World Record Holder Jordan Crooks Returning To Aggressive Swimming With Eyes On 2028 Olympics

Two-time world champion and present world report holder Jordan Crooks is making a return to aggressive swimming.

According to a report from the Cayman Islands Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture, and Heritage, Crooks is coming again to the game after a quick time away with the aim of competing on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The now 24-year-old introduced he was taking a break from the pool in May 2025, although he stopped in need of utilizing the phrase retirement.

“I am grateful I had the opportunity over the past several months to complete my studies and plan for my future,” Crooks mentioned, in accordance with the Cayman Islands Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture, and Heritage. “I am excited to return to swimming at a professional level and represent the Cayman Islands.”

A former celebrity on the University of Tennessee, Crooks final competed on the 2025 Men’s NCAA Championships, the place he gained the nationwide title within the 50 freestyle whereas main the Vols to 2 relay victories within the 200 and 400 free relay.

He led Tennessee to a brand new NCAA and U.S. Open Record within the 400 free relay at NCAAs (2:42.30), whereas within the 200 free relay, the Vols gained the title in a time of 1:12.84, narrowly lacking the NCAA and U.S. Open Record of 1:12.80 they set one month earlier on the SEC Championships.

Crooks additionally set a brand new NCAA and U.S. Open Record within the 100 free at that meet, clocking 39.83 within the prelims to interrupt Caeleb Dressel‘s mark of 39.90 set in 2018. Crooks went on to place 2nd in the final to Florida’s Josh Liendo (39.99) in a time of 40.06.

Internationally, Crooks represented the Cayman Islands on the senior worldwide stage for the primary time on the 2019 World Championships, and continued to take action by to the tip of 2024.

At the 2022 Short Course World Championships in Melbourne, he gained the world title within the males’s 50 free whereas additionally making the ultimate of the 100 free. His victory within the 50 free made him the primary athlete from the Cayman Islands to win a world title in any sport.

At the 2023 World Championships (LC), he took a giant step by making the ultimate of the 50 free (sixth) and 100 free (seventh), after which adopted up by making his Olympic debut for the Cayman Islands in Paris in 2024, putting eighth within the 50 free and thirteenth within the 100 free.

In December 2024, on the Short Course World Championships in Budapest, Crooks made historical past a number of instances. First, he broke Dressel’s world report in the course of the prelims of the 50 free, clocking 20.08 to decrease Dressel’s earlier mark of 20.16 set in 2020.

Crooks then grew to become the primary man ever beneath the 20-second barrier within the SCM 50 free, throwing down a time of 19.90 within the semis to obliterate his hours-old report by practically two-tenths of a second. He completed the job within the ultimate, profitable gold in a time of 20.19 to efficiently defend his title.

In the 100 free, he practically took down the world report by firing off a time of 44.95 within the prelims, and finally went on to win bronze within the ultimate in 45.48.

In lengthy course, Crooks’ greatest instances and Cayman Islands Records stand at 21.51 within the 50 free and 47.71 within the 100 free, making him a podium menace by the point the LA Olympics roll round within the 50 and a attainable finalist within the 100.

Isaac Rankine, the Cayman Islands Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage, mentioned: “The entire Cayman Islands is incredibly proud to see Crooks return to training at the professional level. We have followed your journey with admiration and celebrated the remarkable achievements you earned throughout your collegiate career. Your dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence have inspired so many young people across our islands.”

The report didn’t specify if Crooks will return to the University of Tennessee for coaching, if he’ll keep native within the Cayman Islands, or pursue a distinct professional group.

“As you embark on this exciting new chapter as a full-time professional athlete, we will be cheering you on every step of the way,” Rankine mentioned. “We look forward to watching you represent Cayman with pride on the international stage as you pursue your dream of competing at the 2028 Olympics. Your success is a testament to what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and belief in oneself.”