With the top U.S. swimmers scattered between the Toyota National Championships and the Pan Pacific Championships, there was no single meet that everybody peaked for in 2026.
That in mind, below are the five fastest American men in each individual Olympic event for the year — taking into account all meets from Jan. 1 through the publishing of the post — two years out from the Los Angeles Olympics.
Some notes:
Caeleb Dressel, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist, posted his best times in two years at the national championships. He ranks No. 1 in the country in the 50m free in 2026, No. 6 in the 100m free, No. 3 in the 50m butterfly and No. 2 in the 100m fly.
Ryan Murphy, a nine-time Olympic medalist, is the fastest 100m backstroker this year despite competing at neither the national championships nor Pan Pacs. Murphy, 31, took a break from racing after the Paris Games, returning in May. Wife Bridget gave birth to their second daughter, Eila, on Aug. 3.
Murphy will bid for a fourth Olympic team in 2028, trying to become the oldest American Olympic backstroker by more than two years.
The new generation is led by Luka Mijatovic (17 years old) and Ryan Erisman, Maximus Williamson and Gabe Nunziata (all 19).
2026 U.S. Men’s Swimming Rankings
Times taken from USA Swimming’s database.
50m Freestyle
1. Caeleb Dressel -- 21.35
2. Jack Alexy -- 21.42
3. Quintin McCarty -- 21.43
3. Chris Giuliano -- 21.43
5. Van Mathias -- 21.62
100m Freestyle
1. Jack Alexy -- 47.14
2. Chris Giuliano -- 47.16
3. Patrick Sammon -- 47.49
4. Brooks Curry -- 47.51
5. Destin Lasco -- 47.66
200m Freestyle
1. Luke Hobson -- 1:43.85
2. Gabriel Jett -- 1:43.96
3. Aaron Shackell -- 1:45.19
4. Ryan Erisman -- 1:45.23
5. Chris Giuliano -- 1:45.38
400m Freestyle
1. Aaron Shackell -- 3:43.44
2. Luka Mijatovic -- 3:43.45
3. Ryan Erisman -- 3:44.03
4. Rex Maurer -- 3:45.72
5. William Mulgrew -- 3:47.88
800m Freestyle
1. Bobby Finke -- 7:42.52
2. Ryan Erisman -- 7:43.53
3. Luka Mijatovic -- 7:44.52
4. William Mulgrew -- 7:45.21
5. Carson Foster -- 7:52.00
1500m Freestyle
1. Bobby Finke -- 14:44.26
2. Luka Mijatovic -- 14:57.45
3. William Mulgrew -- 14:58.50
4. Ryan Erisman -- 14:59.30
5. Sean Green -- 15:07.03
50m Backstroke
1. Quintin McCarty -- 24.45
2. Will Modglin -- 24.65
3. Shaine Casas -- 24.67
4. Ryan Murphy -- 24.75
4. Jack Wilkening -- 24.75
100m Backstroke
1. Ryan Murphy -- 52.80
2. Will Modglin -- 53.17
3. Owen McDonald -- 53.43
4. Jack Aikins -- 53.46
5. Adam Chaney -- 53.65
200m Backstroke
1. David King -- 1:55.01
2. Keaton Jones -- 1:55.24
3. Daniel Diehl -- 1:56.80
4. Jack Aikins -- 1:57.28
5. David Melnychuk -- 1:57.56
50m Breaststroke
1. Van Mathias -- 26.30 American Record
2. Watson Nguyen -- 26.65
3. Michael Andrew -- 26.74
4. Alexei Avakov -- 26.86
5. Campbell McKean -- 26.94
100m Breaststroke
1. Van Mathias -- 58.01 American Record
2. Alexei Avakov -- 58.87
3. Josh Matheny -- 59.23
4. Campbell McKean -- 59.50
5. Nate Germonprez -- 59.51
200m Breaststroke
1. Josh Bey -- 2:07.58
2. Gabe Nunziata -- 2:07.62
3. Josh Matheny -- 2:08.25
4. Finnley Conklin -- 2:08.94
5. Noah Cakir -- 2:09.17
50m Butterfly
1. Ilya Kharun -- 22.59
2. Van Mathias -- 22.84
3. Caeleb Dressel -- 22.86
4. Michael Andrew -- 22.99
5. Santo Condorelli -- 23.03
100m Butterfly
1. Ilya Kharun -- 50.05
2. Caeleb Dressel -- 50.45
3. Rowan Cox -- 50.64
4. Dare Rose -- 50.70
5. Luca Urlando -- 50.86
200m Butterfly
1. Luca Urlando -- 1:53.11
2. Carson Foster -- 1:53.67
3. Ilya Kharun -- 1:54.59
4. Enzo Solitario -- 1:54.99
5. Gabriel Jett -- 1:55.07
200m Individual Medley
1. Carson Foster -- 1:56.37
2. Maximus Williamson -- 1:56.40
3. Shaine Casas -- 1:56.42
4. Owen McDonald -- 1:57.68
5. Rex Maurer -- 1:57.78
400m Individual Medley
1. Carson Foster -- 4:07.11
2. Bobby Finke -- 4:07.59
3. Ryan Erisman -- 4:09.57
4. Rex Maurer -- 4:12.49
5. Noah Cakir -- 4:13.28
