Kayla Han

Kayla Han is an American competitive swimmer specializing in freestyle and individual medley events. She is the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships silver medalist in the 400-meter individual medley. 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. She won the B-final of the 400-meter individual medley in Wave I of the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic Trials where she was the youngest swimmer to compete at 13 years of age. A video of the race posted by NBC Sports on YouTube became the most viewed video from the year's Olympic trials.

Early life

Han was born May 31, 2008 in Brea, California. She competes for the La Mirada Armada swim club.

Swimming career

2018—2020

Over the course of 2018 and 2019, Han accumulated six USA Swimming national age group records for the girls 10 and under age group. Her first record was in the 200-yard individual medley in December 2018 with a time of 2:13.33. The next four records she accumulated over the months of January, February, and March in 2019, earning three more records in the 200-yard individual medley as well as one record in the 500-yard freestyle. She culminated her record breaking streak in May 2019 by achieving her first national age group record in long course meters in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:28.70. Her accomplishments as a 10 year old were noticed by ''Swimming World'' and ''SwimSwam'', with ''Swimming World'' giving her their "Up & Comers" honor for the month of June 2019 and ''SwimSwam'' awarding her the female Age Group Swimmer of the Year Swammy Award for the 2019 year. Further performances in 2020 that put her at the top of her age group, then the 11—12 year old age group, in multiple events though not yet breaking age group records received additional recognition from ''SwimSwam'', who awarded her the Swammy Award for the female Age Group Swimmer of the Year for 11—12 year olds for 2020.

2021: US Olympic Trials B-final winner at 13 years of age

2021 CA Speedo Grand Challenge

At the 2021 California Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine, California in May 2021, Han set three additional national age group records, this time for the girls 11—12 age group and over the span of one weekend."National Age Group Records: Long Course Meters 11-12"
''USA Swimming''. Retrieved July 4, 2021. On the first day of competition, 28 May, Han broke the 400-meter freestyle national age group record set by Claire Tuggle with a time of 4:17.65.Penland, Spencer (May 29, 2021)
"La Mirada's Kayla Han Cracks Tuggle's 11-12 Girls 400 Free NAG With 4:17.65"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved July 4, 2021. The following day, Han broke a second national age group record. She swam a 4:50.70 to break the 400-meter individual medley record set by Elizabeth Beisel in 2005 by over 4 seconds and qualify for the 2020 US Olympic Trials.Penland, Spencer (May 30, 2021)
"Kayla Han Shatters Beisel's 11-12 400 IM NAG, Becomes Youngest Trials Qualifier"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved July 4, 2021."12-Year-Old Kayla Han Set to Make Olympic Trials Debut on Saturday in 400 IM"
''Swimming World''. May 30, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021. The third day of competition, 30 May, Han broke a third national age group record. This time she broke the 800-meter freestyle record set by Isabella Rongione in 2012. Han's time of 8:50.58 was almost 5 seconds faster than the previous record.Penland, Spencer (May 30, 2021)
"Kayla Han Breaks Her 3rd 11-12 Girls NAG of the Weekend - 8:50.58 800 Free"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved July 4, 2021.

2020 US Olympic Trials

]
Han was the youngest swimmer to qualify for the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic Trials, held in Omaha, Nebraska and postponed to June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at 12 years of age.Nugent, Joe (June 4, 2021)
"13-year-old Kayla Han joins the top 1% of American swimmers, but she wasn't 13 at the time"
''WOWT''. Retrieved July 4, 2021.Ke, Brian (June 25, 2021)
"Kayla Han, 13, Becomes Youngest Olympic Trials Qualifier, Breaks National Age Group Record"
''Yahoo! News''. Retrieved July 4, 2021.

In the Wave I preliminary heats of the 400-meter individual medley, on June 5, Han swam a 4:56.66 and advanced to the B-final."2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Wave I: Results Book"
''Omega Timing''. June 7, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021. She won the B-final later in the day with a time of 4:51.08 at of age and did not advance to Wave II of the Olympic Trials."Thirteen-year-old Kayla Han charges late to win B final"
''NBC Olympics''. June 7, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021. NBC Sports posted a video clip of Han's win on its YouTube channel.NBC Sports (June 7, 2021)
"13 year old Kayla Han's INCREDIBLE comeback win at US Swimming Trials , NBC Sports"
''YouTube''. Retrieved July 4, 2021. The clip turned out to be the most watched video clip from the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials in swimming on YouTube with over 940,000 views, beating out clips of swimmers who had previously competed in Olympic Games and won multiple Olympic gold medals including Simone Manuel, Katie Ledecky, and Caeleb Dressel.Perelman, Rich (July 1, 2021)
"LANE ONE: U.S. women's gymnastics Olympic Trials beat every show on television, but Sha'Carri Richardson (11.8 million video views) is the new U.S. star!"
''The Sports Examiner''. Retrieved July 4, 2021.McCormick, Jack (July 2, 2021)
"Tokyo 2020 Round-Up: US Gymnastics Leads All Trial's Viewership"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved July 4, 2021.Thuc Nhi Nguyen (August 21, 2022)
"La Mirada teen swimmer Kayla Han makes national waves with Paris 2024 on horizon"
''Los Angeles Times''. Retrieved August 21, 2022. By August 2022, the video had garnered over 1.2 million views and remained the most watched clip from the trials.

