2026 Pan Pacific Championship Previews: Team USA Looking to Cap Off Speedy Summer On Dwelling Soil

2026 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

As we close to the top of what has been a season filled with surprises within the sport of swimming, for lots of the United States’ prime expertise, this season will wrap up in a well-recognized location, Irvine, California, for the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships, the primary time that these championships have taken place on US soil since 2010 (additionally in Irvine).

With a loaded roster and full steam forward as we put together for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the US might be trying to make their mark as we draw close to summer season’s finish.

Team USA’s 2018 Pan Pacs Snapshot

The final time we have been handled to a Pan Pacific Championships, we’ve to rewind to 2018, when this meet was held in Tokyo, three years forward of the 2020(1) Tokyo Olympic Games.

At these championships, Team USA was fairly dominant on the medal desk, which was made up of 20 gold medals, 14 silver medals, and 11 bronze medal performances, all of which have been essentially the most of any nation in attendance, totaling 45 medals, 16 greater than the following closest staff (Australia with 29).

The roster that made up that 2018 staff appears vastly completely different eight years later, with just a few names from that 2018 squad nonetheless repping the celebrities and stripes in 2026. Those being Katie Ledecky, Michael Andrew, Bobby Finke, Regan Smith, and Simone Manuel. The remainder of the roster might be competing at these championships for the very first time of their careers.

Eight years in the past, Ledecky was nonetheless as dominant a pressure as she is in the present day, profitable the 400 free (3:58.50), 800 free (8:09.13), and the 1500 free (15:38.97). Manuel added one other two silver medals to the staff’s whole with runner-up finishes within the 50 and 100 freestyles in 24.33 and 52.66, respectively. Andrew made a splash with a 21.46 gold-medal-winning efficiency within the 50 free.

Though the 2026 roster may be very inexperienced, they are going to be trying to replicate, and probably surpass, that medal whole from eight years in the past.

Storylines To Follow

The US Men’s Breaststroke Drought May Be Over…

The growth that we’ve seen from Van Mathias this season has been one of many greatest tales within the sport, although he’s not the lone American breaststroker who has performed a component on this new lifetime of the stroke on the home scene. The likes of Campbell McKean, Josh Matheny, and AJ Pouch have all helped get this stroke again up the ranks in worldwide competitors.

Mathias is the clear headliner within the dash breaststrokes, coming into these championships because the quickest performer on the planet in each the 50 and 100 distances in 26.30 and 58.01. We have had the chance to see him race loads of home competitors, however now getting him up towards some high-level worldwide competitors might probably give him the additional enhance to blow our minds much more. As the quickest dash breaststroker in American historical past, attending to see him up towards Japan’s Shin Ohashi (58.67) and Australia’s Samuel Williamson (59.07) within the 100 breast, or the battle of the 2 quickest 50 breast swimmers on the planet this season with Michael Houlie (26.38), Mathias could also be on the cusp of some elite territory in Irvine.

McKean was a breakout star final summer season on the US National Championships, and now with a 12 months of school swimming beneath Bob Bowman on the University of Texas beneath his belt, he could possibly rekindle a few of that magic that we noticed a summer season in the past. He remains to be younger, solely going into his sophomore season, and already having represented the US on the World Championships degree, he might be trying to enhance that resume seeking a possible 2028 Olympic berth in slightly below two years.

Matheny, who has had his justifiable share of ups and downs since making the Olympic Team in 2024, might be in search of a powerful outing right here to shut out the season on a optimistic observe. Coming off of a US National Championships displaying the place he completed fifth within the prelims of the 100 breast (1:00.32), and 14th total within the 200 breast (2:13.92), the previous Indiana Hoosier might be fired up and able to unleash in Irvine in hopes of build up the 200 breast, an occasion that noticed a pair of prime three world rating occasions at US Nationals from Josh Bey (2:07.58) and Gabe Nunziata (2:07.62), neither of which might be at this meet.

