Isabelle Stadden completes backstroke sweep, goes 3-for-3 at U.S. Swimming Nationals
Former California Golden Bear Isabelle Stadden capped off her summer with three national titles at the 2026 U.S. Swimming National Championships.
She completed the meet by winning the 100 backstroke in 58.06 to go three-for-three in the backstroke events this week after already taking first in the 50 and 200 backstroke. Stadden was ahead of world-record pace at the 50-meter mark before tapering off slightly over the back half, but the win was never in doubt.
Stadden remains the No. 2-ranked swimmer in the world this season in the 100 back, a status she locked in with the 57.55 she swam at the Fort Lauderdale Open in May. The time also made her the No. 3 performer in event history.
The sweep caps a summer of resurgence for Stadden, who moved her training to Virginia this year under coach Todd DeSorbo and the school's elite women's training group.
"I've got bigger goals, [I'm going] to keep working towards those and keep having fun," Stadden said in her post-race interview.
Her season is now over, and she won't be part of the Team USA’s Pan Pacs roster, but after this kind of season, there's plenty to look forward to for the 24-year-old.
Stadden’s training partner Claire Curzan took second in 58.76, while Maggie Wanezek finished third in 58.83.
[Day 1 Recap | Day 2 Recap | Day 3 Recap]
Here are the rest of tonight’s national champions:
Madi Mintenko, Luka Mijatovic surge to 400 freestyle national titles
Virginia’s Madi Mintenko soared up the all-time American standings to win the women’s 400 freestyle in a massive personal best of 4:04.54. The swim makes her the 11th-fastest performer in U.S. history in the event.
Kate Hurst of Texas took second in 4:06.45, while Mintenko's Virginia teammate Cavan Gormsen rounded out the podium in third at 4:07.81.
At just 17 years old, Luka Mijatovic delivered a huge win in the men’s 400 freestyle, slashing more than four seconds off his prelims time to take the title in 3:43.45.
Mijatovic broke the 17-18 National Age Group Record (NAG) in the race and became the fifth fastest performer in American history. The California native is a name to look out for in the near future as he broke Michael Phelps’ 15-16 NAG in this event last summer.
Ryan Erisman, chasing what would have been his third win of the meet after victories in the 200 freestyle and 400 IM, had to settle for second in 3:44.39 after leading the race through 350 meters. William Mulgrew, the 1500 freestyle champion, was third in 3:47.88.
McKenzie Siroky upsets Kate Douglass, wins second national title in 100 breaststroke
In the women’s 100 breasststroke Tennessee’s McKenzie Siroky out-touched top seed Kate Douglass, the reigning national champion and world championship silver medalist in this event.
Siroky pulled off the upset by two-hundredths, 1:05.64 to 1:05.66, so close that it was impossible to tell who'd won at the wall. Emma Weber, a Virginia teammate of Douglass's, took third in 1:05.92.
Despite the loss, Douglass is still slated to race the 100 breast at Pan Pacs for Team USA next month, while Siroky's Pan Pacs schedule is limited to the 50 breast.
Indiana’s Alexei Avakov powers to 100 breaststroke national championship
Already the top seed out of this morning's trio of sub-1:00 personal bests in the men’s 100 breaststroke, Alexei Avakov surged away from the field over the final 50 meters to win in 58.87. The Indiana Hoosier’s performance is the fifth fastest time in the world this year and ties him with former Hoosier Cody Miller for sixth-fastest American of all-time in the event.
Nate Germonprez moved up from a tie for fifth in prelims to take second in 59.51, while 50 breast champion Watson Nguyen rounded out the podium in third at 59.79.
Owen McDonald sprints away from field to win 100 backstroke
Top seed out of prelims, Indiana’s Owen McDonald, held his form to win the men’s 100 backstroke in 53.43. McDonald made it back-to-back wins for the Hoosier men following Avakov’s 100 breast victory.
Tennessee rising sophomore Ulises Saravia moved up from third in prelims to take second in 53.70, edging out former Michigan Wolverine Jack Wilkening, who finished third in 53.78.
Tomorrow's Schedule — Day 5 (Saturday, August 1)
Prelims begin at 9 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET); finals at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET), streaming live on USA Swimming's YouTube channel with finals also on Peacock. This is the meet's final session.
Women's 1500 Freestyle
Men's 800 Freestyle
Women's & Men's 200 Individual Medley
Women's & Men's 50 Freestyle
