2026 Short Course World Trials
It is almost time for the 2026 US World Short Course Championship trials, and with them comes some of the nation’s top domestic talent fighting for a spot to represent the US in Beijing in December.
As the first meet of its kind, it’s time to look at some of the storylines to follow as this meet unfolds and stars earn their spot in Beijing.
US Women’s Backstroke Still Stands Tall
One thing remains true through the test of time: the US women’s backstroke contingent is still dominant. This meet will showcase some of the best in the Stars and Stripes as they fight for a spot on the US team for Beijing.
Regan Smith is entered as the top seed in both the 100 back and 200 back; her 200 back feels like a near lock (so does the 100 back, though we have several other backstroke talents elevate themselves to an international caliber over the last several seasons), especially considering she is one of only seven swimmers entered in the event.
Katharine Berkoff, Isabelle Stadden, Claire Curzan, Rylee Erisman, and Phoebe Bacon are each international podium-caliber swimmers in their own right. However, only six spots are up for grabs across the 50, 100, and 200 back.
With Smith likely taking two of those, that number drops to four. Given Berkoff’s sprint expertise, she’ll likely take one of the spots in the 50 back.
After factoring in those three spots, the field appears to be a toss-up.
Curzan has been on fire throughout the early stages of the college season with Virginia, Stadden absolutely exploded this summer and put herself in the conversation as one of the best backstrokers on planet Earth, Bacon has represented the US on the international stage many times in the past, and Erisman is one of the brightest young stars at the US’s disposal.
As with most US meets, the women’s backstroke races will be decisive, and they’ll be seriously quick.
Are We On World Record Watch?
We got to witness a World Record swim in Charlottesville at the UVA Short Course meet just more than a week ago, which raises the question: are more women’s records in store in Westmont?
The women’s 50 free is a clear yes, with the World Record set less than two weeks ago; Gretchen Walsh blasted a 22.75, further solidifying her as the fastest swimmer ever in the event. Also in the mix will be her friend and teammate Kate Douglass, who also delivered a strong 22.94 at that meet.
Outside of these two, no one is really close to taking down that record time. We saw Douglass and Walsh play hot potato with the long course 50 free record this summer, and this could be another of those situations. However, Walsh’s unmatched underwater ability gives her a considerable advantage off the blocks and off the turn.
The other race that could legitimately see a new all-time best swim is the women’s 50 backstroke mentioned earlier. The current world record is 25.23, set by Regan Smith in 2024.
Katharine Berkoff‘s entry time is just over two-tenths of a second slower at 25.43. It’s a bit of a stretch, considering she just swam a career best at the UVA meet. But given how much she’s evolved over the last several seasons, Berkoff may be able to take that next leap and find her way into the history books once again.
Distance Doozies
The women’s fields are mostly stacked… though a few events are real slim in both numbers and potential world championship contenders.
That’s mainly the case in the distance events.
For example, the 1500 free features only one swimmer: Katie McCarthy.
Another important note is that to earn a spot on the World Championship roster, swimmers must also swim under the qualifying times in their respective events; in McCarthy’s case, she needs to be under 16:03.59. She is entered with a long course time of 16:29.15.
Switching gears to the 800 free, only three swimmers are entered: Claire Weinstein, McCarthy, and Zoe Nordmann.
With Weinstein’s uncertainty, having not yet raced this season for Cal, the women’s 800 qualifiers look a touch slim.
The qualifying time sits at 8:27.23; all three contestants are entered with non-SCM times: Weinstein is entered with an 8:19.67 long-course time, McCarty sits with a long-course time of 8:33.94, and Nordmann comes in with a 9:44.60 1000-yard free time.
This is not to say none of these swimmers can hit these qualifying times, but without Katie Ledecky (who doesn’t normally race at short-course world championships) and with a small field, options are limited.
400 Free Relay Spots Up For Grabs
One of the most exciting things about these trials-type meets is the relay swimmers who emerge, and in the United States, the women’s free relays are exceptionally strong.
Taking a look at the 100 free, the final race of the meet, will likely be won by Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh, as expected. But the rest of the relay could be a mix of talent.
Potential relay suitors include Chloe Stepanek, Torri Huske, Rylee Erisman, Simone Manuel, Liberty Clark, Camille Spink, and Claire Curzan, to name a few.
In theory, any two of these swimmers would make great fits on their relays, and each brings strong qualities to the table.
Curzan, Erisman, Spink, and Clark have kicked off the 2026027 college season with a flurry of speed and are coming in with strong racing under their belts. Huske and Manuel have delivered key relay swims for the US on some of the sport’s biggest stages.
This will undoubtedly be one of the meet’s most intriguing events, and with a field like this and serious spots up for grabs, the stakes keep rising.