Pouch is the same story, having solely been as quick as 2:12.41 within the 200 breast this season, which got here again in March on the Pro Swim Series in Westmont; he too might pop off an enormous swim, trying to get again to that profession finest of two:08.00 from the US Olympic Trials in 2024.

The Surplus of US Women’s Sprinters

Not many international locations get to say that that they had two completely different swimmers break a 50 freestyle world document in the identical season, although within the case of the US, they will. Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh, the 2 quickest 50 freestylers in historical past, are in Irvine and can doubtless be trying to make much more historical past. Those two are simply the tip of the iceberg in American ladies’s sprinting. Names corresponding to Torri Huske, Simone Manuel, Claire Curzan, Katharine Berkoff, Rylee Erisman, McKenzie Siroky, and a number of other others assist bolster a loaded roster for the US ladies.

Douglass, some of the versatile swimmers strolling (or swimming) the face of the planet in the present day, can have her fingers full, it doesn’t matter what means she decides to go about this meet; she is entered within the 50 and 100 free, 100 and 200 breast, and the 50 fly. For a four-day meet, she might be busy. As one of many prime breaststrokers on the planet, some of the elite sprinters on the planet, and among the many most reliable relay swimmers in the present day, Douglass’ quantity might be referred to as upon in a number of methods, but when we’ve realized something over time, it’s that when Douglass is within the water, she is a risk to win, and no world document is protected.

Her coaching accomplice at Virginia, Gretchen Walsh, the present 50 free and 100 fly world document holder, may even be among the many greatest stars at this meet; entered within the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, and 100 fly, there’s a critical probability that we see her come away with at the very least one (if not a number of) world document swims at this meet. Walsh has constructed a stature in competitors to the purpose the place she is now must-see anytime that she hits the water. With 4 occasions that she has confirmed to be among the many quickest in historical past, that continues to be the identical right here. Walsh has dominated headlines over the previous a number of years, and this meet might be one other a type of historic chapters in an already loaded profession story for the youthful Walsh sister.

Manuel has been a cornerstone of American ladies’s sprinting for a decade now, and that narrative has not modified all that a lot in that point. Manuel’s means to contend at a excessive degree within the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle races has made her a must have piece to Team USA. With these three occasions in Irvine, she ought to be trying to make one other splash on the worldwide scene, one thing she has performed continuously over the past 10 years. The caveat to Manuel, nonetheless, will doubtless be the two-per-country restrict for the finals; with Douglass, Walsh, and even Torri Huske within the combine, these finals spots will come at a premium.

Huske has had an fascinating long-course season, solely racing in three lengthy course meets in 2026, together with a pair of stops alongside the Pro Swim Series (Sacramento in May and Indianapolis in June). The Olympic Champion Huske is among the many finest big-time racers that the US can throw on the market. Similar to Douglass, Huske just isn’t restricted to her entered occasions; she seems in six occasions on the entry record, these being the 50/100/200 frees, 50/100 fly, and the 200 IM. With just one particular person podium look final summer season in Singapore on the World Championships, she might be trying to bump up that quantity in Irvine, it doesn’t matter what she decides to race.

Siroky spearheads a strong dash breaststroke surge for the US within the post-Lilly King period, although she has confirmed that she will be able to race, coming into this meet because the 4th quickest performer on the planet this season within the 100 breast (1:05.64). Look for her to be extremely aggressive whereas repping the flag. Another clear famous person is Katharine Berkoff, a World Champion dash backstroker, coming into this meet because the quickest 50 backstroker (26.98) and 4th quickest 100 backstroker (58.20). She has flirted with Kaylee McKeown‘s world document within the 50 again of 26.86, and with Berkoff on house soil, it might simply be the proper time to rewrite the document books.

The quantity of dash expertise seems to be one to have, as we proceed the cost to 2028, the US relay choices look like huge, and persevering with to get higher.

