Chris Guiliano Shows Off 50-100-200 Range in Westmont
Less than two years ago, Chris Guiliano became the first American man since Matt Biondi to qualify for individual Olympic berths in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle. Guiliano, a near-unknown before his surprise qualification for the World Championships team one year prior, won the 100-meter race at Trials while also earning second-place finishes in the 200 (behind Luke Hobson) and 50 (behind Caeleb Dressel). Guiliano went on to earn a gold medal in the 400 free relay in Paris before reaching the final of the 100 free.
In the 19 months since the Games concluded, however, Guiliano’s path has been far from straightforward. A scandal involving gambling and hazing resulted in the Notre Dame men’s swim team receiving a one-year suspension, putting the end of Guiliano’s college career in limbo. He chose to graduate from Notre Dame in December 2024 and then transfer to Texas, where his addition proved vital in the Longhorns’ national championship run.
Guiliano then qualified for the 2025 World Championships but only as a member of the 400 free relay team, not close to his multi-event lineup from one year earlier. He participated on the finals squad that won a bronze medal before lending prelims legs on the 800 free relay (fourth) and mixed 400 free relay (gold).
But this weekend’s Pro Swim Series meet in Westmont, Ill., marked the first time since the Olympic season that Guiliano has been at his best, as a freestyler with range to challenge the best in the world in multiple events and a true difference-maker for relay purposes.
In the meet’s first session, Guiliano fired off a time of 47.38 in the 100 free prelims for a new Pro Series record. Up next were marks of 47.54 in the semifinal round and then 47.84 in the final. In comparison, his best effort in the entirety of 2025 was 47.49, with a relay split of 47.43 at Worlds. Such speed at this point in the season suggests Guiliano could surpass his personal best of 47.25 this summer while bringing the 46-second relay splits the United States needs for relay purposes.
Chris Guiliano — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
In the 200-meter race, Guiliano swam a time of 1:45.38 in prelims to tie his personal best from the 2024 Olympic Trials, and at night, he edged out a stellar field. As expected, Guiliano had the most speed, but he appeared to be in trouble when Hobson erased the lead on the third 50. In 2025, Hobson became the second-fastest American ever in the 200 free on his way to World Championships silver, so he appeared to be in position to pull away, but Guiliano fought back and retook the advantage.
At the end, Guiliano had to fight off one more surge from Gabriel Jett, last year’s breakout 200 freestyler for the United States, and Guiliano got the win by one hundredth, 1:45.53 to 1:45.54. Left behind in the pack were the likes of Hobson, Carson Foster and Leon Marchand, all swimmers with whom Guiliano trains with at Texas. None are first and foremost 200 free specialists, but this victory over swimmers more established in the event served as another promising sign as to what Guiliano can contribute in the event in a championship format.
A third victory in the 50 free concluded the meet as Guiliano ripped a time of 21.43, crushing his previous personal best of 21.57. The only active Americans to ever beat that time are Dressel and Jack Alexy, and this mark was three hundredths quicker than Alexy swam to win World Championships bronze in the splash-and-dash last year.
If Guiliano can continue building on these efforts leading into the summer, which will culminate with the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Calif., he will establish himself among the most valuable performers on the American men’s roster. That’s because he is the only swimmer currently capable of being a difference-maker for both the 400 and 800 freestyle relay squads, both of which have experienced the roller coaster of success in recent years.
The sprint relay won Olympic gold but fell to bronze last year as numerous American swimmers felt the effects of a gastrointestinal illness that made its way through the team. But with Alexy having gone 46.81 from a flat start last year and both Guiliano and Patrick Sammon with 46-second relay potential, the team could close down on the world record of 3:08.24, which has survived since the Beijing Olympics.
In the 800 free relay, the event where a comprised U.S. roster ended up fourth at Worlds, the potential of Guiliano becoming a 1:45-low swimmer on a consistent basis and producing 1:44s in relay action is enticing. With Hobson as the headliner and the likes of Guiliano, Jett, Henry McFadden, Rex Maurer and more in reserve, the Americans have the ability to overtake Great Britain in this event.
And if the same swimmer contends with the best in the world in the 50 free, that’s a swimmer on the level of Simone Manuel, coincidentally also in that professional group at Texas. Guiliano could be a weapon the United States men’s team has been missing for decades.