Cavaliers Competing at Speedo Fort Laderdale Open

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fifteen members of the Virginia men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams and pro training group will be competing at the 2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open, Wednesday through Saturday, April 29-May 2, at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The event, formerly a stop on USA Swimming's Pro Swim Series, has a field loaded with Olympic medalists and world champions.

Follow live results on MeetMobile. SwimSwam will also stream the meet on its YouTube Channel.

Current Cavaliers scheduled to compete: Jack Aikins, Claire Curzan, Cavan Gormsen, Katie Grimes, Bailey Hartman, Leah Hayes, Tess Howley, Madi Mintenko, Anna Moesch, Sophia Umstead, Emma Weber

UVA's Pro Training Group competing: Kate Douglass, Isabelle Stadden, Alex Walsh, Gretchen Walsh

Format: Long Course Meters, with prelims and finals (except for 800/1500 Free). Finals will be run as an A & B final, with a C Final of the next-fastest eight 18-and-under qualifiers.

Wednesday will feature one event, the 1500m Free, with timed finals beginning at 5 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday, prelims will begin at 9 a.m. each day with finals at 6 p.m. 

 

Thursday Recap

• The Cavaliers went 1, 2, 3 in the 100 Free with Kate Douglass winning (53.01), followed by Anna Moesch (53.25) and Gretchen Walsh (53.44)
• Douglass picked up gold in back-to-back races by also winning the 100 Breast (1:06.68). Emma Weber was fourth (1:07.62). Sophia Umstead also made the A Final
• Douglass' two victories came in a span of 12 minutes
• Tess Howley was third in the 200 Fly (2:08.26)
• Isabelle Stadden won the 50 Back (27.29) with Gretchen Walsh third (28.10) and Claire Curzan fourth (28.47)
• Claire Curzan won the B Final of the 100 Free (54.40)
• Bailey Hartman won the B Final of the 200 Fly (2:12.48)
• Katie Grimes won the B Final of the 400 Free (4:13.49)
• Jack Aikins made the A Final of the 50 Back, finishing 5th (25.89)
• Cavan Gormsen made the A Final of the 400 Free, placing 5th (4:11.28)

Friday Recap

• Gretchen Walsh won the 50 Fly (25.08) with Kate Douglass second (25.24). Those are the top two times in the world in the event this year
• Anna Moesch finished second in the 200 Free final (1:56.55), behind Summer McIntosh, finishing ahead of Simone Manuel (3rd place) and Katie Ledecky (4th)
• Isabelle Stadden posted a PR in the 200 Back, winning the event in a 2:04.37. It is the top time in the world this season and moves her up to No. 4 on the all-time performer list
• Emma Weber was third in the 50 Breast (30.99). Sophia Umstead was 7th (32.55)
• Alex Walsh was 3rd in the 400 IM (4:43.67)
• Jack Aikins was 4th in the 200 Back (2:02.13)
• Katie Grimes swam in back-to-back A Finals in the 200 Back and 400 IM, placing 7th in the 200 Back and 4th in the 400 IM (4:44.73)
• The Cavaliers went 1-2 in the B Final of the 200 Free with Cavan Gormsen winning it in 1:58.97 and Madi Mintenko taking second (1:59.28)
• The Cavaliers also went 1-2 in the B Final of the 200 Back, with Claire Curzan winning it with a time of 2:10.45, followed by Tess Howley at 2:13.48

THURSDAY EVENTS

• 100m Free
• 100m Breast
• 50m Back
• 200m Fly
• 400m Free
  

  FRIDAY EVENTS

• 200m Free
• 50m Breast
• 50m Fly
• 200m Back
• 400m IM

SATURDAY EVENTS

• 800m Free
• 100m Back
• 200m Breast
• 100m Fly
• 200m IM
• 50m Free