leah Smith is still relevant in the women’s 400 meter freestyle.

The second entry in the women’s 800 meter freestyle will most likely boil down to Grimes, Sims, Weinstein.

Katie Ledecky is working on project 15:29.51 in the women’s 1500 meter freestyle for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. That’s sub 15:29.51 to be exact.

The key to the women’s 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay will be Claire Weinstein on the lead-off leg. Katie Grimes has yet to match the relay splits in the women’s 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay from Erin Gemmell and Bella Sims.

Katie Grimes won’t be mowing down Summer McIntosh in the women’s 400 meter individual medley until Katie Grimes drastically improves the breaststroke… Read more »

Swim2win
1 year ago

It’s hilariously kinda sad that Maximus put up the year he did and wasn’t the age grouper of the year in his bracket. 😭

Davide
Reply to  Swim2win
1 year ago

To me him and heilman should have both gotten the award

tea rex
1 year ago

Katie Grimes was 9:22 on the first 1000 of her 1650. Not sure if that makes her officially #1 in the 1000, but I say count it.

Demarrit Steenbergen
Reply to  tea rex
1 year ago

I think they would have had to request the split for it to count

Noah
1 year ago

Incredible age group of men and women

PFA
1 year ago

I’m expecting this to not be the most popular thing but It’s crazy to say that Heilman who is 2 years younger than Popovici and has already swum faster than he did at 15 but I think if he were to have a international breakout at a this upcoming summer in an event, in my opinion will be in the 100 fly.

He dropped from 45.81–> 44.67 this season a time drop like that LC would put him under Phelps 17-18 NAG record but be slightly off Milak’s WJR at 16. This already would likely get him on the worlds team. Now I don’t know what his ceiling will be this upcoming summer but in the unlikely case that… Read more »

Troyy
Reply to  PFA
1 year ago

To be fair to Popovici he was 15 during the first year of the pandemic.

Swim2win
Reply to  PFA
1 year ago

His flys are definitely his premier events. But he’s almost certainly going to be a very heavy contributor in the freestyles, individually and/or relays. 49.0 was incredible at pan Pacs but people don’t remember/realize that he also dropped a 1:47.9 200 free relay split as well.

But I’d also like to see him try the 2IM at some point. He and Williamson could be prodigious in that event.

Davide
Reply to  PFA
1 year ago

Popovici went 49.82 at 14 and 47.30 at 16, in a no pandemic world it’s clear he would have probably been in that 48.3-48.7 range as a 15 years old

Swim2win
Reply to  Davide
1 year ago

Popovici was 49.2 in 2020 at Romanian Nats as a 15 year old no?

Last edited 1 year ago by Swim2win
Swim2win
Reply to  Swim2win
1 year ago

Oop no he had juuuust turned 16 at that point. He went 49.26 at Romanian nationals in October, birthday in September.

Davide
Reply to  Swim2win
1 year ago

Yeah, but I think it’s pretty safe to assume he really didn’t prepare the event like he would have with a big addummer meet, I can bet my life savings he could have gone sub 49 at 15

Last edited 1 year ago by Davide
MIKE IN DALLAS
1 year ago

Can’t argue with these choices.
Grimes is just a once-a-generation swimmer and Heilman the makings of LA 2028 [Paris, 2024, maybe?]

Swim2win
Reply to  MIKE IN DALLAS
1 year ago

I can’t see Heilman missing the team in 24 in the flys at this trajectory tbh. We’ll see how long course goes this summer but if he’s sub 51 in the 100 fly which I think he will, he’s going to Paris. Even modest Improvement in the frees gets him on several relays too.

Grant Drukker
Reply to  Swim2win
1 year ago

I agree in the flys, but for some reason, someone random always starts to pop-off in the 100 fly at OT. Seth Stubblefield, Jack Conger, Tim Phillips in 2016, and
Luca Urlando, Trenton Julian, Coleman Stewart in 2020.

Could easily see there being a huge dogfight between Luca, Trenton, Heilman, Andrew, Casas, + a few others that around that 51.0 time to grab the second spot. If Dressel decides to come back.

Swim2win
Reply to  Grant Drukker
1 year ago

I think it will be a dogfight this year for sure. But if Heilman is in a dogfight with these guys at 16, he’s gonna start smoking them at 17. I think it’s between Casas/Andrew/Heilman, most likely Casas/Heilman and will take sub 51 to make the team. Not counting Dressel in the mix bc who knows what’s going on there, and Luca is unfortunately injured and redshirting the year :/ probably won’t be in the mix this summer.

Last edited 1 year ago by Swim2win
Davide
Reply to  Swim2win
1 year ago

Imo heilman has a shot at making the team on the 2 fly in 2023, and is almost granted to do it for Paris, plus he’ll probably make it on the 100 fly and 100 free as well.
200 free seems to be his less impressive event for some reason, but he still might have an outside shot at making the 2024 team on the 4×200 relay

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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