After three days of the USA Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, one thing has become very clear: we are going to be seeing some new faces at the medal ceremonies of Rio 2016.

On third day of the event on Tuesday (28 June), the reigning Olympic champion in the women's 100m backstroke, Missy Franklin, could only finish seventh. The two qualifying places went to 21-year-old race winner Olivia Smoliga and second placed Kathleen Baker. Natalie Coughlin, champion in the event at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 but now 33 years old, finished back in eighth. At Omaha, only the top two finishers qualify for Rio in the individual events.

“It’s like a new wave of people are coming in,” Smoliga said after her victory. Rio 2016 will be her first Olympic Games. “It’s not out with the old, it’s in with the new."

'Missy the Missile' still has other chances to book her ticket to Rio, among them the 200m freestyle final on Wednesday. She will also be competing in the 100m freestyle and 200m backstroke.  Coughlin will also be racing in the 100m freestyle.

“The point of this meet is to be the best of the best, and the best of the best is Olivia Smoliga and Kathleen Baker,” Franklin said. “They’re going to represent us the best way possible and I’m incredibly proud of them.”

Youth wins out

Established names have also fallen out of contention for Rio in the men's individual events. Matt Grevers, gold in the 100m backstroke at London 2012, could only finish third in Omaha, behind Ryan Murphy and David Plummer. The 31-year-old Grevers still has a chance to compete in the relay events, in what would be his third Olympic Games.

"My heart breaks for (Grevers)," 20-year-old race winner Murphy said. "He's been dominant in that event for so long. Just wasn't his night. He's going to come back with a vengeance.

"Sometimes, youth wins out and that was the case tonight. To be able to call myself an Olympian, that’s just a dream come true.”

In the 200m men's freestyle, teenager Townley Haas was a surprise winner, ahead of 2012 Olympian Conor Dwyer and multiple Olympic medallist Ryan Lochte. Lochte and Dwyer both finished high enough to win places in the 4x200m relay in Rio. 

In total, by the end of the third day in Omaha, a newcomer had finished in the top two in nine of the 10 finals contested.

One Olympic legend who will be hoping not to be swamped by the new wave is Michael Phelps, owner of 22 Olympic medals (18 of them gold). Phelps turns 31 this Thursday.

"I see a lot of new faces and I don't even know half of them," Phelps said. "It's good for our sport. It's exciting to have people who are really pumped to come up into the sport. That's something that for me is a good thing to see as I'm on my way out."

Phelps looked in top form on Tuesday, winning his 200m butterfly semi-final with ease. If he wins the final this Wednesday, Rio 2016 will be his fifth Olympic Games. Phelps won the event at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 but could only pick up silver behind Chad le Clos at London 2012, a slip-up he is keen to correct in Rio.