The Texas swimmers kicked off the Olympic games in great fashion

On the first day of the tournament, two Longhorns took on the pool. Incoming transfer Aaron Shackell broke ground in 2024 by becoming the first swimmer to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Shackell started his collegiate career at California but missed his freshman season to focus on training for Paris. On May 5, Shackell announced he would be returning to Division I swimming at Texas rather than back home with the Golden Bears. 

Shackell competed in the 400-meter freestyle on the opening day, qualifying for the category finals with a time of 3:45.45. Unfortunately, the young star didn’t medal, finishing in the eighth position in his Olympic debut.

That same day, former Longhorn Caspar Corbeau took on the 100-meter breaststroke in his second game, representing the Netherlands. Corbeau qualified for the finals as the leader of heat three with a time of 59.04 but finished the competition in eighth.

Day two of the Olympic games had a higher success rate for the Longhorns as five swimmers took on the pool early in the Parisian day. 

Senior Luke Hobson kicked things off, advancing to the men’s 200-meter freestyle semi-finals with a time of 1:46.23. Later that Sunday, Hobson won his semi-final pool. In the final, Hobson fought until the end, leading the race for some time, but ended up falling to Romanian winner David Popovici and runner-up Matt Richards from Great Britain. Hobson stood on the third step of the podium with a bronze medal. 

In the men’s 400 individual medley, former Texas swimmer Carson Foster led his heat to qualify for the final with a time of 4:11.07. In the category final, Foster became the first Longhorn to win a medal in this edition of the games after earning bronze with a time of 4:08.66, 5.71 seconds behind homegrown winner Leon Marchand, who set a new Olympic record.

Incoming junior transfer Hubert Kós, like Foster, led his heat to make it to the 100-meter backstroke semifinal representing Hungary. Kós’ journey ended in the semifinals after placing two spots outside the qualifying group in 10th place.

Two Texas women’s swimming stars also took on the pool on Sunday. Two-time Olympian from Germany Anna Elendt didn’t get a dream start, placing outside the needed spots to qualify for the 100-meter breaststroke. 

Sophomore Erin Gemmell had a better start, making it to the women’s 200-meter freestyle semifinals. Gemmell was a touch away from making the finals, finishing ninth while the top eight qualifiers moved on.

Texas swimming will be back in action on day four of the games with Corbeau back in the pools competing in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke. Kós will also get a second chance in the 200-meter backstroke tomorrow. Foster will try for a second medal when he competes in the men’s 200-meter individual medley on Thursday.