International Swimmers Set to Make Splash at TYR Pro Swim Series Sacramento; Top Storylines to Watch (Psych Sheets)
The 2025 TYR Pro Swim Series resumes this week in Sacramento. Beginning less than a week after the conclusion of the NCAA Men’s Championships, the meet offers an opportunity for some collegiate athletes to extend their taper into a long-course competition, while also showcasing where some pro swimmers stand on the road to the World Championships in Singapore.
Adding to the excitement is a large contingent of French and Australian athletes descending onto the Golden State’s capital. Let’s take a look at some of the top storylines heading into the meet.
The International Contingents
International athletes have long used United States Pro Swim Series meets as tuneups leading into their respective trials meets or international championships, and this week is no different. Australia brings the largest contingent, spearheaded by Olympians Sam Short, Tommy Neil and Maximillian Giuliani. Short is entered in his usual 200, 400, 800 and 1500 freestyles while Neil will contest the 50-100-200 freestyles and both individual medley events. Giuliani comes in as the top seed by a full second in the 200 freestyle (1:44.79), and will also swim the 50, 100, and 400 free events.
Also coming up from Oceania, New Zealand Olympian Eve Thomas comes in seeded highly in the 400, 800, and 1500 freestyles. The Kiwi should have an exciting race in the 1500 against Hungarian Olympian Vivien Jackl, as the two stars are seeded less than a second apart.
Beryl Gastaldello leads the French team, as she is scheduled to swim the 50, 100, and 200 freestyles. Olympic bronze medalist Maxime Grousset will swim the 50/100s of both freestyle and butterfly. He is the top seed in all four events. A few French Olympians line the psych sheet after completing their respective NCAAs. Lilou Ressencourt is coming off an NCAAs that saw her make B-Final appearances in both butterfly events for Cal. She’ll contest the 100 and 200s of freestyle and butterfly.
NCAA Athletes Extending Taper Seasons
A handful of NCAA athletes come into the meet seeded highly, including some NCAA champions. The most notable name is newly crowned 200 butterfly NCAA record-holder Luca Urlando. The Sacramento native will swim the 50, 100, 200 and 400 freestyles, along with the 100 and 200 butterfly, and the 200 individual medley.
Carles Coll Marti will contest the breaststroke treble and the 200 individual medley. Coll Marti is the reigning short-course world champ in the 200 breaststroke and most recently finished third in the event at NCAAs for Virginia Tech. The Hokie will be joined by collegiate teammates Youssef Ramadan and Levente Balogh.
Coming from the East Coast, N.C. State will field a strong backstroke contingent with some Olympic caliber names. Wolfpack Elite pro Katharine Berkoff leads the way, and is joined by by NCAA qualifiers Leah Shackley and Kennedy Noble. Swedish National swimmer Lisa Nystrand comes in for the Wolfpack in breaststroke and individual medley.
Age Group Phenoms Set to Shine
A number of local club teams are bringing age-group talent to earn some valuable experience. Pleasanton Seahawks will be represented by 15-year-old Mikayla Tan. Mia and Alison Sue, Shareef and Lyla Elaydi, Davina Huang, and more Santa Clara Swim Club junior athletes are expected to race.
Shareef Elaydi was the youngest swimmer to qualify for Olympic Trials last summer, seeded 51st in the 200 butterfly (2:00.38). The Sandpipers of Nevada will be represented by Applejean Gwinn. UVA commit Maximus Williamson will be looking for finals spots, entered in a whopping seven events across the four days of competition.
Veterans Looking For an International Spot
A handful of U.S. National Team members will be in action. Cal alum Rachel Klinker, who was fourth at the Doha World Championships, will swim the butterfly triple and the 200 freestyle. A threat in every race she contests, she’ll look to position herself as a name to watch this summer.
A.J. Pouch swam a 2:08.00 in the 200 breaststroke prelims at the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. In the Trials final, Pouch faded to a 2:09.05 for a heartbreaking third-place finish. He will look to make a statement and put himself in the mix for a World Championships spot.
Rhyan White sits atop the seeding in the 200 backstroke with a 2:05.77. The 25-year-old Olympic silver medalist from the Tokyo Games is seeking a rebound summer after being shutout in the cutthroat backstroke Trials finals. Michael Andrew has relocated his training to Arizona State, where he’s training under Herbie Behm. The sprint specialist has renewed his commitment to the 200 I.M. and will seek momentum heading into the summer.