NCAA stars will feature prominently for the American squad at this year’s Short Course World Championships.
USA Swimming announced its 31-swimmer roster for the upcoming championship meet on Wednesday, with 16 Olympians and 15 current NCAA swimmers on the team.
The squad notably features three swimmers who come in as the reigning short course world champion in at least one event: Nic Fink (men’s 50 and 200 breast), Shaine Casas (men’s 100 back) and Rhyan White (women’s 200 back). Casas, however, won’t defend his title in the 100 back, but will instead be racing the men’s 200 back, 200 IM and 50 and 100 fly.
Other notable names on the men’s roster include current pros Michael Andrew, Ryan Murphy, Hunter Armstrong and Kieran Smith, while the NCAA contingent includes Carson Foster and Luca Urlando.
On the women’s side, Lilly King and Hali Flickinger highlight the post-grad swimmers while the collegiate lineup is headlined by the Stanford duo of Claire Curzan and Torri Huske and the Virginia duo of Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh.
The roster comes in with a total of 16 women and 15 men, one under the maximum (16 of each gender).
FULL U.S. ROSTER
Women’s Team (16)
Name | Event(s) |
Erika Brown | 50 free |
Jillian Cox | 800 free |
Claire Curzan | 50 free, 50/100 fly, 50/100 back |
Kate Douglass | 200 breast |
Erin Gemmell | 200/400 free |
Hali Flickinger | 200 fly, 400 IM |
Natalie Hinds | 100 free |
Torri Huske | 50/100 fly, 100 free |
Lilly King | 50/100/200 breast |
Annie Lazor | 50/100 breast |
Dakota Luther | 200 fly |
Kensey McMahon | 1500 free |
Leah Smith | 200/400/800 free |
Isabelle Stadden | 200 back |
Alex Walsh | 200 IM |
Rhyan White | 50/100/200 back |
Men’s Team (15)
Name | Event(s) |
Michael Andrew | 50 free, 50/100 breast, 50/100 fly |
Hunter Armstrong | 50/100 back, 100 free |
Shaine Casas | 50/100 fly, 200 IM, 200 back |
Charlie Clark | 800/1500 free |
David Curtiss | 50 free |
Nic Fink | 50/100/200 breast |
Carson Foster | 200 fly, 200/400 IM |
Jake Foster | 400 IM |
Trey Freeman | 400 free |
David Johnston | 800/1500 free |
Drew Kibler | 100/200 free |
Ryan Murphy | 50/100/200 back |
Kieran Smith | 200/400 free |
Charlie Swanson | 200 breast |
Luca Urlando | 200 fly |
In terms of entries, Curzan and Andrew lead the way with five individual events apiece, while Casas follows with four.
Overall, 10 of the 31 members on the roster are returners from last year.
At the 2021 SC Worlds in Abu Dhabi, the U.S. led the medal table with nine gold, nine silver and 12 bronze medals for a total of 30 trips to the podium.
USA Swimming’s listed roster does not include relays—coaches will have the ability to select anyone on the team to race in those—nor does it have any swimmers entered in the 100 IM.
The roster notes that event lineups are subject to change, and the selection criteria state that anyone on the team is eligible to swim the 100 IM provided they’ve achieved the FINA ‘A’ cut (59.65 for women, 52.98 for men) between July 24, 2021 and November 5, 2022.
According to FINA’s database, Nic Fink is the only eligible swimmer for men or women to race the 100 IM at this point, having clocked 52.55 during the 2021 ISL season.
That means that swimmers racing on the upcoming FINA World Cup would have an opportunity to race the 100 IM and potentially add it to their schedule.
USA Swimming’s selection process for the team was based on the 2022-23 U.S. National Team roster, which was released last month based on long course performances from Jan. 1 – Aug. 31, 2022.
The U.S. coaching staff was also announced, featuring NC State’s Braden Holloway as the head coach, and Bruce Gemmell (Nation’s Capital Swim Club), Whitney Hite (University of Florida), Ashley Jahn (University of Tennessee) and Eddie Reese (University of Texas) joining him as assistants.
The team is scheduled to leave the U.S. on Dec. 6 and take on a pre-meet training camp from Dec. 8-12 in Melbourne prior to the competition.
The 2022 Short Course World Championships will run from Dec. 13-18 at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center in Melbourne, Australia.
Where is:
Trenton Julian
Justin Ress
Ryan Held
Brooks Curry
Caeleb Dressel’s absence is understood since he may still be recovering. I hope Team USA can do the better
Any changes to roster? Luca out so who takes that event? Any other changes? I heard a rumor there might be more?!?
Probably are changes. Nothing announced yet.
Glad to see two female coaches on the roster!
Whitney Hite is a man
One race for Kate D. That’s just sad and it is going to hold USA back.
Wonder why no Held?
Very strong squad.. hopefully a bit more challenge this time around in Melbourne competition wise
You’re going to want to put Luca in the 50/100 back. Thanks.
YAY KENSEY!!!!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU