Luka Mijatovic Shatters Records, Surpassing NAG with 4:05.76 500 Free, Becoming the Third-Fastest Performer in History (RACE VIDEO)
The 2026 Speedo Sectionals in Roseville, California, witnessed an extraordinary performance by age-group swimmer Luka Mijatovic. Building on his impressive 400 IM performance yesterday, Mijatovic dominated the 500 free event, setting a new NAG record of 4:05.76. This achievement places him as the third-fastest performer in the history of the event, and he would rank first in the NCAA this season with ease.
Mijatovic, a 16-year-old Texas commit, surpassed his previous personal best of 4:08.57, set at the Pleasanton Seahawks SC Senior Meet in November. He also broke Luke Hobson's 17-18 NAG record of 4:08.42, becoming the first 18&under swimmer to go under the 4:08 barrier by over two seconds.
When Mijatovic entered the 15–16 age group, the record stood at 4:15.36, set by Drew Kibler in 2016. Mijatovic has now lowered this standard by nearly 10 seconds, showcasing his exceptional talent. Over the past five years, he has set a total of 22 NAG records, including a 400 free NAG of 3:45.71 at the 2025 U.S. National Championships, which was under the current 17-18 NAG record of 3:46.01.
The race video, shared by @swimnorcal, highlights Mijatovic's exceptional performance. His splits compared to his previous record show a faster start and sustained speed throughout the race. Mijatovic's splits by the 100 were 46.88/50.24/50.28/49.69/48.67, with a final 50 nearly dipping into the 23-second range.
Mijatovic's success extends beyond the pool, as he will join the Longhorns in Austin next fall, joining three current Longhorns in the top 5 fastest performers in history. With the 1000 free remaining on his schedule, he is on track to chase his own NAG record, currently held at 8:36.71.
