2023 U.S. Nationals: Rookies Abound, Ledecky Qualifies For 6th-Straight Worlds Roster

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• June 27 – July 1, 2023
• Indianapolis, IN
• Indiana University Natatorium
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet (updated version, 6/26)
• Live Results
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• How To Watch

While the official title for this week’s meet is the “U.S. National Championships,” it is also serving as a selection meet for four different international teams: the World Aquatics Championships, World Junior Aquatic Championships, the Pan American Games, and the LEN U-23 Championships.

After day one of competition, a total of 10 men and 10 women are in line for spots on the USA’s World Championships roster. Note that due to roster limits, not all of these swimmers are guaranteed spots. We’ve noted the ones who have not officially secured their invites in italics.

Men

• Carson Foster – 200 fly
• Jack Alexy – 100 free
• Chris Guiliano – 100 free
• Matt King – 4×100 free
• Destin Lasco – 4×100 free
• Bobby Finke – 1500 free
• Thomas Heilman – 200 fly 
• Charlie Clark – 800 free
• Ryan Held – 4×100 free
• Justin Ress – 4×100 free

Women

• Regan Smith – 200 fly
• Kate Douglass – 100 free
• Abbey Weitzeil – 100 free
• Gretchen Walsh – 4×100 free
• Olivia Smoliga – 4×100 free
• Katie Ledecky – 800 free
• Lindsay Looney – 200 fly
• Jillian Cox – 800 free
• Torri Huske – 4×100 free
• Maxine Parker – 4×100 free

We won’t delve too deep in the specific selection criteria here for each meet here (although they’re pasted at the bottom of the post), but it’s worth noting a that swimmer is only eligible to swim in one of the aforementioned meets. That stands in contrast to some previous years, where, for instance, relay-only swimmers at World Championships were still allowed to swim individual events at meets like the World University Games or the Pan American Games. Here’s how the meets stack up in priority:

1. 2023 World Aquatics Championships
2. 2023 World Aquatics Junior Championships
3. 2023 Pan American Games
4. 2023 LEN European U23 Championships

This means that rosters will be in flux throughout the week. For instance, right now, after finishing 5th and 6th in the 100 free, Ryan Held and Justin Ress aren’t quite guaranteed roster spots on the World Championships team, but they are guaranteed selection to the Pan Ams roster, should there not be enough space on the World Champs team. In the likely event that there is enough roster space to take the #5/6 swimmers in the 100 free, or if they qualify in another event, Macquire McDuff and/or Drew Kibler are in line to take their spots on the Pan Ams roster. Clear as mud?

It’s been five years since we’ve had a meet with so many layers to the selection procedures, so give us a little grace as we get into the swing of things, but we’ll try to keep you updated on how the projected rosters for each team looks as the meet progresses. If we’ve made any obvious mistakes (e.g., including an ineligible swimmer on the Junior Worlds projected roster), kindly let us know in the comments.

For World Championships, only the top finisher in each Olympic event, as well as the #2-4 finishers in the 100/200 freestyle events, are guaranteed selection off the bat. The 2nd-place finishers in the Olympic events, along with the #5 and #6 finishers in the 100/200 free, will be added to the rosters if there is space. Rosters are capped at 26 women and 26 men.

• Priority 1 is listed in blue
• Priority 2 is listed in red
• Priority 3 is listed in green
• Priority 4 is listed in yellow
• Priority 5 is listed in white

Men’s Projected Rosters Through Day 1

Women’s Projected Rosters Through Day 1

Two more notes:

1. We’re not 100% sure who all is eligible for the LEN U23 Championships, so we’re taking our best guess. Note that a swimmer who eligible for Pan Ams and the LEN U23 Champs may choose which meet to participate in. For now, if a swimmer is eligible for Pan Ams and the LEN U23, we’ve listed them on both rosters.
2. The LEN U23 selection criteria is strange even by USA Swimming standards. Basically, the US is only taking 7 men and 7 women, and essentially only taking one per discipline. For instance, being the top available swimmer in the 100 free is no guarantee of an invite. Instead, your time has to be the closest to the FINA ‘A’ standard out of the top available in swimmer in the 50 free, 100 free, and 200 free. So, for now, we’ve listed the swimmers who are eligible for consideration. We think. We hope.

