By SwimSwam on SwimSwam

Courtesy: Florida Athletics

GAINESVILLE, Fla.– The University of Florida men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams take to the road for the Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown against in-state rival Florida State on Friday, Nov. 2, at 2 p.m.

On the women’s side, the Gators knocked off the Seminoles 184-116 last season. The Florida women have won the last five meetings and have a 17-3 record in the last 20 seasons.

Last season, the Florida men’s team defeated Florida State, 200-91. The Gators have won seven-straight matchups. Over the last 20 meetings, Florida holds an 18-2 record against the Seminoles.

Earlier this week, Vanessa Pearl was named the SEC Freshman of the Week, this was her third honor in four weeks. Kacper Stokowski collected the SEC Freshman of the Week on the men’s side. This was Stokowski’s first weekly honor.

The No. 10 ranked women feature eight athletes with a combined 16 Top-20 times on the season. The Gators hold four of the Top-20 times in the 400 IM in the NCAA this season, which is the most by any program. Kelly Fertel leads the group with the fifth-best time, followed closely by Hannah Burns in sixth and Pearl in seventh. Mabel Zavaros ranks 11th, giving Florida four swimmers inside the Top-15. Fertel and Pearl come in with Top-20 times in the 200 IM as well. Fertel has the eighth-best time, while Pearl sits in the No. 10 spot.

Taylor Ault and Leah Braswell are providing depth in the long-distance races. In the 500 free, Ault ranks 10th and Braswell ranks 15th. Ault holds the 10th-best time in the 1,000 Free, while Braswell ranks inside the Top-15 once again with the 14th-best swim.

Pearl has Top-20 times in both the 100 Breast and the 200 Breast. She sits at No. 8 in the 200 Breast and No. 18 in the 100 Breast. Mabel Zavaros has the eighth-fastest time in the 200 Back and the 16th-best swim in the 100 Fly. Emma Ball and Sherridon Dressel rank eighth and 16th, respectively, in the 100 Back.

The No. 3 ranked men are led by 13 athletes who have posted a total of 29 Top-20 times this season. Kieran Smith finds himself inside the Top-20 in six different events. He has the second-best swim in the 400 IM, fourth-fastest time in the 200 Free, and ranks ninth in the 200 IM. Smith ranks inside the Top-15 in the 1,000 Free (11th), 500 Free (14th), and 200 Back (15th).

Khader Baqlah and Grant Sanders have four Top-20 times each. Baqlah has the fastest time in the 200 Free, fifth-best swim in the 100 Free, eighth-best mark in the 1,000 Free, and the 12th-best time in the 500 Free. Sanders holds the second- and third-best swims in the 200 IM and 400 IM, respectively. Sanders adds the 15th-best time in the 200 Breast and the 20th-fastest mark in the 200 Fly.

Trey Freeman has Top-15 times in three different events, the 1,000 Free (7th), 200 Free (15th), and 500 Free (15th). Santiago Corredor holds the fifth-best time in the 500 Free, sixth-fastest swim in the 400 IM, and the 11th-best mark in the 200 Fly.

Maxime Rooney has the 13th-best swim in the 100 Fly and the 20th-fastest mark in the 100 Free. Stokowski (second, 100 Back), Clark Beach (11th, 200 Back), Bayley Main (12th, 100 Back), Robert Finke (15th, 1,000 Free), Marco Guarente (19th, 200 Breast), Alex Lebed (20th, 200 IM), and Stanley Wu (T-20th, 100 Breast) round out the Gators with Top-20 times this season.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Gators, Seminoles Set for Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown

By SwimSwam on SwimSwam

Courtesy: Florida State Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–  The nationally-ranked (No. 21/21) Florida State swimming and diving teams are set for another top 25 battle, welcoming (No.10/3) Florida for the annual Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown which will take place at the Morcom Aquatics Center at 2 p.m. on Friday.

“It’s great to have Florida here at home this year,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “They are a very good team. They recently went through some changes and split their programs. They’re very similar to us on the women’s side, in that they have very good freshmen. It’s rivalry week and what better place to have this meet than here at Morcom.”

The Seminoles will also host Florida Southern, West Florida and North Florida on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Last Time Out:

The Seminoles split a dual at home against NR/14 Arizona State. The women (4-0, 2-0 ACC) defeated the Sun Devils 161-139, while the men (1-3, 1-1 ACC) fell 116-184.

The women’s team continued to be led by its freshmen class as Nina Kucheran won both breaststroke events behind season best swims of 1:01.44 in the 100 and 2:12.71 in the 200. Her 200 ranks fourth in school history and is currently the seventh fastest swim in the nation.

On the boards, junior Ayla Bonniwell was dominant as she won both events, first taking 3-meter with a score of 349.05, edging out her classmate Molly Carlson (343.80) for the win. Bonniwell then won 1-meter by three points, scoring 303.30.

The 4-0 record marks the first time since the 2012-13 season that the women’s team has carried a perfect record into November.

The seniors have led the No. 21 men’s team this season. Despite falling to the Sun Devils Kanoa Kaleoaloha posted a season best in the 100 fly, posting a time of 47.38 for the win, clocking the sixth fastest time in the NCAA this year.

He is also one of 11 swimmers to go under the 20-second barrier this season in the 50 free, tying as the seventh best performance in the country at 19.94.

UF Meet Notes:

FSU vs Florida all-time

• Women (3-44, last in 2018 116-184; last win was 2012 at home 157-143)
• Men 24-57-1 (last in 2018 92-309; last win was 2010 at home 184-116)

Live Results

The meet will follow the 16-event format featuring the 100s and 200s of each stroke in addition to the 50 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 200 IM along with the 200 medley and 200 free relays. Divers will compete in 1-meter and 3-meter simultaneously to swimming.

On Florida

The third-ranked men have started the season 4-1, notching wins two top 10 opponents on the road including No. 1 Texas (178-175; Oct. 20) and No. 9 Georgia (166-132; Oct. 26).

The men are powered by freshmen who have captured three SEC Freshmen of the Week honors. Kacper Stokowski swam the 100-back in 47.76 seconds last week, ranking as the second fastest time in the NCAA this season. Trey Freeman has won two SEC Freshman of the Week honors for his performances in the 500 and 1000 free.

The 10th-ranked women enter Friday’s meet 6-1 and 2-0 in conference meets. The women have also defeated two ranked opponents on the road, No. 6 Indiana (198-155; Oct. 20) and No. 11 Georgia (158-142; Oct. 26).

The women are led by freshman Vanessa Pearl who has earned three SEC Freshmen of the Week honors behind 11 event victories.  Her 400 IM time of 4:13.02 is the second fastest time in the NCAA this season. Sophomore Taylor Ault returns to the Gators after earning second team All-SEC honors last season.

On the boards, the women return two-time All-American Brooke Madden who has earned honorable mention honors in the springboard events.

Following Friday’s showdown, the Seminoles will host a quad meet featuring Florida Southern, West Florida and North Florida. Florida Southern will field both a men’s and women’s team, while UWF and UNF will compete in the women’s meet.

Quad Meet Notes:

All-time Series:

Women:

• Florida Southern: 5-0
• North Florida: 8-0
• West Florida: 4-0

Men:

• Florida Southern: 5-0

The meet will follow the 16-event format featuring the 100s and 200s of each stroke in addition to the 50 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 400 IM along with the 200 medley and 200 free relays. Divers will compete in 1-meter and 3-meter simultaneously to swimming.

Live Results

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Florida State Welcomes Florida, Set for Saturday Quad Meet

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

The NCAA rules on what financial awards that their amateur athletes are, and are not, allowed to receive are complex, convoluted, and sometimes not fine-tuned until a rule is violated and hairs have to be split.

It would be impossible to break down the entire can of worms in a single article, but in an effort to address a specific upcoming situation, we’ll narrow-in on one specific and topical question: “What happens to the prize money earned by American, current or future, NCAA athletes at the Short Course World Championships (and similar meets)?”

• See the US roster for the 2018 Short Course World Championships.

To start at the root of the question, the $1.173 million up for grabs at the Short Course World Championships is not necessarily paid directly to athletes. From FINA’s perspective, the National Federation of a swimmer receiving prize money must inform FINA of whether that money should be paid directly to the athlete or to the National Federation. Keeping in mind that different countries around the world all have different circumstances and domestic laws governing these subjects, in many cases we’d hope that the money is then distributed to the athletes who earned it, but that’s not necessarily the case.

In the U.S., it is, except in the case of amateur athletes, who are limited in the prize money that they can earn.

For starters, athletes can take prize money up to their actual and necessary travel expenses for the year related to competing. That means any training or competition trips for which costs were not covered by USA Swimming or anyone else. Prize money can be used to offset those costs for NCAA athletes.

