By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Kendall Craig from Evans City, Pennsylvania has announced her verbal pledge to the University of Akron’s class of 2025.

“I’m so excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Akron! I want to thank my family, friends and coaches for their constant and continued support. So happy to be a Zip!”

A rising senior Seneca Valley Senior High School, Craig was an A-finalist in the 200 IM at the 2020 Pennsylvania High School AAA State Championships in March. Craig finished 7th in the IM (2:04.22) and 22nd in the 100 free (53.02). She also anchored the 8th-place Seneca Valley medley relay (23.59), contributing significantly to the Raiders’ 14th-place team finish.

Craig represents Seneca Valley Swim Club when she is not swimming in high school. During her junior year, she improved her personal best times in the SCY 50/100 free, 100 breast, 100/200 fly, and 200/400 IM. Her 100 free and 200 IM times came out of high school swimming; most of the others were achieved in December at the Club Mountaineer Winter Invite. There, she won the 100 fly, was runner-up in the 200 IM and 400 IM, placed 3rd in the 50/100 free and 100 breast, and took 6th in the 100 back. She left the meet with new times in the 50 free, 100 breast, and 100 fly.

Top SCY times:

• 200 IM – 2:03.63
• 400 IM – 4:32.53
• 100 fly – 58.12
• 100 breast – 1:07.45
• 100 back – 59.97
• 50 free – 24.60
• 100 free – 52.53

Craig will suit up for the Zips with fellow class of 2025 commits Abby Daniel and Amelia Kane. She will be an immediate-impact player when she arrives in Akron. She would have scored in the A final of the 200 IM and the B final of the 400 IM at 2020 Mid-American Conference Championships, where Akron won its seventh MAC title with 811 points. It took 55.80 in the 100 fly, 1:04.31 in the 100 breast, 56.25 in the 100 back, and 23.52/51.49 in the 50/100 free to score at conference.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

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Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.

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Read the full story on SwimSwam: Akron Lands Verbal Commitment from IMer Kendall Craig for 2021

By Giusy Cisale on SwimSwam

La nuotatrice di Hong Kong Siobhan Haughey ha nuotato sotto il record nazionale e asiatico nei 200 metri stile libero, anche se il tempo non è ufficiale.

In una prova a tempo effettuata venerdì, la Haughey ha nuotato il tempo di 1:54.44 nei 200 metri Stile libero in vasca lunga. Il crono batte sia il suo record nazionale di 1:54.98, stabilito ai Campionati del Mondo della scorsa estate, sia il record asiatico di 1:54.85, stabilito nel 2018 dalla giapponese Rikako Ikee.

COMPARATIVE SPLITS:

Il tempo di Haughey è anche il più veloce al mondo in questa stagione, eclissando il tempo di 1:54.59 nuotato dall’americana Katie Ledecky alla tappa di Des Moines della Pro Swim Series a Marzo. Inoltre, le avrebbe fatto conquistare la medaglia d’argento ai Campionati del mondo di Gwangju del 2019.

La ventiduenne Haughey ha completato la sua carriera collegiale all’Università del Michigan nella primavera del 2019 e da allora continua ad allenarsi in un gruppo post-laurea. Come molti altri nuotatori internazionali che si allenano negli Stati Uniti, è tornata a casa per allenarsi a Hong Kong durante la pandemia.

Il suo ritorno in America è previsto per la fine del mese, insieme ad altri cittadini di Hong Kong dell’Università del Michigan, come Jamie Yeung e Katii Tang.

VIDEO DELLA PROVA A TEMPO

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Siobhan Haughey Nuota Sotto Il Record Asiatico I 200 Stile 1:54.44

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Denver, Colorado’s Sawyer Inglis has announced his verbal commitment to Southern Methodist University for the 2021-22 school year and beyond.

“I am excited to announce my commitment to further my academic and athletic careers at SMU as a part of the class of 2025. I would like to thank my family, my friends and my coaches Who have helped me through this process. #ponyup”

Inglis is a member of the class of 2021 at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora. He contributed to the Raiders’ runner-up finish in the team standings at the 2019 Colorado High School 5A State Championships in his sophomore season with a 2nd in the 200 free (1:41.74), a 6th in the 500 free (4:41.39), and stints on the 3rd-place 200 free relay (21.31 anchor) and 2nd-place 400 free relay (46.63 split). As swimming & diving is a spring sport for boys in Colorado, his junior season was canceled.

In club swimming, Inglis is a Futures qualifier in the 50/100/200/500 free and 200 back. He had a strong showing at Mt. Hood Sectionals last summer, finaling in the 100/200/400 free and 400 IM and coming away with lifetime bests in the 50m free (24.84), 100m free (53.75), 200m free (1:57.14), and 400m free (4:12.33).

Most recently, he won the 500 free and was runner-up in the 200 free and 200 back at Colorado Swimming’s Pioneer Open last December. He earned PBs in the 50 free and 200 back.

SCY times:

• 500 free – 4:35.05
• 200 free – 1:41.72 1:40.52 (altitude adjusted)
• 100 free – 47.47
• 50 free – 21.97
• 400 IM – 4:06.70
• 200 IM – 1:56.03 1:54.83 (altitude adjusted)
• 200 back – 1:51.41 1:50.21 (altitude adjusted)

Inglis will suit up for the Mustangs with fellow class of 2025 verbal commit Angus Corbeau. SMU finished 3rd in the men’s meet at 2020 AAC Championships. Inglis’ best times would have scored in the B finals of the 500 free and 200 back. He will have the opportunity to train in a mid-distance group led by Colin Feehery (1:37.24), Wyatt Cronk (1:37.92/4:27.39), Petar Bozhilov (1:39.67/4:25.05), Ryan Aroesty (1:40.86), Kolos Nagy (1:43.50/4:33.29), and Joe Carson (1:42.38/4:33.79).

