There is one huge question looming over the 2021 US Swimming Olympic Trials, and it has nothing to do with COVID-19 delays: What will a team without Michael Phelps look like?
These trials will be the first since 2000 without the most-decorated swimmer of all time, so the American team will have some big shoes to fill. Fortunately, there is no shortage of talented athletes ready to fight for a coveted spot at the Tokyo Games. The top two finishers in each event will qualify for the Olympic team.
Distance superstar Katie Ledecky will be in the pool once again, as will several other reigning gold medalists from the 2016 Olympics including Simone Manuel in the 100-meter freestyle and Ryan Murphy in both individual backstroke events. Multiple world record holders will also be racing for a spot in Tokyo. Caeleb Dressel, who has yet to win an individual Olympic medal, is expected to compete in six events, and Lilly King is considered a lock in the 100 breaststroke.
Here is all the information you need to follow along with the jam-packed week of events in Omaha, Nebraska:
Schedule of events
Due to COVID-19, the trials were split into two waves. Wave I of the Trials for lower-ranked swimmers was held June 4-7.
Preliminary races for Wave II will begin at 11 a.m. ET from June 13–19. Semifinals and finals will begin at 8 p.m. from June 13–17, at 9 p.m. on June 18 and 19 and at 8:15 on June 20. A complete schedule of events can be found here.
TV information
Qualifying will be aired in the evenings on NBCSN for all seven days of the Wave II meet.
Preliminary heats
June 13: 5:30 p.m. ET. June 14-17 and 19: 6:30 p.m. June 18: 6 p.m.
Finals
June 13-17: 8 p.m. ET. June 18-19: 9 p.m. ET. June 20: 8:15 p.m.
All finals will air on NBC, except for those on June 17, which will be live on NBCSN and re-aired on NBC at 10 p.m. ET.
Streaming information
Live coverage of all races, including preliminaries, will stream on NBCOlympics.com and on the NBC Sports App for the duration of the meet.
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