1988 United States Olympic trials (swimming)

The 1988 United States Olympic Trials for swimming were a series of meets held to determine the American athletes who would represent the United States at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. The trials were conducted in a long course (50-meter) pool.

The specific location of the main trials event was the Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. This facility on the University of Texas at Austin campus was selected due to its proven track record of hosting major swimming competitions and its ability to accommodate large crowds of spectators.

The trials followed the typical format of preliminary heats followed by finals. The top two finishers in each individual event typically qualified for the Olympic team, provided they met the Olympic qualifying time standards set by FINA (the international governing body for swimming). Exceptions to this rule could occur in situations where an athlete had already qualified in another event, allowing a third-place finisher to potentially qualify.

The 1988 trials were notable for several outstanding performances and the emergence of new stars in American swimming. Athletes such as Matt Biondi, Janet Evans, and Chris Jacobs secured their spots on the Olympic team, setting the stage for their medal-winning performances in Seoul. The trials also marked the end of an era for some veteran swimmers and the beginning of promising careers for younger athletes. The results of the trials shaped the composition of the US Olympic swimming team and significantly influenced the outcome of the swimming events at the 1988 Olympics.