By Gold Medal Mel Stewart on SwimSwam

Earlier we shared our best underwater swimming photos from the past year.  During our annual end of the year sit down with swimming photographerMike Lewis we also selected some our best swimming photos of 2017: above the surface.

Darian Townsend, Goodyear, Arizona. Olympic Champion, masters world record holder and coach, Darian Townsend at the Westside YMCA near Phoenix (photo: Mike Lewis)

Missy Franklin, Los Angeles, California. Missy at the USA Swimming Foundation “Make a Splash” tour stop at the Expo pool in central Los Angeles.

Nathan Adrian, Chula Vista, California. Nathan for the cover of SwimSwam Magazine Hero edition. This image was shot in the studio at the Olympic training center outside of San Diego. (photo: Mike Lewis)

Sarah Sjostrom wins the 50 freestyle at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Cesar Cielo 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Dive night in La Jolla, California (photo: Mike Lewis)

Matt Grevers 2017 USA Swimming World Team Trials (photo: Mike Lewis)

Ryan Murphy 200 backstroke 2017 USA Swimming World Team Trials (photo: Mike Lewis)

Lilly King and Yuliya Efimova 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Simone Manuel, Stanford, California (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Katie Ledecky 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

warm up at the 2017 USA Swimming world championship trials in Indianapolis (photo: Mike Lewis)

Emily Seebohm 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Pernille Blume 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

By SwimSwam on SwimSwam

by Elizabeth Wickham

Swimming saves lives. How many other sports can say that? According to the USA Swimming Foundation, “drowning is the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury death, with the highest rates among children ages 1-4.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states “every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.”

By enrolling our kids in swim lessons when they’re young, they’ll grow up water safe and enjoy the wonderful weightless sensation of floating and playing in the water—something that more than half the world’s population will never experience. After lessons, the next step is club swimming, which will shape their lives forever.

In addition to water safety, here are six ways swimming can shape your children lives (and yours, too):

ONE

Physical fitness.

By introducing swimming to young children and making it part of their daily lives, they’ll know what it feels like to be in great shape. Also, swimming is a lifelong sport—all you need is a pool, lake or ocean, goggles and a suit. It’s never too late to get into the pool ourselves. I joined Masters a couple years ago, and I didn’t know the four strokes or how to breathe in freestyle. Swimming has been amazing for my children’s health and fitness—and mine, too.

TWO

Self-confidence.

Whether it’s winning a race, learning to flip turn or dive off the blocks, each personal success helps develop confidence. Learning strokes, competing, and improving times enriches children’s lives as they build on their accomplishments.

THREE

Everyone gets to play.

Unlike other sports, everyone gets to dive in and compete. There are elite-level meets that not everyone gets to compete in, but there is a meet for all levels of swimmers. Everyone gets a turn to compete and reap the rewards from the experience.

FOUR

You get out of it what you put into it.

There are swimmers who are exceptionally talented, but without putting in hard work and commitment, their levels of success are limited. Swimming will teach our kids the connection between effort and results.

FIVE

Success and failures are a part of life.

This is a sport where not everyone gets a ribbon, but everyone gets to measure their improvement. At some point, swimmers experience a less than great swim or miss an event and discover that it’s not the end of the world. Swimmers learn how to pick themselves up and continue on.

SIX

Being part of a team.

Club swimming can be an experience where our kids are not the center of the universe, but part of a group of people with common interests and goals. Teammates help create memories, make grueling practices more fun, and may become lifelong friends.

SEVEN

Patience.

In this world where instant gratification is the norm—with social media, live streaming movies, and packages arriving within hours—swimming teaches lessons that are becoming rare. Swimmers get a chance to experience that “good things come to those who wait.” It may be working through a plateau, or repeatedly falling short for a time standard, but eventually if our swimmers stick with it and work hard, they can get there.

What gifts has swimming brought to you and your children?

Elizabeth Wickham volunteered for 14 years on her kids’ club team as board member, fundraiser, newsletter editor and “Mrs. meet manager.” She’s a writer with a bachelor of arts degree in editorial journalism from the University of Washington with a long career in public relations, marketing and advertising. Her stories have appeared in newspapers and magazines including the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Parenting and Ladybug. You can read more parenting tips on her blog.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Give Your Kids a Gift to Last a Lifetime

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

The 2nd poll of the 2017-2018 Wisconsin High School Boys’ Swimming & Diving Season has been released, and there hasn’t been much change in the standings. The rankings are compiled and calculated by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Swim Coaches’ Association (WISCA).

The teams from near the capital of Madison continue to dominate the Division I (big school) rankings, with Middleton leading the way with 596 points, Madison West with 560, and Madison Memorial with 530 points.  Middleton, who were just 8th at last year’s state championship meet, extended their lead ever-so-slightly this week.

Middleton’s depth has boosted them in the rankings so far – they have more entries than their closest rivals. Madison West, meanwhile, has the fastest swimmer in the division in 6 events, and are the more subjective favorites heading into the spring semester.

In Division II, Monona Groves maintained their lock on the #1 spot, behind state-leading times from Indiana commit Ben McDade in the 200 free (1:41.18) and the 500 free (4:34.82). They won last year’s state meet over Ashwaubenon by 149 points (381-232), so they’ll likely continue to the the favorites all season long.

Elkhorn remains as the #2 team in Division II, while Lakeland, after submitting their first results of the season, have jumped all the way to #3.

Top 20, Division I & Division II, December 24th

Courtesy: WISCA

RANKINGS METHODOLOGY

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Middleton, Monona Grove Remain Atop Wisconsin HS Ranks (12/24)

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

American swimmer Katie Ledecky  has been named the 2017 AP Female Athlete of the Year. The honor comes in a whirlwind year where Ledecky finished her freshman season at Stanford with 5 titles in March, and then went on to win 5 gold medals and 1 silver at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.

In the process, while Ledecky didn’t break any World Records, she did set American Records in 3 individual events and as a part of 3 relays.

Ledecky iss the first collegiate athlete to win the award since 1995 when UConn basketball player Rebecca Lobo won it, and the first swimmer to win since Amy Van Dyken in 1996.

The award is voted on by AP Sports Editors across the United States. While athletes of all nationalities are eligible, Americans have won the vast majority of the awards. The men’s honor has been won by swimmers 4 times, which includes most recently Michael Phelps in 2008 and 2012.

The Male Athlete of the Year has not yet been announced for 2017.

