First, let’s get it out of the way...Dressel is the favorite. After his earth-shattering performance in the final NCAA meet of his college career, Dressel has been at the front of the swimming community’s mind. The questions remain though: can he hold on without a second wall? Can he go under 21.00 and break the WR? Can anyone challenge him? 

Team USA’s top talent will take to the pool this week in Irvine, CA, in front of a crowd that’s excited to have the Phillips 66 National Championships back in Southern California for the first time since 2014.

Briefly glance at the FINA World Championships medal table sometime. The results speak for themselves. The United States has over 100 more gold medal performances than the next closest nation. Few would disagree the U.S. is the strongest swimming country around. Yet, it has never hosted FINA’s namesake event. The six-discipline aquatic World Championships have been or are planned to be hosted on every continent, except obviously Antarctica. Six of the next seven countries in the medal table have hosted at some point. During the time since North America last hosted—2005 in Montreal—Europe has hosted four times, Australia has hosted once, Africa will have hosted once, and Asia will have hosted a total of three times, including the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.

USA Swimming added a few new twists to the 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series — one of which is a shootout-style format for all four 50-meter stroke events.

Holy moly. Zane Grothe was ON FIRE at Winter Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, last week. On Thursday night, he became the first man ever under the 4:08 barrier in the 500 free with a monster 4:07.25 — demolishing all records. On Saturday night, Grothe unleashed a 14:18.25 in the 1650 — crushing the fastest performance of all time by over four seconds and becoming the first man ever under the 14:20 barrier.

Is anyone more consistent than Nathan Adrian? Answer: don't bet on it.

2017 SMU Women's ClassicDallas, Texas

6th FINA World Junior Swimming ChampionshipsAugust 23 - 28, 2017

September 22, 2000Anthony Ervin​ ties ​Gary Hall Jr.​ for Olympic gold in Sydney with a time of 21.98 at 19 years old.​

2017 FINA World ChampionshipsJuly 23-30, 2017

2017 FINA World ChampionshipsJuly 23-30, 2017

2017 FINA World ChampionshipsJuly 23-30, 2017

2017 FINA World ChampionshipsJuly 23-30, 2017

2017 FINA World ChampionshipsJuly 23-30, 2017

2017 FINA World ChampionshipsJuly 23-30, 2017