During the Italian night, the semi-finals and finals of the fourth day of competition were held American Olympic Swimming Trialscurrently taking place at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and valid as a selection event towards the Paris 2024 Games. Regan Smith put on a show, dominating the last act of 100 backstroke and above all signing the new world record (second of the event, after Gretchen Walsh’s 55.18 in the 100 butterfly).
57.13 the magnificent time of the 22-year-old native of Lakeville, who improved by two tenths the previous limit set last October by the Australian Kaylee McKeown, putting herself forward as the main favorite for the gold medal in view of the Olympics. Smith had broken the American record a month ago in 57.51, and then shaved another 4 hundredths off her national record (57.47) in yesterday’s semifinals.
Katharine Berkoff also virtually qualified for Paris 2024, second with 57.91. In the other final of the day there wasn’t an equally stellar performance, with Bobby Finke who won the 800 meter freestyle in 7:44.22. A time measurement far from his American record (7:38.67) from the 2023 World Championships, but still enough to win the Trials immediately ahead of the young talent Luke Whitlock (7:45.19).
Finally, it is worth mentioning the exceptional level of the semi-finals of the 100 freestyle, with four men capable of going under 47.60, demonstrating the enormous potential of the American 4×100 freestyle. Best time entering the final for Chris Giuliano in 47.25 (personal record, 3rd in the world this season) ahead of Jack Alexy (47.33), Caeleb Dressel (47.53) and Hunter Armstrong (47.59). To access the last act a 48.11 was needed.
