16-year-old Syunta Lee proved age is just a number in the pool on Thursday night. The teenager charged to victory on the final lap in the men’s 400-meter individual medley at the 2026 USA Swimming Pro Swim Series in Sacramento.
The West Coast Aquatics standout touched the wall in 4:22.00, out-touching out a competitive field where the top three finishers were separated by less than half a second. Grant Sanders, 28, of Saint Petersburg Aquatics finished second in 4:22.25, while Joey Tepper rounded out the top three in 4:22.45, making it one of the tightest 400 IM finishes on the Pro Series circuit this season.
What made Lee’s victory most remarkable was how he won it. His splits showcased a seasoned racer for just a teenager. Lee’s butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke splits were impressive, but his closing speed on freestyle reeled in the field when it mattered most. He brought the best closing kick in the field, separating himself from the other seven swimmers.
Lee had entered the meet as the top seed after a strong prelims performance, and Sacramento is practically home turf for the Mill Creek, Washington native. The youngster swam a personal best of 4:20.69 back in July 2025 en route to a USA Swimming Junior National title. While Thursday’s time of 4:22.00 didn’t eclipse that mark, winning a Pro Series final in the middle of the season sends a different kind of statement.
His potential has never been in question. As a 14-year-old, Lee ranked third all-time in the boys’ 13-14 age group in the 400 IM, sitting in the same conversation as legends Luka Mijatovic and Michael Phelps. Now, two years on, he’s competing well at Pro Series stops.
With a talent like Lee still in his mid-teens, the swimming world can keep a close eye on the rising 400 IM specialist.