The Rising International Stars to Watch on Road to LA28 (Women’s Edition)

Sara Curtis

The Rising International Stars to Watch on Road to LA28 (Women’s Edition)

The early stages of each quad provide an opportunity to look ahead, particularly at a handful of athletes who might have an impact at the next Olympic Games. Although several veterans will maintain a presence on the international podium, it’s interesting to monitor who is developing and has the potential to rise to elite status.

A little more than three years out from the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, here are some rising international female stars to watch.

Sara Curtis (Italy)

A European junior champion in the sprint-freestyle events and 50 backstroke, Sara Curtis has also been a medalist at the World Junior Championships. Her talent suggests podium finishes in the future at the premier level, such is the improvement arc the Italian is riding. Already this year, Curtis has registered personal-best performances in the 50 freestyle (24.43) and 100 freestyle (53.01).

Slated to begin her collegiate career at the University of Virginia in the fall, Curtis gained experienced last summer at the Olympic Games in Paris. Since that appearance, though, she has jumped to another level, which was apparent when Curtis won the 50 freestyle and 100 free at the Italian Nationals in April. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Curtis threaten for hardware in the 50 freestyle at this summer’s World Championships in Singapore.

Eneli Jefimova (Estonia)

Although only 18 years old, Eneli Jefimova has competed at the elite level of the sport for several years – and she continues to get better. Jefimova was the European junior champion in the 100 breaststroke for four consecutive years (2021-2024) and last year, she ended the 2024 campaign with a bronze medal in the 100 breaststroke at the World Short Course Championships.

Equally proficient in the short-course and long-course pools, Jefimova contested the 100 breaststroke at the Paris Olympics, finishing seventh. This year, the Estonian has been faster than ever. In addition to joining the sub-30 club in the 50 breaststroke with a time of 29.83, Jefimova established a career best of 1:05.86 in the 100 breaststroke.

Eva Okaro (Great Britain)

Since the 50-meter freestyle was added to the Olympic program beginning with the 1988 Games in Seoul, a British woman has never medaled in the event. Eva Okaro has the potential to end the drought. A 2024 Olympian in relay duty, Okaro has made a major jump in the past year, to the point where she is now among the world’s elite performers in the 50 freestyle.

Bound for the University of Texas in the fall, Okaro capped 2024 with a world junior record of 23.66 in the short-course version of the 50 freestyle. She carried that momentum into 2025 and displayed her long-course skill at April’s British Championships, where she went 24.48 in the 50 free. Okaro has also been 54.10 in the 100 freestyle and 58.46 in the 100 butterfly, making her a bright spot for the future of British Swimming.

Mizuki Hirai/Mio Narita (Japan)

Like the Japanese men, there hasn’t been much to celebrate for Japanese women recently on the international scene. The medal standings from last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris show that Japan made zero podium appearances on the female side, a repeat of the country’s effort at the 2023 World Championships.

In Mizuki Hirai and Mio Narita, Japan is looking for a jumpstart toward better days. The 18-year-old Hirai, who will attend the University of Tennessee, was seventh in the 100 butterfly at the Paris Olympics. More, she owns a personal best of 56.33 in the event. As for Narita, the 18-year-old is a world junior champion with best times of 2:09.68 in the 200 individual medley and 4:35.39 in the 400 IM.

Yu Zidi

Yu Zidi

Yu Zidi

Not even a teenager yet, China’s Yu Zidi has been one of the most-watched athletes in the world during the first half of the 2025 campaign. The 12-year-old flourished at the Chinese Nationals Championships, where she qualified for the World Championships in three events – 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 IM.

Yu has already been 2:06.83 this year in the 200 fly, an effort complemented by a best time of 2:10.63 in the 200 IM and a top mark of 4:35.53 in the 400 medley. At such a young age, Yu is cutting considerable chunks from her personal-best performances and her steep improvement curve suggests she has the potential to challenge for a podium finish at the World Championships.

 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x