Final AP Female Athlete of the Year Voting, 2017:

1. Katie Ledecky – 351 points
2. Serena Williams – 343 points
3. Allyson Felix – 248 points

All-Time Swimmers Who Won the AP Female Athlete of the Year Award

• 1931 – Helene Madison
• 1937 – Katherine Rawls
• 1942 – Gloria Callen
• 1944 – Ann Curtis
• 1962 – Dawn Fraser (Australia)
• 1969 – Debbie Meyer
• 1996 – Amy van Dyken

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Katie Ledecky Named 2017 AP Female Athlete of the Year

By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam

I have been a competitive swimmer since I was about 4 years old.  Basically, swimming is in my blood and the life-skill of swimming is something that I deeply value.  I am first time parent to an adorable baby boy who is almost 6 months old.  Now that he is almost 6 months, I am ready to sign him up for a Parent-N-Me class.  My excitement for him to get into the pool is off the charts!  I mean…I cannot wait to see that little guy in the water!  However, I have to admit that I am a little nervous.  What if he doesn’t like it?  What if he cries the whole class?  What if the class time I picked is going to be when he is too sleepy and has a royal meltdown?

Read more at SafeSplash.com 

ABOUT SAFESPLASH

FRANCHISE OVERVIEW:  A swim school with over a decade of proven success and the experience of over five million swimming lessons, SafeSplash’s focus is providing excellence and unexpected value to our franchisees and customers at every turn.

MISSION: Learning to swim is a defining experience in a child’s life, an experience that creates lasting memories similar to learning to ride a bike.  But unlike riding a bike, swimming is important to your child’s safety and development.  At SafeSplash, we understand…swimming is a life skill^®.  Our mission is to provide the best possible experience, instructors, curriculum, and environment to the families that we have the honor of serving.  We offer a positive, fun experience to our students with the goal of helping them become a safe, happy, confident, lifelong swimmers.

Swimtastic is a part of the Streamline Brands Family

      SafeSplash | Swimtastic | SwimLabs

Swim Training courtesy of Streamline Brands, a SwimSwam Partner.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: How To Prepare Your Baby For Their First Mommy And Me Class

By Eric Lahmy on SwimSwam

Ancien nageur, Eric Lahmy est journaliste, écrivain, rédacteur en chef, et reporter. Il anime depuis 2013 Galaxie-Natation, un blog dédié à son sport préféré.

Le grand bassin de Ponds Forge, à Sheffield, n’a pas effrayé les nageurs britanniques qui ont disputé les championnats petit bassin entre le 13 et le 17 décembre. Mais c’est une Canadienne, Taylor Ruck, qui s’y est distinguée, y gagnant toutes les courses qu’elle s’était proposé de disputer, sauf sur 200 libre où, menée de bout en bout par Eleanor Faulkner, elle ne put lui reprendre la totalité de son avance au sprint. Taylor Ruck a finalement enlevé 100 libre, 100 et 200 dos.

MESSIEURS.- 400 libre : 1. Jay Lelliott, Sheffield, 4’47s85; 2. Timothy Shuttleworth, Loughboro, 3’50s25. 1500 libre : 1. Jay Lelliott, Sheffield, 15’10s22; 2. Tom Derbyshire, Bath, 15’13s21. 100 dos : 1. Luke Greenbank, Loughboro, 54s58; 2. Chris Walker-Hebborn, Bath, 54s61. 50 brasse : 1. James Wilby, Loughboro, 27s58 ; 2. Lawrence Palmer, Putteridge, 27s71. 100 brasse : 1. James Wilby, Loughboro, 59s95. 200 brasse : 1. James Wilby, Loughboro, 2’10s28; 2. Andrew Willis, Bath, 2’11s10. 200 papillon : 1. James Guy, Bath, 1’56s66 ; Jacob Peters, Poole, 1’57s16.

DAMES.- 100 libre : 1. Taylor Ruck, Ontario, CAN, 52s96; 2. Anna Hopkin, Bath, 54s76; 3.Eleanor Faulkner, Sheffield, 54s88. 200 libre : 1. Eleanor Faulkner, Sheffield, 1’56s76; 2. Taylor Ruck, Ontario, CAN, 1’56s91. 400 libre : 1. Eleanor Faulkner, Sheffield, 4’6s90; 2. Holly Hibbott, Stockport, 4’7s20. 100 dos : 1. Taylor Ruck, Ontario, CAN, 1’0s09; 2. Jessica Fullalove, Bath, 1’0s65; 3. Kayla Sanchez, Ontario, CAN, 1’0s94; 4. Chloe Golding, Manchester, 1’1s22. 200 dos : 1. Taylor Ruck, Ontario, CAN, 2’6s87; 2. Chloe Golding, Manchester, 2’9s93. 50 brasse : 1. Imogene Clark, Loughboro, 30s62. 200 brasse : 1. Kiera Smith, Ontario, 2’24s09 ; Molly Renshaw, Loughboro, 2’24s71: 3. Abbie Wood, Loughboro, 2’26s72. 100 papillon : 1. Rebecca Smith, Ontario, CAN, 58s18. 200 4 nages : 1. Aimee Willmott, Stirling, 2’12s05; 2. Abbie Wood, Loughboro, 2’12s49. 400 4 nages : 1. Aimee Willmott, Stirling, 4’36s89 ; 2. Rosie Rudin, Sheffield, 4’39s95; 3. Abbie Woord, Loughboro, 4’40s30.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Championnats Britanniques : Taylor Ruck en pointe à Sheffield

By Eric Lahmy on SwimSwam

Ancien nageur, Eric Lahmy est journaliste, écrivain, rédacteur en chef, et reporter. Il anime depuis 2013 Galaxie-Natation, un blog dédié à son sport préféré.

Première : les 49e championnats du monde militaires de natation (traditionnellement organisés par le Conseil International du Sport Militaire [CISM]) se sont tenus au Brésil, dans des installations érigées pour les Jeux de Rio de Janeiro en 2016 par le Commissariat des Sports Aéronautiques. Ils ont opposé 131 nageurs des pays suivants : Allemagne, Brésil, Canada, France, Inde, Irak, Luxembourg, Pologne, Russie, Sri Lanka, Suisse et Ukraine.

L’équipe de France ? Chef de mission, commandant Henri Duval, capitaine d’équipe Xavier Colomba, entraîneurs Loïc Cordonnier (adjudant) et Fabienne Charlopin, médecin Claire Richefort. Dix-huit nageurs, Oleg Garasymovitch, Jean Dencausse, Alexandre Derache, Florian Truchot, Marc-Antoine Olivier, David Aubry, Guillaume Judes, Gaëtan Droguet, Yannick Chatelain, Hugo Deplanque, Anouchka Martin, Lena Bousquin, Camille Gheorghiu, Solène Gallego, Karine Bilski, Elodie Georges, Audrey Lombard et Anaëlle Quilliec.

A noter les victoires des Français David Aubry(avec un record du CISM), vainqueur d’un 400 mètres très disputé contre le Brésilien Lopes, et de Lena Bousquin, ex-aequo sur 50 libre avec Etiene Medeiros, ainsi que du « quatre nageur » suisse Jeremy Desplanches, entraîné à Nice par Fabrice Pellerin. Le Brésil a largement dominé les compétitions, enlevant huit courses individuelles masculines et huit courses féminines, soit la moitié des épreuves, ainsi que les relais.

