World Championship Trials
The 2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials are officially over, and we have the official rosters for the 2026 SC World Championships in Beijing.
The women’s roster came out at 16 athletes total after Claire Weinstein declined her spot to focus on training and recovery following the meningitis she dealt with over the summer. All the athletes who earned a priority designation on the women’s side earned a spot at the World Championships.
Torri Huske also declined her spot on the team, moving Phoebe Bacon, who initially finished 3rd in the 100 IM, into the Priority 3 position in her place.
The men’s roster capped out at 20 total with two men, Johnny Crush and Matt King, not earning roster spots after the final night of competition saw Noah Cakir, Maximus Williamson, and Owen McDonald earn roster spots.
USA Swimming also confirmed that Luke Barr and Anna Peplowski earned wild card spots for the World Championships. They do not count against the official roster numbers.
The women’s roster is headlined by Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh, who had phenomenal performances at the 2024 World Championships. Claire Curzan also had a huge meet this weekend to qualify to swim four different events in Beijing, breaking a world record and an American record in the process.
On the men’s side, Ilya Kharun will be making his Team USA debut. Caeleb Dressel also had a very strong meet and will be swimming at his first international meet for the United States since the 2024 Olympics. Newly minted world record holders Van Mathias and Jack Alexy will also be massive threats in Beijing.
According to USA Swimming 18 athletes will be making their World Championships debut:
Women: Liberty Clark, Rylee Erisman, Katie McCarthy, Isabelle Odgers, Skyler Smith, and Camille Spink
Men: Luke Barr, Brian Benzing, Josh Bey, Finn Brooks, Noah Cakir, Adam Chaney, Ryan Erisman, Grant House, Van Mathias, Owen McDonald, Tyler Ray, and Maximus Williamson
Women’s Roster (Alphabetical)
Men’s Roster (Alphabetical)
Athlete Roster (Priority Order)
*All athletes are listed under their highest priority with all events they qualified in
Women’s Roster (16)
- Priority 1
- Liberty Clark (200 free, 4×100 free relay)
- Rylee Erisman (200 free, 400 free, 4×100 free relay)
- Kate Douglass (50 free, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 IM)
- Gretchen Walsh (50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, 100 fly, 100 IM)
- Priority 2
- Katie McCarthy (1500 free)
- Katharine Berkoff (50 back, 100 back)
Claire Weinstein* (400 free, 800 free)- Regan Smith (200 fly, 200 back)
- Claire Curzan (50 back, 100 back, 200 back, 50 fly)
- Piper Enge (100 breast, 50 breast)
- Skyler Smith (50 breast)
- Alex Walsh (100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM, 400 IM)
- Priority 3 (In ‘A’ Cut Percentage Order*)
- Alex Shackell (200 fly) — 4.726% — (100 fly — 2.561%)
Torri Huske (100 IM) — 2.364%- Phoebe Bacon (100 IM) — 2.196%
- Isabelle Odgers (400 IM) — 0.590%
- Priority 5
- Priority 7
Men’s Roster (20)
- Priority 1
- Jack Alexy (50 free, 100 free, 4×200 freestyle relay)
- Chris Guiliano (100 free, 200 free)
- Luke Hobson (200 free, 400 free)
- Priority 2
- Ryan Erisman (800 free, 1500 free, 400 IM)
- Ilya Kharun (50 fly, 100 fly, 200 fly)
- Gabriel Jett (200 back, 4×200 freestyle relay)
- Van Mathias (50 breast, 100 breast)
- Caeleb Dressel (50 free, 50 fly, 100 IM, 4×100 free relay)
- Josh Bey (200 breast, 400 IM)
- Adam Chaney (50 back, 100 back)
- Luca Urlando (200 fly)
- Maximus Williamson (200 IM)
- Priority 3 (In ‘A’ Cut Percentage Order*)
- Destin Lasco (200 IM) — 4.043% — (200 back — 3.720%)
- Tyler Ray (100 fly) — 3.170%
- Noah Cakir (200 breast) — 3.161%
- Grant House (100 IM) — 3.114%
- Finn Brooks (50 breast) — 2.781%
- Kieran Smith (400 free) — 2.273%
- Brian Benzing (100 breast) — 2.004%
- Owen McDonald (100 back) — 1.701%
Johnny Crush (50 back) — 0.385%
- Priority 6
