Get ready to be amazed because Audrey Derivaux just made waves in the swimming world! In a stunning display of talent, she rocketed to the second-fastest 200 IM time ever recorded for the 15-16 age group, clocking an incredible 1:53.87 at the 2025 Winter Junior Championships – East. But here's where it gets even more exciting: this young swimmer is just getting started, and her performance has everyone talking about what’s next.
Held from December 10-13, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, this championship brought together some of the brightest young talents in swimming. The event, conducted in short course yards (SCY), featured prelims starting at 9 a.m. EST and finals at 5 p.m. EST. For those who couldn’t make it, the meet was accessible via Meet Central, with psych sheets, live results, and recaps available online. And this is the part most people miss: the sheer potential of these young athletes to rewrite record books.
In the girls’ 200 IM finals, Derivaux wasn’t just competing—she was making history. Her time of 1:53.87 was just shy of Teagan O’Dell’s 15-16 National Age Group (NAG) record of 1:53.38, set in 2023. But what’s truly remarkable is that Derivaux still has over eight months until she ages up in August 2026, giving her a real shot at breaking that record. Her splits—24.36 in fly, 28.18 in back, 34.11 in breast, and 27.22 in free—showcased her versatility and dominance in all four strokes.
But here’s where it gets controversial: is Derivaux’s rapid improvement a sign of natural talent, or is there more to the story? Her prelims swim of 1:55.53 already hinted at her potential, but it was her final surge that stole the show. After trailing Charlotte Crush for the first half of the race, Derivaux unleashed a breathtaking breaststroke leg, outsplitting Crush by over two seconds and taking a commanding lead into the final stretch. Crush, who finished second with a personal best of 1:54.87, couldn’t keep up.
Derivaux’s performance not only lowered her lifetime best from 1:55.24 but also solidified her place as a rising star in the sport. As the current holder of the 13-14 NAG record (1:55.73), she’s proving that age is just a number when it comes to talent. But the question remains: can she break O’Dell’s record before aging up? And if she does, what does that mean for the future of women’s swimming?
The top 8 finishers in the event were a testament to the depth of talent in the 15-16 age group, with swimmers like Reina Liu, Brynn Lavigueur, and Molly Sweeney pushing the limits. Yet, it was Derivaux who stole the spotlight, leaving fans and critics alike wondering just how far she can go.
So, what do you think? Is Audrey Derivaux the next big name in swimming? Or is there another swimmer out there ready to challenge her? Let us know in the comments—we’re all ears!
