Ten current and former athletes from the University of Missouri’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are set to compete at the 2024 United States Olympic Team Trials. The event will take place June 15-23 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where participants will vie for spots on the U.S. team for the Paris Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to August 11.
The group includes seven men and two women representing Mizzou in ten different events. According to the selection process, the top two finishers in each event will qualify for the Paris Games.
Among those competing is former All-American Danny Kovac, who, along with sophomore Alex Ochsenbein, will swim in the men’s 100 breaststroke on June 15. On June 16, Jack Dahlgren—seeded sixth in the men’s 200 butterfly after a personal best time of 1:55.72 at last year’s U.S. Nationals—will participate in that event as well as the men’s 100 backstroke alongside senior Grant Bochenski. Sophomore Matthew Mortenson (men’s 400 IM) and junior Lina Bank (women’s 100 breaststroke) are also set to compete that day.
Dahlgren is entered in multiple events throughout the week: men’s 200 fly and 100 free on June 18, men’s 200 back on June 19, men’s 50 free on June 20, and men’s 100 fly on June 21. Ochsenbein will also compete in the men’s 200 breaststroke on June 18. Darden Tate and Michael Chadwick join Dahlgren in the men’s 50 free competition; Kovac will also swim in the men’s 100 fly qualifier.
Sierra Smith, a Mizzou graduate and All-America honoree, is scheduled to compete in the women’s 50 free on June 22.
Preliminary heats begin daily at 10 a.m. CDT with semifinals or finals starting at 6:45 p.m., all broadcast live nationally by NBC.
In addition to swimming events in Indianapolis, junior Collier Dyer will seek a spot on the U.S. Olympic Diving Team during trials held June 17-23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Dyer qualified for these trials at this year’s NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
NBC will provide live coverage of both swimming and diving trials across its platforms including NBC, USA Network, and Peacock.
“After sending a total of four athletes to the last two Summer Olympic Games, University of Missouri men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will look to extend its streak of developmental success next week,” according to a statement from university officials.
