2024’s Elite Athletes: Spotlight on Northern Nevada’s Star Luke Hobson

To conclude 2024, Nevada Sports Net will showcase some of the leading athletes of the 2024 calendar year in a top-10 countdown. Here is today’s featured athlete.

No. 1 Luke Hobson

Local affiliation: Reno High graduate/Lakeridge Swim Team

Sport: Swimming

Achievements in 2024: Hobson experienced one of the most distinguished years for a Northern Nevada athlete ever. He clinched the NCAA championship in the 200 freestyle while competing for Texas, receiving seven All-American accolades, which included three honorable mentions. He also captured five medals at the World Championship long-course events (one gold, four bronze) prior to securing a spot in his first Olympic Games. At the Paris Games, Hobson earned a bronze medal in the 200 free with a personal-best time of 1 minute, 45.19 seconds, finishing just 0.07 seconds behind gold medalist David Popovici. Additionally, he secured a silver medal in the 4×200 freestyle relay. As if that were not impressive enough, the 21-year-old set a world record in the 200 free at the Short Course World Championships not just once, but on two occasions, earning three gold medals along the way. Hobson exited the competition with three world records – in the 200 free along with the 4×100 free and 4×200 free relays representing Team USA – marking a monumental year.

Looking forward to 2025: Hobson will conclude his collegiate career at Texas with one last attempt at the NCAA Championships, where he is a five-time national champion (three individual events, two relays), before he is expected to compete at the World Championship in July/August in Singapore.