Any money earned beyond that level, in the case of the United States, goes into the National Team Athlete Endowment, according to USA Swimming. That money is then distributed to National Team athletes through grants. That money cannot be earmarked specifically for those athletes who earn it, though they can later apply for those grants once their eligibility has been exhausted.

Note that this is specific to FINA meets, and doesn’t necessarily apply to other meets, which might choose to simply not award money if the winning athletes declines it. For example, if an NCAA eligible athlete finishes 1st in the TYR Pro Swim Series standings, the series bonus is not awarded, and not given to the next-athlete-in-line either.

There are also a number of foreign ‘amateurs’ that compete and earn prize money at these meets from other countries, but those situations are harder to speak to (and harder for the NCAA to control). It’s likely that there are cases, across sports, of international athletes being paid in their home countries in ways that would be in violation of NCAA rules, but the NCAA simply doesn’t have the authority to reach across borders and catch them.

There are often domestic rewards associated with these meets in addition to money awarded by FINA. By NCAA rule, money earned through “Operation Gold” programs, or similar programs offered by other National Olympic Committees based on finish place in one supreme event per year, can be kept by athletes. For American athletes, in non-Olympic years (Operation Gold meets for able-bodied American swimmers – LCM World Championships, Pan Pacs), that’s $6,250 to $7,500 per gold medal; for the Olympics and Paralympics, that’s $37,500 per gold medal.

• Read more about Operation Gold money and NCAA rules here.
• See the most current Operation Gold payouts here.

For other countries, those payouts can be even more lucrative. We don’t know exactly how much Joseph Schooling received in his 4-year career in Texas, but it was at least $753,000 for his Olympic gold, before payouts for taxes and to his national federation.

Editor’s Note: As always, if you’re unsure, contact an NCAA compliance officer before accepting any prize money. That’s the best way to stay out of trouble.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: What Happens to Amateur American Swimmers’ Prize Money?

By SwimSwam on SwimSwam

Courtesy: Virginia Athletics

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.– The Virginia men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will travel to Louisville for a two-day meet at the Ralph Wright Natatorium in Louisville, Ky., this weekend. Competition will begin on Friday (Nov. 2) at 5 p.m. as Saturday’s (Nov. 3) start time is slated for 10 a.m.

Meet Information
Date: Friday, November 2- Saturday, November 3
Location: Ralph Wright Natatorium- Louisville, Ky.
• Friday- 5 p.m.
• Saturday- 10 a.m.

In the Rankings
Both programs enter the weekend with their men’s and women’s teams ranked in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America’s latest poll. The No. 7 Cavalier women’s team holds a slight edge over the No. 8 Cards, while the No. 16 Virginia men will face No. 13 Louisville.

The Cavaliers

• This is the fourth dual meet of the season and the first on the road for the Cavaliers. The men are undefeated, topping Penn State, Pitt and Auburn throughout the season as the women’s team suffered its first loss last week to No. 17 Auburn for a 2-1 record on the year.

•  Virginia has 15 individual performances ranking nationally in the top 15 this season. Morgan Hill (Olney, Md.), Paige Madden (Mobile, Ala.) and Megan Moroney (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), each posted a top 15 time in three different events. Abby Richter (Henderson, Nev.) and freshmen Kaki Christensen (Darien, Conn.) and Julia Menkhaus (Charlotte, N.C.) also have a time in the top 15 this season.

• Matthew Otto (Newark, Del.), Keefer Barnum (Louisville, Ky.) and Zach Fong (Moorestown, N.J.) lead the men’s team with nationally ranked swims.

• Sydney Dusel (Naperville, Ill.) captured her sixth first-place finish last weekend against Auburn to remain undefeated on the 3m board this season. Her score of 335.25 on the 3m board ranks third in school history.

Cardinals Swimming

• Louisville posts a 2-2 record in dual meets this season with its men’s team topping Xavier and Tennessee, while losing to Ohio State and Texas A&M. The women’s team enters this weekend undefeated in head-to-head competition, defeating Xavier and Tennessee.

• The Cardinals are led by the 2018 female ACC Swimmer of the Year, Mallory Comerford. Comerford leads the country in three individual events and ranks seventh in a fourth event.

• Louisville has three additional swimmers rank first nationally in an event. Nicolas Albiero leads the men’s 200-yard backstroke, while Grace Oglesby paces the women’s 200-yard butterfly and Sophie Cattermole leads the women’s 400-yard individual medley.

• The men’s and women’s programs have a combined 26 performances that rank in the top 15 this season.

Last Time Out
• The Cavalier men topped Auburn after capturing 14 wins in 16 events, building to a 200-129 victory. Seven swimmers recorded a first-place finish in at least one event with Lewis Burras (Dubai), Brendan Casey (Santa Monica, Calif.) and Otto each placing atop two individual events.

• The women’s team suffered its first dual meet loss of the season to No. 17 Auburn, 196-139. Moroney, Madden, Kaki Christensen (Darien, Conn.), Eryn Eddy (Loveland, Colo.) and Dusel each picked up wins during the competition.

Against Louisville
• This is the second meeting this season between the women’s teams as both programs competed at the SMU Classic three weeks ago. Louisville topped the six team meet, defeating Virginia and No. 11 USC in the process.

• The two teams split last year’s dual meet in Charlottesville with the women’s team upsetting Louisville 223-146. The UVA men’s team fell 197.5-166.5.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Virginia Heads to Louisville for Two-Day Meet

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

Arizona State Swimming & Diving High School Championships

• D1: November 2-3, Skyline Aquatic Center, Mesa
• D2: November 2-3, Phoenix Country Day Aquatic Center, Paradise Valley
• D3: November 1-3, Phoenix Country Day Aquatic Center, Paradise Valley
• Full Prelim Heat Sheets (All 3 Meets)

The Arizona State High School Swimming & Diving Championships are set to take place this weekend, with Division 1 being contested at the Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa and Divisions 2 and 3 at the Phoenix Country Day Aquatic Center in Paradise Valley.

Division I

Boys

For the Division 1 boys meet, Brophy Prep comes in as the overwhelming favorites as they seek a 31st straight title. Chaparral has been dominant in D2 in recent years and will move up this year and look to challenge for the title. The biggest challenge Brophy has had recently came from Chaparral in 2013 when they finished 35 points back.

Brophy is without their lone individual event winner from 2017, Patrick Schramm, but does return a strong core group that includes Parker Hughes, Matt Milovanovic and Dane Nelson who all swam on at least one winning relay last year.

Other notable swimmers competing include Chaparral’s Matt Leblanc, who won both the 200 IM and 100 breast last year in Division 2, and Drake Barberii of Rincon is the lone returning Division 1 winner from last year in the 100 fly.

Girls

On the girls side, Chaparral comes in as heavy favorites after cruising to two consecutive Division 2 titles in 2016 and 2017, winning all but two events in the State Championship last season. Xavier Prep are the defending D1 champions, but Chaparral is expected to firmly dominate.

A couple swimmers highlighting their squad this year include Ashley Strouse who won both the 200 and 500 free last year in D2 (and was on two winning relays), Riley Courtney who won the 100 breast, and Greer Pattison who won the 100 back.

Two-time defending 100 free champ Kyla Yetter of Highland and reigning 500 winner Destiny Kling of Chandler (who just committed to Nevada) will also be competing.

Division II

Boys

With Chaparral, who won the Division 2 boys titles in both 2016 and 2017, moving up to D1, the door is now open for the likes of Canyon del Oro, Catalina Foothills and Salpointe to take a run at the title. Catalina Foothills were the runners-up last year.

They have last year’s double winner Scott Pekarske looking to defend his titles in the 200 and 500 free. Tanner Falls of Desert Mountain, who won the 500 at the Division 1 meet in 2017, comes in as the top seed in that event. Harris Temple of Prescott comes in as the defending champ in the 100 free, and holds down the top seed there along with the 100 fly. Jaden Nabor of Verrado is the top seed in the 100 back and will look to defend his 100 fly title from last year against Temple.

Girls

Just like the boys, Chaparral’s absence in the D2 girls meet opens things up after they dominated last year. Catalina Foothills and Arcadia look to be the two teams in contention for the title after alternating 2nd and 3rd place finishes the last two years.

Hannah Houlton of Ironwood Ridge is the lone returning champion after she won the 50 and 100 free last year, as Chaparral had won every other event. Arcadia’s Sydney Carlson is certainly one to watch out for as she enters with the top seeds in the 200 IM and 500 free by wide margins.

Division III

Boys

Seton Catholic are the defending champions for D3 boys, but have lost many swimmers to graduation which opens up the field for the likes of Phoenix Country Day, Saguaro and Veritas Prep to contend. Phoenix Country Day won in 2016.

