The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials have often been called the most exciting and nerve-racking swim meet anywhere in the world. With hundreds of talented Americans fighting for a spot at the Olympic Games and only two places up for grabs in most events, the nine-day meet is guaranteed to produce cheers, tears, shocks and thrills.

For the first time ever, the 2024 Trials will take place inside on an NFL field as Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, is converted into the world's largest natatorium. 

Tickets to the Paris Games will be punched on each night of the nine-day meet. See below for our breakdown of each night of competition, complete with analysis, predictions, and what to look out for in every event. 

The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials will take place June 15-23, with finals sessions airing on NBC in primetime and all sessions streaming on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com and the NBC / NBC Sports apps. The complete schedule, including TV listings, for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, can also be found on the NBCOlympics.com schedule page.

MEN'S 400m FREESTYLE

Kieran Smith earned the bronze medal at this event at the Tokyo Olympics, and at age 24, remains a favorite to once again qualify for what is considered to be one of Team USA's weaker events at the Paris Games. Smith could once again be joined by fellow Florida Gator Jake Mitchell, who memorably qualified for the Tokyo Games by swimming a solo time trial at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. A wild card in this event could be two-time Olympic medalist Bobby Finke. Finke, who specializes in the longer 800m and 1500m freestyle events, is expected to attempt to qualify in the 400m free as well.

WOMEN'S 400m FREESTYLE

Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky can lock in her spot at her fourth Olympic Games on Night 1 in the women's 400m freestyle. Ledecky is a two-time medalist in the event (gold in Rio, silver in Tokyo) and is expected to be part of a marquee, three-way final in Paris also featuring Australia's Ariarne Titmus and Canada's Summer McIntosh. But first, she'll have to navigate a Trials field that includes Tokyo finalist Paige Madden, 2023 Worlds finalist Bella Sims and 2022 world bronze medalist Leah Smith.

MEN'S 400m IM

The status of gold-medal favorite in this event belongs squarely with France's Leon Marchand, who bested Michael Phelps' last remaining individual world record at the 2023 World Championships. That said, the U.S. does boast multiple medal threats in the men's 400m IM. The most obvious is Cincinnati, Ohio's Carson Foster. The Texas Longhorn finished runner-up to Marchand at both the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. Chase Kalisz, the Tokyo gold medalist in this event, is another potential podium finisher at age 30. Foster and Kalisz are the odds-on favorites to qualify at Trials, though if anyone has a shot at an upset, Tokyo silver medalist Jay Litherland is the likeliest to do so. 

WOMEN'S 100m BUTTERFLY

The women's 100m fly projects to be one of the most exciting events of the entire Trials meet. At least four Americans have legitimate medal chops but only two will get the chance to fight for the podium in Paris. Arlington, Virginia's Torri Huske is at the top of the list, owning three of the 10 best-ever times in the event (one of which came in April of this year). Her personal best is just 0.16-seconds off Sarah Sjostrom's world record from the Rio Olympics. The second spot alongside Huske will likely go to one of Gretchen Walsh, Claire Curzan or Regan Smith. Walsh is the 2022 U.S. national champion in the event, as well as the NCAA record holder in the 100-yard fly. Curzan took the silver medal at the 2024 World Championships in February, with several athletes (including Huske) forgoing that event. Smith is more comfortable in the 200m fly, in which she is an Olympic silver medalist, but steadily has improved her personal best time in the 100m fly this year.

MEN'S 100m BREASTSTROKE

Nic Fink, 31, is Team USA's best bet for a medal in this event after winning it at the 2024 World Championships, though neither two-time defending Olympic gold medalist Adam Peaty (Great Britain) or 2023 world champion Qin Haiyang (China) attended that competition. Michael Andrew is also favored to earn a spot on his second Olympic team. The Lawrence, Kansas native finished one spot off the podium in Tokyo. Another competitor to watch will be Jake Foster, older brother of Carson, who is making a final run at an Olympic team before retiring from competitive swimming to enroll in medical school.

WOMEN'S 400m IM

While just about every other competitor at Trials will be feeling the pressure of securing their spot in Paris, Katie Grimes already has hers locked in. Grimes clinched her spot in Paris in the women's 10k open water event, and will attempt to add pool events to her schedule with a strong showing in Indianapolis. She's a safe bet to do so as well, having finished second in the 400 IM at 2023 Worlds. The other spot could come down to Tokyo silver medalist Emma Weyant and 18-year-old Leah Hayes. Hayes, who has alopecia and swims without a cap, broke the world junior championships record in this event last year.

MEN'S 200m FREESTYLE

The U.S. is unlikely to bring a medal contender to Paris in this event, so the main focus here will be determining which swimmers will comprise Team USA's men's 4x200m free relay team. The U.S. won this event at every Olympics from 2004 to 2016, but tumbled to fourth in Tokyo. The likes of Luke Hobson, Drew Kibler and Kieran Smith are favorites to make the squad tasked with returning the Americans to the podium in Paris.

