Lianne McCluskey - (Author)

The U.S. and Australian women entered the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships with similar times and goals in the 400 freestyle relay. Just about a half second separated the two countries on paper, but a different mix of swimmers brings out all kinds of possibilities. Australia won the first relay round ...

It has been a meet full of Pan Pacific Championship records for Gretchen Walsh and the U.S. women. On Night Three from Irvine, California, Walsh threw down another one, crushing the 100 butterfly in 55.15. Walsh now has the top 18 swims in the history of the event, which isn't surprising the way she...

Pan Pacific Championships Women's Day Three Prelims: World Record Holder Summer McIntosh Bumped to B Final in 400 Free The 2026 Pan Pacific Championships continued with the Day Three prelims on Friday, Aug. 14, at the Wollett Aquatic Center in Irvine, California. The events for Friday morning sessio...

Gabriel Jett Delivers an Underwater for the Ages at Pan Pacific Championships Gabriel Jett couldn't see his opponents as he made the final turn of the 800 freestyle relay. But he knew what he had to do. Jett unleashed an underwater off the final turn that was as stunning as it was fast. Especially s...

The women's 800 free relay closed out the second night at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships from Irvine. Another battle between the U.S. and Australian women loomed heading into the day. The Americans were seeded a half second behind the Aussies, but that didn't matter in an event with different co...

Pan Pacific Championships, Night Two Finals: Katharine Berkoff Breaks American Record to Win 50 Backstroke While most of the 50 backstroke spotlight has been on the European Championships this week, the U.S. women were looking to make their mark too. Italy's Sara Curtis broke the world record in the...

Pan Pacific Championships Night Two: McKenzie Siroky Surges to Gold in Final Meters of Women's 100 Breaststroke With their prelim times less than a half second apart, the women's 100 breaststroke at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships was an anticipated showdown - and it turned out as few expected. U...

Pan Pacific Championships, Day Two Women's Prelims: Agostina Hein, Tang Qianting Race to Top Seeds The 2026 Pan Pacific Championships continued with the Day Two prelims on Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Wollett Aquatic Center in Irvine, California. The events for Thursday morning session include the 400 ...

Pan Pacific Championships: 'Blazing' Taylor Ruck Claims Three Medals on Opening Night Taylor Ruck was amped. In the first event of the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships, the versatile Canadian star claimed a bronze medal in the 50 butterfly. "I try to take races one at a time. But I was ready to go aga...

Pan Pacific Championships Day One Finals: Mixed 400 Medley Relay One of the most fun events at the Pan Pacific Championships is the mixed medley relay. It blends the countries, strokes and men and women into one sensational race full of nation pride. It is also a chess match of which swimmers should...

Pan Pacific Championships Night One Finals: Luca Urlando Takes Down Michael Phelps' Meet Record inMen's 200 Butterfly The U.S. men led the 200 butterfly field into the finals at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships. Luca Urlando and Carson Foster were the top two seeds in the finals with Michael Phelp...

Pan Pacific Championships Day One Finals: Women's 100 Backstroke The women's 100 backstroke was destined to be fast at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships. So fast that a meet record didn't make the finals. Three successive meet records by U.S. swimmers during prelims set the table for a speedy final...

Pan Pacific Championships: Claire Curzan Breaks Meet Record But Still Misses Finals in Loaded 100 BackComing into the Pan Pacific Championships, the elite swimmers knew there would be some tough-luck races. In the meet format, only two swimmers from each country can qualify for the finals, which lea...

The 2026 Pan Pacific Championships kicked off from the Wollett Aquatic Center in Irvine, California on Wednesday, Aug. 12. The Day One events are the 50 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 butterfly as well as the men's 800 and women's 1500 free slower heats. There were several meet record...

USA Swimming CFO Cory Hilliard Resigns After Arrest One day after being put on leave by USA Swimming, chief financial officer Cory Hilliard has resigned, a USA Swimming spokesperson confirmed. Hilliard was arrested in Colorado on Monday, Aug. 10, charged with theft, embezzlement and official miscond...

Meg Harris Tabbed Flag-Bearer for Australia at Pan Pacs, Aims to Keep 'Lifting the Standard' of the Sprints Meg Harris came to the Pan Pacific Championships to race. She has been waiting for this sprint showdown with the U.S. women. Harris won the silver medal in the 50 free at the 2024 Olympics in ...

The 2026 U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) Summer National Championship took place at the North Natomas Aquatics Complex Aug. 5-9. There were a record-breaking 1,413 swimmers from seven countries competing at the long course meters event. Several records were broken. Here is a day-by-day recap of the rec...

Carly Miller to Complete Triple Crown in English Channel to Honor Late Mom, Raise Funds to Fight Cancer Carly Miller discovered her place in the water when it was needed the most. She had lost her mother to cancer when she was in high school, and after finding out it was because of a genetic conditi...

NCAA Division I Championship Meets Will Switch Men's, Women's Weeks Every Other Year The NCAA will change its Division I championship schedule in the future. The women's meet will continue to be a week before the men's in odd years, but starting in 2028, the men's meet will be first in even years. T...

Erika Pelaez Using U.S Nationals High-Point Performance as 'Great Step in the Right Direction' Erika Pelaez didn't even know she was in the points lead at Nationals until the final day. Once she did, the North Carolina State star had a goal. Pelaez did what needed to be done in her final event and w...