SWIMMING AT THE PAN AM GAMES

This year’s Pan American Games swimming roster is highlighted by five Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 medalists, including gold medalist Brooks Curry, silver medalists Erica Sullivan, Jay Litherland and Paige Madden, and bronze medalist Catie Deloof. These athletes are just a few to keep an eye on in Santiago as we countdown to Paris. 

This summer, emerging young talent and seasoned veterans showcased American swimming depth with standout performances at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships. Katie Grimes became the first American to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and Katie Ledecky secured her sixth consecutive title in the 800-meter freestyle. Ledecky will look to continue her winning ways as she works to earn her fourth U.S. Olympic Team nomination. She is the most decorated female swimmer in history with 10 Olympic medals. 

And with the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials just nine months away, now’s not the time to count out rising talent. At the recent world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, five world championship rookies earned individual medals, including Gretchen Walsh, Jack Alexy, Matt Fallon and Dare Rose. Look for these athletes to be among those making a name for themselves heading to Paris. At the start of Tokyo 2020, there were 15 members of the U.S. roster who had never even competed in a senior-level, long course international competition – 12 of those 15 earned medals. 

At the Tokyo Games, U.S. swimmers won 11 gold, 10 silver and nine bronze medals. Swimming dominated the overall U.S. medal table, accounting for 27% of all Team USA Olympic medals in Tokyo and the most medals won for Team USA overall. The future for USA Swimming is bright and our swimmers are eager to continue this tradition of excellence in Santiago and Paris.

The Pan American Games are not an Olympic-qualifying meet for swimming, though traditionally, several of the athletes who qualify for the Pan American Games team also qualify for the Olympic team. 

Eight athletes from the 2019 Pan American Games team went on to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team. Overall, the U.S. team left the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, with 44 medals – 21 gold, 15 silver and eight bronze.

Pool athletes for this year’s Pan American Games team were selected from their performances at the 2023 Phillips 66 National Championships in June. Complete selection procedures can be found here. The roster for the Pan American Games team can be found here.

Open water athletes for the Pan American Games were selected based on finishes in the men’s and women’s 10K races at the 2023 USA Swimming Open Water National Championships held on April 21, 2023, in Sarasota, Florida. The selection procedures for the Pan American Games open water team can be found here.