Seward swimmer Lydia Jacoby placed third Monday in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Trials, a result that means she probably won’t get to extend her reign as an Olympic champion in her signature event.
But Jacoby could still make it to Paris. She has the third-fastest qualifying time in the 200-meter breaststroke, which starts Wednesday with preliminaries.
Typically, Olympic spots go to the first two finishers at the Olympic Trials. The final roster will be determined when the Trials end later this week in Indianapolis.
Jacoby, 20, electrified Alaska and the rest of the world by winning the 100-meter breaststroke at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She was 17 years old and still in high school.
At Monday’s finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, she was one of two gold medalists in the pool.
Lilly King, the 2016 Olympic breaststroke champion and world record holder, triumphed with ease in 1 minute, 5.43 seconds. She’s now a three-time Olympian.
Weber and Jacoby were left to battle for second place and a trip to Paris. Both finished fast, but for Jacoby it wasn’t fast enough: Weber clocked 1:06.10, Jacoby 1:06.37.
King is guaranteed an Olympic spot in the 100 breast. Weber is considered the presumptive choice for the second spot.
Weber, a 20-year-old from Denver who swims at the University of Virginia, has never made a national team before.
Jacoby, who just finished her second year at the University of Texas, qualified for the 2020 Olympics in the 100 breast but not the 200. After winning the gold in the 100, she helped the United States claim the silver medal in the 400-meter medley relay.