Her performances leading up to and at the 2020 Olympic Trials were noted by ''Swimming World'' who, in July 2021, gave her their "Up & Comers" age group swimmer of the month honor for her achievements.

2021 Speedo Summer Championships

At the 2021 West Speedo Summer Championships in Irvine, California in August, Han set personal best times in a number of events including the 400-meter freestyle where she swam a 4:14.52 and ranked as the third fastest female American 13 years of age to swim the race in history.Penland, Spencer (August 6, 2021)
"Kayla Han Rips 4:14.52 400 Free to Rise to #3 13-Year-Old All-Time"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved September 28, 2021.

On day one of competition, August 3, Han took fourth place with a time of 8:50.59 in the 800-meter freestyle."Meet Results: 2021 West Speedo Summer Championships"
''HY-TEK''. August 7, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021. The following morning, on day two of competition, Han swam a personal best time of 2:03.23 in the 200-meter freestyle prelims and advanced to the championship final of the event ranked fifth overall.Penland, Spencer (August 4, 2021)
"2021 Speedo Summer Championships — Irvine: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved September 28, 2021. In the championship final, Han placed eighth with a time of 2:03.44.

Day three, Han lowered her best time in the 400-meter individual medley two times, first to a 4:50.65 in the prelims where she placed third, then to a 4:49.73 in the championship final where she placed fifth and was the only swimmer under 14 years of age competing.Pecoraro, Nick (August 5, 2021)
"Teagan O'Dell Ties No. 10 All-Time 13-14 Girls 400 IM at 4:46.73 In Irvine"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved September 28, 2021. Her swims moved her to the #22 position for 13—14 year old female American swimmers all-time. She also lowered her personal best time in the 400-meter freestyle, swimming a 4:14.52 in the championship final, taking second place in the event where she was the only swimmer under 16 years of age to advance to the championship final, and dropping over two seconds off her previous best time.

Her fifth and final day of competition, Han competed every day of the championships, Han placed fifth in the 1500-meter freestyle with a time of 16:55.32, which was a little slower than the personal best time of 16:52.75 she swam at a 2021 Summer Sectional swim meet in Roseville, California in July.Penland, Spencer (July 16, 2021)
"Roseville Sectional Day 1: Kayla Han Hits 16:52 1500 FR, #11 13YO All-Time"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved September 28, 2021.

2021 U.S. Open Championships

For the 2021 U.S. Open Championships, Han entered to compete in six individual events in the pre-scratch stage of lead-up to the start of competition on December 1.Hy-Tek Meet Manager (November 29, 2021)
"2021 Toyota US Open Championships: Psych Sheet"
''USA Swimming''. Retrieved November 29, 2021. Han was noted as someone to watch in one of four events of the meet highlighted in advance of competition by ''SwimSwam'', specifically the 800-meter freestyle.Sutherland, James (December 1, 2021)
"Four Races To Keep An Eye On At The 2021 US Open"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved December 1, 2021. In the 800-meter freestyle, Han placed seventh overall with a personal best time of 8:46.18, dropping 4.4 seconds from her previous best time of 8:50.58 swum in May and finishing over 30 seconds behinds gold medalist Katie Ledecky."2021 Toyota U.S. Open Championships: Women's 800m Freestyle Fastest Heats Results Summary"
''Omega Timing''. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021. Han finished second in the b-final, second-fastest final, of the 400-meter freestyle in 4:15.74."2021 Toyota U.S. Open Championships: Women's 400m Freestyle Fastest Heats Results Summary"
''Omega Timing''. December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021. In the fastest final heat, called the a-final, of the 400-meter individual medley on the third day of competition, Han placed fourth with a personal best time of 4:47.92 in the event, finishing less than 10 seconds behind the gold medalist Leah Smith."2021 Toyota U.S. Open Championships: Women's 400m Individual Medley Final Results"
''Omega Timing''. December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.Keith, Braden (December 3, 2021)
"2021 U.S. Open Championships Live Recap: Day 3"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved December 3, 2021. Later in the same finals session, she placed sixth with a time of 2:04.28 in the b-final of the 200-meter freestyle."2021 Toyota U.S. Open Championships: Women's 200m Freestyle Final Results"
''Omega Timing''. December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021. On the fourth and final day of competition, Han qualified for the c-final of the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:19.14 in the prelims heats and placed first with a time of 16:43.02 in the slowest heat of the 1500-meter freestyle, where she dropped almost 10 full seconds from her previous best time."2021 Toyota U.S. Open Championships: Women's 200m Butterfly Heats Results Summary"
''Omega Timing''. December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021."2021 Toyota U.S. Open Championships: Women's 1500m Freestyle Slowest Heats Results Summary"
''Omega Timing''. December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021. In her last final of the Championships, Han was bumped up to the b-final in the 200-meter butterfly, after Hana Shimizu-Bowers decided to forgo competing, where she placed fifth with a personal best time of 2:16.80, which was less than seven seconds slower than the time of 2:10.58 swum by the gold medalist Regan Smith."2021 Toyota U.S. Open Championships: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results"
''Omega Timing''. December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.

