After a competitive break following this summer's 19th FINA World Championships, many Americans will see their first taste of international action this weekend in Indianapolis. Already one world record has gone down during this year's FINA Swimming World Cup, and a few others are knocking on the door while moving up the all-time lists.

Below are some of the top American swimmers to watch this weekend in Indianapolis.

 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS

Bobby Finke

The Olympic and World Champion in the 800m freestyle will be making his short course meters debut this weekend in the 1500m freestyle, where all eyes will be on the clock, as well as his last 50 meters. Finke has built up a reputation to be one of the best closers in the world, and if he is close with 50m to go, few things are safe from his final charge. Although Florian Wellbrock’s 14:06 world record from Abu Dhabi last year's short course worlds might be out of reach, Finke should be capable of posting some good times in his events, and those racing him will be hoping to build a big enough lead to where they can’t catch him on the final length.

Lilly King

The IU Natatorium is one of the most famous permanent pools in the United States as the state of Indiana has a rich history and a strong relationship with the sport, and that support will be evident this weekend when Lilly King walks out behind the blocks. Having grown up in nearby Evansville, Indiana, King has been swimming at "The Nat" since she was a young age group swimmer, and in her professional career, has always shown up and swum fast. King has built up a reputation as one that always shows up when the stakes are high, and she won’t want to disappoint the local fans that will come to specifically cheer her on. 

Katie Ledecky

Fresh off a world record in the 1500m freestyle and the third-fastest time ever in the 400m, Ledecky will have all eyes on the clock in the 800m freestyle this weekend in Indianapolis where she will look to break Mireia Belmonte’s 7:59 mark from the 2013 Swimming World Cup in Berlin. Although she doesn’t swim short course meters often, Ledecky’s first 800m in her 1500m world record last weekend was an 8:00, so perhaps the crowd will be in for a show when the greatest distance freestyle swimmer of all-time lines up behind the blocks this weekend in Indianapolis.

Ryan Murphy

Murphy has been one of the most consistent backstrokers in the entire world the last six years, and has always stepped up and performed well in the spotlight. Coming off a summer where he was World Champion in the 200m backstroke in long course, Murphy will join the deep backstroke fields that already consists of Americans Shaine Casas and world record holder Coleman Stewart as he will certainly give them a run for their money. Murphy has had more success in long course but has the underwater strength to compete with the best of the best in short course.

Vying for the Swimming World Cup Title

Shaine Casas

Casas emerged as a breakout star in late 2019 and has started to really usurp himself as one of the world’s best all-around swimmers this year after winning the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) title last year in the 100m backstroke. Over the weekend in Toronto, Casas put himself second on the all-time list in the 200m IM and third in the 100m backstroke. Is a world record in the works for Casas? His immense talent has grown his stock as one of the best swimmers in the entire world, and it shouldn’t come as a shock if he does break through. Not to mention he has the additional motivation of being reach of taking the overall Swimming World Cup title.

Nic Fink

Fink has been on a tear this World Cup circuit, winning all six breaststroke finals across the six days in Berlin and Toronto, thus giving him the lead in the overall men’s standings. If Fink can win all three breaststroke races again, it would be a huge accomplishment for the guy that seemingly gets better every time he dives into the pool. He has been known to swim well in Indianapolis, so that could spell trouble for any other breaststrokers trying to take him down.

Beata Nelson

Nelson scared the world record in the 200m backstroke for 100 meters in Toronto before falling just short of it on the final 50. Now in more familiar territory and with an overall title within her reach, she could be in for another big swim as her tremendous underwater kicks have yielded her much success this year at the Swimming World Cup. Watch for her to compete for wins in the 100m and 200m backstrokes as well as both the 100m and 200m IMs.

Rising Stars

Hunter Armstrong

Armstrong will be racing in his first international meet this weekend since this summer’s FINA World Championships where he won a silver in the 50m and bronze in the 100m backstroke. Armstrong has quickly become one of the top sprint backstrokers in the entire world, and together with the likes of Shaine Casas, Ryan Murphy, and Coleman Stewart, will be one of many American men capable of winning either the 50m or 100m backstroke this weekend in Indianapolis?

Katie Grimes

After breaking out in 2021 and just missing the Olympic podium in the 800m freestyle, Grimes has won two FINA World Championship silver medals in the 400m IM and 1500m freestyle this year at age 16. Domestically, Grimes has become a force in the 200s of strokes and with a full line-up this weekend she could be in for a big money haul as she races in short course meters.

Leah Hayes

One of the rising stars in the United States, Hayes comes from the nearby Chicago suburbs as she will be racing in her first major international meet since winning bronze in the 200m IM at the FINA World Championships in Budapest. Just two weeks removed from her 17th birthday, Hayes is already one of the best IM’ers in the world and will get a chance to race a full line-up in Indianapolis.

USA Swimming Shows its Stoke for What's to Come in Indy