Seventeen Kentucky swimmers take shot at 2024 Summer Olympics

The University of Kentucky has 17 more athletes setting their sights on the Olympics in swimming and diving.

Olympic Trials season is here!

1⃣5⃣ Kentucky swim & dive affiliates will compete for a spot in #Paris2024

Full preview ➡️ https://t.co/WfxtyDYkFc#WeAreUK 🔵😼

— Kentucky Swim & Dive (@UKSwimDive) June 14, 2024

Kentucky Athletes to U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials

Starting on Saturday, June 15, 12 of the Olympic-hopefuls begin the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials until June 23. The swimming trials take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Swimmers can qualify for Team USA by finishing in the top two in any event. Events at distances of 200m or shorter take place in three rounds: preliminaries, semifinals, and finals. To move on to the semifinals, swimmers must place in the top 16. Then, the top eight from the semifinals will move on to the final race. Events 400m or longer are only two rounds: preliminary and final.

The events begin at 11 a.m. EST each day of the trials and can be streamed live on Peacock. Here’s a full lineup of the 12 Kentucky swimmers courtesy of UK Athletics:

• Caroline Benda: 400m IM, 1500m Free
• Torie Buerger: 100m Back, 200m Back
• Nick Caruso: 200m Free, 400m Free, 800m Free, 1500m Free
• Bridget Engel: 100m Breast, 200m Breast
• Grace Frericks: 200m Back
• Maddy Hartley: 200m Fly
• Carson Hick: 800m Free, 1500m Free
• Drew Johnson: 50m Free
• Ryan Merani: 200m Fly, 200m IM, 400m IM
• Chris Nagy: 400m Free, 800m Free, 1500m Free
• Denise Phelan: 100m Breast
• Levi Sandidge: 400m IM, 800m Free, 1500m Free

Kentucky Athletes to U.S. Diving Trials

The U.S. Diving Olympic Trials will take place for three of the 17, from June 17-23 at Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. Synchronized diving events will consist of a preliminary and a final. The top eight teams from the preliminaries advance to the final, and the top team will receive a bid. Individual events consist of preliminaries, semifinals, and a final. The top 18 from the prelims move on to the semifinals. Then, the top 12 move to the finals. The top one or two finishers will be nominated to the team.

Synchronized events kick off the trials, and can be streamed live on USA Network and Peacock. Here’s a lineup of the three Wildcats competing for a spot in the Olympics:

• Abby Devereaux: Platform
• Avery Giese: (3M Synchro, Platform Synchro)
• Kyndal Knight: (3M, 3M Synchro)

Kentucky Athletes to French Elite Championships

The final two Kentucky student-athletes will compete in the French Elite Championships, which is France’s version of the Olympic Trials. The Championships take place from June 16-21 in Chartres, France.

• Max Berg: 50m free, 100m free, 50m fly, 100m fly
• Justin Pèresse: 50m free, 100m free, 200m free

While they might not represent the United States in the Olympics, Kentucky is rooting for you, Max and Justin! Good luck Wildcats!