HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — At the last U.S. Swim Trials in 2021, Baylor Nelson was still in high school.
Now, the Huntersville native feels more prepared.
"I was there with the big dogs and watched them," Nelson said. "I used that opportunity as an experience to grow for this year and four years from now."
Nelson, a graduate of the Community School of Davidson, has certainly done that.
In just two seasons at Texas A&M, he has won multiple SEC Championships and is an All-American in three events (200 IM, 400 IM, 800 Free relay).
Nelson, who trains with SwimMAC when he's home in Charlotte, became the first SEC swimmer to sweep the IM events in back-to-back seasons since the 1993 and 1994 championships.
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He also competed in the World Championships last year in Japan, taking home a silver medal.
"I feel like there's so much more for me to accomplish in order for me to consider myself a big dog," he said. "I feel like I'm getting there."
This time around, Nelson qualified for five events at trials in Indianapolis but will focus on two of his best: 200 freestyle and 200 IM.
"I still have a lot left in the tank," Nelson said, "and a lot more to prove to consider myself a top swimmer."
Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.