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- Katie Ledecky, Ryan Murphy, Lilly King win at Olympic trials (newsbreak.com)
INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. Olympic swimming trials showcased returning champions and familiar faces making their mark.
Ryan Murphy, a standout in backstroke, is on his way to competing in his third Olympic Games, alongside breaststroke sensation Lilly King. Katie Ledecky, another household name, secured her participation in a second individual event in Paris.
Katie Grimes also highlighted the event, qualifying for both indoor pool and open water competitions at the Summer Games.
During a night filled with five final events, Ledecky earned her second victory in Indianapolis by leading the 200-meter freestyle on Monday.
After clinching the 400 free earlier in the trials, Ledecky demonstrated her dominance with a winning time of 1 minute, 55.22 seconds.
Ledecky is set to compete in her favored 800 and 1,500 freestyle events next.
Claire Weinstein followed closely in the 200 free, securing a spot in Paris with a time of 1:56.18. Paige Madden and Erin Gemmell also earned places on the 4×200 free relay team, with Anna Peplowski and Alex Shackell in contention for the remaining relay spots.
Murphy continued his impressive streak, winning the men’s 100-meter backstroke, a continuation of his success since Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
At 28, the Florida native notched a time of 52.22, aiming to add to his collection of four golds, one silver, and one bronze medal.
Fueled by his results in Tokyo, where he won silver and bronze, Murphy is determined to win every race he enters.
Hunter Armstrong secured his potential Olympic spot with a tight finish of 52.72, just ahead of Jack Aikins.
Indiana’s own Lilly King thrilled her local audience by winning the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.43, celebrating poignantly with her family in the stadium.
King, eyeing her third Olympics as her last, boasts two gold, two silver, and one bronze medals in her illustrious career.
Emma Weber took second place in the 100 breaststroke, narrowly ousting Tokyo gold medalist Lydia Jacoby, leaving Jacoby without a chance to defend her title in Paris.
Grimes, set for her second Olympics, won a place in pool competition by winning the women’s 400 individual medley, adding to her qualification for the open water event in the Seine River.
Taking the lead early in the race, Grimes managed to outpace Emma Weyant in the freestyle leg, securing her spot for Paris.
At just 15, Grimes was the youngest U.S. Olympian in Tokyo, now returning with more experience.
Luke Hobson marked his first Olympic qualification with a win in the men’s 200 freestyle, a promising result for the young Texas college star.
Chris Guiliano, another surprise performer, secured his Paris spot from an unlikely lane, showcasing the depth of competition.
Drew Kibler and Kieran Smith, finishing third and fourth, are set for the 4×200 relay team, with Brooks Curry and Blake Pieroni also in the running.
Regan Smith broke her own American record in the women’s 100 backstroke semifinals, preparing to fight for her Olympic spot in the final round.
Despite a previous setback in the 100 butterfly, Smith’s record-breaking performance in her preferred event demonstrated her resilience and competitive spirit.
The event also introduced Audrey Derivaux, a 14-year-old prodigy, capturing attention despite finishing last in the 400 IM final, signaling a bright future in the sport.
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- Katie Ledecky, Ryan Murphy, Lilly King win at Olympic trials (newsbreak.com)