2022: Junior Pan Pacific medalist at 14 years of age

In January 2022, Han swam personal best times at the Road to 2022 Senior Invitational in La Mirada, a meet held leading up to various World Championships in 2022 such as the 2022 World Junior Championships to be held in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a 8:43.88 in the 800-meter freestyle, a 16:37.59 in the 1500-meter freestyle, a 2:16.68 in the 200-meter butterfly, and a 2:17.98 in the 200-meter individual medley.Sutherland, James (January 21, 2022)
"Arena Swim of the Week: Kayla Han Hits 16:37 1500 Free, #3 Among 13-year-olds"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved January 21, 2022. In April, she swam best times in the 400-meter individual medley, a 4:46.01 that ranked as the fastest all-time for 13-year-old American girls, and the 200-meter freestyle, a 2:02.17, at the 2022 Fran Crippen Swim Meet of Champions.Penland, Spencer (April 2, 2022)
"Kayla Han Rips 4:46.01 LCM 400 IM To Become #1 13-Year-Old All-Time, #7 13-14"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved April 3, 2022. She also won the 800-meter freestyle in a personal best time of 8:42.15 and achieved a personal best time with a 2:17.62 in the 200-meter individual medley preliminary heats.Penland, Spencer (April 3, 2022)
"Nick Mahabir Clocks 1:01.92 100 Breast, #5 15-16 All-Time, On Final Day Of SMOC"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved April 3, 2022. Earlier in the meet, she swam a personal best time of 58.35 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle and 4:13.24 in the 400-meter freestyle.Hy-Tek (April 3, 2022)
"2022 CA MVN Fran Crippen SMOC"
''socalswim.org''. Retrieved April 3, 2022.

2022 International Team Trials

In the 800-meter freestyle on the first day of the 2022 US International Team Trials in Greensboro, North Carolina in late April, Han placed fifth in the slowest heats with a personal best time of 8:41.02.USA Swimming (April 26, 2022)
"Phillips 66 International Team Trials: Women's 800m Freestyle Heats Results Summary"
''Omega Timing''. Retrieved April 26, 2022. Two days later, she qualified for the b-final of the 400-meter individual medley, swimming a 4:49.97 in the prelims heats to rank tenth overall.USA Swimming (April 28, 2022)
"Phillips 66 International Team Trials: Women's 400m Individual Medley Heats Results Summary"
''Omega Timing''. Retrieved April 28, 2022. She won the b-final with a personal best time of 4:44.63.USA Swimming (April 28, 2022)
"Phillips 66 International Team Trials: Women's 400m Individual Medley Final Results"
''Omega Timing''. Retrieved April 28, 2022. On the fourth day, she ranked 17th in the prelims heats of the 400-meter freestyle with a 4:15.86 and qualified for the c-final.USA Swimming (April 29, 2022)
"Phillips 66 International Team Trials: Women's 400m Freestyle Heats Results Summary"
''Omega Timing''. Retrieved April 29, 2022. She was bumped into the b-final in the evening finals session, where she placed fourth, twelfth overall, with a personal best time of 4:13.22.USA Swimming (April 29, 2022)
"Phillips 66 International Team Trials: Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results"
''Omega Timing''. Retrieved April 29, 2022. In her final event, the 1500-meter freestyle on day five, she placed third in the slowest heats with a personal best time of 16:36.60.USA Swimming (April 30, 2022)
"Phillips 66 International Team Trials: Women's 1500m Freestyle Heats Results Summary"
''Omega Timing''. Retrieved April 30, 2022.