Grant Nations of Sabino will aim to defend his 100 breast title from last year, and also improve upon his runner-up finish in the 500 free. Freshman Maxwell Kleinman however holds the top seed in the 100 breast by over a second at 58.98. Lucas Olschansky of Phoenix Day Country, who was on the winning 200 medley relay last year, holds down two top seeds in the 200 free and 100 fly, and Seton’s James Karam (on winning 400 free relay in 2017) is the number one seed in the 100 free.

Girls

On the girls side, Sabino eyes a third straight title, though Scottsdale Christian and Scottsdale Prep are also expected to be in the mix.

Sabino’s Skylar Dikeman is the defending champ in the 50 free, while Quinn Murphy of Phoenix Country Day will look to retain both of her titles in the 100 free and 100 back.

Full heats sheets for prelims of all three meets can be found here.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Arizona HS State Champs Preview: Brophy Prep Eyes 31st Straight Title

By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

The Kansas City Star is reporting that University of Missouri men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach Greg Rhodenbaugh‘s paid administrative leave is connected to a Title IX investigation into alleged discrimination against female swimmers.

The school announced this week that Rhodenbaugh, head coach of the program for the past nine seasons, had been placed on paid administrative leave. The school wouldn’t give any further details, but said it was investigating “team management allegations.”

The Kansas City Star on Thursday reported that Missouri’s Title IX Office was investigating Rhodenbaugh after “multiple current or former members of the women’s swim team came forward with issues about Rhodenbaugh’s management of female athletes.” The Star says multiple sources corroborated the Title IX investigation, and quotes at least one former swimmer who ties the allegations to Rhodenbaugh’s handling of mental health issues.

“He didn’t tell me to take my meds or take care of myself,” the former team member says in the Star piece. “He just told me to pray, which was very awkward for me, especially since I’m not really a religious person.”

The Star also says another anonymous source confirmed that the handling of mental health issues were part of the investigation.

We’ve asked the university for further comment, but so far have only received the school’s official press release that says Rhodenbaugh is on paid administrative leave.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Mizzou Coach Rhodenbaugh Under Title IX Investigation, KC Star Says

By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam

Do you suffer from “swimmer’s hair” or “chlorine-fried hair”?

Some call it “swimmers’ straw” because the chlorinated water in pools damages hair so badly, the texture looks and feels like dry, brittle, rough straw. Whatever you call it, your hair doesn’t have to endure this type of chemical ruin.

Ultra Swim is a shampoo product, and it was made for swimmers like you. Ultra Swim gently removes harmful chlorine, and prevents damaged hair. So swim all you want, without sacrificing your hair.

Does Ultra Swim work? 

Yes. It does. It’s the #1 branded chlorine removing shampoo on the market. Swim parents know this. Many swim moms and dads have been using and trusting Ultra Swim Shampoo to protect their hair since the 1980s.

Does Ultra Swim do more than help remove chlorine? 

Have you ever seen a swimmer with greenish hair? Surely you have. It often happens in the summertime, when kids are at outdoor pools twice a day, even all day.  Their hair turns blonde, sometimes cottony-white, and then it starts to get that greenish hue. Ultra Swim Shampoo also helps remove copper deposit and other oxidized metals that can cause hair to take on a greenish cast.

Is Ultra Swim gentle on your hair? 

It is. Ultra Swim is designed with a gentle formula for use after every swim, every day.  Ultra Swim is even suitable for chemically treated hair.  So if you’ve colored or lighten your hair, Ultra Swim helps to protect your salon treatment.

Whether you are a competitor swimmer or a swammer getting back into the pool to get fit, you want to include Ultra Swim Ultra Repair Conditioner as well. The conditioner delivers the extra moisture chlorine exposed hair needs. This deep conditioner restores moisture, detangles and repairs split ends — leaving hair shiny and frizz free.

How does Ultra Swim work? 

With each swim, chlorine bonds to hair. Over time, the build-up makes hair dry, brittle and unmanageable.

Unlike ordinary shampoos, UltraSwim attacks chlorine buildup.

Releasing chlorine bonds from hair to wash it away.

Like Ultra Swim on Facebook

See all Ultra Swim Products here

Buy Ultra Swim at these locations

Ultra Swim is a SwimSwam partner. 

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Ultra Swim Shampoo Is Made For Swimmers

By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam

SwimSwam wants to give you an inside look at what a normal day-in-the-life looks like for any given swimmer, and how that differs from team to team or city to city. We send our head of production, Coleman Hodges, to be a fly on the wall at practice, then relay what he discovered back to you over pancakes. Or at least breakfast.

At this point, it’s practically a halloween tradition that I drive down the road from my home in Austin and see what the Texas A&M men are up to in College Station. They set the bar pretty high with a scary fast off the blocks set last year, and this year they followed it up well. They again started with dryland, which consisted of boxing, somersaults into squat jumps and push ups, and a myriad of creative med ball throws. My personal favorite were the rope climbs which the immediately followed up with weighted dolphin kicks in a plank (weight on their lower back) or weighted flutter kicks on their back (weights on their ankles).

The warm up was 1,000 loosen followed by 6×100 @ 1:15 desc 1-3, 4-6. Pretty standard. The kicker? You had to kick half way off of every wall or be beheaded (proverbially, in most cases) by the CHORD. I think every swim team needs a chord.

The main set was 3 round of 4×75 @ 1:15 with paddles and ankle band (25 fast-25 ez-25 fast) followed by 10×50 200 pace @ :50 (:55 for breaststroke). You finish each round with 100 ex @ 2:00, then 8×25 FAST @ :20. The A&M men had done this set 3 weeks in a row now, with slight variation thrown into it each week, and it’s an old fashioned how tough can you get set. It’s one that was fun to watch, and I’m guessing not quite as fun to swim.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Practice + Pancakes: Texas A&M Men Crush 30×50’s Pace @ :50

By Giusy Cisale on SwimSwam

Due giorni fa vi avevamo anticipato che l’iter per l’acquisizione della cittadinanza italiana di Santo Condorelli era in dirittura d’arrivo.

Oggi è arrivata la conferma della Federazione Italiana Nuoto. L’iter è concluso. Condorelli è diventato atleta italiano.

Clicca qui per il comunicato stampa

Santo Condorelli sarà ai blocchi di partenza al trofeo “Nico Sapio” in programma a Genova dal 9 all’11 Novembre.

L’atleta tesserato con Aurelia Nuoto è dunque convocabile nella Nazionale Italiana.

I TEMPI MIGLIORI DI CONDORELLI

Condorelli ha partecipato alle Olimpiadi di Rio arrivando 4 ° nei 100 stile libero. Alle Olimpiadi ha nuotato i suoi migliori tempi di sempre:

• 50 stile libero (21.97)
• 100 stile libero (47.88)
• 100 farfalla (51.83)

È stato anche finalista come membro della staffetta 4×100 stile libero del Canada.

Oltre alla sua apparizione olimpica, è salito sul podio dei Campionati del Mondo di Kazan del 2015 con la staffetta 4×100 mixed mista.

A Kazan arrivò anche in finale nella gara dei 100 stile libero.

Con il trasferimento in Italia, Condorelli dovrebbe svolgere un ruolo importante sulle staffette.

La nostra nazionale comprende già talentuosi velocisti, come il campione europeo dei 100 stile libero e Record Italiano Alessandro Miressi e  Luca Dotto.

Dotto è stato il primo italiano a rompere il muro dei 48 secondi nei 100 metri, durante i Campionati Italiani di Riccione del 2016 quando fissò il record italiano con il tempo di 47.96.

Questa estate, pochi giorni dopo aver conquistato il titolo Europeo, Alessandro Miressi abbassava il record italiano, fissandolo a 47.92.

Il miglior tempo di Condorelli sui 100 stile libero è di 47.88, più basso del record italiano attuale.

L’arrivo di Condorelli renderà sicuramente altamente competitiva la nostra squadra, in proiezione Mondiali 2019 e Olimpiadi 2020.

Condorelli ora si sta allenando con Claudio Rossetto, che allena anche i nazionali Dotto e Ivano Vendrame .

MONDIALI IN VASCA CORTA – ATLETI GIÀ QUALIFICATI:

• Andrea Vergani 50 stile libero
• Ilaria Cusinato 200 e 400 misti
• Alessandro Miressi 100 stile libero
• Gregorio Paltrinieri 1500 stile libero
• Matteo Restivo 200 dorso
• Fabio Scozzoli 50 rana
• Luca Pizzini 200 rana
• Piero Codia 100 farfalla
• Federico Burdisso 200 farfalla
• Simona Quadarella 400 800 stile libero
• Carlotta Zofkova 100 dorso
• Margherita Panziera 200 dorso
• Arianna Castiglioni 50 rana e 100 rana
• Elena Di Liddo  100 farfalla
• Ilaria Bianchi
• Federica Pellegrini
• Simone Sabbioni Filippo Megli
• Luca Dotto
• Thomas Ceccon 
• Domenico Acerenza

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Santo Condorelli E’ Ufficialmente Convocabile Nella Nazionale Italiana

By Loretta Race on SwimSwam

2018 FINA WORLD CUP – BEIJING

• Friday, November 2nd – Sunday, November 4th
• Beijing National Aquatics Centre, Water Cube
• Heats at 10am local/Finals at 7pm local
• SCM
• Entry List
• SwimSwam Meet Preview
• Day 1 Prelims
• Results

The Chinese contingency was strong on day 1 of the FINA World Cup on their home turf, with swimmers from the host nation of this 3rd cluster stop topping the podium across 4 events. First up was teen freestyle ace Li Bingjie, who was competing without her partner in crime and newly-minted 400m free World Record holder Wang Jianjiahe.

