Kayla Han, 13, Becomes Youngest Olympic Trials Qualifier, Breaks National Age Group Record
![Kayla Han, 13, Becomes Youngest Olympic Trials Qualifier, Breaks National Age Group Record](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/pjimage-84.jpg?width=1536&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85&blur=80)
![Kayla Han, 13, Becomes Youngest Olympic Trials Qualifier, Breaks National Age Group Record](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/pjimage-84.jpg?width=1536&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85)
![Bryan Ke](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/profile.jpg?width=128&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85)
By Bryan Ke
American swimmer Kayla Han of Brea, Calif., became one of the youngest people to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming after making the cut at 12 years old.
It all happened so fast: Han, who is now 13, qualified for the Wave I of the Olympic Trials after finishing with a time of 4:50.70 in the 400-meter individual medley (IM) at the Speedo Grand Challenge in May, according to Swimming World Magazine.
- In addition to qualifying at the trials, the swimmer, who was 12 at the time, also broke the National Age Group record held by Elizabeth Beisel in the 11-12 category for 400M IM. Beisel set the record at 4:55.35 in 2005.
- Han flew to Omaha, Neb., for her Olympic Trials debut on June 2, days after her birthday.
- The achievement made her the youngest of the 1,400 qualifiers at the trials, WOWT reported.
- Kathy Hall, Han’s coach from five years ago at La Mirada Armada, came to help prepare the swimmer in Omaha.
Amazing comeback: Han stunned everyone after winning the B final of the women’s 400-meter IM, finishing in 4:51.08.
Featured Image via WOWT (left), NBC Sports (right)
Share this Article
Share this Article