Get ready for an exciting swim story that will leave you on the edge of your seat! Luka Mijatovic has just shattered a 23-year-old record!
At the 2025 U.S. Open, held in Austin, Texas, Luka Mijatovic took the men's 800 freestyle event by storm. With a remarkable time of 7:48.28, he not only won the race but also broke Larsen Jensen's long-standing National Age Group (NAG) record, which had stood since the 2002 Pan Pac Championships.
But here's where it gets controversial... Mijatovic's achievement is even more impressive when you consider the split times. He consistently maintained a pace under 30 seconds for each 50-meter split, except for one 30.00 split during the race. And his final 50-meter sprint was an incredible 27.53 seconds! This shows an exceptional level of endurance and speed.
With this swim, Luka has not only entered the top 12 American performers in the men's LCM 800 free but has also climbed up the rankings from outside the top 25. Talk about a massive improvement!
And this is the part most people miss... Luka's personal best time before this race was already impressive, but he managed to drop a whopping five seconds off that time! That's a significant improvement and a testament to his hard work and dedication.
Now, here's a fun fact: Luka's new NAG record places him at #12 on the all-time top US performers list for this event. He's joined by some legendary names like Bobby Finke, Michael McBroom, and Zane Grothe.
So, what do you think? Is Luka Mijatovic's achievement a sign of a new swimming star on the rise? Or is there another interpretation to this story? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below! We'd love to hear your take on this exciting swim record!
