The Wish List: Events We Would Love to See From Top-Tier Stars
The Wish List is a new Swimming World feature that will highlight some of the things we want to see in the sport. Some of the lists will focus on top athletes and competition. Some might focus on rule changes, or schedule tweaks. Maybe we’ll dream up all-time duels. The goal is to have a little fun with the genie in the lamp.
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When the entry lists for major competition are revealed, we typically have a good idea where the top athletes in the sport will be slotted. We know Regan Smith will be found in the backstroke disciplines, along with the 200 butterfly. David Popovici will be found at the top of the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. Gretchen Walsh will headline the field in the 100 butterfly. Some entries are just a given.
Yet, there are moments when we let the mind wander. Wouldn’t it be cool if … (fill in the blank)? In this inagural installment of The Wish List, we present a few secondary events we’d love to see contested by elite stars while in peak form.
Mollie O’Callaghan – 200 Backstroke
Australian sensation Mollie O’Callaghan ranks among the world’s best in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, along with the 100 backstroke. But what could O’Callaghan do in the 200 backstroke? Her best time in that event is a 2:08.48 from the 2022 season, and given O’Callaghan’s proven success in a 200-meter discipline, it would be intriguing to see how fast she could be four years later. O’Callaghan is well known for her closing speed. Would she rattle the field over the last length of a 200 backstroke? It would be intriguing to find out.
Leon Marchand – 400 Freestyle
At some point, we might get the chance to see the Frenchman Leon Marchand in peak condition in the 400 freestyle. Late last year, the four-time Olympic champion fired off a 3:44.70 showing at the U.S. Open, a strong performance despite midseason conditioning. As the world-record holder in the 400 individual medley, we’ve seen Marchand excel on multiple occasions over eight laps, and his freestyle skill is no mystery. In the short-course pool, his NCAA record in the 500 freestyle (4:02.31) stands alone. Could he challenge the best in the world in the 400 freestyle? Could he threaten the world record? Let’s hope we one day find out.
Duncan Scott – 200 Butterfly
Through the years, Duncan Scott has established himself as a British legend, notably in the 200 individual medley and 200 freestyle. While Scott is a two-time Olympic medalist in the 200 IM, his 200 freestyle talent has yielded Olympic silver on a solo basis and a pair of gold medals in the 800 freestyle relay. Last year, at the British Championships, Scott put his ability in the 200 butterfly on display, as he notched a best time of 1:54.89. While the performance was good for No. 15 in the world for the year, it begs the question: What more could Scott do in the event? Maybe we’ll find out.
Regan Smith – 200 Individual Medley
As a stalwart for Team USA, we know Regan Smith for her success in the backstroke events, as well as the 200 butterfly. An eight-time Olympic medalist, Smith is the world-record holder in the 100 backstroke and owns American standards in the 200 backstroke and 200 fly. Every once in a while, we get the chance to see Smith flash her all-around talent in the 200 IM, such as when she went 2:09.50 in the event at the 2023 U.S. Open. It’s been two-plus years since Smith popped her career best in the short medley. Wouldn’t it be cool to watch Smith attack the front half of the race and see what her arsenal of talent could deliver?
