Luka Mijatovic Shatters Larsen Jensen’s 23-Year-Old 15-16 NAG Record with a 7:48.28 in the 800 Free at the 2025 U.S. Open
Event Overview
The 2025 U.S. Open took place December 3–6 in Austin, Texas, at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Preliminary sessions began at 10 a.m. EST, with finals slated for 7 p.m. EST (Day 1 finals at 5 p.m. EST). The meet was contested in long course meters (LCM, 50 meters).
Key Results: Men’s 800 Freestyle — Timed Finals
Historic context includes the world record of 7:32.12 set by Zhang Lin (China) in 2009, the U.S. Open record of 7:40.34 by Bobby Finke (USA) in 2023, and the U.S. Open Meet Record of 7:47.27 by Chad La Tourette (USA) in 2009.
Top finishers
- 1st: Luka Mijatovic (PLS) — 7:48.28
- 2nd: Ilia Sibirtsev (UZB) — 7:51.85
- 3rd: Luke Whitlock (IU) — 7:54.66
- 4th: Carson Foster (UN-MR) — 7:55.51
- 5th: Bobby Finke (SPA-FL) — 7:57.68
- 6th: Ivan Puskovitch (TSM) — 7:59.45
- 7th: Charlie Clark (OSU) — 8:02.42
- 8th: Aiden Hammer (TEX) — 8:05.07
Record-breaking performance and implications
Mijatovic delivered a breakthrough swim, clocking 7:48.28 to win the race and establish a new 15-16 National Age Group (NAG) record. This performance eclipsed the previous NAG mark of 7:52.05 set by Larsen Jensen at the 2002 Pan Pac Championships. Notably, Mijatovic shaved nearly five seconds from his prior personal best, signaling a major leap forward.
Split analysis
Across the splits, Mijatovic consistently stayed under 30 seconds for the first 14 segments, with the exception of one 50-meter split at the 30.00 mark. He finished the last 50 meters in a brisk 27.53, underscoring a powerful finish.
Historical context and progression
With this swim, Mijatovic becomes the 12th-fastest American all-time in the long course 800 freestyle, moving into the position from just outside the top 25 prior to this race. The all-time U.S. performers in the event, in order, include Bobby Finke, Michael McBroom, Zane Grothe, Connor Jaeger, Luke Whitlock, Jordan Wilimovsky, Larsen Jensen, Chad La Tourette, Peter Vanderkaay, Ross Dant, David Johnston, and now Luka Mijatovic at 7:48.28 (2025 U.S. Open). This places him among a distinguished group of American distance stars and marks a landmark personal and national achievement at a major national meet.
Context for readers
For fans following the 800 free, this race is not just about a time drop; it represents a maturation arc for Mijatovic, showcasing in-race strategy, pacing control, and finishing strength that can translate to future long-course seasons and age-group competition. The performance also highlights the evolving depth in American distance freestyle across age groups, suggesting more rapid progressions at younger ages than in previous eras.
About the writer
Anya Pelshaw has been part of SwimSwam since 2021, contributing as a writer and social media coordinator. Her coverage includes NCAA Championships, US Nationals, and international events, bringing timely recaps and insights to the swimming community.