MEN'S 100m BACKSTROKE

Rio gold medalist and Tokyo silver medalist Ryan Murphy is once again a contender for gold in both backstroke events in Paris. Most likely to join him in the 100m back is training partner and fellow Cal Golden Bear Hunter Armstrong, who has finished on the podium in this event at each of the last three world championships. Murphy and Armstrong are the heavy favorites to qualify, though young guns Destin Lasco and Shaine Casas stand an outside chance at disrupting the Cal dominance.

WOMEN'S 100m BREASTSTROKE

It was in this event in Tokyo that Lydia Jacoby shocked everyone, including her hometown of Seward, Alaska, by winning gold ahead of 2016 gold medalist Lilly King and others. That pair remains the most likely duo to emerge as the U.S. swimmers for this event in Paris. Kate Douglass, the heavy favorite in the 200m breast, would also be a factor if she chooses to swim this event, though that appears unlikely with her already crowded Trials schedule.

WOMEN'S 200m FREESTYLE

Like the men's 200m free, the women's event is wide open and much of the attention is on making the 4x200 free relay squad. That especially goes for Katie Ledecky, who is expected to swim this event at Trials (in order to make the relay team) but not at the Olympics should she qualify. Simone Manuel, a 2016 gold medalist in the 100m free, has begun to specialize in the 200m in recent seasons and is a hope to qualify for her third Games. 

WOMEN'S 100m BACKSTROKE

Another stacked event for the U.S., the women's 100mF back features more highly-accomplished athletes than spots available. Regan Smith is the former world-record holder in the event and appears on a collision course with Australia's Kaylee McKeown in a matchup for the gold in Paris. NC State's Katharine Berkoff finished third behind McKeown and Smith at 2023 Worlds and is the likliest candidate for the second U.S. spot, though 2024 world champion Claire Curzan is more than capable of qualifying (her world title, it must be noted, came in the absence of the three aforementioned swimmers).

MEN'S 800m FREESTYLE

Both of the men's distance freestyle events are Bobby Finke's to lose. The defending Olympic gold medalist should win the event comfortably in Indy and go on to be one of the favorites in Paris. In this event, where a second U.S. spot is no sure thing, former worlds swimmers Ross Dant, David Johnston and Charlie Clark are all in the mix for a runner-up finish.

WOMEN'S 100m FREESTYLE

This star-studded event will feature the likes of Kate Douglass, Simone Manuel and Torri Huske, along with other notable names like Olympic medalist Abbey Weitzeil and Olivia Smoliga. Though only two will qualify for the individual event in Paris, all are likely to go as members of the U.S. 4x100m freestyle relay team. In that relay, the U.S. has won a medal every time it has participated at the Olympics (it did not send a team in 1912 or 1980) but hasn’t won gold since 2000. Australia is a heavy gold-medal favorite, but the U.S. should provide them their strongest competition.

MEN'S 200m BUTTERFLY

Thomas Heilman, 17, of Crozet, Virginia, is one to watch after tying for fourth in this event at 2023 Worlds. Heilman already has etched his name into history having broken national age group records set by Michael Phelps, and could become one of the youngest (if not the youngest) male American swimmers in Paris. Carson Foster is also among the top Americans in this event.

WOMEN'S 1500m FREESTYLE

One day this event might be renamed "The Ledecky" in honor of the woman who has dominated it for her entire career. Katie Ledecky owns the 18-fastest times in this event's history and is simply in a different stratosphere from any other woman in this event (partly why she relocated her training base to Gainesville, Florida to frequently train alongside top male swimmers). The second half of "Katie Squared," Katie Grimes, is also a medal contender in this event having finished second at the 2022 World Championships. The mile swim is light work for Grimes, who also competes as an open water swimmer in the 10k event.

MEN'S 200m BREASTSTROKE

Americans face an uphill battle in this event that features several international stars including Qin Haiyang (China), Zac Stubblety-Cook (Australia) and Leon Marchand (France). However, both Matt Fallon and Nic Fink would be dark horse medal contenders should they qualify.

MEN'S 100m FREESTYLE

A marquee event any year, this summer's 100m free will be especially juicy as it features Team USA's biggest male star, Caeleb Dressel, against one of the breakout candidates of Trials, Jack Alexy. Dressel will be hoping to show that he's fully back to his top form after stepping away from competitive swimming for eight months between 2022 and 2023. Regardless of who wins the Trials showdown, both Dressel and Alexy are expected to lead the U.S. 4x100m freestyle relay team in Paris as one of the favored teams for gold. Several swimmers will be jockeying to join them on that squad.

WOMEN'S 200m BUTTERFLY

The heavy favorite in this event is Regan Smith, who holds the American record and will likely battle with Canada's Summer McIntosh for gold in Paris. Indiana native Alex Shackell - who, like McIntosh, is only 17 - has a good shot to secure her first Olympic opportunity behind Smith in this event.