MESSIEURS.- 50 libre : 1. Gabriel Silva Santos, Brésil, 22s20 ; … Florian Truchot, France, 23s14.

100 libre : 1. Padro Henrique Silva Spajari, Brésil, 48s25 ; 2. Kacper Majchrzak, Pologne, 48s36

200 libre : 1. Kacper Majchrzak, Pologne, 1’47s18 ; … 4. David Aubry, France, 1’50s06 ; 5. Alexandre Derache, France, 1’50s35..

400 libre : 1. David Aubry, France, 3’49s76 (record du CISM); 2. Luis Altamir Lopes Melo, Brésil, 3’49s83; … 5. Marc-Antoine Olivier, France, 3’51s71.

1500 libre : 1. Guilherme Da Costa, Brésil, 15’3s35 ; 2. Marc-Antoi Guilherme Da Costa ne Olivier, France, 15’4s84 ; 3. Sergii Frolov, Ukraine, 15’7s55; 4. David Aubry, France, 15’10s36.

50 dos : 1. Tomasz Polewka, Pologne,  25s01 ;… 6. Oleg Garasymovitch, France, 26s67.

100 dos : 1. Tomasz Polewka, Pologne,  54s62.

200 dos : 1. Leonardo De Deus, Brésil, 1’58s58.

50 brasse : 1. Joao Luiz Gomez Jr, Brésil, 26s80.

100 brasse : 1. Anton Chupkov, Russie, 1’0s20.

200 brasse : 1. Anton Chupkov, Russie, 2’9s12 ; 2. Oleg Kostin, Russie, 2’11s30 ; 3. Yannick Käser, Suisse, 2’11s51 ;… 5. Jean Dencausse, 2’17s34.

50 papillon : 1. Henrique De Souza Martins, Brésil, 23s06 ; 2. Vlacheslav Prudnikov, Russie, 23s67.

100 papillon : 1. Henrique De Souza Martins, Brésil, 51s64 ; 2. André Pakhomov, Russie, 52s39.

200 papillon : 1. Leonardo De Deus, Brésil, 1’55s61 ; 2. Luiz Altamir Lopes Melo, Brésil, 1’57s29.

200 4 nages : 1. Jeremy Desplanches, Suisse, 1’57s85.

400 4 nages : 1. Jeremy Desplanches, Suisse, 4’14s49; 2. Brandon Pierri Cruz de Almeida, Brésil, 4’16s84.

DAMES.- 50 libre : 1. Etiene Medeiros, Brésil, et Lena Bousquin, France, 25s35 ; 3. Anouchka Martin, France, 25s63.

100 libre : 1. Larissa Martins Oliveira, Brésil, 55s70 ; 2. Manuella Lyrio, Brésil, 55s75 ; … 5. Lena Bousquin, France, 56s20.

200 libre : 1. Manuella Lyrio, Brésil, 1’58s82.

400 libre : 1. Gabriella Gonçalves Roncatto, Brésil, 4’13s00.

800 libre : 1. Gabrielle Gonçalves Roncatto, Brésil, 8’49s00.

50 dos : 1. Etiene Medeiros, Brésil, 28s04; 2. Lisa Graf, Allemagne, 29s; 3. Camille Gheorghiu, France, 29s06.

100 dos : 1. Etiene Medeiros, Brésil, 1’0s71; 2. Lisa Graf, Allemagne, 1’0s82; 3. Camille Gheorghiu, France, 1’2s73.

200 dos : 1. Lisa Graf, Allemagne, 2’12s51.

50 brasse : 1. Jhennifer Alves Conceicao, Brésil, 30s58; 2. Mariia Liver, Ukraine, 31s02.

100 brasse : 1. Maria Temnikova, Russie, 1’9s03.

200 brasse : 1. Maria Temnikova, Russie, 2’27s31.

50 papillon : 1. Svetlana Chimrova, Russie, 26s29.

100 papillon : 1. Svetlana Chimrova, Russie, 57s76.

200 papillon : 1. Svetlana Chimrova, Russie, 2’09s36.

200 4 nages : 1. Viktoria Andreeva, Russie, 2’14s22.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Militaires : Le Brésil domine à domicile, Aubry et Bousquin champions du monde

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

2017 Swammy Awards Para-Swimming Male & Female Swimmers of the Year: Vacant

Note from our editor: 2017 was supposed to be a glorious year for para-swimming. The launch of the new Para-Swimming World Series was intended to give athletes new opportunities to gain exposure, both to fans and to elite-level competition across the world. The World Championships set for Mexico City were expected to be a great event, combined with Powerlifting for a grand multi-sport event.

But things didn’t go according to plan in 2017. The Para-Swimming world has had a build-up of accusations of ‘intentional misrepresentation’ of disabilities over the last half-decade, and the shouting seems to have reached a crescendo in 2017. Swimmers have gone from able-bodied national champions to Paralympic World Record holders in a matter of months, without explanation of injury or degenerative condition. A British track athlete returned a medal, because she felt a teammate was misclassified. Swimmers have dropped 10 seconds in a day from a classification swim, that moved them to a lower classification, to a competitive swim. Officials have made threats to those who complained (and their children) that their funding could be pulled for blowing whistles. The whole system is under review, and under review again, and nobody really seems to be able to make heads-or-tails of what is happening.

And those are just the things that are within human control. After a devastating earthquake hit Mexico City, the Para Swimming World Championships had to be moved to December. This led to a scattered and disjointed championship season. A few replacement meets were cobbled together to try and catch tapers – one in Toronto, and one in Eindhoven. Many federations couldn’t afford to, or chose not to, attend the December championships. That includes powerhouse federations like Great Britain, Australia, and Ukraine that were decimated.

The Paralympic movement has long lived on the power of ‘inspiration,’ of the ability of humans to defy the world’s expectations of what athletes look like. Of late, though, the Paralympic house has begun to crumble. As visibility grows, so too do the dollars, and with the dollars comes exploitation and cheating of the movement.

As a result of recent accusations, discord, cheating, and overall chaos, SwimSwam’s staff got together and decided that we didn’t feel comfortable handing out a ParaSwimming Swimmer of the Year award for 2017. There is too much uncertainty, too many unknowns, and not enough context to fairly recognize who was the best this year. There is too much uncertainty, too much that we (nor anybody else) knows, and too many moving parts.

