INDIANAPOLIS – Like father, like son.
Carmel’s Aaron Shackell, 19, became the first swimmer to make the U.S. team for Paris , winning the 400-meter freestyle Saturday in 3:45.46 on night 1 of the Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium .
Announced attendance was 20,689. That is the largest ever for an indoor swimming competition, according to USA Swimming.
Shackell’s father, Nick, made the British team for two Olympics, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000. His sister, Alex, who could join Aaron on the Olympic team, hugged him after he walked down the steps of the pool deck.
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Top two make the team, plus six in the 100- and 200-meter freestyles.
Kieran Smith, a 2021 Olympic medalist, finished second in 3:45.76. Luke Whitlock , a Noblesville 18-year-old representing Fishers Area Swimming Tigers, was fifth in 3:46.55. Whitlock had the fastest time of prelims, 3:46.42, or faster than Michael Phelps swam at age 18.