Video Montage: Meet Some of the Members of Team USA – Bound For the World Championships<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s been nearly a week since the United States National Championships wrapped up in Indianapolis, with USA Swimming using the competition to name its squad for this month’s World Championships in Fukuoka. The Team USA roster features a mix of veterans and newcomers, and there is no doubt the United States will be a major player when the World Champs return to the city which served as host for the 2001 edition of the meet.<\/p>\n

With the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris just a year away, the meet in Fukuoka will be a launching point for the Olympic campaign. Athletes will have the opportunity to produce statement performances and establish momentum entering an all-important year in their careers. The last time the World Champs were held in Fukuoka, six world records were established, including three by Aussie superstar Ian Thorpe (200 freestyle, 400 free, 800 free). Thorpe produced record-setting times of 1:44.06, 3:40.17 and 7:39.16 in those three solo events.<\/p>\n

The other global standards were supplied by Aussie Grant Hackett (1500 freestyle), the Australian 800 freestyle relay and Michael Phelps (200 butterfly). Thorpe and Hackett were both members of that Aussie relay.<\/p>\n