By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
Ultra Swim Swimmer of the Month is a recurring SwimSwam feature shedding light on a U.S.-based swimmer who has proven themselves over the past month. As with any item of recognition, Swimmer of the Month is a subjective exercise meant to highlight one athlete whose work holds noteworthy context – perhaps a swimmer who was visibly outperforming other swimmers over the month, or one whose accomplishments slipped through the cracks among other high-profile swims. If your favorite athlete wasn’t selected, feel free to respectfully recognize them in our comment section.
Rowan Cox was on an absolute heater last week at the U.S. National Championships in Irvine, making him an easy selection for Ultra Swimmer of the Month honors.
The 18-year-old Longhorn Aquatics product set personal best times in all six events he contested, headlined by his monstrous performance in the final of the men’s 100 butterfly, where he almost ran down world record holder Caeleb Dressel in the closing meters.
Cox put up a time of 51.42 in the prelims of the 100 fly, knocking more than a second off his previous best of 52.59, set en route to a 5th-place finish at the 2025 World Juniors, and rocketing up to #4 all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group.
In the final, Cox was operating on a new level, going out fast in 23.90, well under his lifetime best in the 50 prior to the competition (24.51), and then coming home in a sizzling 26.74 to place 3rd in another massive PB of 50.64.
Split Comparison – Cox’s Progression
Cox, 2025 WJ Semis Cox, 2025 WJ Final Cox, 2026 Nationals Prelims Cox, 2026 Nationals Final 24.87 24.97 24.23 23.90 52.59 (27.72) 52.59 (27.62) 51.42 (27.19) 50.64 (26.74)In placing 3rd behind Ilya Kharun (50.05), a 2024 Olympic medalist in the event, and Dressel (50.45), the Tokyo Olympic champion and current world record holder, Cox broke Thomas Heilman‘s 17-18 National Age Group Record, which stood at 50.70 from the 2025 U.S. National Championships.
Split Comparison – Cox vs Heilman
Heilman, 2025 Nationals Prelims Heilman, 2025 Nationals Final Cox, 2026 Nationals Prelims Cox, Nationals Final 23.90 23.76 24.23 23.90 50.78 (26.88) 50.70 (26.94) 51.42 (27.19) 50.64 (26.74)In addition to breaking the NAG record, Cox becomes the sixth-fastest American performer of all-time, and also ties Piero Codia as the 20th-fastest performer ever.
All-Time U.S. Performers, Men’s 100 Fly (LCM)
Caeleb Dressel, 49.45 – 2021 Olympic Games Michael Phelps, 49.82 – 2009 World Championships Shaine Casas, 50.24 – 2025 U.S. Open Ian Crocker, 50.40 – 2005 World Championships Dare Rose, 50.46 – 2023 World Championships Rowan Cox, 50.64 – 2026 U.S. National Championships Maxime Rooney, 50.68 – 2019 U.S. Summer Nationals Thomas Heilman, 50.70 – 2025 U.S. National Championships Michael Andrew, 50.80 – 2021 Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis Tyler McGill, 50.90 – 2009 World ChampionshipsAlong with cracking the top three in the ‘A’ final of the 100 fly, Cox was in the ‘B’ final in four other events, setting new lifetime bests in the prelims of the 200 free (1:48.14), 100 back (54.57), 50 fly (23.61) and 200 fly (1:56.50). He added a bit of time in each race in finals, but was still well under his old PB. He also set a new lifetime best in the prelims of the 200 IM (2:05.83).
Event Pre-Meet PB Prelims Final 200 free 1:51.60 1:48.14 1:49.59 100 back 56.67 54.57 55.46 50 fly 24.51 23.61 23.70 100 fly 52.59 51.42 50.64 200 fly 2:00.72 1:56.50 1:57.76 200 IM 2:07.83 2:05.83 N/AHe cracked the top 10 all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group in the 200 fly, moving into 9th, while he also now sits 18th all-time in the 100 back and 31st in the 200 free.
Headed to the University of Texas this fall, Cox confirmed in the SwimSwam comments during the meet that he has been training with the college team over the past few months.
Watch his post-meet interview with SwimSwam, recapping his breakthrough performances and his thoughts on running down Dressel in the 100 fly final, here.
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