Instead, we’ll recognize a few surface-level highlights, in no particular order, of the 2017 season:

• American Jessica Long won 8 gold medals at the World ParaSwimming Championships, absent many of her chief rivals from the 2016 Paralympic Games.
• Brazil’s Andre Brasil won 7 gold and 1 silver medal at the same World Championships.
• Even with a smaller-than-average field, 36 World Records and 44 championship records were broken in Mexico City.
• In total, even in a post-Paralympic year, World ParaSwimming recognized (so far) 81 World Records in 2017: 55 in long course, and 26 in short course.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2017 Swammy Awards: Para Swimming Honors Left Vacant

By Olivier Poirier-Leroy on SwimSwam

Olivier Poirier-Leroy is a former national level swimmer based out of Victoria, BC. In feeding his passion for swimming, he has developed YourSwimBook, a powerful log book and goal setting guide made specifically for swimmers. Sign up for the YourSwimBook newsletter (free) and get weekly motivational tips by clicking here.

No matter how this season went for you, regardless of whether championship season went the way you hoped it would last fall, the onset of a fresh season is creeping upon us, soon to give you a clean slate to start your swimming anew.

Make this the year that you train smarter and better with these 6 tips:

1. Set daily and weekly goals.

Having our big, season-long goals are great, and they provide us with the general guidance that is necessary to keep us pointed in the correct direction, but it is the steady accumulation of achieving the daily wins that will get us there.

Start setting goals for your week and for your workouts.Not only will doing so keep you engaged in your workout by keeping you task-oriented, but the confidence of knocking down those small goals will accumulate into some serious self-confidence over the long term.

2. Make this the year that you conquer that weakness.

Oh, you know what I’m talking about. Okay, maybe you don’t. Most swimmers have that Achilles heel, that one part of their race or training that they avoid, that they feel they will never be good at, that there is no use working because it will never be that good.

Make this the year that you turn it into a strength.

No, it won’t improve magically overnight. But decide to stalk and out-stubborn your weakness, and continually hit it until gradually that gaping weakness fills in.

3. Take your foot off the gas.

Going fast is great. Going fast is exhilarating. Going fast is just flat out fun. Balance that super swiftness with some slow, focus-based swimming where you are noticing your hand placement, your feel for the water, and any leaks in torque. It’s hard to keep track all of this stuff when we are driving through the water with all of our might, so nail the details when you’re going deliberately slow and ramp up the speed from there.

4. Break down why you swim the way you do.

Ever have those workouts that are absolutely out-of-control awesome? Where you swim so fast, so effortlessly, but can’t exactly pinpoint why? Conversely, do you have those workouts where you feel like you did everything right, but the results just weren’t there? In both circumstances it is frustrating to not be able to pinpoint the source.

Tracking and measuring your performance in the pool, as well as your diet, stress levels and rest schedule outside of the water can give you the necessary insight to have more of those grade-A practices, and less of the stinky ones.

5. Seek out the eagles.

Take a look at the swimmers and people who surround yourself. Do they share the same ambitions and goals as you? Are they generally positive and optimistic?

Although we all like to believe in the completely self-made man/woman, our success depends not only on our talents and attitude, but also on the people we surround ourselves with. When we have other swimmers who are actively engaged in chasing excellence in our circle, it is easier for us to make the tough choices (“Should I skip morning workout to go out tonight?”) while also giving you a reassuring jolt of self-belief (“If they can do it, why not me?”).

6. Share your goals.

In the same vein as the previous post, there are people in your life that are vested in your success. Your parents. Your coach. Your teammates/friends. Let them know what your goals are for the year, so that you can get their support and guidance.

Sharing your goals with your coach and parents will keep you accountable, which can be just what the doctor ordered on those cold winter mornings where the absolute last thing you want to do in the world is leave your bed.

About YourSwimBook

YourSwimBook is a log book and goal setting guide designed specifically for competitive swimmers. It includes a ten month log book, comprehensive goal setting section, monthly evaluations to be filled out with your coach, and more. Learn 8 more reasons why this tool kicks butt.

Join the YourSwimBook weekly newsletter group and get motivational tips and more straight to your inbox. Sign up for free here.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 6 Ways to Train Smarter This Year

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

It was announced in May that Bill Rose, the long-time coach of the Mission Viejo Nadadores, would retire after leading the club for 25 years. And now, the day has finally come: on December 31st, Rose will retire at 74-years old and end his tenure at the lead of one of the United States’ great distance programs.

Rose has had his hand in the training of a number of the biggest names in American distance swimming, and otherwise, in the last two decades, including Larsen Jensen and Chloe Sutton, the late Fran Crippen, Tom Shields, Ashley Twitchell, Katie McLaughlin, and Grant Shoults. One of his former swimmers, Ashley Twichell, was a breakout performer at this year’s World Championships when she won the 5k. After that gold medal, she shared a moment she had with Rose via text message – showing the bond the two had developed even though Twichell stopped training at Mission Viejo 4 years earlier – in 2013. Stories of these sort of relationships are almost commonplace between Rose, his athletes, and coaches he’s mentored.

This conversation was 30 min after finish of frustrating 10K at Worlds this past summer. 5K was two days later. #mindset@RoseCoachrosepic.twitter.com/9BwH3rRfon

— Ashley Twichell (@atwich616) October 20, 2017

Current University of Virginia associate head coach Tyler Fenwick, who worked for Rose at Mission Viejo from 2009-2012, shared a similar long-lasting relationship with Rose.

“Coach Rose and I talk frequently, and I think there’s a few different facets to our relationship and his career that I’m really thankful for,” Fenwick said in reflecting upon the two’s friendship. “One, he gave me my first opportunity to coach my own groups, run my own groups, and really have my own autonomy to schedule practices, write what I thought was best, schedule meets, and really raise and develop young men. That was really a launching bad for my career, and I’m forever grateful to him for that.

“What I respect about coach Rose, and what I was able to see on a day-to-day basis and am even able to see today, through athletes reaching out, and going back to Mission, is the relationships he fostered, and I really think that’s the basis of his success, is not just the close relationship he had not only with his athletes, but his staff and the people he came in contact with. If you ever watch coach Rose walk on to a pool deck, there’s a lot of smiles, and there’s hordes of people that want to walk up to him, talk to him, shake his hand. He’s just a class act and a great human being.

“I haven’t been at Mission Viejo in 6 years, but it almost seems like coach Rose and I grow closer each year. We’ve stayed in contact, we’ve done training camps together in Colorado Springs, and it’s been a blast. I plan to bring him on the pool deck at Virginia, and just continue that relationship. All my best to coach Rose, and (his wife) Siga, and on to the next great adventure for them. Go Nadadores!”

Former US National Team Director Mark Schubert was announced as the replacement for Rose more than a year ago in 2016. Schubert first made his name as a coach at Mission Viejo from 1972 to 1985, where the team won 44 national team titles. Schubert himself is 68-years old.

Chuck Warner, a Bill Rose contemporary and fellow Hall of Fame coach, wrote the following essay in honor of the moment:

An American Rose, by Chuck Warner

It may seem odd to be writing about roses the first week of winter, but on December 31, a very special Rose will be officially retiring from coaching the sport he loves.

