Santiago 2023: Erica Sullivan, Paige Madden, and other top U.S. women swimming at PanAms
Katie Ledecky might not be there, but you will see plenty of great American swimmers in Santiago
Swimming
With the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, some lesser-known American swimmers will get a chance to shine as the roster features swimmers who didn’t compete at the World Championships in July. Starting 21 October, swimmers will get a chance to push for their personal bests against some top international competition, and brush up their resume heading into an Olympic year.
Here are the female swimmers you should keep an eye on:
WESTMONT, ILLINOIS - APRIL 12: Erica Sullivan competes in the Women's 800 Meter Freestyle Final on Day 1 of the TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont at FMC Natatorium on April 12, 2023 in Westmont, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Erica Sullivan
1500m freestyle
Erica Sullivan’s teammate Katie Ledecky holds the world record in the metric mile, so sometimes Sullivan’s work can be overshadowed. In Santiago, though, Sullivan is the star of the long-distance swim. She won silver at Tokyo 2020 with a personal best of 15.14:41. In July, Sullivan won gold in the 1500m at the TYR Pro Series Championships. Swimming at PanAms, she has a good shot to win and ramp up as she heads toward Paris 2024.
Paige Madden
400m freestyle and 800m freestyle
Since winning silver with the U.S. women’s 4x200m freestyle team in Tokyo, Paige Madden has switched her training camps twice, and revealed she was dealing with an autoimmune disorder that causes fatigue and muscle weakness. Now training at Arizona State, Madden is back to compete in the freestyle 400m and 800m. In July, she swam her personal best in the 800m and won gold at the TYR Pro Series Championships. She will get another chance to show how she’s improved in Santiago.
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA - JULY 29: Dakota Luther competes in the Women's 200 Meter Butterfly Final on day four of the TYR Pro Championships at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center on July 29, 2023 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Dakota Luther
200m butterfly
Dakota Luther has shown promise throughout her swimming career doing sprints and middle distances in the butterfly. She won the 200m at TYR Pro Series Championships earlier this year, and took gold in the Short Course World Championships late in 2022. In Santiago, Luther can show she’s ready to take the next step among U.S. swimmers with Paris less than a year away.
Kennedy Noble
100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 200 IM
One of the youngest members of Team USA will also be one of the busiest. Kennedy Noble, a sophomore at NC State, will have three races to swim in Santiago. Though she is young, she is accomplished. She’s a three-time NCAA All-American, and has represented the U.S. at world cups and junior Pan-Pacific events. Swimming at PanAms will help her get ready for the next level of swimming.