[4] The family settled in Johns Creek, Georgia, and Litherland was named an All-American in swimming while he was a student at Chattahoochee High School.

As a triple citizen of Japan, New Zealand, and the United States, he had the option of competing for any of those three countries at the Olympics.

[7] At the 2015 Summer Universiade in Gwangju, Litherland won gold in the 400-meter IM, out-splitting compatriot Josh Prenot by 3 seconds on the freestyle leg to overtake him with a time of 4:12.43.

He also swam in the heats of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, and earned his first World Championship medal, a bronze, when the US team placed 3rd in the final.

[8] Sitting 3.34 Seconds behind the leader Daiya Seto at the 300 mark, Litherland closed the gap to 0.27, placing 2nd and gaining him his first individual World Championship medal.

[9][10] In the 400 meter individual medley Litherland closed strongly to win the silver medal in a time of 4:10.28.