Bill Rose, the 74-year old head coach of the Mission Viejo Nadadores, has been an unwavering standard bearer for a culture of commitment to excellence on the American Swimming Team for one half century. During his tenure leading athletes at the University of Pacific, DeAnza Swim Club, Arizona State and the Mission Viejo Nadadores, Coach Rose has cheerfully enlisted swimmers in a joyous commitment to an arduous training routine that provided a pounding heart beat to American distance swimming at times when a pulse was otherwise hard to detect.

When the ‘distance explosion’ was taking place in America in the 1970s, it was derailed—to a large degree—when President Carter announced the USA would boycott the 1980 Olympics. The distance swimmers were the first to stop workingthat year and some struggled to ever resume.  A large degree of air was drained from what had been a ballooning battle to train to become the best 400/1500-meter freestyler in America and in the world, but not so in Bill Rose’s program.

The coach with the shaved head, who begot the look to his star swimmer, Mike Bruner, stood firmly for a demanding training schedule. While the boycott undercut the commitment of the biggest names in American distance swimming, Rose and Bruner doubled down on the joy of work and the love of swimming fast–for lots of minutes and lots of hours. It was in that year that Rose concocted Bruner’s 10,000-yards for time, in which each 100 averaged under one minute.

While Bruner possessed no exceptional physical gifts, his ‘talent’ for working long and hard in a program Rose designed gave him a ladder to climb to the top of the sport. The outcome at the 1980 “Trials” included Mike Bruner’s exceptional performance of winning the 400-meter and 1500 freestyles, and finishing second in the 800 and 200 butterfly.

During the late 1980s and the entire 1990s, American men’s distance swimming became extinct on the Olympic awards podium. But in 2004, for the first time in two decades, the USA had a contender to win Olympic gold in a distance race when the ‘Rose trained’ school boy Larsen Jensen, surged into international competition. Then the head coach at Mission Viejo, Rose guided Jensen to a surprising challenge of Australian distance legend Grant Hackett, when Jensen lowered the American record eleven seconds in the 1500-meters (14:45.29) in earning the Olympic silver medal, missing gold by less than two seconds.

When the International Olympic Committee adopted open water swimming into the Olympics, Rose helped transform several successful pool swimmers into open water champions including Ashley Twitchel, Chloe Sutton and the late, great Fran Crippen.

Just like his large logbooks that carefully organize his challenging weeklong recipes for success in swimming’s toughest races, Coach Rose has helped keep alive a simple formula that has been the hallmark of American swimming success: “Work works.”

An artful motivator, this is the coach that jolted Mike Bruner from failure early at the 1976 US Trials to making the team in an ‘off event’ (200 butterfly). Four weeks later, Bruner initiated the American onslaught of medals in the Montreal Games by winning the event, and the first gold medal, in world record time.

We should not allow this man to exit the sport quietly. Perhaps a fitting tribute would be American swim coaches shaving their heads for the month of January?

That’s not likely to happen, but if we learn the lesson from Coach Rose’s stellar career then it is more likely that some coaches, and some swimmers, will embrace the joy in work and these words from the poet Dylan Thomas that characterize Bill Rose’s sustained coaching efforts even into his seventies:

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightening they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Thank you, Bill Rose, for what you’ve stood for and all the moments you and your swimmers have given us. Your stoic image, extending your arms over a shiny head signaling assurance to your athlete in the pool, is one that many of us associate with American swimming success. We stand, cheer you and have often felt a sense of pride in American distance swimming because of your work. While your career beacons to the entire swimming world a vow of resolute commitment, to those in the USA we also take pride that you are, and shall always be, an American Rose.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: This Week is Bill Rose’s Final Week with Mission Viejo Nadadores

By Daniela Kapser on SwimSwam

Unbestritten war der Amerikaner Caleb Dressel der Superstar der Weltmeisterschaften 2017 in Budapest. Nach seinem Debüt auf der internationalen Schwimmbühne bei den Olympischen Spielen in Rio 2016, dort gewann er zwei Staffel-Goldmedaillen, konnte er in Budapest SIEBEN Goldmedaillen abräumen.

SwimSwam Fotograf Peter Sukeník (www.petersukenik.com) war in Budapest und hat viele spannende Momente des Wettkampfes mit seiner Kamera eingefangen:

photo by Peter Sukeník

Die Gäste aus aller Welt fühlten sich wirklich willkommen in der ungarischen Hauptstadt und die Veranstalter inszenierten eine perfekte Veranstaltung.

photo by Peter Sukenik

Die ungarische Spitzenschwimmerin und Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu begeisterte ihre Landsleute mit zwei Gold-, einer Silber- und einer Bronzemedaille.

photo by Peter Sukeník

Schwedens Super Sarah Sjöströmüberzeugte mit dreimal Gold und einmal Silber.

photo by Peter Sukenik

Chase Kalisz, USA, Trainingspartner und der “kleine Bruder” von Michael Phelps, war der Lagenkönig: Gold über 200 m und 400 m Lagen.

photo by Peter Sukenik

Goldie aber kein Oldie: Der Franzose Camille Lacourt gewann im Alter von 32 zum dritten Mal hintereinander die 50 m Rücken.

photo by Peter Sukeník

Späte Genugtuung: Nach einer aus ihrer Sicht verpatzen Olympiateilnahme 2016, konnte Emily Seebohm (AUS) Gold über 200 m Rücken gewinnen.

photo by Peter Sukenik

Goldfisch aus den USA: Simone Manuel konnte fünfmal Gold und einmal Bronze mit nach Hause nehmen.

photo by Peter Sukenik

Die überglückliche Siegerin über 200 m Schmetterling: Mireia Belmonte, sie siegte vor Franziska Hentke. Links im Foto: “Iron husband” Shane Tusup,  Katinka wurde Dritte in diesem Rennen.

photo by Peter Sukenik

Wer wie ein Champion schwimmt, darf sich auch so freuen: Caleb Dressel bei einem seiner sieben Siege.

photo by Peter Sukenik

Gold über 50 m und 100 m Brust: Adam Peaty (GBR).

photo by Peter Sukenik

Das Lächeln des Siegers über 200 m Schmetterling: Chad Le Clos (Südafrika).

photo by Peter Sukenik

Der Italiener Gabriele Detti lässt charmant die Muskeln spielen und siegt über 800 m Freistil.

photo by Peter Sukenik

Bereits mit 20 eine Legende: Olympiasiegerin Katie Ledecky, USA, siegte über 400 m , 800 m und 1500 m Freistil und gewann Gold mit zwei Staffeln. Nur über 200 m Freistil war Federica Pellegrini schneller.

photo by Peter Sukenik

Leistete sich dieses Mal keinen Fehlauftritt und wurde Weltmeister über 200 m und 400 m Freistil: Sun Yang aus China.

