Ultra Swim Swimmer of the Month is a recurring SwimSwam feature shedding light on a U.S.-based swimmer who has proven themselves over the past month. As with any item of recognition, Swimmer of the Month is a subjective exercise meant to highlight one athlete whose work holds noteworthy context – perhaps a swimmer who was visibly outperforming other swimmers over the month, or one whose accomplishments slipped through the cracks among other high-profile swims. If your favorite athlete wasn’t selected, feel free to respectfully recognize them in our comment section.
Maximus Williamson was a revelation at the World Junior Championships earlier this month in Netanya, making him an easy selection as our Ultra Swimmer of the Month for September.
Williamson, who turned 17 on the first day of the competition, became the fastest 17-year-old of all-time on Day 2 of the meet, winning gold in a time of 1:57.29 to moving into #2 all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group in the U.S. behind Michael Phelps (1:55.94).
During the second day of the 2023 World Junior Championships in Netanya, United States’ Maximus Williamson won the boys 200 IM in 1:57.29. This is the fastest time ever registered by a 17-year-old swimmer in the event, surpassing Kosuke Hagino’s time of 1:57.35 from 2012. pic.twitter.com/WzgYgfXWey
— Swimming Stats (@SwimmingStats) September 5, 2023
That performance marked a significant personal best time of 1.36 seconds for Williamson, having gone 1:58.65 at U.S. Nationals just over two months earlier.
Williamson went on to set a new National Age Group Record for 17-18 boys in the 100 free—an insane achievement given he only recently aged up—with his blistering time of 48.38 leading off the U.S. mixed free relay.
He followed up by winning the 100 free individually in a time of 48.45, and ended up walking away with seven medals, the most of any swimmer at the meet, including six golds.
In addition to those three swims, he also had three sub-48 relay splits for the U.S. and led off the winning 800 free relay with a new 200 free PB of 1:47.11.
Williamon’s Finals Swims
- 100 free – 48.45 (gold)
- 200 IM – 1:57.29 (gold)
- 400 free relay – 47.78 split (gold)
- 800 free relay – 1:47.11 lead-off (gold)
- 400 medley relay – 47.57 anchor (gold)
- Mixed 400 free relay – 48.38 lead-off (silver)
- Mixed 400 medley relay – 47.74 anchor (gold)
Currently a member of the Lakeside Aquatic Club, Williamson was ranked #2 in our Way Too Early boys’ high school class of 2025 rankings shortly before the meet, trailing World Championship gold medalist Thomas Heilman.
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Hopefully he turns pro or goes to ASU with Mr Bowman in college.
However he will have to choose between the 100 free and IM in the future.
Can’t do both in individual at the top senior international level.
I hope he will focus on IM in individual to play with Marchand and keep doing freestyle for relays.
Based on his current development an individual medal in the 200 IM in Paris doesn’t seem out of reach and he should also play a major role in freestyle relays to help USA win golds.
One of the greatest US male prospects in the last 20 years.
Huge future ahead of him if he does the… Read more »
Dude he literally trains at my pool in Keller
1:57.2 a month after turning 17 is ballistic.
One day after turning 17.
I watched the entirety of World Juniors and I have to say, THE standout swimmer was Maximus! Not only was he a record-breaker, but time after time, his swims were a revelation about how far he’s come in the last 15 months. In his multiple interviews there in Netanya, he seemed to be genuinely surprised at his success, and, in relays, very much part of a team effort which he graciously acknowledged.