INDIANAPOLIS — Matt King is headed to Paris.
The Glacier Peak High School graduate will travel to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games after being selected to the U.S. men’s swimming team Sunday evening following the conclusion of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. King was selected as a member of the 400-meter freestyle relay team.
King, who graduated from Glacier Peak in 2020, came up just short of qualifying for the team in an individual event, finishing third by one one-hundredth of a second in Friday’s 50 freestyle final. He also placed sixth in Wednesday’s 100 freestyle. The top two in each event earned berths to the Olympics.
However, by finishing in the top six of the 100 freestyle, King became eligible to be selected to the team as a member of the 400 freestyle relay, depending on how many swimmers qualified in multiple individual events. Because six different men’s swimmers qualified in multiple individual events, it meant the U.S. was able to take two additional swimmers as part of the 400 freestyle relay, thus booking King’s spot in Paris.
King came oh so close to making it in an individual event Friday. In the 50 freestyle final he was just out-touched by Chris Guiliano, as his time of 21.70 seconds was edged by Guiliano’s 21.69, meaning King had to settle for third. Caeleb Dressel (21.41) and Guiliano earned the Olympic berths.
That came two days after King finished sixth in the 100 freestyle final in a time of 47.94. Guiliano (47.38) and Jack Alexy (47.47) earned the Olympic berths, but the sixth-place finish put King in contention for the team. He then had to sweat out the remainder of the meet before learning his fate.
King has experience representing the U.S. in the 400 freestyle relay, winning bronze at each of the past two World Aquatics Championships. Last July he was chosen to anchor the U.S. team at worlds.
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games take place July 26-Aug. 11 in Paris. King is one of six swimmers eligible to swim one of the four legs in the 400 freestyle relay in heats and the final, which all take place July 27.
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