View this post on Instagram

I’m excited to announce my commitment to further my academic and athletic careers at SMU as a part of the class of 2025. I would like to thank all of my family, friends, and coaches who have helped me through this process. #ponyup

A post shared by SAWYER INGLIS (@sawyer.inglis26) on Jul 13, 2020 at 8:20pm PDT

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour 

Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.

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Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
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^{FFT is a SwimSwam partner.}

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Colorado HS 5A Runner-up Sawyer Inglis Gives Verbal Nod to SMU for 2021

By Ronna Weber on SwimSwam

The 35 Japanese Athletic Federations were surveyed between the end of June and mid-July to assess their preference on the timing of the decision to hold next year’s Olympic games according to a Kyodo News survey. Ten of the Federations want a decision within the year, six prefer a decision this fall and one supports a summer decision. The question of timing is being raised given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the resulting concerns for athletes, their ability to train and their safe travel to qualifying events.

The Olympic Games, to be held in Tokyo, Japan, were originally scheduled for July 24-August 9, 2020, but were postponed due to the pandemic and are now slated for July 23-August 8, 2021.

The Tokyo Organizing Committee (TOC), the local organizing committee, would prefer to see a decision made in the spring of 2021, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has the final decision on the timing of the 2021 Olympic Games.

The coronavirus pandemic began impacting qualifying events in early 2020 and the Olympic Games were postponed on March 24, 2020.

To date, Japan, with a population of 126 million people, has had a total of 45,757 cases of coronavirus, with 1,042 deaths.

In July, the Kyoto New Agency conducted a nationwide survey to determine the support for the delayed Olympic Games among the Japanese people. Only 23.9% of respondents believed the games would occur on schedule with most questioning whether the virus could be sufficiently contained to allow the games to proceed safely.

In addition, Ken Terauchi, a 39 year old diver and the first qualified members of the 2020 Japanese Olympic Team, is its first member to test positive for the coronavirus. 

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Half of Japanese Sports Federations Want Decision on Olympics This Year

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2020 CHIBA PREFECTURAL MEET (JPN)

• Saturday, August 8th & Sunday, August 9th
• Chiba International Swimming Center, Narashino, Chiba, Japan
• 50m (LCM)
• Timed Finals
• Day 1 Recap
• Results (in Japanese)

World Championships silver medalist in the 200m freestyle, Katsuhiro Matsumoto, continued to impress here at this Chiba Prefectural Meet in his native Japan.

As we reported, due to the coronavirus restrictions within the nation of Japan, the usually one-location Japanese National Junior Olympic Cup is being held at the prefectural level. Dates for the various local competitions span Saturday, July 18th through Wednesday, September 30th. As in the past, swimmers are broken into age groups of 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, and ‘championship’, with age determined as of August 22nd of this year.

When all competitions have been conducted, times performed across the 47 prefectures will be ranked virtually and qualifying times for additional national meets will be validated.

On day 1, the Yoji Suzuki–trained Matsumoto posted a solid winning effort of 48.94 in the men’s 100m freestyle. His time represented the only outing under 51 seconds of the field and falls in line with the pre-coronavirus-pandemic results he posted of 48.59 at the World Cup stop in Tokyo last August and a 48.97 outing at October’s stop in Budapest.

Moving on today in Chiba, the man competed in his specialty event, the 200m freestyle. Entering this two-day meet, Matsumoto’s most recent performance was represented by the stellar 1:45.44 time trial his posted this past May. That outing was just .22 outside of his own national record time of 1:45.22 he registered for silver in Gwangju at the 2019 FINA World Championships.

Flash forward to today and Matsumoto didn’t miss a beat, hitting a time of 1:46.69 to beat the men’s 200m free field by nearly 4 solid seconds. Splits for Matsumoto’s time included 52.41/54.28 to reach the wall first and snag the meet title in a time that would have placed 15th in Gwangju.

His time also dips under the FINA ‘A’ cut for the 2020 Olympic Games, which stands at 1:47.02, although this is not a FINA-sanctioned Olympic qualifying event. Also, Japanese Olympic selection procedures dictate only next April’s Japan Swim as the sole Olympic-qualifying opportunity for its nation’s swimmers.

Matsumoto’s 1:46.69 from tonight checks-in as the 6th fastest performance of 2020, making him the 4th fastest performer of this calendar year.

Men’s 200 Freestyle Top Performances of 2020

Additional Notes:

• Akira Hirai topped the men’s 1500m free podium here in Chiba, hitting a time of 15:19.41.
• Watanabe’s teammate Kazuki Kohinata doubled up on his 200m breast win from day 1 with the 100m victory today in 1:01.51.
• Yui Yamane, who also trains with Watanabe, added the 100m free victory to her day 1 50m free gold, touching the wall in 56.16.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Matsumoto Impresses With 1:46.6 200 Free At Domestic Meet

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

One of the biggest transfer pieces up for grabs when East Carolina dropped their swimming & diving programs in May, AAC Champion diver Rodrigo Romero has announced that he will transfer to Kentucky next season. Romero is expected to have 3 seasons of eligibility remaining.

