Imagine a world where Michael Phelps' records are not untouchable. That world might be closer than you think! Leon Marchand, the rising star of swimming, has a golden opportunity this Thursday to potentially surpass Phelps in a unique '800 IM' ranking. Let's dive into the details of the 2026 Pro Swim Series in Austin, Texas, and see what's at stake.
2026 PRO SWIM SERIES – AUSTIN
- Dates: January 14-17, 2026
- Location: Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, Austin, Texas
- Pool: LCM (50 meters)
- Psych Sheet: Check it out here (updated)
- How to Watch: Find the viewing details here
- Live Results: Follow the action live here
Live Recaps: Stay tuned for daily updates!
- Day 1 Prelims: Catch up here
- Day 1 Finals: See the results here
Thursday Prelims Heat Sheets & Timeline: Available here
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While the absence of some swimmers from the Day 2 prelims is notable, the presence of others is arguably even more intriguing. It's a game of strategy, endurance, and sometimes, just plain luck!
Two notable absences from Thursday morning's heat sheets are Josh Matheny, the #7 seed in the 50 breaststroke (which offered double prize money!), and Jack Dahlgren, the #8 seed in the 200 backstroke. Matheny's scratch isn't entirely surprising, given his late withdrawal from the 100 breaststroke on Wednesday. Dahlgren, however, is still slated to compete in the 100 fly (#5 seed) after finishing 8th in the 100 back on Wednesday. He clocked 57.21 in the prelims and 58.04 in the finals, making it clear that the 100 back isn't his primary focus in long course. This raises the question: What's his strategy for the rest of the meet? Is he focusing his energy on the 100 fly?
But here's where it gets controversial... Three Texas Longhorns – Shaine Casas, Leon Marchand, and Carson Foster – are holding onto their entries for Thursday morning. Will they actually compete?
Shaine Casas, the World Championship silver medalist in the 200 IM, surprisingly no-showed the event on Wednesday. But he's still listed as the #3 seed in the 100 fly, behind swimming giants Caeleb Dressel and Maxime Grousset. Will he show up this time? Only time will tell.
Leon Marchand and Carson Foster, both training partners with Casas at Texas, are still entered in the 200 backstroke as the #3 and #7 seeds, respectively. Marchand is seeded behind French stars Yohann Ndoye Brouard and Mewen Tomac.
And this is the part most people miss... This 200 backstroke presents a unique opportunity for both Marchand and Foster. As Sam Black pointed out last week, it's a chance for them to improve their positions in the theoretical 800 IM add-up rankings. This ranking essentially combines a swimmer's best times in each of the four 200-meter individual medley legs (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle) to create a composite 800 IM time. For Marchand, the 200 backstroke is arguably his 'weakest' leg in this calculation. His personal best is 1:57.14, about two-and-a-half seconds slower than Michael Phelps' best time in the 200 back, and the slowest time among the top seven swimmers in that ranking.
However, given Marchand's impressive times in the short course meters (1:47.68) and short course yards (1:39.64 in a dual meet), it's clear he's capable of going much faster in long course. But will he put in the necessary effort? He seemed to cruise through the 200 IM prelims on Wednesday with a time of 2:05. On Thursday evening, he'll be competing in the 200 IM final, with a $3,000 prize on the line. He may be prioritizing that race.
Here's the bottom line: A time of 1:56.91 or better in the 200 backstroke would be enough for Marchand to surpass Phelps in this particular 800 IM computation. It's a minor, yet meaningful benchmark, especially considering Marchand's recent success in breaking several of Phelps' other records. This could be a defining moment in his career!
Full List of Thursday Events:
- Men’s & Women’s 50 Breast (2x prize money) (9:00/9:04 start)
- Men’s & Women’s 100 fly (9:12/9:20 start)
- Men’s & Women’s 200 back (9:28/9:37 start)
- Men’s & Women’s 400 free (9:49/10:11 start)
What do you think? Can Leon Marchand break another 'Phelps' record, however unofficial? Will Shaine Casas show up to the 100 Fly? And is this 800 IM add-up even a valid way to compare swimmers across different strokes and eras? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We want to hear your opinions and predictions.