2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships

In May 2022, Han was named to the United States roster by USA Swimming for the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in the 1500-meter freestyle and the 400-meter individual medley based on her performances at the 2022 US International Team Trials."2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships U.S. Roster"
''USA Swimming''. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022."2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships U.S. Roster - Version 2"
''USA Swimming''. 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022. She was one of four female swimmers named to the roster in individual medley events along with Teagan O'Dell, Julia Podkościelny, and Emily Thompson. On the first day of competition at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Honolulu, she achieved a personal best time of 8:35.85 in the 800-meter freestyle and ranked ninth overall when the results from the slowest and fastest heats were merged.Hy-Tek (August 25, 2022)
"2022 Jr Pan Pacific Swimming Championships: Results"
''swmeets.com''. Retrieved August 25, 2022. Day two, she finished second in the third preliminary heat of the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:46.99, ranked second across all prelims heats, and qualified for the final.USA Swimming (August 25, 2022)
"Day 2 Prelims , Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships"
''YouTube''. Retrieved August 25, 2022. In the evening, she finished in a personal best time of 4:43.60 behind Mio Narita of Japan to win the silver medal at of age.USA Swimming (August 25, 2022)
"Day 2 Finals , Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships"
''YouTube''. Retrieved August 25, 2022.De George, Matthew (August 25, 2022)
"Junior Pan Pacs: Day 2 Finals – Flynn Southam Outduels Thomas Heilman in 100 Free"
''Swimming World''. Retrieved August 25, 2022.Penland, Spencer (August 26, 2022)
"14-Year-Old Kayla Han Becomes #3 American 13-14 All-Time In Girls 400 IM – 4:43.60"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved August 30, 2022.Sagendorph, Kyle (August 26, 2022)
"U.S. Grabs One Relay, Three Individual Titles on Junior Pan Pacs Night Two"
''USA Swimming''. Retrieved August 26, 2022. The following day, she placed 19th in the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 4:14.17 and day four of four, she ranked seventh out of all heats in the 1500-meter freestyle with a time of 16:43.13.

End of the year Championships

At the 2022 Kevin B. Perry Senior Meet, held in November in La Mirada, Han achieved a National Age Group record for the girls 13–14 age group in the 400-yard individual medley with a personal best time of 4:06.95, which lowered the former record set in 2004 by Katie Hoff by 1.49 seconds.Penland, Spencer (November 5, 2022)
"Kayla Han Crushes Katie Hoff's 13-14 SCY 400 IM NAG with 4:06.95"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved November 5, 2022. On the second day of the 2022 Winter Junior US National Championships edition West, in December, she placed sixth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:44.64. The third day, she placed third in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:07.77 followed up by a twenty-third place in the 200-yard freestyle with a 1:49.19."2022 Speedo Winter Junior Championships - West: Results"
''USA Swimming''. December 10, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023. For the 1650-yard freestyle on the fourth and final day, she placed third with a personal best time of 16:05.75 and was the only swimmer under 15 years of age to place in the top three for the event, finishing behind 16-year-old Katie Grimes and 15-year-old Claire Weinstein.Rieder, David (December 10, 2022)
"Katie Grimes Swims 15:26.17 to Become Fifth-Fastest Swimmer Ever in 1650 Free at Juniors West"
''Swimming World''. Retrieved December 10, 2022. Later in the same session, she placed second in the 200-yard butterfly b-final with a time of 1:58.09.

International championships

Personal best times

Long course meters (50 m pool)

Legend: h — prelims heat; b – b-final; exb – exhibition

Short course yards (25 yd pool)

National age group records

Long course meters (50 m pool)

Short course yards (25 yd pool)

Awards and honors

* ''Swimming World'' Up & Comers, Age Group Swimmer of the Month: June 2019,Serowik, Lauren (June 10, 2019)
"Swimming World Presents "Up & Comers: Kayla Han""
''Swimming World''. Retrieved October 4, 2021. July 2021Serowik, Lauren (July 10, 2021)
"Swimming World July 2021 Issue Presents – Up & Comers: La Mirada Armada's Kayla Han"
''Swimming World''. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
* ''SwimSwam'', Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming: November 12, 2021Sutherland, James (November 12, 2021)
"GMX7 Weekly Wonders Of Age Group Swimming – 11/12/2021"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
* Arena, Swim of the Week: January 21, 2022
* ''SwimSwam'' Swammy Award, Age Group Swimmer of the Year 11–12 (female): 2020,Lepesant, Anne (December 29, 2020)
"2020 Swammy Awards: Age Group Swimmer Of The Year – 11-12"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved October 4, 2021. 2021Lepesant, Anne (December 31, 2021)
"2021 Swammy Awards: Age Group Swimmer Of The Year – 11-12"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
* ''SwimSwam'' Swammy Award, Age Group Swimmer of the Year 10 & under (female): 2019Lepesant, Anne (December 23, 2019)
"2019 Swammy Awards: Age Group Swimmer Of The Year – 10 & Under"
''SwimSwam''. Retrieved October 4, 2021.

See also

* 2008 in the United States
* 2020 United States Olympic Trials (swimming)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Han, Kayla
Living people
2008 births
American female freestyle swimmers
American female medley swimmers
Swimmers from California
21st-century American women