View this post on Instagram

I’m super excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and diving career at the University of Kentucky. I’m very grateful for this amazing opportunity I would like to thank @ecuswimdive for an amazing freshman year but especially my coach @jesse.lyman for helping me through this process and for an amazing year can’t wait to be a wildcat!!

A post shared by Rodrigo Romero (@rodrigo_diving) on Jun 21, 2020 at 1:02pm PDT

Last season, as a freshman, Romero was the AAC Conference Champion on the 1-meter springboard event. He also finished 2nd in the conference in the 3-meter and platform events.

Romero qualified for the Zone B Diving Championships. On platform, he finished 8th, which was good enough for an NCAA National Championship (non-reimbursed) invite. He also was eligible to dive the 3-meter at that meet after placing 11th, and he was 15th on the 1-meter at Zones.

That made him ECU’s first diver to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships since Jack Morrow in 1974. That meet was canceled because of the rising coronavirus pandemic, but all qualified divers (and swimmers) were given All-America honors by the CSCAA.

With 186 points, Kentucky tied Tennessee as the 2nd-best scoring men’s diving crew at last year’s SEC Championship meet (behind 216 points from Auburn).

The top of those performers, conference champion on platform Mingli Zhang, will be a junior next season. Platform runner-up Chase Lane will be a senior, and the two represent the Wildcats’ highest 2 scorers at the SEC Championships en route to a 7th-place team finish.

Romero is a native of El Roble, Mexico, where he was a member of the Junior National Team that dove at the 2019 Central American and Caribbean Youth Games.

He’ll see his former ECU diving coach Jesse Lyman in the SEC this season: Lyman last week was announced as the head diving coach at Alabama.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2020 AAC Champion Rodrigo Romero Transfers to Kentucky

By Elizabeth Levy on SwimSwam

Americans Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte have battled it out many times in the pool, especially in the 200 IM. The 2011 World Championships in Shanghai were one of the highlights of that decade-long rivalry.

Lochte arrived in Shanghai as the defending world champion in both IMs. However, Phelps came in as a worthy contender for the World title in the 200, having had much success in the prior few years at international meets. That included winning an impressive 8 golds at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In Shanghai, Lochte and Phelps qualified first and second, respectively, out of the semifinals in the 200 IM. This set up a highly-anticipated battle between the two Americans in the final.

Phelps led after the butterfly leg, but Lochte caught up to him on backstroke and extended his lead by about half a body length over Phelps on the breaststroke. It looked like Phelps had a chance of catching Lochte on the freestyle leg, as the final 25 meters were almost dead-even between the two swimmers. But ultimately it was Lochte who out-touched Phelps for the win by 0.16.

Lochte’s winning time of 1:54.00 bested his own world record of 1:54.10, set at the 2009 World Championships in Rome. Phelps finished in second in a personal best of 1:54.16, while Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh snagged the bronze in 1:57.69.

In watching this video, one can see how dominant Lochte and Phelps were in their day. They were body lengths ahead of the rest of a very talented field throughout the second half of the race. Furthermore, Lochte’s world record remains untouched today, meaning that the next man who breaks it will become the first man in history to break 1:54 in the 200m IM.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Epic Swims: Phelps and Lochte Battle it out in the 200 IM, Shanghai 2011

By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam

On SwimSwam Podcast, we’re giving you an in-depth listen at all things swimming. Host Coleman Hodges welcomes guests and guest co-hosts alike to get perspective on our ever-changing swimming universe and break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with Helen Yee, Nevada High School Swimming state champion turned sports reporter and broadcaster. We talked through Helen’s swimming years, and how she eventually transitioned to sports reporting, specifically the UFC. Yee’s most recent reporting stint was spent on Fight Island, UFC’s response to COVID-19 where they had a remote location to host competition on an Island in Abu Dhabi. It sounds very similar to what the ISL has proposed for their shortened 2020-21 season, and the takeaways from UFC’s version could be valuable, as they had a lot of success with few to no COVID infections while on the island.

• Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify
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Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

RECENT EPISODES

Read the full story on SwimSwam: SwimSwam Podcast: Helen Yee on What ISL Could Take From UFC’s Fight Island

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

2020 CARMEL AUGUST INTRASQUAD

• August 7-8, 2020
• Carmel, IN
• Short course yards (SCY)
• Results on Meet Mobile: ‘2020 CSC August Intrasquad’

Carmel Swim Club hosted an intrasquad meet this weekend with a simple event slate: 100s of each stroke only. University of Michigan commit Wyatt Davis was a headlining name at the intrasquad, winning three of his four events and setting lifetime bests in three races.

Davis’s first swim was the 100 fly, where he clocked a 48.24 to slice 1.24 seconds off of his old best of 49.48 from the 2019 Carmel Winter Invitational in January 2019. He won the event by over 1.5 seconds, with University of Tennessee commit Griffin Hadley touching second (49.84). Davis and Hadley went 1-2 in the very next event, the 100 back, hitting times of 47.92 and 49.73, respectively.

Davis finished fourth in the 100 breast with a 59.19, a 2.8-second drop from his old best. That event was won by 16-year-old Ryan Malicki in a 56.47, 1.5 seconds over his best. Gus Rothrock was second in 58.15, a 2.3-second drop, while Hadley was third in 58.47, a 3.7-second drop.