Wait… How Many Men’s Freestylers does the US have? Who comes out of these Gauntlets?

It’s Pan Pacs; it’s a shorter meet, however that doesn’t imply that the US is holding again on the boys’s freestyle. For context, simply because a swimmer is entered in a race does NOT imply they are going to swim it. Regardless, the US males are set to do battle within the freestyle occasions. In the 50 free alone, there are 10 US swimmers entered. The 100 free? 11 males. How concerning the 200 free? Glad you requested, 9. It is a well-liked occasion at these championships, and with fields like this, it’s not too onerous to see why.

In the 50 free, Jack Alexy, Michael Andrew, Chris Guiliano, and Quintin McCarty are available in as the highest entered seeds. In a means, it seems like a area of the previous, current, and way forward for the US dash freestyle. Alexy, who this season has been as quick as 21.57 from the China Open in March, has had an enormous up and down season; after coping with an sickness whereas on the Mare Nostrum Tour, he has not been in a position to get again to that prime kind that we’ve seen in full over the previous couple of seasons. He is entered along with his 21.32 from the World Championships final summer season. This might be alternative to shut out the lengthy course season on a excessive observe. Andrew, the reigning Pan Pacs champion on this occasion from 2018, solely ranks twenty second on the planet this season along with his 21.78 from the Indianapolis Pro Series in June.

Guiliano and McCarty are the one two US swimmers at this meet ranked inside the highest 5 this season, each of whom are tied for 4th at 21.43, although at very completely different factors within the season; Guiliano went that point in Westmont in March on the Pro Swim Series, McCarty went the identical time, almost three months in a while the Mare Nostrum Tour in Monaco. Van Mathias can also be entered within the 50 free, alongside the likes of Santo Condorelli, each of whom are greater than able to popping off a significant swim to snag one of many two finals spots for the US.

The 100 free is the same story, with Alexy, who has not been the identical sprinting ace for the US after the sickness on the Mare Nostrum Tour. He may even be trying to get again to that prime racing kind within the 100 free, although the competitors might be even deeper on this occasion. Enter Patrick Sammon, one other breakout star from final summer season, who’s entered right here to compete within the 50, 100, and 200 free. He is an instantaneous risk in any of his occasions, and he is available in good kind, after notching a lifetime finest within the 200 free on the US National Championships in 1:45.67. Another (not so sneaky) contender is Destin Lasco, who’s entered with the fifth quickest entry time of 47.58. This occasion looks like a protected place for Guiliano to step up and ship one thing huge; his 47.38 from early March nonetheless stands because the 4th quickest on the planet this season, and a copy-and-paste form of swim right here could safe him at the very least an opportunity to compete for gold. Gui Caribe of Brazil might be an enormous mountain to climb within the occasion for the US’s gold medal hopes. He is entered right here with the 2nd quickest entry time of the meet in 47.10, solely trailing Alexy’s 46.81.

The 200 free offers the US a little bit of a distinct problem, because the top-seeded Luke Hobson (1:43.73), who’s the third quickest performer on the planet this season in 1:44.49, might be pushed closely by his worldwide adversaries. He is adopted intently by China’s Zhang Zhanshuo (1:44.53), and the Japanese duo of Tatsuya Murasa (1:44.54) and Katsuhiro Matsumoto (1:44.65). The US additionally has its personal reinforcements that would swim up into podium place, corresponding to mid-distance star Gabriel Jett, Rex Maurer, and Henry McFadden. Though the 200 free could not instantly strike viewers because the deepest occasion for the US, the trusty Hobson and the pure race-ability of Jett, Maurer, McFadden, Sammon, and Guiliano ought to give the US a strong alternative to choose up a number of medals within the occasion in Irvine.