Without Jianjiahe in the mix Bingjie surged to the lead in the 400m free and never looked back, stopping the clock at 3:59.20 for the win. Li’s outing here in Beijing represents the 2nd fastest of her young career, with her time of 3:59.14 from the World Cup in Tokyo last year sitting at the top of her list.

Dutch swimmer Femke Heemskerk showed her versatility in snapping up 2nd place with a very respectable 4:02.24, while Liu Yaxin rounded out the top 3 in 4:04.30. Heemskerk sits as the 4th fastest swimmer in the world with the 4:00.03 notched in Budapest.

Of note, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu had earned the top seed of the morning in this women’s 400m free with an AM time of 4:05.76, but she scratched the final.

China took the men’s edition of the 400m free as well, with Ji Xinjie beating the field in a mark of 3:40.82. The 21-year-old who earned 4 bronze medals at this year’s Asian Games led tonight’s race wire-to-wire, beating out tough racer Mykhailo Romanchuk of Ukraine, the reigning LCM European champion in this event.

America’s Blake Pieroni got his name on the board as the bronze medalist tonight, earning a mark of 3:45.32. The former IU Hoosier’s best time over the first two clusters was the 3:41.79 notched in Eindhoven.

The 3rd gold medal for China this evening came in the form of Xu Jiayu‘s performance in the men’s 200m backstroke. Registering the only sub-1:50 effort of the field with his podium-topping 1:49.08, Xu now checks-in as the new Chinese National Record holder in the SCM version of the event. His effort tonight smashed his previous personal best of 1:50.61 clocked way back in 2014 at this same meet.

Xu denied Australian Mitch Larkin a run at taking the 200m back title yet again, with the 2015 double world champion settling for silver in 1:50.72. However, Larkin still has the leg up in the world rankings, wearing the crown by just .01 over Xu.

2018-2019 SCM MEN 200 BACK

MitchellAUS
LARKIN

10/26
1.49.07

2	Ryosuke iRIE	JPN	1.50.15	09/28
3	Jorden MERRILEES	AUS	1.51.32	10/26
4	Radoslaw KAWECKI	POL	1.52.42	09/28
5	Grigory TARASEVICH	RUS	1.52.45	09/28

View Top 26»

The final gold for the Chinese came tonight courtesy of Li Zhuhao who rushed to the wall first the 100m fly to win by just .10. Zhuhao took gold in 50.74, while Belarusian swimmer Yauhen Tsurkin was right behind in a mark of 50.84.

Li was just over a second off of his own Chinese National Record of 49.53 from last year, while Tsurkin has been under the 50-second threshold once in his career with the 49.99 that rendered him 6th in the 2014 Short Course World Championships final.

With Hosszu having dropped the 400m, she had extra fuel to take 2 golds this evening. The 29-year-old multiple Olympic champion powered to the top of the pile in the 100m IM, clocking 57.05 for the victory. She holds the World Record in 56.51 from 2017 and was within half a second of that performance this evening. In fact, Hosszu’s 57.05 inserts itself in the 11th spot among the fastest performances in history.

Behind her was Sweden’s speedster Sarah Sjostrom, collecting silver in 57.71 for the only other swimmer under 58. Sjostrom’s fastest is 57.10, a time that represents the Swedish National Record. Australian dynamo Emily Seebohm was 3rd tonight in 58.63.

The women’s 200m fly was Hosszu’s next victim, where the ‘Iron Lady’ split 59.73/1:03.15 to stop the clock at 2:02.88 for the win. A pair of Chinese swimmers found themselves on the podium as well, with Zhang Yufei touching in 2:03.33, while Zhang Yuhan finished well back in 2:08.23.

Zhang Yufei opened in a quick 27.30, but that was the only lead over Hosszu, as the Hungarian moved ahead and didn’t look back. For Hosszu, her time tonight checks-in among her own top 10 performances of all-time and is just .01 shy of the 2:02.87 she produced in Eindhoven that sits as #1 in the world.

Although Hosszu raced the women’s 200m breast, she faded to 6th and saw Russia’s Yulia Efimova earn the gold in 2:16.98. Efimova’s effort checks-in among the top 25 performances of all-time in the SCM version of the event and represents the 2nd fastest time this year only behind her own 2:15.62 from September.

Teammate Vlad Morozov also gave Russia some hardware in the form of double wins in the 100m IM and 50m free. In the former, Morozov fired off a wicked-fast 50.84 to beat reigning short course world champion Michael Andrew of America by almost a second. MA clocked 51.65 for silver, while Japan’s Hiromasa Fujimori was the bronze medalist in 51.95.

Morozov’s mark of 20.87 easily won the 50m freestyle over MA as well, with the American touching in 21.44. Morozov’s 20.51 World Cup Record from October remains as the top time in the world this season, while Andrew’s 21.01 from last month is positioned 4th.

Another Russian, Kirill Prigoda came away with the men’s 100m bresaststroke win in 56.61, beating out host country swimmer Yan Zibei. Yan earned silver in 57.01.

Additional winners this evening include Kira Toussaint who won the women’s 50m backstroke in a time of 26.21 over China’s Fu Yuanhui‘s 26.33. For Toussaint, her mark was just .11 over Ranomi Kromowidjojo’s national record from earlier this season.

Kromo herself was in the pool tonight, wreaking havoc in the women’s 50m free. She managed to top her rival Sjostrom of Sweden once again, collecting a winning mark of 23.48 to Sjostrom’s 23.54. Heemskerk rounded out the top 3 in 23.91.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: FINA World Cup Beijing Day 1 Finals: Hosszu Back In Iron Lady Mode

By Giusy Cisale on SwimSwam

FINA WORLD CUP 2018 – PECHINO

• Venerdì, 2 novembre – Domenica 4 novembre
• Pechino Centro Acquatico Nazionale, Water Cube
• Riscaldamento ore 10 locali / finali ore 19:00 locali
• Vasca Corta
• entry List
• swimswam Italia Preview
• Risultati

Nel primo giorno di gare della tappa di Coppa del Mondo Fina a Pechino, si è visto il ritorno della “Iron Lady” Katinka Hosszu. Ottimi risultati anche di Li Bingjie e di tutta la compagine asiatica.

400 stile libero femminili

1. ORO Li Bingjie 3:59.20
2. ARGENTO Femke Heemskerk 4:02.24
3. BRONZO LIU Yaxin 4:04.30

Unica a scendere sotto i quattro minuti. Li Bingjie ha approfittato dell’assenza della compagna di squadra Wang Jianjiahe (titolare del record del mondo) per recitare il ruolo da protagonista.

Con 3:59.20 guadagna l’oro e sigla il suo personale in questa gara.

Femke Heemskerk dimostra la sua versatilità salendo sul secondo gradino del podio con 4: 02.24.

400 stile libero maschili

Il cinese  Ji Xinjie anticipa Romanchuk di quasi tre secondi, toccando per primo in 3:40.82.

L’ucraino  Mykhailo Romanchuk è campione europeo in questa gara (vasca lunga) e si è dovuto raccontare dell’argento, con 3:43.32. Chiude il podio l’americano Blake Pieroni con 3:45.32

100 misti femminili

1. ORO Katinka Hosszu 57.05
2. ARGENTO Sarah Sjostrom 57.71
3. BRONZO Emily Seebohm 58.63

Katinka Hosszu ha messo a segno la sua prima medaglia nei 100 metri misti. Segnaliamo che l’ungherese si era anche qualificata per la finale dei 400 metri stile libero. Vi ha rinunciato per concentrarsi sulle altre finali.

La Hosszu vince i 100 misti con il tempo di 57.05. In questa gara lei detiene il Record del Mondo ed il Record della World Cup, conquistati a Berlino il 7 Agosto 2017.

Seconda  Sarah Sjostrom che scende sotto i 58 secondi toccando a 57.71.

200 metri farfalla femminili

1. ORO Katinka Hosszu 2:02.88
2. ARGENTO ZHANG Yufei 2:03.33
3. BRONZO ZHANG Yuhan 2:08.23

Nei 200m farfalla femminili arriva il secondo oro per Katinka Hosszu. Con un passaggio ai 100 metri di 59.73 ed un ritorno a 1: 03.15, ferma il cronometro a 2: 02,88. Dietro l’ungherese due atleti cinesi. Argento per  Zhang Yufei con 2: 03.33, mentre  Zhang Yuhan  tocca terza in 2: 08.23.