Finally, Davis was back on top in the 100 free (45.38), a lifetime best by .19. While he’s one of the best high school 200 freestylers in history (1:33.68), and he’s been as fast as 45.80 in the 100 back, Davis has not focused on the 100 free in yards as a primary event (though he’s been 50.79 in long course, suggesting he still has plenty to drop in SCY). His 200 free lifetime best actually had him at 45.45 going out to the 100 flip, meaning his best time yesterday was only a .07 drop from that split.

Rising Tennessee junior Trude Rothrock was one of the top performers on the women’s side. She was the fastest woman in the 100 fly (54.10) and 100 free (51.38). 16-year-old Devon Kitchel was the fastest woman in the other two events, posting a 56.04 in the 100 back and a 1:04.27 in the 100 breast, only half-a-second off her best in the 100 breast.

OTHER NOTABLE SWIMS

• Hadley finished second in the 100 free (45.99), while Rothrock was third in a 1.2-second drop (46.13). 15-year-old Kayden Lancaster broke 47 for the first time for fourth place (46.82).
• 12-year-old Lewis Zhang was on a tear this weekend. In the age group session with 14-and-unders, he first won the 100 fly in a lifetime best 56.38; it was a best by almost two full seconds. He then clocked a 57.81 to take the 100 back, slicing 1.4 seconds off his old best. In the 100 breast, he touched fourth, going a lifetime best 1:12.51, before he was back to win the 100 free in a one-second drop at 50.29.
• 12-year-old Lucy Enoch won the mixed-gender 100 breast, going 1:09.08 for a four-second drop.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Wyatt Davis Goes Lifetime Best 48.2 in 100 Fly at Carmel Swim Club Intrasquad

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Mia Moulden, who hails from Slater, Iowa, has announced her verbal commitment to the University of Denver for the 2021-22 season and beyond.

“When I was a freshman, my coach told me I was going to swim for Denver… I guess I’m a good listener! I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Denver!! I wouldn’t be here without my family and team, thank you for all of your help along the way!”

Moulden is a rising senior at Ames Senior High School, where she is a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and 4-time individual finalist at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Swimming and Diving Championships. Last fall as a junior, she placed 5th in the 100 fly (57.37) and 4th in the 100 back (56.79), contributing to Ames’ second-place team finish.

Moulden does her year-round swimming with Ames Cyclone Aquatic Club. She is a Winter Juniors qualifier in the 200 fly and a Futures qualifier in the 50 free, 100 back, 100 fly, and 200 IM. In February, she won the state title in the 200 fly at 2020 Iowa Swimming Senior Short Course Championships, going within half a second of her lifetime best to win by nearly 6 seconds. She also placed 5th in the 100 fly, 6th in both the 200 IM and 400 IM, and 16th/17th in the 100/200 backstrokes. She left the meet with PBs in the 50 free, 100/200 fly, and 200/400 IM and she split 55.40 on the butterfly of the gold medal-winning ACAC medley relay.

• 200 fly – 2:01.81
• 100 fly – 56.17
• 100 fly relay split – 55.40
• 200 back – 2:01.02
• 100 back – 56.75
• 400 IM – 4:32.20
• 200 IM – 2:07.71
• 50 free – 24.08

Moulden will follow in the footsteps of her older sister Bailey Moulden, who also swam collegiately (Northern Iowa). She will join a Denver squad that dominated the 2020 Summit League Championships with 1,147.5 points. Her best times would already score for the Pioneers at conference in the A finals of the 100/200 fly, 100/200 back, and 400 IM, and in the B final of the 200 IM.

View this post on Instagram

When I was a freshman, my coach told me I was going to swim for Denver… I guess I’m a good listener! I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Denver!! I wouldn’t be here without my family and team, thank you for all of your help along the way!

A post shared by Mia Moulden (@mia_moulden) on Jul 20, 2020 at 6:14pm PDT

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour 

Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.

FFT SOCIAL

Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
Twitter – @fitterandfaster

^{FFT is a SwimSwam partner.}

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Winter Juniors Qualifier Mia Moulden Sends Verbal Commitment to Denver

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

Courtesy: San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department

A swim instructor in Apple Valley, California has been arrested after a missing 16-year old girl was found hiding in his bedroom, officials said.

The teen has been missing since July 22, 2020. Authorities discovered that she had been communicating with her former swim coach John Casillas, and on August 6th, detectives served a search warrant at his home in San Bernardino.

While police did not identify the teen, her father, Ismael Meza, has identified her as Lexis Meza to local media.

There, she was found hiding in his bedroom at the house where John Casillas’ 62-year old father Alfonso Casillas also lived.

“At the same time, detectives contacted and detained John at a local country club where he taught swim lessons. John and Alfonso were transported to Sheriff’s Headquarters for further investigation,” a release from Apple Valley police said. “Apple Valley and Crimes Against Children Detectives determined that John was aware of the victim’s age and the ongoing search for her. Additionally, Alfonso knew the victim was a juvenile and did not alert law enforcement.”

John Casillas was arrested and booked at West Valley Detention Center on charges of Concealment of a Child from Legal Guardian/Parent. Bail was set at $50,000. He posted bail the day after his arrest and was released from custody. In California, child abduction can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. If tried as a felony, the defendant can be sentenced to up to four years in prison.

The Sheriff’s Department says that an investigation would also be submitted regarding criminal charges against John’s father Alfonso Casillas, who they say “knew the victim was a juvenile and did not alert law enforcement.”

