The 2026 U.S. National Championships are underway, and the swimming world is witnessing a clear shift in power as the next generation of Team USA athletes emerges. The meet, held in Irvine, California, at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, is a testament to the rising stars in the sport, with young freestyle swimmers making their mark.
One standout performer is 20-year-old Ryan Erisman, who set a personal best time of 1:45.40 in the men's 200 freestyle prelims, earning the top seed. This achievement marks a significant improvement from his previous best of 1:46.43, and it places him among the world's top swimmers, ranking 13th this year and 3rd among Americans. Erisman's performance is all the more impressive considering he's on the Pan Pacific Championships team, which means he's swimming a reduced schedule.
Another young talent, 17-year-old Luka Mijatovic, finished just behind Erisman with a time of 1:46.23, his second-fastest swim in the event. This is a promising sign for the future of American swimming, as Mijatovic has already made headlines with his record-breaking swims.
The men's 100 freestyle also showcased the rise of younger swimmers. Maximus Williamson, who finished 4th yesterday, set a new lifetime best of 47.93 in prelims, making him the 7th fastest American in the event this season. This is a remarkable improvement from his previous mark of 48.38, set in September 2023.
The women's division is not far behind, with younger athletes making their mark. Anna Moesch, who became the American record holder in the 100 free in May, lowered her record to 51.88 last night. Just last year, she finished 6th at the U.S. Nationals, but now she's a senior international team member.
Rylee Erisman, also on the Pan Pacific Championships team, had a breakthrough performance at the 2025 World Junior Championships, where she swam a 52.79 in the 100 free, becoming the 7th fastest American ever. Last night, she finished 2nd to Moesch in the event, and her 1:56.15 time in Indianapolis is the 3rd fastest American 200 free this season.
Liberty Clark, another teenager, is making waves in the sprint freestyle events. After a successful NCAA season, she's now one of the best sprint freestylers in the country. In the 100 free final, she swam 52.97, becoming the 9th fastest American in history, and in the 200 free, she qualified 5th with a time of 1:56.73.
The women's 200 freestyle prelims featured strong performances from Madi Mintenko and Camille Spink. Mintenko, a freshman at the University of Virginia, swam 1:56.81, dropping a tenth from her previous time. Spink, a senior at Tennessee, set a new lifetime best of 1:57.39, taking a second off her previous mark.
As the meet progresses, the focus shifts to the relays, where the future of Team USA may be on full display. With these young swimmers gaining confidence and experience, the relays could be a highlight of the competition, showcasing the potential of the next generation of American swimming stars.