ALTRI RISULTATI

• 200 DORSO MASCHILI. Xu Jiayu regala alla Cina la terza medaglia d’oro della serata, siglando anche il record nazionale nella distanza in vasca corta con il tempo di 1: 49.08. L’australiano Xu ha negato australiano  Mitch Larkin tocca per secondo con 1: 50.72. Tuttavia, Larkin guida ancora il ranking mondiale stagionale, con un centesimo di secondo di vantaggio rispetto a Xu Jiayu
• 200 RANA FEMMINILI. Yulia Efimova vince l’oro con un vantaggio di tre secondi, con il tempo di 2: 16.98. Questo è il suo secondo miglior tempo della stagione.
•  Vlad Morozov e Michael Andrew si danno battaglia nei 100 MISTI MASCHILI e dopo pochi minuti, nei 50 STILE LIBERO. Entrare le sfide vanno al russo, che porta a casa due ori. Nei 100 metri misti con 50.84 riesce a rifilare all’americano quasi un secondo (51.65 il tempo di Andrew). Nei 50 stile libero Morozov è l’unico atleta a scendere sotto i 21 secondi. Conquista l’oro con 20.87. Michael Andrew argento con 21.44.
• 50 STILE LIBERO FEMMINILE. Ranomi Kromowidjojo sorprende tutte ed ha la meglio, toccando per prima a 23.48. Argento per Sarah Sjostrom con 23.54. Femke Heemskerk chiude il podio con il tempo di 23.91.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Fina World Cup Pechino: Il Ritorno Ai Vertici Di Katinka Hosszu

By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

Lilly King, Mallory Comerford, Zach Apple and Justin Ress are among the key names highlighting rosters for the 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge, pitting the two major NCAA conferences against one another in a dual meet style setting.

Each school is represented by at least two men and two women on the conference all-star roster. The meet will take place on Nov. 10-11 at Purdue University.

The ACC lineup features world champ Comerford among 11 Louisville athletes: 5 male swimmers, 5 female swimmers and a female diver. NC State and Virginia lead with 12 total athletes: 5 male and 5 female swimmers apiece, with two divers from each program as well.

You can view the full ACC roster here.

ACC Roster by School

The Big Ten lineup is led by world record-holder King of Indiana, one of 13 Hoosiers on the squad. Indiana, Ohio State and Minnesota all hit 13 total athletes (with the help of divers). Ohio State is led by Paul DeLakis on the men’s side. Minnesota has Bowen Becker to lead its men’s group and Indiana’s lineup features transfer Zach Apple.

You can view the full Big Ten roster here.

Big Ten Roster by School

Early-Look Showdowns

Though we don’t know who will swim what as of yet, a few event disciplines already look to have some outstanding Big Ten vs ACC matchups:

• Women’s Mid-Sprint free: Louisville’s Mallory Comerford vs Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey is always an explosive show. Watch the 100 and 200 frees for that battle.
• Women’s backstrokes: Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson should be in the mix for both backstroke titles, but she’ll have to fight Virginia’s Megan Moroney (ranked 2nd in the NCAA this season) in the 200 and NC State’s Elise Haan (4th at NCAAs last year) in the 100.
• Women’s butterfly: Louisville’s Grace Oglesby finished in the top 8 in both butterfly races at NCAAs last year, but Michigan freshman Maggie MacNeil has been on fire this fall with the nation’s top time in the 100. The 200 could be a great battle between Oglesby and another Wolverine: Vanessa Krause, who finished one spot behind Oglesby at NCAAs.
• Men’s sprints: maybe the marquee matchup of the meet: it’s NC State’s Justin Ress vs Indiana’s Zach Apple, two of the best freestylers in the nation from the 50 up to the 200 free. Ress could swim backstroke instead, but let’s be honest: we’re all hoping to get a preview of the battle for the NCAA crown in at least the 100 and 200 frees. Bowen Becker (the fastest returning 50 freestyler nationwide) is also in the mix for Minnesota.
• Men’s distance: Notre Dame freshman Zach Yeadon was a revelation last year, and only appears to be getting better in his sophomore campaign. He matches up with Michigan’s Felix Auboeck, who was 2nd at NCAAs in both the 500 and the mile.
• Vazaios vs Lanza: They don’t exactly swim one discipline, but NC State’s Andreas Vazaois matched up with Indiana’s Vini Lanza twice at NCAAs. Vazaios was 2nd in the 200 IM and won the 200 fly, while Lanza was 6th in the IM and 3rd in the fly.
• Men’s butterfly: Lanza and NC State’s Coleman Stewart are currently tied for the NCAA lead in the 100 fly at 47.14. That should be an amazing showdown to complement a potential Lanza-Vazaios battle in the 200 fly. Louisville’s tough duo of Nicholas Albiero and Zach Harting should make both butterfly races into can’t-miss battles across the pool.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Full Rosters Announced For ACC/Big Ten Challenge

By Adrian Mancebo on SwimSwam

Copa del mundo 2018 – Etapa #5 Pekín – Día 1

• Viernes 2 noviembre – domingo 4 noviembre
• Centro acuático nacional de Pekín, el Cubo de agua
• Series a las 9:30 hora local; finales a las 19:00 hora local
• Piscina corta (25m)
• Web de la Copa del mundo de la FINA
• Lista de nadadores participantes en Pekín
• Avance de la competición de SwimSwam español
• Resultados

A pesar de la ausencia de la nueva poseedora del récord mundial de 400 libre, Jianjiahe Wang; el equipo chino rindió al máximo en casa en el primer día de finales al ganar cuatro medallas de oro.

Li Bingjie, actual subcampeona del mundo de 800m libre en piscina larga, ganó el oro en los 400m libre con 3:59.20 por delante de la holandesa Femke Heemskerk, plata con 4:02:24; y la china Liu Yaxin, bronce con 4:04.30. Li se quedó muy cerca de su mejor marca de siempre, los 3:59.14 de la Copa del mundo de Tokyo 2017, un tiempo más de 5 segundos por detrás del récord de Wang. Katinka Hosszu también se clasificó para la final pero decidió descartar la prueba para centrarse en los 200m mariposa y los 100m estilos.

Ji Xinjie se llevó otro oro para China y ganó los 400m libre masculinos con 3:40.82. Ji consiguió cuatro medallas de oro en los recientes Juegos asiáticos. El ucraniano Mykhailo Romanchuk, vigente campeón europeo en esta prueba en larga, se llevó la plata con 3:43.32. El americano Blake Pieroni consiguió en bronce con 3:45.32, lejos de sus 3:41.79 de la etapa de Eindhoven.

El tercer oro de la noche para China llegó de la mano de Xu Jiayu, que batió el récord nacional chino en 200m espalda con 1:49.08. Xu es conocido por ser el campeón del mundo de 100m espalda en Budapest 2017, y este verano ganó los 200m espalda en los Juegos asiáticos también con récord chino en 1:53.99. El australiano Mitchell Larkin se llevó la plata con 1:50.72, casi dos segundos por detrás de su mejor tiempo de la temporada, los 1:49.07 que le sitúan como número 1 en el ránking mundial. El tercero fue el australiano Bradley Woodward, que con sus 1:51.92 también se ha metido en el top5 del ránking mundial.

Jiayu Xu 2017 Mundiales de Budapest, Hungría (photo: Mike Lewis)

Li Zhuhao, el mejor mariposista chino en la actualidad, consiguió el cuarto oro para su país. Li venció en el 100m mariposa con 50.74 en una carrera muy ajustada sobre el bielorruso Yauhen Tsurkin y el japonés Keita Sunama, que fueron segundo y tercero con 50.84 y 50.88, respectivamente.

La Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu se lució esta noche en Pekín al ganar dos oros. Hosszu se llevó los 100m estilos con 57.05 en una carrera cargada de grandes nombres. Sarah Sjostrom fue plata con 57.71 y Emily Seebohm, bronce con 58.63. Katinka también fue la número 1 en los 200m mariposa, donde ganó el oro con 2:02.88 en un ajustado duelo con Zhang Yufei, plata con 2:03.33. Katinka muestra así una clara recuperación y mejora de cara a los mundiales de Hangzhou.

El otro equipo triunfador de la noche fue el ruso. Vladimir Morozov ganó dos oros en dos de sus pruebas favoritas, los 100m estilos y los 50m libres. En los 100m estilos se quedó a más de medio segundo de su récord del mundo con 50.84 por delante de Michael Andrew, plata con 51.65, y el japonés Hirmoasa Fujimori, tercero con 51.95.

