Top things to know about the US swimming Olympic Trials 2021

It's been a long wait, but the 2021 US Olympic Swimming Trials are finally upon us.

Olympic gold medallists, world champions and a host of rising stars will lock horns in the hope of securing one of the two qualifying berths per event for the Tokyo 2020 (in 2021) Olympic Games. The top-six finishers in the 100m and 200m freestyle will likely earn qualification for the relay races.

With so much star-power on show, it's arguably the most competitive national qualifying event in the world.

The CHI Health Center arena in Omaha, Nebraska will host the qualifier in two waves: 4-7 June and 13-20 June, with a 50% crowd capacity as a coronavirus safety precaution.

Below is our one-stop event preview, including the top athletes to look out for, the schedule, where to watch and more.

Athletes to watch

The top two names in USA swimming are Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky and both are chasing history at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

With the mixed 4x100m medley relay making its debut as an Olympic sport in Japan, Dressel has the chance of equalling or even beating Michael Phelps’ record of eight gold medals at a single Olympics.

Five-time Olympic champion Ledecky meanwhile, needs just two more individual victories to overtake Krisztina Egerszegi as the most successful individual female swimmer ever (with five individual gold medals). The introduction of the women’s 1500m freestyle event, in which Ledecky is the world champion, will only strengthen her chances of success.

Sprint queen Simone Manuel is the heavy favourite to win the coveted women’s 100m freestyle, while 100m breaststroke reigning Olympic champ and world record holder Lilly King looks unbeatable in her favoured event.

All eyes will be on the star-studded women’s 100m backstroke line-up, where Olympic silver medallist Kathleen Baker, world record holder Regan Smith, and 50m world champ Olivia Smoliga among others will be battling for top spot.

Elsewhere, experienced Nathan Adrian will hope to put pressure on Dressel in the men’s freestyle sprints, while Michael Andrew recently made headlines using his race-pace training to break the USA 100m breaststroke record.

Finally, look out for the resurgent Ryan Lochte who will target the men’s 200m individual medley to make his fifth Olympics at 36, while men’s 100m backstroke Olympic champion Ryan Murphy has started to rediscover his best form.

COVID-friendly format

The meet will be split into two “Waves” with Wave I from June 4-7 and Wave II from June 13-20 to ensure that the 1,700 swimmers taking part will be kept more socially distant.

Wave I will be used as a warm-up event where coaches can view fringe athletes and future stars, while Wave II will serve as the sole qualifier for pool swimmers on the US Olympic Team, with a faster set of qualifying standards.

Schedule

The Wave I schedule can be found on the USA Swimming website here.

The Wave II finals schedule is as follows:

(All times are local, CET-7)

Sunday, June 13 (First race at 19:00)

Men’s 400 Individual Medley

Men’s 400 Freestyle
Women’s 400 Individual Medley

Monday, June 14 (First race at 19:00)

Women’s 100 Butterfly

Men’s 100 Breaststroke

Women’s 400 Freestyle

Tuesday, June 15 (First race at 19:00)

Men’s 200 Freestyle

Women’s 100 Backstroke

Men’s 100 Backstroke

Women’s 100 Breaststroke

Wednesday, June 16 (First race at 19:00)

Women’s 200 Freestyle

Men’s 200 Butterfly

Women’s 200 Individual Medley

Women’s 1500 Freestyle

Thursday, June 17 (First race at 19:00)

Men’s 800 Freestyle

Men’s 200 Breaststroke

Women’s 200 Butterfly

Men’s 100 Freestyle

Friday, June 18 (First race at 20:00)

Women’s 200 Breaststroke

Men’s 200 Backstroke

Men’s 200 Individual Medley

Women’s 100 Freestyle

Saturday, June 19 (First race at 20:00)

Men’s 100 Butterfly

Women’s 200 Backstroke

Women’s 800 Freestyle

Sunday, June 20 (First race at 19:15)

Men’s 50 Freestyle

Women’s 50 Freestyle

Men’s 1500 Freestyle