Luka Mijatovic and Rex Maurer Can Turn Back Clock to American Glory Days in 400 Freestyle
Rare are the events in which the United States has historically struggled in international competition. The country overwhelms the all-time medals charts at the Olympic Games and World Championships, and more American athletes have been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame than any other nation. But a handful of events – especially recently – have not reflected Team USA’s dominance.
The men’s 400-meter freestyle sits atop the list.
History shows that Johnny Weissmuller was an Olympic champion in the event, claiming gold at the 1924 Games in Paris. Down the road, Don Schollander stood atop the Olympic podium, his title earned at the 1964 Games in Tokyo. In 1976, Brian Goodell prevailed as part of his distance double in Montreal. There have been nine Olympic champions in the 400 freestyle from the United States, but none since George DiCarlo reigned at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
In the 10 Summer Olympics since DiCarlo’s crown, no American male has captured gold or silver in the 400 free. Five bronze medals have been collected, including a pair by Klete Keller between the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. Larsen Jensen (2008), Peter Vanderkaay (2012) and Kieran Smith (2020) have also finished third, and Jensen’s time of 3:42.78 remains the American record.
The dearth in the event is not limited to the Olympic Games. Over the past 17 editions of the World Championships, 51 medals have been handed out in the 400 freestyle. Only one has been won by the United States, a bronze by Connor Jaeger in 2013. That abysmal record is complemented by the fact that an American man has not held the world record in the 400 freestyle since Goodell went 3:51.56 at the 1977 United States vs. East Germany Dual Meet.
Against the backdrop of these struggles, the recent 500-yard freestyle and 1000 freestyle performances by Californian Luka Mijatovic were promising developments. Sure, they were recorded in the smaller pool, but the fact that Mijatovic set an American record of 8:32.83 in the longer distance and became the No. 3 performer in history in the 500 free (4:05.76) offered light for the Red, White and Blue’s middle-distance hopes.
Although he gamely competed in the 400 freestyle, illness robbed Mijatovic of the chance to show his prodigious talent at last summer’s World Championships in Singapore. But over the past few years, the high school junior has demonstrated a skill set that is equally efficient in the 25-yard pool and its 50-meter counterpart, and there is little question his 4:05 will translate impressively to the 400 freestyle.
Mijatovic owns a best of 3:45.30 in the 400 freestyle, produced at last year’s U.S. Open. Based on the youngster’s improvement arc, the 16-year-old should comfortably lower that work at his next opportunity in peak form, and Jensen’s American record could soon be in jeopardy – provided Rex Maurer doesn’t make a run at it first.
No, Mijatovic is not the only upstart for the United States in an event that sorely needs a spark. Maurer is the reigning NCAA champion in the 500 freestyle and secured a national title in the 400 freestyle last summer, which landed him a bid to the World Champs. Again, sickness disrupted additional forward movement from his 3:43.33, but Maurer gave Jensen’s American standard a nudge at Nationals, and the work he has logged since should have him even better positioned on the path to this summer’s Pan Pacific Championships.
Maurer will be in action next week at next week’s NCAA Championships, where he’s slated to contest the 500 freestyle, 400 individual medley and 200 backstroke. Aside from fueling the University of Texas in its quest for a repeat team title, Maurer will look to improve his American record of 4:04.45. Like Mijatovic, Maurer is established as a long-course force, so a career best in the short-course pool will convert to the Olympic rectangle.
Two years remain until the Olympic Games return to American soil and make Los Angeles a three-time host. By then, could Mijatovic or Maurer be factors in the 400 freestyle? The talent is there to make a push. Having two guys establish themselves in such a way has been a long time coming, and bringing glory back to the event where DiCarlo won in 1984 would be a terrific storyline.