Morozov triunfó con facilidad en los 50m libres con 20.87, dejando lejos a Andrew, de nuevo segundo con 21.44, y al chino Hou Yujie con 21.88. El americano Pieroni se quedó cuarto a solo una décima del podio.

Otro éxito de la delagación Rusia vino a cargo de Kirill Prigoda, al llevarse el oro en los 100m braza con 56.61 por delante del chino Yan Zibei y el bielorruso Ilya Shymankovich, plata y bronce con 57.01 y 57.10, respectivamente. El plusmarquista europeo de 200m braza en piscina larga, Anton Chupkov, solo pudo ser cuarto.

No sorprendió la victoria en los 200m braza de Yulia Efimova, la rusa se ha mostado dominante en esta prueba en los últimos años, siendo campeona del mundo en 2017 y campeona de europa este año, ganando también todas las etapas de la actual copa del mundo. Efimova se llevó la prueba con 2:16.98, por delante de su compatriota Simonova, plata con 2:19.86, y la nadadora local He Yun, bronce con 2:21.33. En esta prueba, la campeona olímpica china fue cuarta, y Katinka Hosszu se hundió hasta la sexta posición.

Las holandesas Kira Toussaint y Ranomi Kromowidjojo se llevaron cada una una victoria. Toussaint fue oro en los 50m espalda con 26.21, por delante de Fu Yuanhui con 26.33 y Seebohm con 26.39. Liu Xiang, la plusmarquista mundial en esta prueba en larga, fue cuarta.

Kromowidjojo parece tenerle tomada la medida a Sjostrom en las pruebas de velocidad en esta Copa del mundo. La holandesa ganó los 50m libre con 23.48 ajustadamente sobre la sueca, segunda con 23.54. Heemskerk fue bronce con 23.91 y la campeona olímpica Pernille Blume fue cuarta con 23.99.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Copa del mundo Pekín día 1: Hosszu cada vez más en forma

By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam

Courtesy: Speedo

Speedo, the world’s leading swimwear brand, has signed Mykhailo Romanchuk, Ukrainian distance freestyle specialist and current European Champion in the 400 and 800-metre freestyle, in a new three-year deal. The deal lands at the start of the Asian Cluster of the Swimming World Cup, taking place from 2-4 November in Beijing.

The agreement is announced during an already successful 2018 season for Romanchuk, where he has found success so far with gold in the 400 and 800-metre freestyle and silver on the 1500-metre distance during the European Championships in Glasgow.

Romanchuk says: “I’m very excited to be joining Team Speedo at this point in my career, with the Swimming World Cup happening now and ahead of the World Championships and 2020 Olympic Games. In order to perform on top and be on the world’s stage, I need my racing gear to perform with me. I have already achieved all my main victories in Speedo and it’s a great feeling to know I have the best brand by my side to support me in my future challenges.”

Romanchuk, who trains in Belek, Turkey at the renowned Gloria Sports Arena under the British former world champion James Gibson, first made an appearance on the international stage in 2014 during the Youth Olympic Games, where he took gold in the 400-metre freestyle and silver in the 800-metre freestyle.

During last year’s World Championships, Romanchuk only just missed out on another golden title on the 1500-metre freestyle by one second, closely behind Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri who he then revenged during the European Championships, taking the win by more than eight seconds ahead of his Italian rival.

Rob Hicking, Brand Director at Speedo International, said: “Mykhailo is one of the most successful and talented freestyle swimmers in the world, who has already achieved incredible success in his career. We’re delighted to partner with Mykhailo as part of Team Speedo and support his exciting swimming journey.”

About Speedo®

The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations, and supports swimming from grass-roots through to the elite level. In the 1920s Speedo® made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo® redefined swimwear again with Fastskin® LZR RACER® – the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created. 2011 saw Speedo unveil another world first with the Fastskin Racing System – a cap, goggle and suit designed to work together as one. Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world. To find out more visit: www.speedo.com.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Speedo Signs Deal with Ukrainian Mykhailo Romanchuk

By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

A clarified rule interpretation by FINA could bring serious consequences for athletes and organizing bodies of the Energy For Swim 2018 meet. Meet organizers say the interpretation is FINA’s attempt to “destroy” the meet in an attack on the International Swimming League (ISL).

The rule interpretation would essentially reclassify the Energy For Swim 2018 meet as an international-level competition that would need further FINA approval, without the time to obtain the approval before the meet happens. Sources tell SwimSwam the conflict could lead to sanctions on the meet hosts and on athletes who participate in the Energy for Swim event – even potentially disqualification from future World Championships or Olympic Games.

“They decided to destroy this event,” said Dmitriy Kachurovskiy, former president of the Ukrainian swimming federation and current ISL official. “That event – that many elite athletes from all over the world want to participate in – has become more and more popular, and I think they try to destroy it because they are afraid of it.”

Reclassifying International Meets

Documents obtained by SwimSwam show that FINA (the international federation governing aquatics) contacted FINA Bureau members to “request advice” as to an interpretation of the organization’s bylaws. The interpretation specifically targets whether meets are classified as “international” or “national.” Organizers of international competitions have to seek FINA approval at least six months before the start of the meet, while national competitions do not.

The ISL had originally planned a December competition that would emphasize fan entertainment, team-based competition and generous athlete compensation. But Dmitriy Kachurovskiy, former president of the Ukrainian swimming federation and current ISL official, says FINA made clear that it did not recognize the ISL, even going as far as to contact all national federations to announce it wouldn’t recognize an ISL-organized meet and that athletes who participated in such an event could face disqualification.

The December competition was eventually reformed into what was clearly labeled in meet invites as a “national competition where national and foreign swimmers will participate on individual basis not representing member federations, in respect of LEN and FINA rules.” The Italian swimming federation (FIN) would host the event, which is funded by the Energy Standard Group. The ISL isn’t technically connected to the Energy for Swim 2018 meet, though the ISL, Energy Standard Group and Energy for Swim event all have the same organizer: ISL Advisory Board Head Konstantin Grigorishin.

But when FINA contacted its Bureau, the rule interpretation specifically noted that “a competition which is conceptually designed to have a majority of foreign participants… is not a national competition.” That interpretation would count the Energy for Swim 2018 meet as an international competition, effectively legislating the meet out of existence because the six-month window to get FINA approval has long since passed.

Kachurovskiy said the move was an attempt to “destroy” the format of the ISL.

We asked FINA for comment, but have not yet received a response.

Potential Consequences

It’s unclear what the consequences would be for involved parties if the meet doesn’t ultimately get FINA approval. Kachurovskiy says the Energy for Swim 2018 organizers are continuing to prepare for the meet, hoping to work with FINA to get the meet approved.

If the meet isn’t approved, though, sources tell SwimSwam that athletes have been warned by their national federations that they may be caught in the middle of a game of chicken between FINA and meet organizers. Kachurovskiy said he didn’t believe athletes could be disqualified from future international competitions for competing at an unapproved meet, but said he couldn’t say for sure.

We have reached out to several involved athletes to learn more about what they have or haven’t been told, and what they would choose to do if the meet isn’t allowed. We will follow up with more commentary from them at a later date.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: FINA Rule Interpretation Could Outlaw Energy For Swim Meet

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

2018 RIGA SPRINT MEET

• November 2-3, 2018
• Rigas, Latvia
• Meet info sheet
• SwimRankings Meet Central
• Live Results
• Full Day 1 Results (PDF)
• 25m (SCM)

The opening day of the 2018 Riga Sprint Meet in Latvia (SCM) is in the books, with young 15-year-old Ieva Maluka stealing the show with a pair of Latvian National Records in the women’s 100 freestyle and 100 IM.

Maluka clocked in at 54.92 to win the 100 free, breaking the previous mark of 54.95 set by Gabriela Nikitina earlier this year at the Latvian SC Championships in Riga. Belarusians Natassia Karakouskaya (54.99) and Alena Semizhon (55.41) of Minsk were 2nd and 3rd.

Later in the session, Maluka broke her own national mark in the 100 IM, winning in 1:01.28 to take out her 1:01.33 set at the Eindhoven World Cup at the end of September. Estonian Margaret Markvardt was 2nd in 1:02.65, and she also won the 100 back in 1:01.23.