Other Swimmers to Watch

Katie Ledecky

It is tough to think about a US staff and one of many first folks coming to thoughts not being arguably the best feminine swimmer, if not the best swimmer basically, Katie Ledecky, who’s making her third look at Pan Pacs in her profession (Gold Coast 2014, and Tokyo 2018).  Ledecky in worldwide competitors is otherworldly. She picked up three wins in 2018 at this meet, and as soon as once more, she might be bringing house some {hardware}.

She can have a number of the finest competitors she has had all season at this meet, together with Australia’s Lani Pallister within the 800 and 1500 free, and each Pallister and Summer McIntosh of Canada within the 400. Ledecky has proven no indicators of slowing down, continuously touching proper round her all-time finest occasions on a large number of events. Having the chance to race on house soil in a world competitors, and what’s broadly thought-about the large meet of the season for the US, it’s almost not possible to rely out Ledecky at any level, in any race.

Regan Smith

We can be remiss if we didn’t point out Regan Smith on this record, having been the chief of a stellar home backstroke scene for a few years now. Smith comes into this meet with 4 entered occasions: the trio of backstrokes and the 200 IM. Though the backstrokes come as no shock, the 200 IM ought to be considered one of her extra intriguing races of the week. Smith at the moment sits sixth on the entry record with a 2:08.48 (from 2023), notably behind three different Americans (Douglass, Huske, Alex Walsh). With the finals spots at a premium, she’s going to doubtless want a profession finest, or proper close to it, to safe a type of finals spots.

When it involves the backstroke races, Smith is the favourite to win each the 100 and 200, particularly because of the absence of her Australian counterpart Kaylee McKeown. Though she might be with out an opponent that has pushed her so many occasions in so many big moments, she’s going to nonetheless need to fend off her personal countrywoman in Katharine Berkoff, particularly within the 50 and 100 backs. The 200 again fields won’t be any cakewalk both, as she might want to get forward of Phoebe Bacon, Claire Curzan, Leah Shackley, and China’s Peng Xuwei.

Luca Urlando

Luca Urlando, a narrative of triumph amidst many accidents on the 2025 World Championships final summer season, capturing the 200 fly world title, has not had the perfect of luck since then… along with his faculty season coming to an abrupt finish as a consequence of harm, and solely racing in a handful of meets since then, these Pan Pacs will certainly be a meet that viewers might be trying to see him shine.

Urlando is coming off of a US National title within the 200 fly in Irvine, touching in 1:54.45. That time, whereas nonetheless off of the blistering 1:51.87 from Singapore, was a optimistic signal of his racing. He just isn’t solely entered within the 200 fly at these championships, however can also be slated to race the 100 fly, 100 free, and 50 again. We should wait and see if these occasions will really embrace Urlando. Still, the underside line is that we get to see the Olympian and World Champion again in a world competitors, and probably add to his medal whole.

Alex Walsh

Alex Walsh comes into these Pan Pacific Championships with EIGHT entered occasions, which embrace the 200 free, 50/100/200 breast, 100/200 fly, and the 200/400 IM. Now, for a four-day meet, it’s virtually sure she won’t race all eight of those occasions, however the choosing and selecting forward of her is almost sufficient for a storyline in itself.

Walsh ranks sixth on the planet this season within the 200 IM (2:08.59), and eleventh within the 400 IM (4:35.62). Those two occasions really feel like strong selections; if she have been to decide on them, then comes the trio of breaststroke occasions, the 2 butterflies, and the 200 free, all of which she is able to pulling out an enormous swim in. This meet is an actual alternative to check the water for the following two years heading into the Los Angeles Olympics, and with the older of the 2 Walsh sisters trying very a lot in kind, the sky appears to be the restrict for what she is able to.

Shaine Casas

Casas is one other a type of uber-versatile swimmers for the US staff, entered right here in each the 50 fly and 50 again, in addition to the 100 fly and 200 IM. This season, his prime world rating in these 4 occasions comes within the 100 fly, the place he sits third along with his 50.24, which got here all the way in which again in December on the US Open in Austin. He might be effectively pushed in that occasion at these championships, coming in as the highest seed over Dare Rose and Commonwealth Games runner-up Matthew Temple of Australia. With his prime time from December, the sensation of Casas being due for a finest time is within the air.