Casillas was the coach of the teen found in his bedroom for “a little bit over a year” at the Desert Aquatics swim club, according to her father. The Sheriff’s Department says that he is employed as a swim instructor at “several different swimming academies,” but did not name those places.

Meza is still a member of Desert Aquatics, which is a USA Swimming club. Casillas has not yet been added to the sanctions database by the US Center for Safe Sport.

As recently as October 29, 2019, a now-deleted post on the Desert Aquatics Facebook page identified Casillas as the club’s head coach.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Swim Coach John Casillas Arrested after Missing Teen Found in His Bedroom

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Boulder, Colorado’s Karla Lessing has announced her verbal commitment to the University of Kansas for 2021-22. Lessing comes from a long line of aquatic excellence. Her father was a five-time world champion triathlete and is now a triathlon coach and her mother swam in college and is now a swim coach. Her older sister, Amelie Lessing, swam for the Jayhawks as a freshman in 2019-20.

“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at the University of Kansas

By Annika Johnson on SwimSwam

On July 11, Russian Olympian Sergei Mikhailovich Smiryagin died at 56 years old. His cause of death has not been made public.

During his swimming career, Smiryagin was an Honored Master of Sports of the USSR and a participant in the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980. He raced the 100m free and placed 10th in prelims with a time of 52.21.

At the European Championships in 1981 and 1983 he was a three-time gold medalist, and he added a bronze to his collection in 1983. In the same year his performance in the pool earned him the title of the champion of the 1983 Summer Universiade (World University Games.)

At the USSR Championships Smiryagin won gold 4 times, silver 5 times, and bronze 5 times under the honored USSR coach, Vladmir Kuplyakov. He was also a three-time silver medalist at the World Championships in Ecuador (1982) and Spain (1983.)

When Russia boycotted the 1984 Olympic Games, he competed at the international competition “Friendship-84” and won three events, including the 100m freestyle. Between the Moscow Olympic Games and the Friendship-84 event four years later, Smiryagin improved his 100m free time by nearly two seconds. He won the gold medal in the 100m free at the Friendship-84 with a time of 50.26: a time that was better than Per Johansson’s bronze medal mark at the Olympic Games that year (50.31) and just .02 seconds behind Mark Stockwell’s silver medal winning time (50.24). American Rowdy Gaines won gold in a new Olympic Record of 49.80.

Smiryagin was also a part of the winning USSR 4×100 free and 4×100 medley relay teams. He retired from swimming a few years later in 1987.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Three-Time European Champion Sergei Mikhailovich Smiryagin Has Died

By Sanuj Srivastava on SwimSwam

Covid-19 Ki Wajah Se Abhi Bhi India Mei Swimming Pools Nahi Open Huye Hai Jis Wajah Se Teams Practice Bhi Nahi Kar Paa Rahi Hai Aur Competition Ke Seasons Bhi Cancel Ho Chuke Hai. Isliye Hamare Kids Uncertainity To Face Kar Hi Rahe Hai Aur Saath Hi Apne Friends, Schools, Aur Teams Ko Bhi Miss Kar Rahe Hai. Aur Ye Sab Disappointment Hamare Kids Kaise Handle Karte Honge Ye Kahna Bhi Bahot Mushqil Hai. Aur Isliye Ye Chiz Kids Ke Saath-Saath Parents Ke Liye Bhi Stressful Rahti Hai.

Aur Hum Log Apne Kids Ko, Kisi Bhi Tarah Ke Event Mei Kaise React Karna Hai Is Chiz Ke Bare Mei Growing Champions For Life Ke David Benzel Ne Recently Huye Webinar Mei Bahot Acche Se Aur Easily Explain Kiya Tha. Ek Talk Hui Thi, Jiska Naam Tha “Give Your Child Emotional Intelligence For Life,” Usme Unhone Discussed Kiya Tha Ki Hamari Life Mei Emotional Intelligence Or EQ Ki Importance IQ Se Jyada Hoti Hai. Unhone Kaha Ki Hum Log Apne IQ Ke Saath Born Hote Hai Aur Use Change Nahi Kar Sakte Hai, But Hum Log Apne EQ Ko Grow Aur Improve Kar Sakte Hai.

Benzel Ne Ye Bhi Explain Kiya Ki, Kyu Hamare Kids Ko Losing Itna Hurt Karta Hai Aur Kyu Kuch Kids Other Kids Ke Comparison Mei Jyada Hurt Ho Jaate Hai. Unhone Example Dete Huye Samjhaya Ki, Agar Aapka Kid Swim Meet Mei Ho Aur Wo Race Haar Jaaye To. Wo Kaise React Karega?

Pool Analogy Of Different Depths Of Water Ko Use Karte Huye Unhone Explain Kiya Ki Kis Tarah Kids Haarne Par Differently React Karte Hai.

Shallow End Mei, Child’s Ke Thought Hote Hai Ki “Maine Accha Perform Nhi Kiya.” Ye Aisi Chiz Hai Jis Par Wo Action Le Sakte Hai Aur Next Shot Ke Liye Ready Ho Sakte Hai. Pool Ke Middle Depth Ke Liye Unhone Jo Example Use Kiya, Wo Tha, “Mai Nahi Jeeta.” Aur Agar Bacche Ko Aisa Thought Aata Hai To Use Jarurat Hai Apne Goal Ko Change Karne Ki. Goal Kabhi Bhi Jeetne Ka Nahi Hona Chhaiye, Hamesha Learning Ka Goal Rakho. Agar Aapka Objective Hai Experience Gain Karna Aur Use Sikhna To Haarna Impossible Ho Jaata Hai. Deep End Mei, Agar Swimmer Sochta Hai Ki “Mai Accha Nhi Hu.” To Yaha Par Wo Khud Ko Apne Performance Se Equate Karne Lagte Hai. Aur Is Wajah Se Losing Kids Ke Liye Bahot Hi Emotional Aur Devastating Hota Hai. Race Ka Outcome Sirf Us Moment Ka Feedback Hota Hai Bass, Ye Decide Nahi Karta Hai Ki Aap Kya Hai.