OTHER WINNERS

• Minsk swimmers Viktar Krasochka (49.32) and Kantstantin Kurachkin (50.53) went 1-2 in the men’s 100 freestyle.
• Nikitina, the now former 100 free Lativan Record holder, won the 50 fly in a time of 27.37 over Anastasiya Kuliashova (27.50) of Minsk. Nikitina still holds that record in 26.44.
• Hryhory Pekarski of Belarus won the men’s 50 fly in 23.28, beating out countryman Yahor Dodaleu (23.40) who is representing Minsk.
• Lativan Arina Sisojeva swept the women’s 50 and 200 breaststrokes, clocking 32.33 and 2:37.12 respectvely.
• Nikolajs Maskalenko, who, like Sisojeva, represents the SK Delfins, won the men’s 50 breast in a time of 27.04 over Jevgenijs Boicovs (27.88), and also won the 100 IM in 54.85 over Krasochka (55.84). Maskalenko holds the Latvian Record in the 50 breast at 26.72 from back in 2014.
• Viktar Staselovich of Minsk took the men’s 100 back in 52.89.
• Vasilisa Zeliankevich (2:23.07) of Minsk and Danila Viarbitski (2:05.64) of GCOR Minsk won the women’s and men’s 200 fly events respectively.
• Daniils Bobrovs of Latvia won the men’s 200 breast in 2:09.26. He holds their national record in 2:08.54.
• The Minsk teams won both the women’s and men’s 4×50 free relays, with key lead-offs from Karakouskaya (25.18) for the women and Staselovich (22.59) for the men, while Maluka split 25.59 on the BJSS Ridzene-DSN team that won the mixed 4×50 free relay (contested in prelims, all relays are timed finals).

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Ieva Maluka Lowers Two Latvian SC Records On Day 1 Of Riga Sprint Meet

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

American swimmer Gary Hall Jr. is one of 6 new inductees to the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in their class of 2018.

Hall is a 10-time Olympic medalist including 5 gold medals. He’s the only swimmer in history, male or female, to win successfully defend an Olympic title in the 50 free, winning gold in 2000 (tied with Anthony Ervin) and again in 2004. He also won 6 World Championships in long course, 4 Pan Pacific gold medals, and a Pan American gold.

Hall is one of the more eccentric and outspoken swimmers to ever represent the red, white, & blue. While competing, he was known for his on-deck antics including walking onto deck in boxing shorts and shadow-boxing before races.

After his first Olympic appearance in 1996, Hall was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes

Hall was born in Cincinnati, and swam in high school at Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was part of a run of 30-straight state titles (which could become 31 later today).

Hall of Fame rules say that each class is supposed to have 4 honorees chosen by its Trustees, with 1 additional member voted on by the public. This year’s class has an extra 6th inductee.

2018 Class of Inductees:

• Gary Hall Jr., Swimming
• Jeff Oscarson, high school softball coach
• Mark Grace, professional baseball player
• Mike Candrea, University of Arizona softball coach
• Pat Tillman, football
• Sister Lynn Winsor, high school girls golf coach

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Gary Hall Jr. Chosen for Arizona Sports Hall of Fame

By Loretta Race on SwimSwam

2018 DUEL IN THE POOL – LOUGHBOROUGH VS UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

• Saturday, November 3rd
• Loughborough University/British Swimming National Centre
• Races begin at 5pm local
• SCM
• Dual Meet Start List

Inspired by the thrilling NCAA duel meets that take place in the American collegiate system, Loughborough University hosted the University of Toronto for a first-ever head-to-head competition.

A 36-strong Toronto squad featuring the likes of powerhouse Olympian Kylie Masse and World Junior Championships medalist Rebecca Smith descended upon the British Swimming National Centre to contest 28 events, including 4 relays. They battled against Loughborough standouts James Wilby, Jocelyn Ulyett, Thomas Fannon and others in the 2-team pursuit.

Each swimmer was able race a maximum of 3 individual events at the inaugural duel, with points scored by the fastest 2 swimmers from each university assigned 5-3-2-1, respectively. Relays earned double points.

Loughborough got out to an early lead and never looked back, leading its visiting rival 96 to 58 through 12 events and increasing that to a total of 124 to 74 after 16 events. Loughborough wound up winning the competition with a total of 210 points to Toronto’s 142, but the excitement and fast-paced action of the meet ensured a terrific competition for both the fans and athletes.

The home squad of Loughborough got off to a quick start by winning both the women’s and men’s 4 x 50m medley relays. The host team’s ‘A’ squad registered a winning mark of 1:47.37 for the women, while the ‘A’ team for the men logged a winning effort of 1:37.02.

Kylie Masse produced the first win for the University of Toronto, tackling the women’s 400m freestyle with finesse. The 22-year-old backstroke national record holder punched a winning time of 4:03.26 to top the podium ahead of two Loughborough swimmers in Abbie Wood and Alice Dearing.

Wood finished in 4:07.28, while Dearing touched the wall 10 seconds after that in 4:17.94 to give Loughborough additional points.

Masse was also in form for the women’s 200m backstroke, a race in which she won by over 6 seconds. Stopping the clock in 2:04.04, Masse scored the 6th fastest time in the world this year to add to the Toronto points kitty. Teammate Aleksa Gold notched 2:11.00 for bronze, with Loughborough athlete Candice Hall splitting the two in 2:10.63 for silver tonight.

2018-2019 SCM WOMEN 200 BACK

EmilyAUS
SEEBOHM

10/06
1.59.94

2	Kathleen BAKER	USA	2.00.69	10/06
3	Katinka HOSSZU	HUN	2.01.00	10/06
4	Minna ATHERTON	AUS	2.03.26	10/25
5	Sayaka AKASE	JPN	2.04.15	10/27

View Top 26»

The women’s 100m back also fell to Masse, as the Canadian blasted a winning time of 57.40 for the top prize. Crushing the field by more than 4 seconds, Masse managed to crank out the 8th fastest time in the world.

2018-2019 SCM WOMEN 100 BACK

EmilyAUS
SEEBOHM

10/05
55.81

2	Kathleen BAKER	USA	55.91	09/29
3	Katinka HOSSZU	HUN	56.08	10/05
4	Kira TOUSSAINT	NED	56.28	09/29
5	Minna ATHERTON	AUS	56.66	10/26
6	Georgia DAVIES	GBR	56.75	10/05
7	Mariia KAMENEVA	RUS	57.27	10/05
8	Kaylee McKEOWN	AUS	57.80	10/26
9	Hayley BAKER	AUS	57.81	10/26
10	Etiene MEDEIROS	BRA	58.01	10/05

View Top 26»

The first Toronto win for the men came courtesy of Cam Kidd in the men’s 50m freestyle. Kidd clocked 22.18 for the victory over national junior record holder Fannon, who registered 22.38 for silver. Loughborough teammate Sam Irvine rounded out the top 3 in 22.76.

National record holder Joceyln Ulyett proved to be a critical component of Loughborugh’s squad, taking both the women’s 100m and 200m breaststroke events. Ulyett clocked 1:07.95 in the 100m and 2:23.32 in the 200m to easily take the duel meet titles and give her team 10 quick points in the process.

Commonwealth Games medalist James Wilby followed suit, giving Loughborough another 10 points across the men’s edition of the aforementioned breast events. Wilby touched in 58.48 in the 100m to earn gold and check-in with a time just outside the top 10 performances in the world this year.

In the longer distance, Wilby finished in 2:10.73, beating Toronto’s Eli Wall by just .21. Wall settled for silver in 2:10.94, while Loughborough’s Adam Brown claimed bronze well back in 2:20.57.

Loughborough-trained French swimmer Marie Wattel was another dynamo who got on the board more than once, starting with the 100m butterfly. Wattel topped the podium in 57.89, the 11th fastest mark in the world this year. Wattel is the reigning Short Course European Championship silver medalist int his event, holding a personal best of 55.97 from 2017.

Toronto’s Rebecca Smith was also under a minute in the 100m fly with 58.68, the 5th fastest time of her career.

The women’s 100m free was Wattel’s 2nd victim, with the Loughborough athlete hitting the wall in 54.15. Wattel holds a personal best mark of 52.25 from the 2017 European Championships final where she finished 6th, but her outing was enough to beat runner-up Ainsley McMurray of Toronto by a solid margin. McMurray touched in 55.09 for silver, with Emily Crane of Loughborough rounding out the top 3 in 55.58.

Loughborough’s Dan Cross doubled up in the backstroke on the men’s side, winning the 200m distance in 1:58.10 while taking the 100m sprint in 54.65.

Toronto’s Smith busted out 2 golds on her own, coming out on top of the women’s 200m IM in a time of 2:11.47 and diving back in to win the 200m free in 1:57.25.

