Paeton Lesser - (Author)

Is Distance Swimming Dying? Top Coaches Discuss Future of the Events Katie Ledecky’s gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle at the 2012 Olympic Games in London is a moment that will last a lifetime. A rising star at the time, Ledecky stunned the world, cutting through the water with a ferocious ease....

5 Overlooked Performances From the TYR Pro Series Stop in Indianapolis From Kate Douglass’ world record-breaking performance in the 50-meter freestyle to Van Mathias’ continued breakout year, last week's TYR Pro Series visit to Indianapolis jumpstarted what is shaping up to be a thrilling summer in ...

College Swimming League Gives Coaches Unique Opportunity College Swimming’s biggest headline entering the 2026-27 season has made its proper introduction. After months of rumors and anticipation, the newly founded “College Swimming League” unveiled the 12 teams set to compete in its inaugural season...

Which Equipment Is Best For Sprinters? Top Coaches Share Their Thoughts No swimmer can achieve greatness on their own. Over the past few weeks, we’ve outlined how a strong ecosystem is needed to help even the most talented swimmers succeed. In the year 2026, though, another tool has become increasin...

Elite Sprint Coaches Discuss Development of Athletes (Part II) The world is in the midst of a sprint swimming renaissance. From the jaw-dropping world record of Cam McEvoy in the 50 freestyle to the continued impressive races of Indiana's Van Mathias, we're constantly seeing great racing from strong...

Top Sprint Coaches Reveal Secrets to Success (Part I) How do you make a great sprinter? The answers do not always match. In Brisbane, Australia, where Cam McEvoy trains, the sound of weights clanking is heard more often than the splash of the pool. In Charlottesville, Virginia, home of world-record ...

Ninth-Place Finishers from NCAA Championships Weigh in on Absence of B Finals Haakon Naughton still remembers the experience of qualifying for his first B-final at the NCAA Championships in 2025. The crowd, flashing with the bright colors of every school. The tense atmosphere. The fierce competition...

Which College Swim Programs Improved The Most In 2026? Best times. Meet records. Podium finishes. For every swimmer, championship season is about achieving a new goal, reaching heights they’ve never seen. Athletes work for months for an opportunity to meet the moment, to finally see their work pay o...

Five Freshmen To Follow Post-NCAA Champs; Koby Bujak-Upton a Rising Star It's been a week since the NCAA Men's Championships unfolded at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta. While the University of Texas captured a 17th title in program history, Florida's Josh Liendo capped his college career with...

Following NCAA Champs, Five Freshmen Women to Follow; Liberty Clark an Emerging Star The bright lights glimmer upon the pool deck, the spotlight placed on the glowing water. The largest crowd you’ve ever swam in front of likely stands before you, screams echoing through the arena. And the competitio...

Where is the Power? A Look at the NCAA Championships Invitees (All Divisions) by Conference Conferences are the backbone of college swimming. From the heated competition at dual meets, to the intensity of a conference championship meet, the contention between conference opponents is central to the s...

Air Force Men, Northern Arizona Women Capture Mountain Pacific Championships The U.S. Air Force Academy men and Northern Arizona University women scored Mountain Pacific Conference championships Saturday evening. The University of Las Vegas-Nevada placed second on the men’s side, with the University...

Denver Doubles Up at Summit League Championships The University of Denver secured men’s and women’s Summit League Championships on Saturday evening, after a hard-fought four days of competition. The University of South Dakota finished second, and the University of Nebraska-Omaha third, on both the m...

Rice University Rolls to American Conference Championship Rice University won five events to clinch the 2026 American Conference Championship. Liberty University and Eastern Carolina University finished in second and third place, respectively. Here is a day-by-day review of the meet. Wednesday Flori...

Queens and FAU Men Tie for ASUN Men's Team Title; Delaware Claims Women's Crown The Queens University of Charlotte and Florida Atlantic University men tied to share the ASUN Conference championship over the weekend, while the University of Delaware clinched their first women’s conference championshi...

5 Races To Watch: Men's Conference Championships Edition After months of buildup, we’ve finally arrived.  Championship season has begun in the college swimming world, with the Power 4 conferences’ meets beginning this week. College swimming’s greatest stars and top rivalries will be front and center...

7 Races To Watch: Women's Conference Championships Edition After months of buildup, we’ve finally arrived.  Championship season has begun in the college swimming world, with the Power 4 conferences’ meets beginning this week. College swimming’s greatest stars and top rivalries will be front and cent...

Championship Feeling as Fairfield Doubles Up at MAAC Championships The Fairfield University Stags captured Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champions on both the men’s and women’s sides following four days of competition over the weekend. Marist University and Niagara University finished in second...

Hawaii Sweeps Men's and Women's Titles at Big West Championships The University of Hawaii men’s and women’s swim teams earned Big West Conference championships over the weekend, pulling away after four days of electric racing. Grand Canyon University finished second on the men’s side, with UC San Di...

Annual Harvard-Yale-Princeton Meet Is More Than a Final Score For four minutes at Blodgett Pool, pandemonium ensued. With just one event left in this annual tri-meet, Harvard and Yale prepared to battle in the 400-yard freestyle relay, opposite Princeton. The roars of the Harvard faithful echoed thr...