Race Lose Karne Ke Event Aur Us Par Kids Ke Reaction Ke Beech Ka Moment Bahot Crucial Hota Hai Aur Ye Depend Karta Hai Ki Wo Log Khud Ko Kaisi Story Bolte Hai. For Example, Agar Wo Khud Ko Aisa Bolte Hai Ki “Mai Swimming Mei Accha Nhi Hu,” To Next Time Swimming Ke Time Wo Tentative Aur Nervous Feel Karenge. But Agar Unke Internal Thoughts Aise Rahe Ki “Wow, Ye Maine Kaise Kiya? Ye To Main Hi Hu,” To Phir Next Time Wo Aur Bhi Aggressively Aur Determined Ho Kar Aayenge.

Is Process Ko Kids Ke Saath Discuss Karne Par Unhe Samajh Mei Aa Jayega Ki Haarne Ke Baad Reaction Change Karne Ke Liye Unhe Khud Ko Acchi Story Sunani Hogi. “Mere Emotions Mere Thoughts Se Aate Hai. Mai Khud Apne Thoughts Ke Bare Mei Sochta Hun. Isliye, Mai Khud Apni Feelings Create Karta Hu Aur Mai Hi Iske Liye Responsible Hu,” Benzel Ne Kaha.

Uncertainty Ke Time Mei Apni Family Ke Saath Acche Se Conversation Karna Bahot Important Hai. Hume Apne Childrens Ke Liye Ek Empathetic Listener Banna Hoga. Even Though, Hum Har Chiz To Control Nhi Kar Sakte Hai, Unhe Ye Bhi Bataiye Ki Agar Unhe Disappointment Feel Ho Rahi Hai Toh Bhi Koi Baat Nahi. Hamare Children’s Ki Feeling Natural Hai Aur Justified Bhi. Is Time Ka Use Kariye Family Ke Saath Hone Wale Conversation Ko Improve Karne Ke Liye Aur Apne Children Ki Help Kariye Adversity Ke Time Mei Better Coping Skills Develop Karne Ke Liye.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Swim Mom: Disappointment Handle Karne Mei Kariye Apne Child Ki Help

By Tomas Rodriguez on SwimSwam

Ana Guevara, president of the Mexican Sports Commission (CONADE), is currently under investigation by the Mexican Secretariat of the Civil Service (SPF) over alleged extortion, per Infobae. According to the report, Guevara’s accounts have been subject to inspection for several months now following a series of columns published by El Universal journalist Peniley Ramirez.

The alleged extortion reportedly involves CONADE’s Administrative Assistant Director Jose Omar Hernandez and CONADE’s Assistant Director-General Sergio Monroy. The party of three is accused of allegedly extorting over 50,000 Mexican pesos (an estimated $ 2,233 USD).

Guevara, Hernandez and Monroy also face criminal charges over an alleged illicit association, bribery and for reportedly falsifying official documents, among others.

Just a few weeks ago, per Mexican outlet MedioTiempo, two lawyers working on the case against Guevara – Jesus Chain Oceguera and Rafael Sanchez Cano– were arrested on charges of the alleged murder and enforced disappearance of Edgar Alvarez Flores, a former police officer in the municipality of Veracruz.

According to the report, Guevara accused both lawyers of bribing CONADE to file criminal charges against the head of the organization.

Guevara’s connection to the Mexican Swimming Federation (FMN) dates back to late February and early March of this year when several synchronized swimmers accused Mexico’s national synchronized swimming head coach Adriana Loftus of alleged abuse and corruption.

Some athletes were also critical of Loftus appointing her husband, Alberto Calderon, as Mexico’s team psychologist for the 2017 FINA World Championships. Those accusations further alleged that rather than traveling with the nation’s assistant coach, Loftus appointed her husband as the national team companion.

The Mexican federation has run into several major controversies under Kiril Todorov’s administration, including falsifying entry times for the 2015 World Championships, a suspension by FINA for withdrawing from its hosting duties at the 2017 World Championships, and the replacement of the country’s entire technical staff earlier this year after late-2018 disputes.

Todorov has run into several discrepancies with Mexican Sports Commissioner Ernesto D’Alessio and FMN Vice President Rodolfo Zarco Rodriguez.

In the months leading to what would have been this summer’s Games, the organization run by Todorov was accused of reportedly concealing its selection criteria for swimming. That document, however, did mention the standards required for diving, synchronized swimming, and open water swimming.

SwimSwam has reached out to both CONADE and the Mexican Swimming Federation for comment, but has not yet received a response from either.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Mexico: CONADE President Ana Guevara Under Investigation Over Alleged Extortion

By Madeleine Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Emily Zimmermann of Spring Lake, NJ has verbally committed to swim at Villanova University beginning in the 2021-2022 season. She was named team captain at Ranney High School during her junior season and will continue to lead the team in her final year. She swims year-round for the YMCA of Greater Monmouth.

