Jack Alexy Trying to Build on Summer Success at World Cup
The last time Jack Alexy was in the competition pool, he almost single-handedly salvaged a World Championships medal for the American men at the Singapore World Championships. A patchwork group completely different than the one that raced Paris Olympic final was more than a second out of third place before Alexy motored to a 45.95 split for the 100 freestyle, the second-fastest ever recorded.
That relay anchor wrapped up a stellar meet for the 22-year-old from New Jersey, who won silver in the 100 free and bronze in the 50 free. Alexy also led off the U.S. team in the mixed 400 free relay that won gold in world-record time. Most impressive were his results in swimming’s blue-ribband event; in the individual event, his semifinal time of 46.81 took down the American record previously held by Caeleb Dressel and made him the third-fastest performer in history.
Now, Alexy turns his attention to short course meters as he competes in Carmel, Ind., at the first stop of swimming’s World Cup. Alexy has previously competed in the 25-meter course once before, and his results were brilliant at the Short Course World Championships last December. Alexy won gold in the 100 free after setting an American record of 45.05 on a relay leadoff. He ended up with a total of five medals at that event, just like he would get at the long course equivalent competition eight months later.
Jack Alexy — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
In fact, the only format in which Alexy has not shown mastery is short course yards. He concluded his college career at California last March without finishing in the top-three in any individual event at the NCAA Championships. Alexy did place runnerup once in 2024, but that was in the 200 free, an event in which he never competes in long course. Simply, his turns lack the speed and power of fellow collegiate stars such as Florida’s Josh Liendo and the Tennessee duo of Gui Caribe and Jordan Crooks (now graduated).
But even a few extra meters of swimming changes the equation in Alexy’s favor, as evidenced by his head-to-head win over Caribe and Crooks in the 100 at Short Course Worlds. His top time from that Budapest meet was only two tenths off the world record of 44.84 posted by Kyle Chalmers in 2021. Getting closer to that mark in early-season competition could be challenging, but it is not out of the question.
In addition to his usual 50 and 100 free, Alexy is entered in the 50 backstroke at the Carmel meet, aiming to see if his raw speed can translate into a different stroke. He will also make a rare appearance in the 200 free, where the competition is strong. American compatriot Luke Hobson took silver in the 200 free at this summer’s World Championships, and the field also includes French superstar Leon Marchand, American veteran Kieran Smith and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Fernando Scheffer.
This entry should not be an indication that Alexy plans to add the 200 to his program for long course; the short-course equivalent event favors sprint specialists that might fade badly in the 50-meter course. But a focus on longer races could be helpful as Alexy works to strengthen his closing speed in the 100, especially with global rivals such as David Popovici awaiting.
Moving forward, Alexy is aiming to build upon his sizzling start to the new quad with the long-range goal of becoming Olympic champion in the 100 free, a feat previously achieved by Golden Bear legends Matt Biondi and Nathan Adrian. He has already built up momentum, and that pattern could continue with big short course meters results during this World Cup circuit.
