Carmel swimmer Aaron Shackle makes the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team
The 19-year-old won the men’s 400 freestyle on the first night of the USA Swimming Olympic Trials.
Special to IndyStar
Here are highlights from the first day of the USA Swimming Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium:
Best story
Gretchen Walsh from the University of Virginia, who caused a sensation during the college season, showed that she has successfully transitioned to the 50-meter pool. She swam to her first world record at the Olympic Trials, clocking 55.18 seconds in the semifinals of the 100 meter butterfly. Walsh, 21, will have to go at that pace again on Sunday night to reach the Paris Olympics. Tori Hosk (55.79) and Regan Smith (55.92) were also under 56 seconds. The previous world record was 55.48 by Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström in 2016. Huskey held the American record of 55.64.
Magic moment
The first swimmer to make the Olympic team was a Hoosier. Aaron Shackle, 19, of Carmel, won the 400 freestyle with a time of 3:45.46. After that, he slapped the water with both hands, punched the water again with his strong right hand, and walked out of the pool, raising his arms in victory. For good measure, he pushed up his goggles.
Olympic Trials: Carmel’s Aaron Shackel wins the 400 freestyle and books a ticket to Paris
Worth the hype
First-night attendance at Lucas Oil Stadium: 20,689. This is a record for indoor swimming competitions, and exceeds the number recorded in the 2016 Rio Olympics, according to the USA Swimming Federation.
Today’s statistics
Katie Ledecky, after winning the 400-meter freestyle, will become the oldest American woman to swim the freestyle distance in an Olympics. Ledecky, 27, participated in her fourth Olympic team. Previously the oldest was Janet Evans, who was 24 at her last Olympics in 1996.
Quote of the day
“Walking out there and seeing all those fans just blew my mind. In the prelims, I got up on the blocks to warm my body and it got quiet, and then it got louder again and I started shaking. I went to make your mark and said, ‘Relax, Katie, relax, don’t make a wrong start, no You’re starting out wrong.” – Katie Ledecky
What’s up next?
Participating in Sunday night’s finals will be Carmel’s Kelly Bache in the 100 butterfly and Indiana University’s Josh Matheny in the 100 breaststroke. Alex Shackle and Bache could reach the semifinals in the 200 freestyle. Hoosier icon Lilly King opened her schedule with the preliminary rounds and semifinals of the 100 breaststroke. The semifinals of the men’s 200 freestyle could include three Carmel swimmers: Drew Kibler, Jake Mitchell and Aaron Shackle. Will Modglin of Zionsville, a two-time national high school swimmer of the year, advances to the semifinals of the 100 backstroke.