By Gold Medal Mel Stewart on SwimSwam

Success is not a destination but a journey. Michael Phelps, the greatest athlete of all-time, and coach Bob Bowman, head coach of the Arizona State Swimming and Diving Team, go beyond techniques and drills as they share stories, advice, and lessons learned on their road to success. Presented by MP Michael Phelps.

EPISODE FOUR – Preparedness

SEE EPISODE ONE: Finding a Coach

SEE EPISODE TWO: Goals

SEE EPISODE THREE:  Juggling Priorities

Like MP Michael Phelps on Facebook 

Follow MP Michael Phelps on Instagram

Follow MP Michael Phelps on Twitter

ABOUT MP

Launched in the spring of 2015, MP designed by Aqua Sphere is a shared vision to develop innovative products that are inclusive and accessible to a broader range of swimmers across the full swimming lifecycle. Combining Aqua Sphere’s global product design expertise and distribution with Michael Phelps’ and Bob Bowman’s experiences at the highest levels of swim performance, the MP brand features technical swim products leveraging proprietary technologies and performance enhancing designs.

ABOUT AQUA SPHERE

Established in Genoa, Italy, in 1998, Aqua Sphere is the premier swimming equipment manufacturer for fitness and recreational swimming, aquatic exercise and triathlons. With the launch of its cutting-edge Seal Mask—the world’s first swim mask, the company set the industry standard and today continues to innovate with a complete range of premium products, including eye protection, swimwear, triathlon wetsuits, footwear, and swim fitness and training accessories. The designs have gained the respect and loyal following of many celebrities and notable athletes, including the world’s most decorated Olympian Michael Phelps, with whom Aqua Sphere is partnering to develop a global brand partnership. Alongside its parent company Aqua Lung and supported by an international distribution network, Aqua Sphere has grown into a worldwide enterprise representing unparalleled design, development and manufacturing expertise, with a global footprint in more than 90 countries. For more information, visit www.AquaSphereSwim.com or http://www.Facebook.com/AquaSphereSwim.

MP is a SwimSwam partner. 

Read the full story on SwimSwam: MP Journey Series with Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman: Preparedness

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

To see all of our 2017 Swammy Awards presented by TYR, click here. 

2017 Male BREAKOUT SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: Zane Grothe, United States

A late-breaking entry for the award, American swimmer Zane Grothe had his big break-through at 25 years old when he broke the American and U.S. Open Records in both the 500 and the 1650 yard freestyle at the US Winter National Championships in the waning days of November and into December.

First, he brought the 500 free record down by more than a second with a 4:07.25, and then at the end of the meet he swam a 14:18.25 in the 1650 free to break that record down by more than 4 seconds.

There was a long buildup to these swims. Grothe swam a 3:44 in the 400 free at the US World Championship Trials, making him the 7th-fastest American in the history of the event. There were also some benchmark out-of-season swims that built some tension too, and some reports of insane workout swims. He wound up 7th in the 400 free at the World Championships and 8th in the 800.

Grothe swam as an undergrad at Auburn, but now trains at the post-graduate group based at Indiana University in Bloomington. What really gives his story the proper emotion for a ‘breakout’ is how long he’s fought to get his moment. After his record-breaking swims in Columbus, he told SwimSwam reporter Coleman Hodges that he was ready to retire when he came to Indiana.

The build will continue in 2018. With the addition of the men’s 800 free to the Olympic schedule, Grothe gets a little more motivation to persevere until Tokyo: the 800 is probably a better event for him than the 1500, his recent mile swim in yards not-withstanding. 2018 he’ll swim at the Pan Pac Championships, a lower-key international meet. The primary focus will be ensuring he qualifies for the 2019 World Championships team (which will be decided next year), but it will also be a chance for him to take the next step and get on an international podium in an individual race – Australia’s Mack Horton and American Clark Smith will be his primary competition in those races. That will build into South Korea, and then, if everything goes right, Tokyo and a chance at Olympic hardware.

As my coach always said to me – the key to a good breakout is building on the momentum from the start. Grothe has gotten his breakout, now is when we’ll find out how he builds on it.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

In no particular order

• Kristof Milak, Hungary – after not qualifying for Hungary’s 2016 Olympic Team, 17-year old Kristof Milak broke through in 2017 to win a World Championship silver medal in the 100 fly this summer. What’s more, he set a new Hungarian National Record and World Junior Record in both the semi-finals and finals. At the World Junior Championships shortly thereafter, he proved his mettle again by winning 4 golds (including the 100 and 200 fly individually) and a bronze in the 50 fly. The answer to the question of who will take up the torch from Laszlo Cseh as Hungary’s butterflier has been answered; Kristof Milak.
• Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia – In short course meters, Kolesnikov can stake a claim to 2017 World Swimmer of the Year. His 100 SCM backstroke World Record, set just last week, was the only set by a man in an individual short course event – and one of only 3 set individually in any course in 2017. He also led off Russia’s world-record-setting 200 medley relay. The one thing missing from his resume in 2017 was a medal at a world long course competition. He finished a best of 4th in the 200 back at Worlds (he missed finals in the 100 and 50 backstrokes), and didn’t swim at World Juniors. 2018 will probably be his year for this award.
• Ippei Watanabe, Japan – Watanabe broke a World Record at a domestic meet in January in the 200 breaststroke by .34 seconds – a relatively-significant margin. He wound up with just bronze at the World Championships and was 7-tenths slower in the final than his record. That, combined with the fact that he was double Asian champion in 2016 (thereby lifting the starting point for his ‘breakout,’ helped dampen his candidacy for this award. Still enough for an honorable mention, however.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2017 Swammy Awards Male Breakout Swimmer of the Year: Zane Grothe

By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

FINA confirmed this month that it received from WADA the names of Russian athletes implicated in reports of a state-sponsored doping program in Russia that covered up positive anti-doping tests.

Inside The Games reports that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) provided a list of the names of around 300 Russian athletes to various international sporting federations. The athletes are thought to have failed doping tests that were covered up and officially reported as negative tests over a three-plus year span from April 2012 to September 2015.

Russia has been accused of a litany of anti-doping rules violations over the past year or so, most notably in the McLaren Reports, which detailed a state-sponsored program that allegedly swapped out athlete urine samples for different samples that would pass anti-doping tests. Russian athletes had to undergo a more detailed eligibility process to be able to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics, though nearly all the nation’s notable swimmers were ultimately cleared to compete, many of them at the last minute.

For the 2018 Winter Olympics, Russia has been officially banned, with cleared Russian athletes allowed to compete under the Olympic banner.

Inside The Games reports that WADA provided its list to FINA, the international swimming federation, along with federations for volleyball (FIVB) and soccer (FIFA), among others. FINA provided this statement to Russian news service TASS regarding the list of names:

“We will study them carefully. We will also work closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and WADA on all necessary investigations. The protection of honest, clean athletes has always been our priority.”