MEN'S 200m BACKSTROKE

Ryan Murphy is on the hunt for a third consecutive Olympic medal in this event after winning gold in Rio and silver in Tokyo. Behind Murphy, though, the men's 200m back is wide open with several swimmers in the mix. Among them are Destin Lasco, Jack Aikins and Keaton Jones. Shaine Casas would be a factor in this event, but he's expected to skip it in favor of the men's 200m IM, which has its semifinal heats on this night as well.

WOMEN'S 200m BREASTSTROKE

This is one of multiple events in which Kate Douglass is a gold-medal contender. She holds the American record and should qualify comfortably, setting up a showdown with defending Olympic champion Tatjana Smith (nee Schoenmaker) in Paris. Tokyo silver medalist Lilly King is also a strong bet to qualify.

MEN'S 50m FREESTYLE

The splash and dash is always a difficult event to pin down, considering how slim the margins are. But this event once again could amount to a showdown between Caeleb Dressel and Jack Alexy, the two best American male sprinters in recent years. The 50m free was one of the three individual events that Dressel won at the Tokyo Olympics. However, in an event where upsets are common, it would not be surprising to see a name like Ryan Held or Michael Andrew emerge to snatch an Olympic spot.

WOMEN'S 200m BACKSTROKE

Regan Smith shockingly finished third in this event at the last U.S. Olympic Trials and failed to qualify in 2021, when she was the world record holder. Since then, Smith’s work with Michael Phelps’ former coach Bob Bowman has helped her regain her form, and she is a solid favorite in a strong field at Trials, as she looks to qualify for this event at the Olympics for the first time. Claire Curzan, world champion in 2024, is another swimmer deserving of a trip to Paris, though she'd have to hold off rivals Phoebe Bacon and Rhyan White, who both also have experience standing on the podium at worlds.

MEN'S 200m IM

Carson Foster, who finished second at 2022 Worlds behind Leon Marchand in both IMs, will be searching for an Olympic medal after finishing fifth at 2023 Worlds and second in 2024. Shaine Casas of McAllen, Texas, swam a time faster than any American in history not named Phelps or Ryan Lochte to win the 2022 U.S. title, and he could be a contender if he finds that form, though he has struggled with inconsistency since then.

MEN'S 100m BUTTERFLY

Defending Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel has steadily improved since returning in 2023 from an eight-month break from swimming, winning a 100m butterfly race at March’s TYR Pro Swim Series event before posting his fastest time since 2022 to tie for a win in the next TYR Pro Swim Series event in April. This is likely his best shot at an individual gold medal in Paris, though he will face strong competition from 2022 world champion Kristof Milak of Hungary and 2023 world champion Maxime Grousset of France. Dare Rose, 2023 bronze medalist, of Jersey City, New Jersey, appears most likely to join Dressel in qualifying for this event.

WOMEN'S 200m IM

This could be one of the most exciting races of the Games, and the world record could be within reach with four of the eight fastest women in history potentially contesting the final. The U.S. has swept the last three world titles in this event, with Alex Walsh winning in 2022 and her University of Virginia teammate Kate Douglass winning in 2023 and 2024. Douglass and Walsh are favored to make the U.S. team, but Torri Huske could potentially shake things up.

WOMEN'S 800m FREESTYLE

Though not quite as invincible in this event as she is in the 1500m free, Katie Ledecky is still the distance queen until proven otherwise. It was in the 800m free that Ledecky made her Olympic debut as a 15-year-old in London, where she won gold. In Paris, she could become the first woman swimmer in history to win the same event at four consecutive Olympics. Katie Grimes figures to lead the group of challengers hoping to qualify alongside Ledecky.

MEN'S 1500m FREESTYLE

Bobby Finke turned a lot of heads in Tokyo when he became the first American to win Olympic gold in this event since 1984 in a stunning come-from-behind victory. Finke has continued to improve, breaking his own American record by over five seconds at the 2023 World Championships, and he could be within striking distance of the world record at Trials. Though he finished second narrowly behind Tunisia's Ahmed Hafnaoui at 2023 Worlds, it was announced in May that Hafnaoui will not be competing at the Games following various struggles with injuries and his training, making Finke a clearer favorite for gold. The U.S. does not have another medal contender, but Charlie Clark is a solid favorite to be the other American qualifying behind Finke.

WOMEN'S 50m FREESTYLE

The final event of Trials is also expected to be one of the most tightly-contested. Kate Douglass set an American record to finish second at 2024 Worlds, but she is unlikely to contest this event in Paris because the Olympic semifinals are just 20 minutes before the final in her best event, the 200m IM. The other top American in this event over the last year has been Abbey Weitzeil, who at age 27 is seeking her first individual Olympic or world championships medal. Simone Manuel, 2019 world champion, has had encouraging results this year as well.

NBC Olympics Research contributed to this story.