Day 1 of the U.S. Olympic Swimming trials witnesses record-breaking attendance making it the largest swim meet ever with incredible performances

Day 1 of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials 2024 featured the athletes breaking records while an unprecedented number of fans made history with the largest attendance ever at a swimming Olympic Trials. Fans cheered for their favorite athletes on Day 1, featuring Katie Ledecky, Gretchen Walsh, and Aaron Shackell.

While Walsh registered a world record in the women's 100m butterfly, fans set a historic record themselves by turning out in record numbers to witness the extraordinary event. 20,689 fans marked their attendance on day 1.

The fans at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday, June 15, 2024, surpassed the previous record of 16,000 spectators at the finals session of the 2016 Rio Games. Day 1 of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming trials featured a few preliminary rounds, semi-finals, and finals for 100m butterfly, 400m freestyle, and 100m breaststroke for male and female athletes.

The three-time World Championships medalist Gretchen Walsh posted a commendable time of 55.18 seconds during the semi-final round of the women's 100m butterfly event. She surpassed Torri Huske and Regan Smith, who recorded 55.79 and 55.92 to shatter the previous record of 55.48 seconds, set by Sarah Sjoestroem in 2016.

Katie Ledecky secures a spot for Paris at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials to appear for the fourth time in the Games

Katie Ledecky of the United States warms up before the Women's 400m freestyle final at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Katie Ledecky earned a spot for the Paris Olympics in the 400m freestyle event at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. She recorded a striking time of 3:58.35 to post a championship record in the event by surpassing Madden Paige (4:02.08) and Cox Jillian (4:06.89).

After collecting 10 Olympic medals so far from three Olympic editions, America's beloved swimmer is set to make her appearance in the fourth Games. She became the only eighth person in the history of swimming to have earned a spot for four Olympic Games. Ledecky has set her sights on securing more spots in three events, including the 800m freestyle, 1500m, freestyle, and 200m freestyle.

The 27-year-old will compete in the 200m freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Swimming trials on Sunday, June 16, in the quest to earn her second Olympic gold medal of the event. The 200m freestyle prelims will be held at 11:00 am EST with live coverage on Peacock and with the final at 8:00 pm EST, on NBC.