Read the full story on SwimSwam: FINA Received Names Of Russian Athletes With Allegedly-Doctored Tests

By Loretta Race on SwimSwam

2017 FEMALE JUNIOR SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: RIKAKO IKEE

After earning an honorable mention in last year’s Swammy Awards, 17-year-old Japanese phenom Rikako Ikee earned her spot as top female junior swimmer in the world for 2017. Firing off national records and World Junior Records in almost every final in which the teen competed, Ikee has filled out her resume with field-crushing swims at both the junior and senior levels.

Ikee kicked off 2017 with impressive post-Rio performances at the Kosuke Kitajima Cup in Tokyo, blasting a national record in the 200m freestyle in a mark of 1:56.33.  That hacked over 2 seconds off of her 1:58.49 performance at the 2016 Olympic Games. Showing her versatility, Ikee also racked up a World Junior Record in the 200m IM at that meet, setting the mark at a speedy 2:09.98.

One of the few teenage swimmers who made both her nation’s squads for the World Championships at both the junior and senior levels, Ikee’s highest finish in Budapest garnered her a 6th place finish in the women’s 100m butterfly. Her time of 57.08 was within striking distance of her monster 56.86 produced in Rio last year.

Ikee was much more dominating placement-wise at the World Junior Championships in Indianapolis, however, where she nabbed 3 individual titles, taking the top prize in the 50m fly (25.46), 100m fly (57.25) and 50m freestyle (24.59).  All 3 performances resulted in championship records, with the 50m fly also scorching a new World Junior Record.

Not resting on her laurels, the Japanese teen crushed 2 more national records at the FINA World Cup stop in her home city of Tokyo. Ikee earned a mark of 57.75 in the 100m IM and 25.14 in the 50m butterfly, both of which checked-in as a new WJRs.

As it stands right now, 17-year-old Ikee holds the current LCM World Junior Records in the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 200m IM, as well as the SCM World Junior Records in the 50m fly, 100m fly and 100m IM.

With the Tokyo Olympics now less than 1000 days away, Ikee’s trajectory has the teen on a path towards host country glory come 2020.

Honorable Mentions
(in no particular order)

Regan Smith (USA) – A breakout star for the United States at just 15 years of age, Smith raced her way to a gold medal in the 100m backstroke at the World Junior Championships. Her swift time of 59.11 beat out Canada’s Taylor Ruck and claimed a World Junior Record in the process. On the mixed medley relay, Smith outdid herself one further, cracking an opening split of 58.95 to help boost the stars n’ stripes to silver in that event in Indy. Smith also did damage to the individual 200m backstroke, firing off a personal best of 2:07.45 to win gold by well over a second for another championship record.

Li Bingjie (CHN) – At 15 years of age, China’s Li Bingjie already has 3 senior World Championships medals under her belt. In Budapest, the teen freestyle specialist earned silver in the women’s 800m freestyle, followed by bronze in the 400m freestyle event. She was also a crucial member of China’s silver medal-winning women’s 4x200m freestyle relay. Competing at the Tokyo stop of the FINA World Cup Series, Bingjie cranked out a new World Junior Record in the SCM 400m freestyle, registering a new mark of 3:59.14.

Ariarne Titmus (AUS) –  Ariarne Titmus has been taking Australian mid-distance swimming by storm, overtaking 2016 Rio Olympian Jess Ashwood as the premier freestyler to keep chasing America’s Katie Ledecky. Surprising the field in Budapest by finishing 4th in the women’s 400m freestyle, Titmus took things to another level at this month’s Queensland Championships, scoring a new Australian National Record in the event. Her time of 4:02.86 checked in as a new NR and personal best to give her momentum heading into next year’s Commonwealth Games Trials.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2017 Swammy Awards: Female Junior Swimmer Of The Year Rikako Ikee

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Julian Hill, a junior at F. W. Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida, has announced his verbal commitment to Arizona State University for the fall of 2019. He will join Jarod Arroyo, who announced his intention to join the Sun Devils last September, in the class of 2023. Hill wrote on social media:

“So proud and stoked to announce my commitment to swim at Arizona State University! Many thanks to everyone who helped me along the way.

By Lauren Neidigh on SwimSwam

To see all of our 2017 Swammy Awards presented by TYR, click here. 

MALE INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR OF THE YEAR: KLIMENT KOLESNIKOV

The battle for male International Junior Swimmer of the Year was a toss-up coming into December. Both Russian Kliment Kolesnikov and American Michael Andrew had close to double-digit World Junior Record swims. Andrew had 3 individual World Junior titles (50 free, 50 back, 50 fly) plus two more bronze medals from the summer’s championship. Kolesnikov, meanwhile, missed a medal at the senior World Championships by just .08 seconds.

And then December happened. While both swimmers performed well in the month, Kolesnikov had an other-worldly finish to 2017. In the last 6 weeks of the year, he broke at least 12 World Junior Records. He was the top male swimmer at the European Championships with 5 golds and 1 silver medal, and the single-best swim. Then he wrapped it all up nicely with a senior World Record at the year-ending Vladimir Salnikov Swim Cup to put a bow on his award.

Honorable Mention

• Michael Andrew (USA)- Andrew was the World Junior Champion in 3 of the 4 stroke 50s this summer, breaking the World Junior Record in the 50 fly, 50 back, and 50 free. He also earned bronze in the 50 and 100 breaststrokes, as well as an 8th place finish in the 200 IM at the World Junior Championships.
• Kristof Milak (HUN)- Milak, a butterfly specialist, took down the World Junior Record in the long course 100 fly and 200 fly this year, becoming faster than the legendary Michael Phelps was at his age. At the 2017 World Championships, Milak earned a silver in the 100 fly. At the World Junior Championships, he was the gold medalist in both the 100 and 200 fly and the bronze medalist in the 50 fly.
• Tan Haiyang(CHN)- Haiyang set World Junior Records in the 200 IM and 200 breast this year. At the 2017 FINA World Championships, he set a new World Junior Record to place 6th in the 200 IM. He demolished the World Junior and Chinese Record in the 200 breast in September, going a 2:07.35 to win China’s National Games and become the 9th fastest swimmer of all time in the event.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2017 Swammy Awards: International Male Junior of the Year Kliment Kolesnikov

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

To see all of our 2017 Swammy Awards presented by TYR, click here. 

2017 Honorees: Erika Pelaez and Kaii Winkler

10 & Under Girls

Erika Pelaez – Miami Swimming, Miami, Florida

Pelaez, who swam for Miami Swimming as a 10-and-under (and through the summer of 2017 before moving to Eagle Aquatics after she’d already turned 11), left the age group with 18 top-ten swims. Even though she only swam as a 10-year-old through the end of June, she still finished 2017 with four #1 LCM swims: 100/200/400m free and 100m back and the #1 IMX score for 10-year-old girls in the long course season, with 4720 points. Her other top-ten LCM swims were in the 50 back (#2), 200 IM (#2), 100 fly (#3), 50 free (#4), and 50 fly (#8).

