Swimming Stars Exit Early: What Does It Mean for the U.S. Open?
The 2025 U.S. Open, held from December 3-6 in Austin, Texas, at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, has been a whirlwind of excitement and surprises. With prelims kicking off at 10 a.m. EST and finals at 7 p.m. EST (5 p.m. on Day 1), this long-course meters (LCM) event has been a showcase of top-tier talent. But here's where it gets intriguing: the final night of competition brought a wave of notable scratches, leaving fans and analysts alike scratching their heads. And this is the part most people miss—why would some of the biggest names in swimming opt out of their events?
Three prominent swimmers—Nate Germonprez, Erin Gemmell, and Michael Andrew—decided to end their meets early by scratching their only remaining events. Germonprez and Gemmell, both training at the University of Texas (the host venue), had already made their mark earlier in the competition. Andrew, who trains in Arizona, notably didn’t compete in any finals sessions in Austin, raising questions about his strategy. But why did they bow out? Was it fatigue, injury, or a calculated move to focus on future events? This decision sparks a debate: Are scratches a sign of weakness or a strategic masterstroke?
Germonprez, who stunned the swimming world in November by breaking the 50/1:50 barrier in the 100/200-yard breaststrokes, had already proven his mettle in Austin. He secured 5th place in the 100 breast with a personal best and clocked a lifetime best of 2:13.10 in the 200 breast prelims. His early exit leaves fans wondering what more he could have achieved. But here’s a thought-provoking question: Could pushing through have led to burnout or injury, potentially derailing his long-term goals?
Erin Gemmell, another Austin-based swimmer and Olympian, scratched her only event, the 100 free, after placing 15th in the prelims with a time of 55.65. For an athlete of her caliber, this move seems unusual. Is this a tactical retreat to conserve energy for bigger battles ahead, or a missed opportunity to gain valuable race experience?
Beyond Germonprez and Gemmell, the only other A-final scratches came from Wolfpack swimmers Leah Shackley and Erika Peleaz, both of whom opted out of one event to focus on another. This raises another layer of intrigue: In a sport where every second counts, is it wiser to spread oneself thin or double down on a single event?
Here’s the full list of championship and consolation final scratches for added context:
Women’s 50 Fly:
- #8 Leah Shackley (NCS)
Men’s 50 Fly:
- #15 Michael Andrew (UN-AZ)
Women’s 200 Back:
- #4 Erika Peleaz (NCS)
Men’s 200 Back:
- No scratches
Women’s 200 Breast:
- #15 Anja Peck (CYSC)
- #16 Celina Schmidt (UN-IN)
- #18 Grace Swodoba (CYSC)
Men’s 200 Breast:
- #3 Nate Germonprez (TEX)
Women’s 100 Free:
- #15 Erin Gemmell (TEX)
Men’s 100 Free:
- No scratches
Women’s 200 Fly:
- No scratches
Men’s 200 Fly:
- #13 Abdalla Youssef Nasr (EGY)
As the dust settles on the 2025 U.S. Open, these early exits leave us with more questions than answers. Are these scratches a sign of strategic brilliance or missed opportunities? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s dive into the debate!
