As the Paris Olympics approach, there are several storylines to keep an eye on, from security concerns to the performance of athletes like Simone Biles. The Games mark the first post-pandemic Olympics, and there are high expectations for the event.
One of the standout performances at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials was Gretchen Walsh’s world record-breaking swim in the women’s 100-meter butterfly. The 21-year-old University of Virginia star shattered the previous record with a time of 55.18 seconds, surpassing Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjöström’s mark from 2016.
Another impressive swimmer at the trials was Aaron Shackell, who at just 19 years old, became the first U.S. swimmer to qualify for the Olympics by winning the men’s 400-meter freestyle. Shackell comes from a family of swimmers, with his father having competed for Great Britain in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Katie Ledecky, a veteran Olympian with 10 Olympic medals to her name, secured her spot on the U.S. Olympic team by winning the women’s 400 freestyle. This will be Ledecky’s fourth Olympic appearance, and she finished with a time of 3:58.35 at the trials.
With these impressive performances and more on the horizon, the Paris Olympics are shaping up to be an exciting event for fans and athletes alike. Keep an eye on these storylines as the Games approach.