Kate Douglass, Carson Foster headline U.S. swimming roster for February worlds
The U.S. is sending a smaller, 18-swimmer roster to the first world championships to be held in an Olympic year in February in Doha.
The team of five women and 13 men is led by Kate Douglass, who won the 200m individual medley at this past July's worlds in Japan, and Carson Foster, a five-time medalist between the last two worlds.
Women: Claire Curzan, Kate Douglass. Piper Enge, Katie Grimes, Claire Weinstein.
Men: Jack Aikins, Michael Andrew, Hunter Armstrong, Shaine Casas, Charlie Clark, Nic Fink, Carson Foster, Jake Foster, Will Gallant, Zach Harting, Luke Hobson, David Johnson, Matt King.
Doha was originally slated to host worlds in November 2023, then moved to February 2024 after the 2022 Worlds in Fukuoka, Japan, were pushed to July 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
USA Swimming did not hold a trials meet for these worlds. Instead, available swimmers from the top 10 in the nation per event were chosen based on times swum between Oct. 1, 2022, and Nov. 1, 2023.
The roster is missing some top NCAA swimmers who prioritized the college season and pros who prioritized training. This past summer's world championships roster was 48 swimmers for pool events.
Curzan, a Tokyo Olympian who did not qualify for 2023 Worlds coming off illness, is listed for a team-leading six individual events in Doha.
Grimes, who already qualified for the Paris Olympics in the open-water 10km, is listed for five events. As is Douglass.
For the men, Foster will go for his first individual world title in the individual medleys after winning three silver medals in the IMs over the last two years. He's joined on the team by older brother Jake, who entered breaststroke events.
Frenchman Léon Marchand swept both IMs at the last two worlds, but he may not swim in Doha since he swims for Arizona State. France's roster has not been announced yet.
Hunter Armstrong is slated to defend his world title in the 50m backstroke, which is not an Olympic event, and go for a third consecutive medal in the 100m back.
