2024 U.S. Olympic Selection
“I just wanted to go out and have some fun … and that’s what I did.” Matt Fallon “I’m so glad I did,” she said to a record-breaking crowd of 22,209 after setting a new American record in the 200-meter breaststroke to qualify for her first Olympic Games.
Fallon ran a record-breaking 2:06.54, bringing the American record down below 2:07 for the first time. Josh Prenot He held that position for eight years, finishing in 2:07.17. Kevin Cordes, Nick Fink, Will Lyconand Andrew Wilson Both men broke the record in the 2:07 range over the middle eight-year period, but Prenot’s time at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials remained unchallenged.
Top 10 U.S. swimmers of all time, 200-meter breast stroke (LCM)
- Matt Fallon2:06.54 — 2024
- Josh Prenot, 2:07.17 – 2016
- Kevin Cordes2:07.41 – 2017
- Eric Chanteau, 2:07.42 – 2009
- Nick Fink2:07.55 – 2019
- Will Lycon2:07.62 – 2019
- Andrew Wilson2:07.77 – 2019
- AJ Poarch, 2:08.00 – 2024
- Jake Foster, 2:08.23 – 2023
- Josh Matheny – 2:08.32 – 2023
Fallon attempted the record in the semifinals, swimming 2:07.39, the second-fastest time ever by an American. When he turned around and saw his time, he looked shocked. But tonight, there was no shock, just pure celebration, and he threw one of the biggest celebrations so far at the Trials.
“I think it was really good. [semifinal] “The race was amazing,” Fallon said after the race.[Tonight] I just wanted to do pretty much what I’ve been doing. I was strong, but I just ran a little slower in the first 100 meters and didn’t want to go too fast.”
Fallon is known for his second-half strategy, and he did just that tonight. He was fifth after 50 meters, third after 100 meters, and first coming into the final corner. “I’ve been working a lot this year on staying strong and getting stronger in the second half, so I didn’t really change my race strategy. I just tried to go all out in the last 50 meters, and I think it worked out really well.”
| Matt Fallon – 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials | Josh Prenot – 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials | |
| 50 | 29.19 | 29.21 |
| 100 | 1:01.50 (32.31) | 1:01.67 (32.46) |
| 150 | 1:34.00 (32.50) | 1:34.19 (32.52) |
| 200 | 2:06.54 (32.54) | 2:07.17 (32.98) |
Despite Fallon’s late talent, he was outpacing Prenot’s American record pace throughout the race, and it was the final 50 meters that proved decisive for the 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student, who outran Prenot by 0.44 seconds in the final 50 meters and ultimately beat the record by 0.63 seconds.
Fallon was the first Penn student to make the U.S. team in the pool, and he said he met Penn’s head coach for the first time after the race. Mike Schnur cry.
Fallon first made waves three years ago in Omaha when he used his dramatic back-half speed to cruise to the final in first place. Just 18 years old, Fallon was unable to replicate the magic of his semi-final in the final, finishing in eighth place.
He said after the race that he knew what it felt like to be in the lead heading into the final, but “this morning, this afternoon, this evening. [was] It’s just a completely different atmosphere.”
The next qualifying event for the 2021 Olympic Trials was the 2022 International Team Trials, but Fallon had to miss that meet due to final exams. Later that summer at the U.S. Championships, she improved her personal best by one second, running 2:07.91.
A back injury kept Fallon from competing in the 2023 NCAAs, but he recovered in time for the U.S. Championships and could earn his first spot on the senior international roster for the World Championships in 2023. In Fukuoka, Fallon won a bronze medal in another individual event.
The following summer, he was forced to miss the U.S. International Team Trials, which were held unusually early, due to final exams, but later that summer he won the 200 breaststroke at the U.S. Championships, smashing his personal best by one second in a time of 2:07.91. Last summer, he bounced back from an injury that kept him out of NCAAs to make the U.S. World Championships team, then went on to win a bronze medal at worlds, also setting a personal best (2:07.74).
Fallon said he focused on long-distance races this year and spent a lot of time preparing for them. [break the record]… I just wanted to go out there and do it on the biggest stage.”
And with tonight’s attendance surpassing the previous record set on Saturday, Fallon couldn’t have asked for a bigger stage to showcase a more special swim.