The 200 IM will virtually definitely be one other intriguing race. Entering as the highest seed in 1:54.30, which he went final summer season to earn a World Championship silver, he has solely been as quick as 1:56.42, which got here on the Longhorn Elite Invite in June, which slots him in seventh on the planet this season behind him on the entry record, however forward of him on the seasonal rankings on the planet in Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita in 1:55.60, which he did in November on the Japan Open.

Rylee Erisman

Rylee Erisman, the soon-to-be Cal Bear, has rapidly risen within the rankings within the US, the place she now finds herself as a key piece to the longer term success of Team USA within the pool. At these championships, Erisman is entered within the 50/100/200 free, and the 100/200 again, all of that are very deep and contested fields.

She could not but be on the degree of  Kate Douglass in freestyle, or a Regan Smith in backstroke. Still, as she continues to enhance, and given one other worldwide meet alternative, it is probably not too lengthy till we begin seeing her title intently related to these greats of in the present day.

Team USA Full Pan Pacific Championships Roster (with entered Events):

• Phoebe Bacon – 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 50 Fly, 200 IM
• Katharine Berkoff – 50 Free, 50 Back, 100 Back
• Caroline Bricker – 200 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 IM, 400 IM
• Jillian Cox – 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
• Claire Curzan – 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Fly
• Mariah Denigan – 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
• Kennedi Dobson – 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free
• Kate Douglass – 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 50 Fly, 200 IM
• Rylee Erisman – 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back
• Erin Gemmell – 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 IM
• Katie Grimes – 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM
• Brinkleigh Hansen – 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
• Leah Hayes – 200 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM
• Tess Howley – 200 Back, 200 Fly
• Torri Huske – 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 IM
• Katie Ledecky – 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
• Becca Mann – 800 Free, 1500 Free, 200 Fly, 400 IM
• Simone Manuel – 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
• Anna Peplowski – 100 Free, 200 Free, 200 Back
• Alex Shackell – 100 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 IM
• Leah Shackley – 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Fly
• McKenzie Siroky – 50 Breast, 100 Breast
• Regan Smith – 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 IM
• Skyler Smith – 50 Breast, 100 Breast
• Ashley Twichell – 800 Free, 1500 Free
• Alex Walsh – 200 Free, 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 IM, 400 IM
• Gretchen Walsh – 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly
• Emma Weber – 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
• Emma Weyant – 400 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM
• Jack Aikins – 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back
• Jack Alexy – 50 Free, 100 Free
• Michael Andrew – 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 50 Fly
• Shaine Casas – 50 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 IM
• Santo Condorelli – 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Daniel Diehl – 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 IM
• Bobby Finke – 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM
• Carson Foster – 200 Fly, 200 IM, 400 IM
• Dylan Gravley – 800 Free, 1500 Free
• Chris Guiliano – 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
• Thomas Heilman – 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 Fly
• Luke Hobson – 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free
• Gabriel Jett – 100 Free, 200 Free, 200 Back, 200 IM
• Keaton Jones – 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back
• Destin Lasco – 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 IM
• Josh Matheny – 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
• Van Mathias – 50 Free, 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 50 Fly
• Rex Maurer – 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM
• Quintin McCarty – 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Fly
• Henry McFadden – 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Fly
• Campbell McKean – 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
• Will Modglin – 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 IM
• AJ Pouch – 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
• Ivan Puskovitch – 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM
• Dare Rose – 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 Fly
• Patrick Sammon – 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
• Aaron Shackell – 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free
• Joey Tepper – 400 Free, 800 Free
• Luca Urlando – 100 Free, 50 Back, 100 Fly, 200 Fly