“I chose Villanova for its outstanding academics and swim program. When you feel at home over a Zoom Official Visit you have to believe it’s a great fit! I would like to thank my family, coaches, and teammates for their endless support and encouragement.  I couldn’t be more excited to spend four years with such an amazing team!  #NovaNation! #Gocats!!!”

Last summer, Zimmermann competed at the YMCA Long Course Nationals in College Park, MD. She swam the 50, 100, and 200 breast, and the 200 IM. She earned finals swims in all four races. That included placing 21st in the 200 IM with a time of 2:26.70, and swimming in the A-finals of the 50, 100 and 200 breast, finishing 4th, 7th, and 6th, respectively. Zimmermann earned personal best times in all four of the events she swam at the meet.

At her December meet at Rutgers University, she picked up four new YMCA National times in the 50, 100, and 200 free and the 400 IM. She now has seven qualifying times.

In January of 2020, Zimmermann competed at the Monmouth County Swim Championships in the 100 breast and the 200 IM. She finished 4th in the 100 breast (1:09.30) and placed 2nd in the 200 IM (2:16.19). She anchored Ranney High School’s 200 free relay in 25.93, earning 10th place. She split a 31.12 on the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley relay, which finished 12th.

Zimmermann was named 2020 Female Athlete of the Year at Ranney High School. She holds the school record in the 100 breast and 200 IM, and she is a member of the school’s record-holding 200 free relay.

Top SCY Times:

• 100 breast – 1:03.93
• 200 breast – 2:21.72
• 200 IM – 2:07.40
• 50 free – 24.53
• 100 free – 52.98
• 400 IM – 4:34.71

Zimmermann will join the 2020 Big East Conference Champions in the fall of 2021. She would have been an A-finalist in both the 100 and 200 breast at the conference meet. Her top times would have made her Villanova’s 3rd fastest 100 breaststroker this season behind Big East Conference 100 breast champion Maggie Kleinsmith and runner-up Rayann Jaryszak. Similarly, she would’ve been the fourth fastest 200 breaststroker behind 200 breast champion Kaitlin Gravell, as well a Kleinsmith and Jaryszak.

Zimmermann is one of 3 announced recruits for the Villanova class of 2025 so far, joining Aubrey Bowles and Pepper Ritchey.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

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Read the full story on SwimSwam: 3x YMCA Nationals Finalist Emily Zimmermann Sends Verbal to Villanova

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

Several national media outlets, including ESPN and Sports Illustrated, are reporting that conversations about canceling all fall sports for Division I of the NCAA are heating up. The conversations come in the wake of the continuing global coronavirus.

Last week, the NCAA gave each of their 3 divisions until August 21 to make a decision about whether to hold championships in fall sports in 2020. Division II and Division III quickly canceled after that mandate, but Division I has not yet made a decision. While the Division II and Division III decisions only specifically relate to championships, most of the schools in those divisions have canceled or postponed their entire fall seasons anyway.

Most of the conversation about canceling Division I fall sports initiated with the Big Ten Conference. Several outlets are reporting that the Big Ten presidents, after a meeting on Saturday, are leaning toward canceling the fall sports season. They have reportedly reached out to university presidents and chancellors from the other Power 5 conferences, the ACC, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC, to see if those leagues would follow suit if the Big Ten were to cancel.

ESPN says that “a vast majority” of Big Ten presidents have said that they would vote to postpone football season until the spring.

While some athletes are fighting to keep the season on track, including most visibly Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, one of the most visible players in college football, there is building momentum to cancel or postpone the fall 2020 season that some have described as “inevitable” at this point.

Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde and Ross Dellenger are reporting that the decision to postpone fall sports until 2021 is “expected” at this point. Among the new information that appears to have swayed the tide in the conversation is evidence that COVID-19, in a small percentage of infected patients, leaves behind scars in the heart muscle that can have serious long-term effects.

The fall sports season of the NCAA includes one aquatic sport, men’s water polo, as part of 8 at the Division I level. Also included are football, women’s field hockey, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball.

The ramifications from the loss of football revenue, and in some cases profitable women’s volleyball programs, will have an inevitable ripple effect to other sports, including swimming & diving. Exactly how that will manifest remains to be seen. If the postponement allows for football to happen in the spring with crowds, in the event of an effective vaccine being ready for widespread distribution by then, the delay could actually be a net-positive financially.

Last week, the Mid-American Conference became the first conference in the FBS, the top level of college football, to cancel its fall 2020 athletics season.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Reports: NCAA ‘Power 5’ Conferences on the Verge of Canceling Fall 2020 Season

By Dan Dingman on SwimSwam

SwimSwam’s daily swimming workout series is a collection of workouts written by coaches from a variety of backgrounds. All daily swimming workouts have been written using Commit Swimming. The workouts themselves are not indicative of SwimSwam’s or Commit’s views on training. They strictly reflect the opinions of the author swim coach.

Workout Context

• Purpose:  Base building
• Target age group:  15-18 years old
• Target level:  Age Group (Advanced), Senior Age Group/ High School State Level
• Weeks until target meet:  3 weeks
• Team Location:  United States
• Course:  25 Yards
• Shared workout link:  Click here to view this workout on commitswimming.com

The Workout

(No School, Winter Storm – Trying to practice before the storm hits!)

