2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS
- When:
- Wave I Dates: June 4-7, 2021
- Wave II Dates: June 13-20, 2021
- Prelims: 10am CDT | Finals: 7pm CDT (8PM finals on Friday & Saturday)
- Where: CHI Health Center / Omaha, Nebraska
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Cuts
- Wave I & II Event Order
- LCM (50m)
- Day 8 Finals Live Stream (NBC)
- Psych Sheets
- Wave II Live Results
Day 8 Finals Recap
Did you miss the last finals session of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials? Have no fear! The men’s and women’s 50 free and men’s 1500 free race videos are here.
Kicking off the session was the men’s 50 free, both Caeleb Dressel and Michael Andrew were brilliant off the start, easily separating themselves off of the breakout. Utilizing his rapid yet consistent stroke rate to equal his American record and take down the supersuit 2009 U.S. Open record with a 21.04. Also nailing second place to add another swim to his Olympic line-up was Andrew at 21.48. Nathan Adrian finished in a valiant third place at 21.73, his fastest swim since 2016.
Then, the women had their turn at the 50-meter “splash-n-dash”. During semifinals, Simone Manuel hit her fastest swim since the start of the pandemic at 24.50, raising her head after missing out on the 100 free final. Entering the final few meters, Manuel and 100 free champion Abbey Weitzeil threw down matching primal all-out strokes towards the wall, touching within one one-hundredth of each other. At the touch, it was Manuel who secured her return to the Olympics as Weitzeil received the confirmation her 2016 Olympic teammate will join her in Tokyo following her narrow runner-up finish, 24.29 to 24.30. Placing third was Tokyo Olympian Torri Huske at 24.46, who won the 100 fly final on Monday.
In the final event of the session, Florida Gator Bobby Finke won his second distance event in Omaha with a blazing 1500 free time of 14:46.06, sending a major threat to Peter Vanderkaay‘s 2008 U.S. Open record (14:45.54) and nearing Connor Jaeger‘s 14:39.48 American record from the 2016 Olympics. Earning his second runner-up finish and another event in Tokyo will be IU Hoosier Michael Brinegar (15:00.87). Tokyo open water Olympian Jordan Wilimovsky settled for third in this pool event at 15:05.29.
MEN’S 50 FREE FINAL
- World Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 20.91 (2009)
American Record: Caeleb Dressel – 21.04 (2019)US Open Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 21.14 (2009)- World Junior Record: Michael Andrew (USA) – 21.75 (2017)
- 2016 Olympic Champion: Anthony Ervin (USA) – 21.40
- 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Nathan Adrian – 21.51
- Wave I Cut: 23.19
- Wave II Cut: 22.71
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 22.01
- Caeleb Dressel (GSC), 21.04 *=AR, U.S. Open
- Michael Andrew (RPC), 21.48
- Nathan Adrian (CAL), 21.73
WOMEN’S 50 FREE FINAL
- World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 23.67 (2017)
- American Record: Simone Manuel – 23.97 (2017)
- US Open Record: Simone Manuel (USA) – 24.10 (2018)
- World Junior Record: Claire Curzan (USA) – 24.17 (2021)
- 2016 Olympic Champion: Pernille Blume (DEN) – 24.07
- 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Abbey Weitzeil – 24.28
- Wave I Cut: 25.99
- Wave II Cut: 25.65
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 24.77
- Simone Manuel (ALTO), 24.29
- Abbey Weitzeil (CAL), 24.30
- Torri Huske (AAC), 24.46
MEN’S 1500 FREE FINAL
- World Record: Sun Yang (CHN) – 14:31.02 (2012)
- American Record: Connor Jaeger – 14:39.48 (2016)
- US Open Record: Peter Vanderkaay (USA) – 14:45.54 (2008)
- World Junior Record: Franko Grgic (CRO) – 14:46.09 (2019)
- 2016 Olympic Champion: Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) – 14:34.57
- 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Connor Jaeger – 14:47.61
- Wave I Cut: 15:44.89
- Wave II Cut: 15:35.76
- FINA ‘A’ Cut: 15:00.99
- Bobby Finke (SPA-FL), 14:46.06
- Michael Brinegar (MVN), 15:00.87
- Jordan Wilimovsky (KSWM), 15:05.29
Race videos for people outside of USA
Men’s 50 free final
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLOUJLd5KEc
Women’s 50 free final
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65C6LyCgnCQ
Men’s 1500 free final
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-DvS_xdN2A
Great to get Simone on the team, so happy for her!
Now, how do they handle the relays? She’s by far the best 100 freestyler the USA has. Do they see how she’s doing at camp and then put her on? Or does she not get any of the relays at all? How do you leave off the defending olympic gold medalist and 2 time defending world champion in the 100 freestyle off relays where there is a woman swimming 100 meters of freestyle?
I think it completely depends on how her body recovers over the next 5 weeks.
Since she has a light individual schedule I think you put her in the 4×1 prelim ( first or second morning I think??) and let her prove herself
I agree, I think you give her a chance to show if she can do something in the prelims…. However I think it’s a bad argument to say that just because she is the defending Olympic champ etc. etc. she deserves a spot. Olympics are about who is performing NOW.
I really think she is not the best 100 Freestyler the USA has right NOW. Additionally, we know other people can throw down a good 100m as well.
the four fastest 100’s at trials should be on the relay. period.
Now if that 1500 is not short attention span TV I don’t know what is. Can we send NBC some ADD medication and get a full race for the Olympics? Please? This is ridiculous.
I agree, they better show the whole thing. With Wellbrock, Romanchuk, and Paltrinieri (I suppose someone else could be in there too) all in form this season, it’s shaping up to be an absolutely incredible race that will come down to the final few laps.
I don’t know how Americans can stand American TV.
I would never never never exchange our channels with yours. And I can be very harsh about French TV very often.
But as the proverb says: “When I look at myself, I’m sorry, when I compare myself, I’m consoled.” 😆
For example next month during the broadcast of the swimming finals’ sessions in the middle of the night here in France (than you to the nazis of NBC! 😡 ), there will be zero TV commercial on our public channels. When I watch swimming or athletics on NBC it’s hard to not become crazy with commercials every 8 or 10 minutes. They cut distance races. I imagine what… Read more »
All hail QUEEN SIMONE
YAASSSS Queen!
Let’s show those Aussies who’s the queen of pool.
QUEEN SIMONE will anchor all relays and smash Cate Campbell, Emma McKeon, and Ariarne Titmus like a guitar!