Day 7 of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials kicked off with another exciting prelims session, featuring just three individual events. Among them was the highly anticipated Women's 200 Individual Medley (IM), where 2021 Tokyo Silver Medalist Alex Walsh aimed to secure her spot on the Olympic team.

Walsh, who recently showcased her talent in Japan, finished third in the 200 breast event the previous night, behind Kate Douglass and Lilly King. With the 200 IM being her last chance to make the Olympic team, Walsh faced tough competition from Douglass, who also medaled in the event in Tokyo, as well as rising stars Torri Huske and Leah Hayes.

Meanwhile, the Men's 100 Butterfly proved to be an intense battle for a spot on the Olympic roster. Dare Rose, who fell short in the 200 fly event, looked to redeem himself in this last opportunity. Shaine Casas, who performed impressively in the 200 IM the previous night, aimed for another shot in the 100 fly, where he held the second seed. The event also saw Caeleb Dressel, the American record holder, and Thomas Heilman, a breakout swimmer from last summer, as strong contenders.

In the morning's prelims, several standout performances added to the excitement. Colby Mefford of Cal dropped half a second off his seed time to clinch the win and set the fastest time in the 100 fly with 53.05. Danny Kovac dominated Heat 2, winning by nearly a full second with a time of 52.14. Michael Andrew, Caeleb Dressel, and Ryan Murphy showcased their skills in Heat 7, with Dressel taking the top spot in 51.14, outpacing his competitors.

On the women's side, the Women's 200 IM prelims saw Walsh vying to secure her spot on the Olympic team. Having won the event at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 2:09.30, Walsh aimed to replicate her success and secure her ticket to Paris. However, the presence of strong competitors like Kate Douglass, Torri Huske, and Leah Hayes made for a thrilling race, with any of them capable of pulling off an upset.

Looking ahead, the final events of the day included Katie Ledecky, the top seed in the Women's 800 Free, showcasing her exceptional freestyle skills. While fellow Olympian Katie Grimes opted out of the event in favor of the 200 back final, the competition for the second spot promises to be fierce between Jillian Cox and Claire Weinstein.

As the prelims concluded, spectators eagerly awaited the upcoming finals, where the top performers from each event would battle for coveted spots on the U.S. Olympic team. With only one opportunity left for Alex Walsh to join her sister Gretchen on the plane to Paris, all eyes were on her performance in the Women's 200 IM finals.

The stakes were high as the U.S. Olympic Trials continued to showcase the incredible talent and determination of the nation's top swimmers, all vying for the chance to represent their country on the grandest stage of all.