Imagine shattering records and rewriting history before you even turn 18. That's exactly what Collin Holgerson did, and the swimming world is buzzing! He swam a blistering 45.06 in the 100-yard backstroke, making him the fastest 17-year-old ever in the event. But here's where it gets controversial... is this just the beginning of a long and dominating career, or a flash in the pan? Only time will tell.
This incredible feat occurred at the 2025 Winter Junior Championships – East, held in Indianapolis, Indiana, from December 10th to 13th. For those who want to relive the excitement or see what you missed, here's a quick rundown:
- What: 2025 Winter Junior Championships – East
- Where: Indianapolis, Indiana
- When: December 10-13, 2025
- Format: Short Course Yards (SCY) - meaning the pool is 25 yards long.
If you're a swimming fanatic, or just want to see what all the fuss is about, here are some helpful links:
- Meet Central: https://www.usaswimming.org/eventmvc/2025/12/10/default-calendar/speedo-winter-junior-championships-east - All the official meet information.
- Psych Sheet: https://websiteprodcoresa.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/eventsdocuments/events-posting/2025-speedo-winter-junior-championships/juniors-east-psych-sheet2.pdf?sfvrsn=23681932_2 - See who was seeded to swim what!
- How to Watch: https://swimswam.com/how-to-watch-the-2025-winter-junior-championships-east-west/ - In case you missed it live.
- Live Results: https://swmeets.com/Realtime/SCJuniors/2025/ - Check out the detailed results.
- Live Recaps:
Representing SwimAtlanta, Holgerson achieved this record-breaking time as the leadoff leg of a medley relay. And this is the part most people miss... relay leadoffs can be even more pressure-packed than individual races! Knowing your team is counting on you can either crush you or propel you to greatness. Clearly, Holgerson thrived under the spotlight.
SwimAtlanta ultimately finished 2nd in the relay with a time of 3:11.66. Holgerson's split not only made him the fastest 17-year-old in history but also placed him 6th overall in the 17-18 age group. To put that in perspective, he's competing against athletes a full year older! He's also only the 5th 17-year-old ever to break the 46-second barrier in the 100 backstroke. That’s elite company.
Here's a look at the all-time rankings for boys' 100 SCY backstroke among 17-year-olds:
- Collin Holgerson, SwimAtlanta – 45.06 (2025 Winter Juniors East)
- Ryan Murphy, Bolles School – 45.34 (2012 Florida 1A HS State Championships)
- Ryan Hoffer, Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 45.58 (2015 Winter Juniors West)
- Hudson Williams, New Albany Aquatic Club – 45.77 (2022 Winter Juniors East)
- Scotty Buff, Greater Toledo Aquatic Club – 45.89 (2022 NCSA Spring Nationals)
Holgerson's previous best time in the 100 backstroke was 46.87, meaning he shaved off a whopping 1.81 seconds! He was scheduled to compete in the individual 100 backstroke on Friday, and many were eager to see if he could match, or even surpass, his relay performance.
Let's break down those splits even further. Here's a comparison of Holgerson's old personal best (PB), his new PB, and Ryan Murphy's age 17 PB:
| | Old PB | New PB | Age 17 PB (Murphy) |
|---------------|--------|--------|--------------------|
| 50y | 22.74 | 21.80 | 21.75 |
| 100y | 24.13 | 23.26 | 23.59 |
| Total Time | 46.87| 45.06| 45.34 |
But Holgerson's success wasn't limited to the backstroke. Earlier in the meet, he finished 2nd in the 200 IM with a time of 1:43.23, dropping approximately 1.2 seconds. He also posted a 21.02 split on the backstroke leadoff leg of SwimAtlanta's 200 medley relay, which finished 6th. Notably, his split was faster than or equal to 12 leadoff legs at the previous year's NCAA Championships! Keep in mind, he still has a year and a half of high school swimming left.
Ranked as the #4 recruit in the high school class of 2027, Holgerson already has international experience, representing the U.S. at the World Junior Championships. While he competes for SwimAtlanta, he attends and trains at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The McCallie School's swimming program is a powerhouse, having secured five state titles in the last seven seasons. This year, alumnus Zane Hamilton took over as head coach after the retirement of Stan Corcoran.
So, what do you think? Is Holgerson the next Ryan Murphy? Can he maintain this level of performance as he gets older? And perhaps the most controversial question of all: Does focusing so intensely on swimming at a young age ultimately lead to burnout? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
