Kayla Han, despite being only a teenager, is already being touted as a future star of USA swimming.
When she was 12, the California-born prodigy made headlines when she qualified for the USA Swimming Olympic Trials.
Han, who turned 13 before the meet, was the meet’s youngest competitor, and a video of her winning the 400m individual medley (IM) B-final quickly went viral.
She did not make the team for Tokyo 2020, which was held in 2021, but she continued to improve her times in a variety of events and won 400m IM silver at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
The 14-year-old ran 4.43.60 in Honolulu, ranking third all-time for American girls in the 13-14 age group.
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Kayla Han (USA Swimmer): Biography
Kayla Han is a young swimmer who is quickly making a name for herself in the competitive swimming world. Her impressive performances at both domestic and international events have solidified her place as a rising star in the sport.1
As she continues to train and compete, she is sure to make waves in future Olympic events. Keep an eye out for this talented athlete, as she is poised to become one of the top swimmers in the world.
This young American swimmer is a force to be reckoned with in freestyle and individual medley events. Her impressive performances in recent competitions have solidified her place as a top contender for future Olympic events.
In 2022, Kayla Han proved her worth as a competitive swimmer by winning the silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
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This prestigious event brings together top swimmers from around the world to compete against each other. Han’s impressive performance at the Junior Pan Pacs solidified her as a rising star in the swimming world.
In addition to her success at the Junior Pan Pacs, Kayla Han has also made a name for herself in domestic competitions.
At the 2021 U.S. Open Championships, Han achieved a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter individual medley and placed seventh in the 800-meter freestyle. These impressive finishes demonstrate her versatility as a swimmer.
Furthermore, Han won the B-final of the 400-meter individual medley in Wave I of the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic Trials. At just 13 years old, she was the youngest swimmer to compete in the event.
Her incredible performance was captured in a video posted by NBC Sports on YouTube, which became the most viewed video from the year’s Olympic trials.
Kayla Han (USA Swimmer): Career Details
- At just 13 years old, Kayla Han made headlines at the USA Swimming Olympic Trials in 2021, winning the 400m individual medley (IM) B-final.2
- Since then, she has continued to impress, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the world of swimming.
- Born and raised in California, Han was selected for the USA Swimming Olympic Trials at the age of 12, which is when she first gained public attention.
- Despite being the youngest athlete in Omaha, she won the 400m IM B-final, quickly going viral and capturing the hearts of fans around the world.
- Although Han was not selected for the Tokyo 2020 squad, she did not let that setback slow her down.
- She continued to work hard and improve her times in several events, culminating in a silver medal win at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Honolulu. Her time of 4.43.60 placed her third among American girls her age in history, an impressive feat.
- With her sights set on the upcoming USA Olympic Trials in June 2024, Han is poised to make her mark at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Now 14 years old, she has continued to make year-over-year advancements, showing her dedication and determination to succeed.
- Kim and Daniel Han, Kayla’s parents, have been supportive throughout her athletic career, and were overjoyed when she qualified for the Olympic Team Trials in Omaha.
- Despite not fitting the traditional physical profile of an elite swimmer, standing at just 5-feet tall without Gumby-like arms or broad shoulders, Han has proven that hard work and dedication can overcome any obstacle.
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Kayla Han: Trivia
- Kayla Han was born in the United States, specifically in the city of La Mesa.
- Kayla Han’s natal sign is Gemini.
- The June 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine featured an article about her for the very first time.
- She was barely 12 years old when she competed in the United States Olympic swimming trials, making her the youngest of the 1,562 swimmers who took part in the competition.
- It was in the Sunshine State that she first began her career.
La Mirada Armada-Hosted 2022
Another young swimming prodigy has made waves in the pool, as 14-year-old Kayla Han broke a National Age Group Record at the 2022 Kevin B. Perry Senior Meet held at La Mirada Armada in California.3
Trained by the same club, Han has been showcasing her incredible talent in various events and has set herself apart from her peers.
The culmination of Han’s efforts came during the women’s 400 IM final, where she clocked in a remarkable 4:06.95, beating the previous NAG record of 4:08.44 held by Katie Hoff since 2004.
Hoff, now known as Katie Anderson, went on to represent Team USA in the Olympics later that year at the age of 15, and eventually set world records in the 400 IM and 800 free relay.
Han’s feat is all the more impressive as it’s been challenging to track down Hoff’s splits from her record-breaking swim.
However, Han’s splits from the race have been analyzed and indicate her outstanding ability in the pool.
Han’s performance has made her a rising star in the world of swimming. Her exceptional skills, coupled with her young age, suggest that she has a bright future ahead of her.
Swimming enthusiasts and experts alike are looking forward to seeing more of her incredible performances in the years to come.
Kayla Han: Junior Pan Pacific Championships 2022
Regan Han, a 14-year-old American swimmer, made waves at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships held at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Honolulu.
Han’s impressive performances earned her a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley.
Han was chosen by USA Swimming to represent the United States in the 1500-meter freestyle and the 400-meter individual medley events at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
The selection was based on her outstanding performances at the 2022 US International Team Trials.
On the first day of the competition, Han set a new personal best time of 8:35.85 in the 800-meter freestyle event, securing the ninth overall rank when results from all heats were merged.
On the second day, she finished second in the third preliminary heat of the 400-meter individual medley, clocking in at 4:46.99, which ranked her second across all heats and qualified her for the final.
In the evening, Han won the silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley, finishing with a personal best time of 4:43.60.
The race was won by Mio Narita of Japan. Han’s remarkable achievement was all the more impressive considering she was just 14 years and 86 days old at the time.
On the third day, Han finished in 19th place in the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 4:14.17. And on the fourth and final day of the championships, Han ranked seventh in the 1500-meter freestyle, clocking in at 16:43.13.
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