Here’s a summary of the relevant priorities by team, courtesy of the various USA Swimming selection documents:

World Championships – max of 26

• Priority #1. The first priority will include both (i) the four best finishing Available Swimmers based on finish order from the Finals the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyles, and (ii) the best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals of the Qualifying Competition in each of the Individual Olympic Events other than the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyle. 
• Priority #2. The second priority will include the second best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals of the Qualifying Competition in each of the Individual Olympic Events other than the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyle. 
• Priority #3. The third priority will include the fifth best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals of the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyles. 
• Priority #4. The fourth priority will include the sixth best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals of the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyles. 
• Priority #5. The fifth priority will include the best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals at the Qualifying Competition in the Individual Non-Olympic Events. No more than one Available Swimmer may be selected in each Individual Non-Olympic Event. If the Available Swimmer with the fastest time at the Finals in an Individual Non-Olympic Event declines the invitation to be Selected to the Team when that invitation is offered by USA Swimming and/or declines to swim in the Event for which he/she qualifies in the Championships, USA Swimming will not Select an Available Swimmer in that Individual Non-Olympic Event via Priority #5. 

World Junior Championships – max of 26

• Priority #1. The first priority will include both (i) the four best finishing Available Swimmers from the Finals at the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyles, and (ii) the best finishing Available Swimmer from the Finals of the Qualifying Competition in each of the Individual Olympic Events other than the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyle. 
• Priority #2. The second priority will include the second best finishing Available Swimmer from the Finals at the Qualifying Competition in each of the Individual Olympic Events, other than the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyles. 
• Priority #3. The third priority will include the fifth best finishing Available Swimmer from the Finals at the Qualifying Competition in the 100-meter Freestyle. 
• Limitation. Before applying these Priorities, and before any Available Swimmer accepts or declines an invitation to be Selected to the Team, USA Swimming will identify the 8 best finishing Available Swimmers in the 100-meter Freestyle and 200-meter Freestyle, and the 6 best finishing Available Swimmers in all other Individual Olympic Events, at the Qualifying Competition (the “Best Finishing Swimmers”). Only those Available Swimmers who are among the Best Finishing Swimmers will be considered for Selection to the Team in that Event, and those who are not among the Best Finishing Swimmers will not be considered for Selection to the Team in that Event. 

Pan American Games – max of 18 

• Priority #1 – The top two best-finishing Available Swimmers from Nationals in the 100 and 200-meter freestyles, plus the one best-finishing Available Swimmer in the rest of the individual events.
• Priority #2 – Second-best finishing Available Swimmer in events other than the 100 and 200-meter freestyles. If this results in more than 18 for either gender, swimmers will be ranked based on percentage of “A” Time Standards, with the swimmers closest to those Time Standards being chosen.
• Priority #3 – Third-best finishing Available Swimmer in the 100 and 200-meter freestyles from the qualifying competition. If not all of these swimmers are selected, they will be ranked based on their percentage of the “A” Time Standard in the event for which they qualify under this priority. Only two relay-only swimmers per gender will be nominated under this priority.

LEN U23 Championships – max of 7

• Priority #1 – The two best available swimmers based on the finish order from Trials in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle events will be ranked based on proximity to the “A” time standard. The two swimmers per gender whose times are best relative to the “A” time standard will be chosen.
• Priority #2 – The one best available swimmer based on the finish order from Trials in the 400, 800, and 1500 freestyle events will be ranked based on proximity to the “A” time standard. The one swimmer per gender whose times are best relative to the “A” time standard will be chosen.
• Priority #3 – The one best available swimmer based on the finish order in the 100 and 200 butterfly will be ranked. The one swimmer per gender whose times are best relative to the “A” time standard will be chosen.
• Priority #4 – The one best available swimmer based on the finish order in the 100 and 200 backstroke will be ranked. The one swimmer per gender whose times are best relative to the “A” time standard will be chosen.
• Priority #5 – The one best available swimmer based on the finish order in the 100 and 200 breaststroke will be ranked. The one swimmer per gender whose times are best relative to the “A” time standard will be chosen.
• Priority #6 – The one best available swimmer based on the finish order in the 200 and 400 IM will be ranked.  The one swimmer per gender whose times are best relative to the “A” time standard will be chosen.
• Priority #7 – If the team is not full, which would only happen if there was an overlap between swimmers chosen in the above priorities or they ran out of Available Swimmers, then all available swimmers in all individual Olympic events will be ranked based on percentage of “A” time standard, and they will be added (by gender) until the roster cap is hit.