Men’s 400m freestyle final
Aaron Shackell officially became the first member of the U.S. Olympic swimming team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, 28 years after his father, Nicholas Shackell, represented Great Britain at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Shackell touched in 3:45.46 to not only win the event at Trials, but crucially, to achieve the Olympic standard time, thus making the 19-year-old eligible for Paris.
“Ever since I learned my dad was an Olympian, I’ve wanted to be an Olympian myself,” Shackell said. “He inspired me to go faster.”
Tokyo bronze medalist Kieran Smith finished just three tenths behind Shackell in second place. He is likely to head to a second consecutive Games, though that won’t be known until later in the Trials due to team size constraints.
FINAL RESULTS:
1) *Aaron Shackell: 3:45.46
2) **Kieran Smith: 3:45.76
3) David Johnston: 3:46.19
4) Bobby Finke: 3:46.27
5) Luke Whitlock: 3:46.55
6) Jake Magahey: 3:46.89
7) Daniel Matheson: 3:48.63
8) Jake Mitchell: 3:50.76
*Olympic place guaranteed
**Olympic place likely