Claire Weinstein Opens Cal Days Coming Off Best Season of Her Career
The first time Claire Weinstein wore the Team USA colors in international competition, she was a mere 15-year-old. At the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, Weinstein finished 10th in the 200-meter freestyle and helped the United States to the gold medal in the 800 freestyle relay. It was apparent the youngster had a bright future, and Weinstein has certainly fulfilled those expectations.
Three years later, Weinstein can be considered a mainstay for the United States in major competition. She has appeared in two additional World Championships (Fukuoka 2023/Singapore 2025) and competed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In her Olympic debut, Weinstein finished eighth in the 200 freestyle and led off the American 800 freestyle relay that captured the silver medal.
Her 2025 campaign has been her best yet.
Despite battling the stomach bug that hampered the United States at the World Champs, Weinstein exited her third edition of the global showcase with a bronze medal in the 200 freestyle and a silver medal in the 800 freestyle relay. Weinstein’s time of 1:54.67 in the 200 freestyle was a personal best and the U.S. relay, where she again handled leadoff duties, established an American record. But Weinstein has done much more this year.
Coached by Ron Aitken with the Sandpipers of Nevada, Weinstein’s 2025 campaign has been defined by personal-best performances in every freestyle event from 100 through 1500 meters. Aside from her aforementioned career best in the 200 freestyle, Weinstein has gone 53.72 in the 100 free, 4:00.05 in the 400 free, 8:19.67 in the 800 free and 16:01.96 in the 1500 freestyle. The fact that she is a 53-point performer over two laps and threatening to crack the 16-minute barrier in the mile speaks to her versatility, and continued development.
Heading into her freshman season at Cal-Berkeley, Weinstein will have an immediate impact for the Golden Bears in NCAA competition. More, she is knocking on the door of 1:53 territory in the 200 freestyle and going sub-4:00 in the 400 freestyle.
Weinstein will next represent Team USA at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California. Until then, she’ll acclimate to a new training environment and help Cal chase a top finish at the NCAA Championships, doing so with the confidence that she just put together the finest season of her career.
