Swimming

Oregon HS State Champion Thomas Olsen Sends Verbal To USC (2024)

April 27, 2023

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Thomas Olsen has announced his verbal commitment to the University of Southern California (USC) for the 2024-2025 season. Olsen, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, attends Parkrose High School in Portland, Oregon. He also trains and competes year-round with the Multnomah Athletic Club, also located in the Portland area.

He shared his commitment on Instagram:

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Olsen is a distance freestyler, with range from the 200 up to the 1650. He most recently raced at Speedo Sectionals in Federal Way, where he won the 1650 in a best time of 15:17.53. He also finished 2nd in the 1000 (9:08.84) and 3rd in the 500 (4:25.19), with both being personal best times. In the past year, Olsen’s 1650 has come down by over 30 seconds, while his 500 has improved by nearly seven seconds.

Prior to Sectionals, Olsen had a fantastic showing at the Oregon Boys 5A State Championship meet where he won two individual state titles. In the 200 free, he swam a best time of 1:39.14 in finals to set a new state record. He added a 5A record in the 500 free, logging a 4:26.52 to top the field by eight seconds.

Top SCY Times:

200 free – 1:39.14
500 free 4:25.19
1000 free – 9:08.84
1650 free – 15:17.53
400 IM – 4:01.45

The USC men finished fifth out of six teams at this year’s Pac-12 Championships. It took a 4:23.67 to advance to the B-final in the 500 free, and a 15:27.15 to score in the 1650 this year. Olsen’s best 1650 time would have earned 13th at Pac-12s this year, while he would’ve been just outside of scoring range in the 500. By the time Olsen arrives on campus, USC will make the transition to the Big Ten Conference, where it took a 15:22.97 this year to break into top-16 in the 1650.

Olsen’s arrival is key, as USC had no one score in the 1650 this season at Pac-12s. The team’s highest finisher was senior David Mertz at 18th (15:33.82). The 500 was also a relatively weak event for the Trojans, with the team’s top performer being senior Trent Martinez, who placed 19th overall (4:23.90).

With his commitment, Olsen joins Sanberk Yigit Oktar and Cole Ballard in USC’s class of 2028. Ballard swims similar events to Olsen, owning best times of 1:41.26 and 4:33.42 in the 200/500 free.

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