Path to Paris

The journey to the Olympic Games is paved with rigorous training, unwavering dedication, and extraordinary talent. Only an elite few manage to navigate this path, and the City of Mason Manta Rays competitive swim program has proved to be a breeding ground for such talent.

Becoming an Olympic swimmer is no easy feat. Only .01% of USA swimmers qualify for the opportunity to compete to be on the USA Olympic Swimming Team. The City of Mason is proud to announce that two current Mason Manta Rays and eight Manta Ray alumni have qualified to compete at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.  Many more Mason Manta Ray athletes are still competing to earn their spot at the Trials.  The Trials will be held June 15 – 23, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Join us in watching Mason’s athletes compete for a spot at the Trials and earn a spot on the US Olympic Team as they continue theirPath to Paris!

To qualify for the Olympic Swimming Trials, swimmers must meet the time standard set by USA Swimming, the National governing body of the sport. The Trials time standards are released approximately two years prior to the Olympic Games and are based on the type of stroke, individual vs. medley, as well as men vs. women. Qualifying swimmers must ultimately finish in the top two of one of the 13 individual events. If an athlete is participating in a swimming relay, he/she must place in the top six in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle relays.

The following meets serve as remaining opportunities for Mason Manta Ray athletes to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. Approximately 1,000 swimmers are anticipated to participate in the various Olympic swimming trials events. To learn more about the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials or to purchase tickets, click here.

MeetLocationDate
City of Mason Dual MeetMason Municipal Aquatic CenterMay 3 – 5
Charlotte OpenCharlotte, NCMay 16 – 19
2024 US Olympic Trials  Indianapolis, INJune 15 – 23

At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, there will be a total of 35 swimming events: 17 for both men and women and a 4 x 100-meter medley relay. Below is a snapshot of the various swimming events for both men and women taking place at the 2024 Olympic Games.

  • Freestyle: 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m (men and women
  • Backstroke: 100m and 200m (men and women)
  • Breaststroke: 100m and 200m (men and women)
  • Butterfly: 100m and 200m (men and women)
  • Individual Medley: 200m and 400m (men and women)
  • Freestyle relay: 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m (men and women)
  • Medley relay: 4 x 100m (men, women, mixed)
  • Marathon: 10k (men and women)

The City of Mason would like to congratulate current Mason Manta Rays Addie Robillard and Jason Zhao for their most recent accomplishment of meeting the time standards to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. Read more about their journey in the City of Mason Manta Rays competitive swim program and their achievements that have led up to this historic moment in their swimming careers.

Addie Robillard, 16, has been a lifelong Mason Manta Ray athlete. She began her career in swimming as part of the Mason Swim America Lessons program in 2012. Just one year later, Addie joined the Mason Manta Rays and has continued to progress as a successful athlete ever since. Addie’s mother, Amy, has been a part of the Mason Manta Rays coaching staff since 2015 and her father, Matt, serves as an official. Olympic pursuits are in her blood – her mother Amy has competed in both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Trials as a marathon runner. Addie is committed to joining the University of Stanford in the fall of 2025.

Trial Events: 100m and 200m Breaststroke

Jason Zhao, 17, joined the City of Mason Manta Rays program in 2020. Jason achieved his first Olympic Trials cut at age 16 in the 400-meter freestyle. Jason is an accomplished swimmer and holds multiple records across multiple age groups – with one of his more recent accomplishments as the OHSAA 500 Free State Champion and Record Holder. Jason served on the 2023 – 2024 Team USA National Junior Team where he competed for Team USA at the 2023 Junior World Championships in Israel. Jason is the 2023 USA Swimming Junior National Champion in the 100-meter freestyle and the 200-meter freestyle.

Trial Events: 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle

Adam Chaney

Adam Chaney, 22, was a lifelong Mason Manta Ray joining the team in 2010.  Adam’s name is all over the Manta Ray record board from his time as an 8 and under athlete to his time setting World Records as a part of Team USA.  A few of Adam’s accomplishments from his time as a Manta Ray include a World Junior Relay record, National Relay records, OHSAA State records, and multiple medals at Pan Pacific and World Junior Championships.  Adam is currently on the Team USA’s National Team. Adam is in his senior year at the University of Florida where he recently set an American record in a relay. This will be Adam’s second appearance at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Trial Events: 50m and 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke

Carson Foster

Carson Foster, 22, joined the team in the fall of 2015 with his older brother, Jake, after his sister Hannah joined a few months earlier.  During Carson’s time as a Manta Ray, Carson set a World Junior Record in the 400m Individual Medley, was National Team Member in 2019 and 2020 and went undefeated in Ohio High School Swimming. He also set a National High School record, was ranked the #1 High School recruit in 2020, and was a 6-time World Junior Championship medalist. 2024 will be the third time qualifying for the Olympic trials – his first time qualifying was in 2016 at the young age of 14.  Carson competed for the University of Texas before making the decision to become a professional swimmer.  Carson will be marrying former Manta Ray swimmer Meredith Wolf after the Olympics. 

