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13 year old Kayla Han’s INCREDIBLE comeback win at US Swimming Trials

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Thirteen-year-old Kayla Han electrified the U.S. Olympic Team Trials with a stunning come-from-behind victory in the 400-meter individual medley B final.

Kayla Han, representing La Mirada Armada, emerged as the breakout star of the Wave I U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. The 13-year-old Brea, California native—the youngest of 1,400 qualifiers—showcased elite closing speed to overtake the field in the final 50 meters of the freestyle leg, securing a victory that electrified the CHI Health Center crowd.

• Han entered the trials as the youngest competitor at 13 years and 5 days old, having qualified just days before her birthday.
• At the Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine in late May 2021, Han clocked a 4:50.70 in the 400m IM, shattering the 11-12 National Age Group record held by Elizabeth Beisel since 2005.
• During the Omaha B-final, Han erased a three-second deficit in the final freestyle leg to touch the wall first with a time of 4:51.08.

The Record-Breaking Lead-Up

Han’s path to Omaha was paved by a dominant performance at the Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine. Competing as a 12-year-old, she established herself as a national contender by breaking the 11-12 National Age Group record in the 400m IM. That same weekend, she set additional national age group marks in both the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle events.

Han trailed the leaders by approximately three seconds heading into the final freestyle leg, she surged through the water to overtake the field in the closing 50 meters.

Her rapid progression caught the attention of the coaching community, with coach Kathy Hall noting that Han had trimmed six seconds off her personal best in the weeks leading up to the trials. Her composure on the national stage in Omaha validated these results, proving that her record-setting pace in Irvine was not an outlier.

Tactical Execution in Omaha

The 400-meter individual medley B-final demonstrated Han’s ability to maintain discipline under the pressure of a major televised event. While the win did not advance her to the Wave II trials—which requires a top-two finish in the A-final—her performance established her as a premier talent in American swimming. The victory in the B-final became a viral highlight for NBC Sports, drawing widespread attention to her ability to execute a tactical comeback.

With her Wave I campaign finished, Han shifts her training focus toward the upcoming Speedo Summer Championships, where she will attempt to lower her personal best in the 400m IM and further challenge the national age group rankings.