Diving In to the Olympic Trials 👀
Preparations for Paris are heating up, and Olympic Trials are underway or imminent for nearly every major sport. The U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials kick off in Indianapolis on June 15, and TOGETHXR partnered with two-time Olympian and Olympic Trials host Kaitlin Sandeno to prepare you for all the excitement in the pool.
Meet Kaitlin! 👋
Kaitlin Sandeno is a decorated former swimmer with an Olympic gold, silver, and two bronze medals to her name from 2000 and 2004. The USC Trojan also held world and USA records throughout her career. Sandeno is now an emcee, motivational speaker, author, and the live co-host of the Olympic trials.
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Watch the Olympic trials and follow along with Kaitlin on social media!
Setting the Stage 🏊
Over 700 swimmers will compete for just 52 spots over nine days in what is considered the most prestigious swimming event in the United States. This high-stakes competition requires participants to leave everything in the pool to earn the opportunity to represent Team USA.
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June 15-23, 2024
⏰ 11 AM-9 PM ET
📺 NBC will live broadcast the event finals at 8 p.m. ET each night.
⚡ All sessions streaming on Peacock & NBCOlympics.com
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TOGETHXR: Describe the environment of the Olympic Trials from the perspective of an Olympic hopeful. What are they like?
KAITLIN: Olympic trials are truly one of a kind. The energy and tension surrounding this competition is felt by everyone. Many agree that our trials are more nerve-wracking than the actual Olympic Games.
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TOGETHXR: Which event do you think will be the most exciting and why?ㅤ
KAITLIN: The women’s 100m backstroke is one of the deepest events in the U.S. right now, with three swimmers ranked within the top eight in the world this season. It’s going to be an exciting race in Indy and even more intense in Paris.
Katie Ledecky
"Katie Ledecky is on her way to qualifying for her fourth Olympic Games, which is just mind-blowing to me! Her run of being at the top of her events for so long is truly incredible. She is just two gold medals shy of matching the all-time record of Olympic gold medals by a female in any sport."
Regan Smith
Regan Smith holds the World Junior, American, and U.S. Open records in the 200m backstroke and will look to defend her records. Smith earned two silvers and one bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Katie Ledecky
"Katie Ledecky is on her way to qualifying for her fourth Olympic Games, which is just mind-blowing to me! Her run of being at the top of her events for so long is truly incredible. She is just two gold medals shy of matching the all-time record of Olympic gold medals by a female in any sport."
Regan Smith
Regan Smith holds the World Junior, American, and U.S. Open records in the 200m backstroke and will look to defend her records. Smith earned two silvers and one bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Simone Manuel
Simone Manuel already has five Olympic medals to her name, but after overtraining syndrome kept her out of elite competition for nearly 19 months, Manuel is back with a vengeance and ready to battle for her third trip to the Olympics.
Lilly King
Lilly King holds the world record and best qualifying time in the 100m breaststroke. King is no stranger to the Olympic stage, with two golds, two silvers, and one bronze medal to her name.
Simone Manuel
Simone Manuel already has five Olympic medals to her name, but after overtraining syndrome kept her out of elite competition for nearly 19 months, Manuel is back with a vengeance and ready to battle for her third trip to the Olympics.
Lilly King
Lilly King holds the world record and best qualifying time in the 100m breaststroke. King is no stranger to the Olympic stage, with two golds, two silvers, and one bronze medal to her name.
Q&A w/ an Olympic Gold Medalist 💭
TOGETHXR: What's one prediction you have for Team USA in Paris?
KAITLIN: I have to say, Team USA has its work cut out for it. The competition has been very tough across the globe recently. In past years, we have seen Team USA dominate in the pool, but international competition is getting intense. I’m excited to see who steps up for the Stars and Stripes!
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TOGETHXR: What's your advice for young swimmers who want to reach the elite level?
KAITLIN: You have to put in the work OUT of the water just as much as IN the water. Nutrition, sleep, recovery, and the mental aspect have to be practiced just as much. Swimming is tough. Being an athlete is tough. You are going to have setbacks, and how you rebound from those setbacks is what’s going to shape you in and out of the pool.
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TOGETHXR: What are your thoughts on this moment in women's sports? Where do you hope women's swimming is in the next 3-5 years?
KAITLIN: It truly excites me. I really want to see youth sports participation increase in general. The decline is terrible. But seeing how women’s sports are gaining momentum and popularity will only help motivate young girls to get out there. I feel like women’s swimming (swimming in general) is popular every four years with the Olympics. I would love to see the interest every year! Swimming has an elite international competition every summer, not just every four years. Not to mention, NCAA swimming is insanely exciting and fast!