Trial Events: 200m and 400m Individual Medley

Jake Foster

Jake Foster, 23, joined the team with his brother Carson in the fall of 2015 after his sister Hannah joined a few months earlier.  During his time as a Manta Ray, Jake was on the National Junior Team from 2017 to 2019 and won a Junior Pan Pacific Games Silver Medal in the 400m Individual Medley. As a Manta Ray, Jake was a part of 8 Manta Ray national relay records and was the overall #2 recruit in the country. Jake placed in the top 3 at the National Championships in two events in 2019, was a 4-time Highschool State Champion and was co-swimmer of the meet with his brother Carso. Jake also earned the title of Winter Junior National Champion in 2017 for the 200m Breaststroke and Summer Junior National Champion in 2018 for the 400m Individual Medley.  Jake is currently a senior at the University of Texas and will be going to the University of Texas Medical School immediately after the Olympics.  This will be Jake’s second appearance at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Trial Events: 100m and 200m Breaststroke

Ansel Froass

Ansel Froass, 22, joined the Mason Manta Rays after completing the Mason Swim America Lessons program in 2012. During his time as a Manta Ray, Ansel was a three-time OHSA State Champion, an 11-time NISCA All-American and a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. After a successful swimming career with the Mason Manta Rays, Ansel committed to the University of Michigan’s swim program where he is currently a senior. Ansel competed in the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter individual medley.

Trial Events: 100m Breaststroke and 200m Individual Medley

Gibson Holmes

Gibson Holmes, 19, joined the Mason Manta Rays in 2019. During his time as a Manta Ray, Gibson won the 2022 Southwest Ohio Classic and set records in all four individual events. In addition to those records, Gibson also earned multiple championships and records and was a Multi-Junior National Championship Finalist. Gibson is a freshman at Standford University.

Trial Events: 200m Butterfly

Jessey Li

Jessey Li, 19, joined the Mason Manta Rays after completing the Mason Swim America Lessons program in 2012. During her time as a Manta Ray, Jessey was a three-time OHSA State Champion and State record holder, an 11-time NISCA All-American and a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. After a successful swimming career with the Mason Manta Rays, Jessey committed to swim at Yale University where she is currently a sophomore. Jessey competed in the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100-meter breaststroke and is currently qualified in that same event for the 2024 Trials.

Trial Events: 100m Breaststroke

Grant House

Grant House, 25, began his Mason Manta Ray career at the age of 19 where he began training with the team the summer after his senior year.  Grant represented Team USA in Singapore in 2015 with fellow Manta Ray Ashley Volpenhein and has also represented USA in Italy and Peru. Grant has gone on to set OHSAA State records and national records, but his most impressive quality is his ability to lift up those around him. He swam for Arizona State University and is now swimming professionally.  As one of the top athletes in the country, House has multiple chances to make the Olympic team in the 100 and 200 Free and the 200 IM. 

Trial Events: 100m and 200m Freestyle, 200m Individual Medley

Carl Bloebaum

Carl Bloebaum, 20, joined the team as a 7 year old eager to race.  Carl has set multiple team records throughout his time as a Manta Ray.  Some of his most impressive accomplishments include being named to the National Junior Team, representing Team USA in Japan, setting the 100m butterfly OHSAA state record, and being a part of multiple national record setting Manta Ray relays as well as winning the team title at the 2018 Winter Junior National Championships.  Carl competed in the 2021 Olympic Trials in the 200m butterfly and will return to the 2024 trials competing in the same event.

Trial Events: 100m Butterfly

Congratulations to all of the current and former Manta Rays representing Mason at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials! Stay up to date on the latest information on the Mason Manta Rays and their Path to Paris by following the City of Mason on Facebook at City of Mason Recreation and on twitter at @MasonOHRec.