In anticipation of the upcoming 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials for swimming, some fascinating statistics and intriguing facts have emerged from the entry lists. As we delve into the data, it becomes apparent that the majority of entries come from college-aged swimmers, specifically those between the ages of 18 and 23. With an average age of 21, both male and female athletes are fairly evenly represented in this demographic.

However, beyond the average lies some remarkable outliers. Gabrielle Rose, at the age of 46, defies expectations as the oldest swimmer entered in the competition. As a two-time Olympian, she is seeded 27th in the 100 breaststroke and 46th in the 200 breaststroke. On the other end of the age spectrum, 13-year-old Gabi Brito stands as the youngest qualifier, with a seeding rank of 39th in the 50 freestyle.

Examining the number of events athletes are entered in reveals an interesting trend. Generally, participants are focusing their efforts on their best events, in order to secure a spot on the Olympic team. It is common for top athletes to be entered in at least two events, with many single stroke specialists competing in both the 100 and 200 of their respective specialties.

One exceptional case is Bella Sims, who stands out for being entered in a whopping total of 11 events. While it remains to be seen whether she will compete in all of them, Sims is missing the 50 free, 100 breast, and 200 breast.

In terms of the number of entrants per event, the average stands at 66.1. The gender difference is evident, with men's events attracting an average of 73.2 entrants, while women's events see an average of 59.0 entrants. This corresponds to the overall composition of the meet, with male swimmers outnumbering their female counterparts.

To ensure manageable meet sizes, USA Swimming sets time standards to control the number of qualifiers per event. For this quadrennial, they aimed for 80 to 90 qualifiers per event. While some goals have been met, further fine-tuning may be required to achieve a more balanced representation.

Analyzing event pairings, it is intriguing to note that the most common one is the 800 free and the 1500 free. With the addition of these events in 2020, distance swimmers now have more opportunities to compete. On the other hand, the pairing of the 50 free and 100 free stands out as the second most prevalent.

Throughout the meet, we will witness swimmers displaying their versatility as they compete in various events. While not all pairings mentioned may come to fruition, it is interesting to observe the range of skills and abilities showcased by these athletes.

In a lighthearted vein, a hypothetical question arises: who is the most average swimmer at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials? According to the gathered data, the most common competitor is a 21-year-old male entered solely in the 200 IM. If this swimmer has additional cuts, the next most likely event for them would be the 400 IM. It seems that this hypothetical athlete embodies the essence of the middle-distance swimmer.

As the clock ticks down to the start of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, excitement is building. Swimmers from various age groups and backgrounds will come together, aiming to secure their place on the Olympic team. With such a diverse mix of participants, the trials promise to be a thrilling and competitive event.