Kaii Winkler Goes Sub-42 In 100 Freestyle to Lower His 15-16 NAG Record

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Kaii Winkler Goes 41.96 100 Free to Lower His 15-16 NAG Record

Kaii Winkler became the first American 15- and 16-year-old boy to break 42 seconds in the 100 free this weekend at the Florida Gold Coast Senior Championships.

Winkler, competing for Eagle Aquatics, won six gold medals in the meet in Pembroke Pines, Fla. The standout was the 100 free, in which he went first 42.48, then 41.96. The latter time lowers the age-group record Winkler set in December at Winter Juniors (42.21). He’d taken the record from Ryan Hoffer in November by going 42.52 at the Florida 1A High School Championships. Hoffer’s mark of 42.67 had stood since 2014. Winker was out in 20.10 in his swim this week.

Winkler also won the 50 free in 19.44, an event where he remains two tenths shy of Michael Andrew’s NAG of 19.24. He also won the 200 free in 1:33.28, again within two tenths of an NAG record belonging to Maximus Williamson, which he set 2022 at 1:33.07.

Winkler also won the 100 butterfly in 46.94 seconds and added a time of 47.92 in the 100 backstroke, which he also won. He finished second in the 200 back in 1:45.91.

A high school junior who competes for South Florida HEAT (Home Education Athletic Teams), Winkler is working his way into the Olympic conversation among an open men’s sprint field. He competed for the U.S. at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, winning silver in the 50 free (in a tie with Diggory Dillingham). He anchored the winning American men’s 400 free and 400 medley relays, the former of which set a world junior record. The medley relay set a championship record in the meet in Hawaii.

With spots open among the sprint contingent as Tokyo standbys reach their mid- to late-20s, Winkler is part of an emerging generation of versatile American sprinters – with Dillingham, Thomas Heilman, Daniel Diehl, Williamson and others) – that could push for spots next summer at Olympic Trials.

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Swimfish87
Swimfish87
1 year ago

I’ve been looking, but I cannot find video of this there has to be

robert kravutske
robert kravutske
1 year ago

wow….what a stud……..but I still can go 75 yrds faster then he can go 100 yrds!!!!!…….

Michael T. Montgomery
Michael T. Montgomery
1 year ago

Great summary! What an inspiring young athlete. I will be watching for him in the months and weeks to come. I am not totally sure how these swimmers are so much faster than during my generation (mid 1970s- early 1980s), but I am pretty sure it is dry land, diet, starts and turns, improved streamlining, and, of course, the underwater doplhin kick after each turn, which was NOT allowed when I was competing. Swimming is so much more exciting to watch these days, thanks in part to Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Jason Lezak!

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