Additional Winners on the Day:

• The men’s 100m fly saw Loughborough’s Kevin Wallbank lead the pack, touching the wall first in 54.09.
• Emily Barclay gave Loughborough a solid 5 points in the women’s 50m freestyle, topping the field in a winning effort of 24.93, the only mark under 25 seconds in the final.
• A Loughborough sweep in the men’s 200m IM was led by James Brown, with the swimmer earning gold in 2:00.75.
• Dearing of Loughborough won the women’s 800m free handily, touching the wall in 8:39.35 to take gold by over 10 seconds.
• Loughborough took the men’s 800m free as well, thanks to Caleb Hughes who topped the podium in 8:19.14. His teammate Ross Hill fell just less than a second shy of the win, touching in 8:19.80, while Toronto’s Max Murphy was right there as well, settling for bronze in 8:19.88.
• The men’s 100m free saw Sam Irvine take the title for Loughborough in 49.27, the only sub-50 second time of the field.
• Toronto’s Hannah Genich proved too quick in the women’s 200m fly, touching in 2:12.12 for the victory.
• Toronto took the men’s edition of the 200m fly as well, with Osvald Nitski leading the way to gold in 2:01.54.
• Toby Robinson of Loughborough was tonight’s 400m freestyle winner, touching in 3:47.47 and winning by over 10 seconds. Robinson took the men’s 200m free as well in a time of 1:50.02.
• Loughborough ended the meet with wins in both the women’s and men’s 4 x 50m freestyle events. The women’s squad touched in 1:39.18 for gold, while the men followed in 1:29.51 to also come out as the winner.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Loughborough Tops Toronto In Thrilling Inaugural Duel Meet

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

Georgia vs South Carolina

• Saturday, November 3, 2018
• Athens, Georgia
• Gabrielsen Natatorium
• Live Results
• Full Results (PDF)
• Women’s Score: Georgia 171, South Carolina 124
• Men’s Score: Georgia 178, South Carolina 111

The University of Georgia men and women cruised to a pair of dual meet wins over South Carolina at home on Saturday, giving the men their first win of the season after losing to Florida last weekend (now 1-1), and the women improving to 2-1 after beating Arkansas and losing to Florida in October.

Both teams won by comfortable margins, with the men topping the Gamecocks 178-111 and the Lady Bulldogs winning 171-124.

Women’s Meet

The Georgia women were spearheaded by sophomore Courtney Harnish and freshman Olivia Carter who won three events each. The Bulldogs were once again notably without Eva Merrell, who has yet to compete in what was expected to be her freshman year. Per the school, they have no update on whether or not Merrell is redshirting the season.

Just like she did last weekend against Florida, Harnish swept the 200, 500 and 1000 freestyles, including taking the 1000 and 200 in back-to-back events. She won the 1000 in 9:50.06 over freshman teammate Maddie Homovich (9:57.34), improving her season-best by close to three seconds and putting her 5th in the nation, and she also dipped under her 200 free season-best to win in 1:46.96. UGA junior Jordan Stout was the runner-up in 1:48.93.

Later on in the meet she posted her fastest time of the season once again to win the 500 in 4:46.70, moving into 5th in the country there as well. Stout (4:53.88) was 2nd in what was a 1-2-3-4 finish for the Bulldogs.

The freshman Carter won the 100 fly (53.67) narrowly over South Carolina’s Christina Lappin (53.81), the 200 fly (1:56.38) over teammate Dakota Luther (1:57.61), and the 200 IM (2:01.11) over South Carolina’s Hallie Kinsey (2:02.71). Her time in the 200 fly was just .08 off of her season-best from the Florida dual which ranks her 4th in the NCAA. Luther, who won the 200 fly at that meet in 1:56.08, sits 3rd in the country.

Georgia also had another freshman, Callie Dickinson, put up some big points with a pair of wins in the backstroke events, winning the 100 in 55.30 over first year teammates Portia Brown (55.41) and Caroline Aikins (55.47), and taking the 200 in 1:58.16 over Homovich (1:59.02), Aikins (1:59.78) and Brown (2:01.00). They outscored the Gamecocks by the maximum margin of 16-3 in both backstroke events.

Also winning for Georgia was junior Veronica Burchill in the 100 free (49.51) over Bulldog freshman Gabi Fa’amausili (50.40), and those two placed 2nd and 3rd in the 50 free in times of 23.14 and 23.19 respectively behind South Carolina’s Lappin (22.85).

In addition to Lappin’s win, senior Emma Barksdale swept the breaststroke events for the Gamecocks with swims of 1:01.84 and 2:14.00 in the 100 and 200 respectively, with UGA sophomore Danielle Della Torre the runner-up in both (1:02.14, 2:14.58). Karlee Price also swept the diving events for South Carolina.

In the relays, Fa’amausili (25.51), Della Torre (28.46), Luther (24.19) and Burchill (22.50) won the 200 medley at the beginning of the session in 1:40.66 over South Carolina’s 1:42.07, who had the top anchor from Lappin in 22.42.

In the 400 free relay the team of Fa’amausili (50.55), Harnish (50.71), Maddie Wallis (50.78) and Burchill (48.96) went 3:21.00 to easily beat out South Carolina’s 3:24.07. The Gamecocks’ top leg came from Lappin, who swam 2nd with a 50.12 split. It’s worth pointing out that Georgia’s swims in both the 200 IM and 400 free relay were scored as exhibition.

Men’s Meet

The UGA men, who were once again without Javier Acevedo as he recovers from injury, won all but three events for the meet, led by four swimmers who won two events each.

Senior James Guest won the 100 (54.65) and 200 breaststroke (1:58.58) events, edging South Carolina’s Lionel Khoo (54.73) in the former and leading a 1-2 with teammate Jack Dalmolin (2:01.88) in the latter. He was also the runner-up in the 200 IM in 1:50.18 behind freshman Andrew Abruzzo (1:48.53), while Dalmolin was 3rd in 1:50.67.

Abruzzo also won the 200 back (1:45.56), and took 2nd to teammate Greg Reed (9:00.22) in the 1000 free in a time of 9:01.62. Reed currently ranks 4th in the nation in a time of 8:59.13, while Abruzzo’s swim improved his season-best of 9:03.54 and put him 6th in the country.

Also winning a pair of events for the Bulldogs was sophomore Camden Murphy in the 100 (47.28) and 200 fly (1:46.73), and senior Alex Bemiller in the 50 (21.00) and 100 free (45.25). Murphy’s 100 fly performance improved his season-best of 48.04 and moved him up into 6th in the NCAA. The 200 fly and 50 free were particularly dominant events for the Georgia men, outscoring the Gamecocks 16-3 in both.

Also winning for the Bulldogs were juniors Walker Higgins in the 200 free (1:37.55) and Kevin Miller in the 500 free (4:26.90).

Anton Jenkins swept the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events for South Carolina, and their other event win came from junior Kevin Liu in the 100 back (49.54) over UGA sophomore Youssef Said (49.70).

The 200 medley team of Said, Guest, Murphy and Bemiller won the meet opening relay in a time of 1:29.11 over South Carolina’s 1:30.32, with Guest (24.38) and Murphy (21.41) producing the fastest splits in the field on breast and fly. Caleb Tosh had the top backstroke leg for South Carolina in 22.97, and Billy Rothery‘s 20.06 anchor for Georgia’s ‘B’ squad was the fastest freestyle split.

The Bulldogs finished the meet off by posting the three fastest times in the 400 free relay (though they were scored as exhibition), with the ‘A’ team of Murphy (45.17), Said (45.49), Bemiller (45.81) and Higgins (45.46) winning in 3:01.93. Swimming on their ‘C’ team, Riley Colin had the 2nd fastest flying split behind Higgins in 45.47.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Harnish, Carter Triple Up As Georgia Sweeps South Carolina

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

3 more British swimmers have signed contracts to join Adam Peaty at the 2018 Energy for Swim meet in Turin, Italy in December. Duncan Scott, Max Litchfield, and Mark Szaranek are all now formally committed to join the December short course meters meet.

Further, meet organizers have announced that Sweden’s Michelle Coleman, a 2-time European relay champion, has also joined the event.

While the names were announced today, organizers cited confidentiality clauses when asked whether the athletes signed before or after FINA voted in a new rules interpretation that would seem to block the meet from being sanctioned by the Italian Federation.

• Read More: FINA Rule Interpretation Could Outlaw Energy for Swim Meet

Scott and Litchfield, both of whom were previously announced as having committed via email, were both members of the 2016 British Olympic team. Scott won silver medals on the 800 free and 400 medley relay, while Litchfield finished 4th in the 400 IM. Litchfield withdrew from both the 2017 World Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games, citing shoulder problems specifically in the latter decision, Scott would win 2 more medals at the World Championships, 6 more at the Commonwealth Games (including a 100 free gold individually), and 4 more at the European Championships (including a 200 free gold individually).

Szaranek is a new name in the mix that wasn’t previously announced. The Scotsman swam collegiately at the University of Florida and won a pair of medals, including 400 IM silver at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year representing his home nation.

The Swede Coleman returned to competition earlier this fall after a 7-month racing hiatus. In the brightest moments of Sweden’s women’s contingent, she swam with Sarah Sjostrom (also committed), Louise Hansson, and Magdalena Kuras to win a European title in the 400 free relay. A year later, Coleman also swam on Sweden’s World Championship silver-medal winning relay.

The meet is schedule to be held in Turin, Italy from December 20th-21st.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Litchfield, Szaranek, Scott, and Coleman Sign on for Energy for Swim