Rhyan White is an Olympic swimmer who represents the United States. She made headlines at the 2020 SEC Championships when she broke 2 SEC records in 24 hours in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
High School
Rhyan White was a 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier, placing 61st in the 100 back (1:02.82) and tying for 18th in the 200 back (2:12.36). She was a member of the 2017-2018 National Jr team, and as such represented the USA at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina. In Buenos Aires, White placed 4th in the 50 back (28.86), 100 back (1:00.60), 200 back (2:10.95).
On October 7, 2017, White announced her verbal commitment to swim for Alabama.
College (Alabama)
2018-2019
Rhyan white made an immediate impact for the Tide as a freshman. At her first SEC meet, White placed 22nd in the 100 fly (53.28), 6th in the 100 back (52.08), and and 12th in the 200 back (1:55.03), scoring in all 3 of her individual events. She also swam on Bama’s 7th place 200 and 400 medley relays.
At the NCAA Championships, White placed 33rd in the 100 back (52.69) and and 30th in the 200 back (1:54.48).
2019-2020
In her sophomore year, White took the SEC meet by storm. On Day 2, she quietly placed 2nd in the 100 fly (50.80) behind Erika Brown, who broke the American record at 49.3. After that, White was gone. She took the SEC title in the 100 back the next night in a meet record of 50.02, the came back the next morning and broke the meet record in prelims of the 200 back in 1:48.06. She won the title in the 200 that night in 1:48.15. She also swam on Alabama’s 3rd place 400 free relay, 2nd place 400 medley relay, and 5th place 200 medley relay.
2020-2021
In her junior season, White shined ever brighter at the SEC Championships. She took titles in the 100 fly (50.94), 100 back (50.36), 200 back (1:48.55), and as a part of Bama’s winning 200 medley relay. She also swam on Bama’s 4th place 400 medley relay.
After missing the 2020 NCAA’s due to the COVID-19 pandemic, White carried her momentum into 2021. At the NCAA Championships, she placed 5th in the 100 fly (50.99), 2nd in the 100 back (50.21), and 2nd in the 200 back (1:48.99). She also swam on Alabama’s 9th place 400 medley relay and 6th place 200 medley relay.
2021-2022
At the 2022 NCAA Championships, White placed 10th in the 100 fly (50.85), 4th in the 100 back (50.34), and 3rd in the 200 back (1:49.36).
2021 Olympic Trials
After a sensational spring season of racing, White successfully carried it into Trials. On night 3 of the meet, she qualified for her first Olympic Games, touching 2nd in the 100 back with a time of 58.60.
Rhyan White came back in force in the 200 back, winning the event in a huge personal best of 2:05.73, giving her a 2nd event in Tokyo.
2020 Olympic Games
White started her Games off in the 100 back, moving through prelims and semis to the final. In the final, White swam 58.43, tying her best time and finishing 4th overall. In the 200 back, White once again made the championship final, getting faster with each swim and ultimately touching for 4th once again at 2:06.39.
White finished her meet in the prelims of the 400 medley relay, where she led off in 59.19 to help USA advance to the final. They went on to win a silver, netting White her first Olympic medal.
2022 World Championship Trials
White reclaimed her spot on Team USA in the 200 back on night 2 in Greensboro, placing 2nd with a huge pb of 2:05.13 and dipping under the previous US Open record (which Phoebe Bacon broke at 2:05.08).
2022 World Championships
At the world championships, White made the most of her lone individual event, moving through prelims and semis and ultimately finishing 3rd in the final at 2:06.96, earning a bronze medal.
2023 U.S. International Team Trials (Indianapolis, Indiana)
After posting a 2:07.87 in the 200 back prelims, White showed her veteran stripes in the final. Behind Regan Smith’s 2:03.80 U.S. Open Record, White posted a 2:05.77 for 2nd. The swim was faster than the time she posted at the last Worlds, but still slower than the 2:05.13 former U.S. Open record from the last edition of Trials. The swim qualified her for her third straight International Team.
