Audrey Derivaux was far from the fastest swimmer entered in the women’s 400-meter individual medley at U.S. Olympic swimming trials. She was seeded in the third of six heats in an event where the top-2 finishers qualify for the Olympics.
But whether or not 14-year-old Derivaux makes the 2024 Paris Olympics team in the 400 IM, she could be one to watch at the 2028 Games. Especially after her impressive performance in the race’s prelims Monday at U.S. Olympic trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Derivaux is one of eight 14-year-olds at trials, per USA Swimming, and she put up a blazing fast swim to win her 400 IM heat at 4:45.23. In an absolutely brutal event, she shaved off about four seconds from her 4:49.32 seed time and locked up the eighth and last spot in Monday’s final.
It’s a long race, but by the end, it clearly belonged to Derivaux.
THE SPEED FROM 14-YEAR-OLD AUDREY DERIVAUX! 😱
She dominates her heat in the 400m IM. #SwimTrials24
📺 @peacock pic.twitter.com/x3irokVVDr
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 17, 2024
The women’s 400 IM final is set for Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Derivaux likely would have to drop even more time to make the Olympics as one of the top-2 finishers, as Emma Weyant is the top qualifier after going 4:38.96 in prelims.
