Michigan swimmer Jake Mitchell qualifies for Tokyo Olympics

The only obstacle in Jake Mitchell’s way of a trip to the Tokyo Olympics was a timer.

The University of Michigan freshman swimmer was the last person in the pool Tuesday night during a U.S. Olympic trials meet in Omaha, Nebraska. Competing against no one but himself, he needed a time of 3:46.78 in the 400-meter freestyle to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games. He hit the mark easily, finishing in 3:45.86 in front of a crowd cheering him on throughout the race.

“It’s insane,” Mitchell told the Associated Press after the meet. “I’ve wanted to be an Olympian since I was a kid. This is definitely a dream come true.”

Mitchell needed a time trial Tuesday because his time during the 400 free race Sunday was not fast enough to qualify. Although he finished second, which normally would be good enough for a spot on the Olympic team, his time of 3:48.17 was not fast enough to make the Tokyo cut.

Because the Carmel, Indiana native finished second, he got the first crack at a time trial approved by world governing body FINA and shaved nearly 3 seconds off from his Sunday race.

“Obviously, I was pretty disappointed,” Mitchell said. “All summer long, I’ve been training to go 3:44, 3:45, somewhere around there. Going 3:48 was not as good as I hoped.”

Mitchell, the 2021 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, said he was invigorated by the crowd.

“I was super nervous in the staging area,” he said. “Shaking almost. As soon as I walked out, I looked around. I made a point to look at everyone in the stands, to hear everyone cheering for me. That was an amazing feeling.”

Mitchell is one of a handful of current and former Michigan swimmers competing at U.S. Olympic trials Sunday, June 13-Sunday, June 20.

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