More impressive than the fact that she remained at the top of the LCM charts with nearly 2 months left in the season, Pelaez also finished the SCY season with the #2 IMX score, even though she only competed in 5 meets during the first four months of the year. She aged out of the 10-and-unders with the #2 time in the 100y back, #3 in the 100/200/500y free, 50y back, and 200y IM, #4 in the 50y fly, #5 in the 50y free, and #6 in the 100y fly.

Runners-Up

Lia Wiyanto – Irvine Novaquatics (Irvine, California)

Wiyanto had an outstanding 2017, finishing the year with 13 appearances on the top-ten lists. She was the top 9-year-old in IMX rankings for the 2016-17 short course season, and she leads the field for 10-year-olds so far in the 2017-18 SCY season. She finished the 2017 LCM season with the #2 IMX score for 10-year-olds.

As one might expect from her top IMX performances, Wiyanto was one of the fastest swimmers in every event. She led the nation in the 100m fly, was second in the 100y fly, and finished third in the 50y fly, 100y IM and 200m IM. She was also fourth in the 100y breast and 100m breast, 5th in the 50/100m back and 200y IM, and 7th in the 100/200m free and 50y breast.

Jada Duncan – Rocklin Mavericks (Rocklin, California)

Duncan was consistently one of the top 10-year-olds in the country this year, gracing the top-ten lists a total of 13 times. In IMX scores, she ranked 17th for 9-year-olds in the 2016-17 SCY season and 18th for 10-year-olds in the 2017 LCM season; she is the #2 10-year-old so far in the 2017-18 SCY season.

Duncan finished the year with the #1 time in the 50m fly and the #2 time in both the 50y free and 50y fly. She was 4th in the 100y fly and 100m fly, 5th in the 100m free, 6th in the 100y free, 7th in the 100y IM, 8th in the 50m free, 200/500y free, and 100y back, and 9th in the 200y IM.

Honorable Mention

In alphabetical order:

• Amelia Chen– NOVA of Virginia (VA): Chen was 10 through the first 8 months of 2017, and garnered 11 top-10 performances, mainly in free and back. She finished the year with the #2 swims in the 100m free and 100m back, #5 in 200/400m free and 100y IM, #6 in 50m free, 200y free, 100y back, and 200m IM, #7 in the 100y free, and #9 in the 50y back. Chen was ranked 4th in the 2017 IMX long course season and 7th in the 2016-17 short course season.
• Kyra Cui – Quicksilver Swimming (CA): Cui was the age group’s top breaststroker and one of its strongest IMers, notching the fastest swims in the 50/100y breast and 100y IM, and the second-fastest 50/100m breast and 200y IM. She also had top-ten swims in the 200m IM, 50y fly, and 100y back. Cui finished LCM season with the #13 IMX score. She was 32nd in the 2016-17 SCY season.
• Emma Redman – The Fish (VA): Redman spent only the first half of the year in the 10-and-under age category, but it was enough to earn the #3 spot on the SCY IMX rankings for the 2016-17 season and the #11 spot for the LCM season. She wrapped up 2017 with the second-fastest 100y IM time, the third 100y breast, and the fourth 500y free, 50/100y back and 50y breast. Redman also finished in the top-10 in the 200y IM, 50m breast, and 50y free.

10 & Under Boys

Kaii Winkler– Miami Swimming, Miami, Florida

Winkler, while 10 for only the first three months of the year, was a major National Age Group record-breaker in the 10-and-under age group during 2017. He first took down the 200 yard freestyle record in February, going 1:57.75 and taking a 0.19 chunk out of the 1:57.94 mark that had belonged to Mitch Stoehr since 2003. A couple of weeks later at the FGC Area 3 Developmental Championships in Pembroke Pines, Winkler etched his name on the 500 free record with 5:08.77, improving on Ivan Puskovitch’s 2012 NAG of 5:14.14. Two weeks later at FG Junior Olympics he lowered his 200 free record to 1:56.41 and dropped a 59.37 in the 100 fly, improving his own personal best by nearly 2 seconds.

Short Course NAGs:

200y free – 1:57.75 – 2/17/2017
200y free – 1:56.41 – 3/17/2017
500y free – 5:08.77 – 3/3/2017
100y fly – 59.37 – 3/16/2017

Winkler aged out of the 10-and-unders on March 27th with the #1 times in the 200/500y free, and 100y fly, the #2 50y fly and 200y IM, #3 100y free, and #6 50y free. He also had the top-ranked IMX score for the 2016-17 short course season.

Runners-Up:

Trevan Valena – Texas Ford Aquatics (Frisco, Texas)

Valena broke the oldest National Age Group record on the boys’ side of the record books in December. Swimming at the TXLA Jingle Bell Splash in Austin, he took a big half-second bite out of Chas Morton’s 1982 mark of 2:12.29 in the 200 IM, going 2:11.79 to win both the 10-and-unders and the 11-12s at the meet.

Short Course NAGs:

200y IM – 2:11.79 – 12/20/2017

Valena ruled long course season this summer, turning in the #1 IMX score for 10-year-old boys, and notching the nation’s top times in the 100/200m free. He had 14 top-ten swims in all, including #2 in the 100/200/500y free, 400m free, 100/200y IM, and 200m IM; #3 in the 100m back and 100y fly, #4 in the 100y back, #5 in the 50m back, and #7 in the 50y fly.

Richard Poplawski – Seahawks Swim Team (Clifton, New Jersey)

Poplawski was only 10 for 1/3 of the year but he remained unsurpassed in six events through to the end: 50/100y breast, 50/100m back, 50m fly, and 200m IM. All in all, he made the top-ten list 17 times in 2017. He was second-fastest in the 50/100y back and 100m fly, third in the 50y free and 100/200y IM, fourth in the 50m breast, fifth in the 50m free, 100m breast, and 50y fly, and sixth in the 100y fly.

Poplawski set 7 New Jersey state records between two meets in March 2017. At “The Other Meet” held at Rutgers, he set new marks in the 100 back, 100 breast, and 100 fly; at NJ State JOs he downed the 100 back, 50/100 fly, and 100 IM records.

Honorable Mention

• Thomas Heilman– Piedmont Family YMCA/CYAC (VA): Heilman proved to be one of the top free/flyers in the age group. He closed out 2017 as #1 in the 50/100y free, #2 in the 50m free and 100y fly, #3 in the 100m free and 50y fly, #4 in the 200y free and 100m fly, #5 in the 200y IM, #7 in the 50y back, and #9 in the 200m free and 50m fly. He is currently ranked #2 in IMX scores for the 2017-18 SCY season and was 9th this summer in LCM season.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2017 Swammy Awards: Age Group Swimmer of the Year – 10 & Under