Get ready for an exciting day of swimming at the 2026 Pro Swim Series in Austin, Texas! The French team has made a strong showing so far, and today promises to be just as thrilling.
Two French stars, Marie Wattel and Maxime Grousset, are leading the way in their respective 50-meter butterfly events. Grousset, fresh off a victory in the 100-meter fly, is aiming for another win, while Wattel is looking to make her mark. But they won't have it easy, as Caeleb Dressel, a formidable opponent, is right on their heels.
The day kicks off with the 200-meter freestyle, where American swimmers Claire Weinstein and Luke Hobson are the top seeds. Both are individual medal winners at the recent World Championships in Singapore, so expect a fierce battle for the top spots. However, they'll face tough competition from the likes of Anna Peplowski, Simone Manuel, and Rylee Erisman, who are all aiming for those middle lanes in the women's event.
After the sprinters take center stage, it's time for the 400-meter individual medley. And here's where it gets interesting - training partners and world record holders Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand will be swimming in the final heat of their respective events. They're far ahead of the rest, but Emma Weyant has been putting up some impressive swims this week. And let's not forget Bobby Finke, who will be under the spotlight after his impressive performance last summer in Indy.
The morning session wraps up with the 50-meter backstroke, where Regan Smith and Shaine Casas are the top seeds. Casas, who has been no-showing the past two mornings, may leave lane 4 empty, creating an opportunity for the French star Yohann Ndoye Brouard to claim the top seed. But keep an eye on Jack Alexy, who is giving backstroke a go.
In the women's 200-meter freestyle, Simone Manuel set the pace early, building a significant lead by the 150-meter mark. Her time of 1:59.25 was over two seconds ahead of the next fastest swimmer. Meanwhile, Anna Peplowski, known for her distance prowess, opened with a quick 57.06, but it was Claire Weinstein who claimed the heat win with a time of 1:59.88.
The men's 200-meter freestyle saw some tight racing, with Grant Pier of the University of Denver setting the pace initially. However, it was Chris Guiliano and Brooks Curry who took the lead in the fourth heat, with Guiliano touching in 1:47.73. Heat five was a close battle, with Gabriel Jett, Carson Foster, and Ryan Erisman all in contention. But it was the defending World silver medalist, Luke Hobson, who took the top spot in the final heat with a time of 1:47.40.
The women's 50-meter butterfly heats were dominated by youth, with 17-year-olds Charlotte Crush and Mena Boardman posting the top two times. They're set to become rivals over the next four years, as they've committed to SEC rivals Tennessee and Texas. However, they'll first have to navigate tonight's semifinals, where the experience of Emma Harvey and Marie Wattel could prove crucial.
In the men's 50-meter butterfly, Finn Brooks made a statement by chopping 0.36 seconds off his personal best, winning the last heat with a time of 23.14. Maxime Grousset and Caeleb Dressel comfortably made it to the semifinals, but expect them to step up their game tonight.
The 400-meter individual medley prelims saw Emma Weyant and Summer McIntosh cruise to easy wins. Weyant, the #2 seed, touched in 4:47.25, while McIntosh, the world record holder, stopped the clock at 4:37.89. Teagan O'Dell, a first-year at Cal, could be a challenger in the final tonight, with a personal best of 4:39.96.
And this is the part most people miss - the men's 400-meter individual medley. Bobby Finke established himself as the man to beat, touching in 4:26.60. But it was Leon Marchand, the world record holder, who stole the show, entering the water for the first time this morning and taking the top seed with a time of 4:21.60.
Stay tuned for more exciting action as the day progresses! Who will claim the top spots in the finals tonight? Will the French team continue their dominance? Find out as the 2026 Pro Swim Series in Austin unfolds!