WU:
    4 x 75 fr @ 1:20
    4 x 75 bk fr bk @ 1:30
    4 x 75 k @ 1:40

Drill:
    6 x 50 ez dr @ 1:00 [hold stroke count]

PS1:
    #Distance
        6 x 50 @ :50 (decent) [hold 500 pace]
    #EZ
        4 x 50 k @ 1:15
    #Sprint
        4 x 50 bld k @ 1:15
    #Stroke
        5 x 50 st/fr @ 1:00

MS1:
    #Distance
        500 s @ 8:00
        5 x 100 @ 1:30 (decent)
        10 x 50 @ 1:00 (fast) [hold 200 pace]
        20 x 25 @ :05 rest (fast) [when done, subtract 1:35 from your time to see 500 time; goal=500+10-15seconds]
    #EZ
        100 s
        100 k
        200 s
        200 k
        300 s
        300 k
        (Rest 1:00 to put on fins)
        12 x 25 fast w/ fins @ :45
    #Sprint
        12 x [@ 3:00]
            :30 vertical kick (deep end near diving board)
            Push-Off, UWD K to lane six (25 UWD k fast)
            Push-Off in lane six
            25 sprint
            swim back to corner ez (25 ez)
    #Stroke
        12 x 50 st @ 1:00 (fast ez)
        [1=12yd sprint, 2=25yd sprint, 3=37yd sprint, 4=50yd sprint…repeat]
        12 x 100 @ 2:00 (fr st) (med med fast)
        [odds=75fr, 25 fast st – build your tempo! evens=50fr, 50 strong stroke w/ good turn and finish]

CD: 4 x 50 ez [hold stroke count and call your time!]
            

Coach Notes

The swim coach was asked to define any shorthand he or she used in this workout. Their notes should provide some additional context to this swimming workout.

UWDK – underwater dolphin kick

Chris Mann
Varsity Head Coach, Boone High School Toreadors

SwimSwam’s daily swimming workout is powered by Commit Swimming.

Swimming news for swim coaches and swim teams, courtesy of Commit Swimming. Click here to view all daily swimming workouts on SwimSwam.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Daily Swim Coach Workout #179

By Giusy Cisale on SwimSwam

Tania Cagnotto non ci sarà alle Olimpiadi di Tokyo, che si svolgeranno a partire dal 23 Luglio 2021.

Nata a Bolzano il 15 maggio 1985. Tesserata con il Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Gialle, ha partecipato a ben cinque Olimpiadi. Dopo le Olimpiadi di Rio De Janeiro del 2016 sposa Stefano Parolin, e sceglie come testimone di nozze l’amica e partner nei duo, Francesca Dallapè.Nel Gennaio del 2018 diventò mamma della sua prima figlia, Maya.

Ieri sera, attraverso il suo profilo Instagram, la più grande tuffatrice italiana ha annunciato il ritiro definitivo, e l’attesa del secondo figlio.

View this post on Instagram

Eccoci qui.. vi avevo detto che verso settembre avrei deciso se continuare o meno la mia strada verso Tokyo. E’ stata una scelta davvero difficile… Da una parte la voglia di partecipare alla mia 6ª olimpiade da mamme con il grande sogno di portare la bandiera

By Jack McCormick on SwimSwam

Spartans Aquatic Club August Splash Meet

• August 6-August 9, 2020
• Short Course Yards (SCY) format
• Freeman Aquatic Center, Norcross, Georgia
• Results on Meet Mobile “August Splash”

Less than a month after Spartans Aquatic Club in Norcross, Georgia hosted their Red vs. Gold Intrasquad, they have returned to competition with their August Splash Intrasquad.

At the Red vs. Gold meet last month 14 of the 26 event winners were able to better their seed time, helping head coach Karl Krug to be recognized as the Competitor Coach of the Month. The meet was highlighted by rising senior Peter Sacca who was able to swim a best time in all 5 of the events he competed in throughout the meet.

Sacca continued his streak of best times through his second competition of the summer. In his first event, the 200 IM, he dropped over a second to finish in 1:50.88. Not only was this time good enough to win the event by over a second, but it also marks over 3 full seconds dropped in this event over the summer.

Sacca’s August Splash Times/Best Times

• 200 IM – 1:50.88 (previous best 1:52.19)
• 100 fly – 48.68 (previous best 48.96) – New Summer Juniors cut*
• 100 free – 45.32 (previous best 47.57) – New Winter Juniors cut*
• 50 free – 20.34 (previous best 20.73) – New US Open cut*

At the Red vs. Gold meet last month Sacca swam Summer and Winter Juniors cuts in the 100 fly and 50 free, however those times did not count for qualification due to USA Swimming rules preventing swimmers from earning time standards for national meets during July. Those rules were lifted in August, however, so his new times will count.

Sacca wasn’t the only swimmer to earn best times during the 4-day meet. In the first race of the meet, 16-year old Trey Carter dropped over 12 seconds in his 400 IM to win in 4:06.30. Two events later he dropped nearly 4 seconds in his 200 back (1:54.59). He finished the meet with 5 new best times.

Other Notable Swims

• 16-year old Colton McGrady broke swam sub-46 in the 100 free for the first time (45:96) to take 2nd in the event.
• Ayden Meierarend (18) dropped over three seconds in the 100 fly (50.80).
• In the 100 free Rachel Todebush (15) dropped almost a second to finish in 53.86.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Peter Sacca Scores US Open Cut As Spartans Aquatic Club Host Intrasquad