By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

The University of Arizona will be hiring Virginia’s Augie Busch as its new head coach for men’s and women’s swimming and diving, sources tell SwimSwam.

Busch has been the head coach at the University of Virginia for the past four seasons, winning ACC titles in three of those four years and putting up a pair of top-5 NCAA finishes. Busch had long been rumored to be one of the top candidates for the vacant Arizona job, carrying several key ties to the Wildcat program.

Busch is an Arizona alumnus himself, graduating the university in 1998. He’s also the son of longtime Arizona head coach Frank Busch. Frank Busch led the Wildcats from 1989 until 2011, when he took over as USA Swimming’s National Team Director.

Since then, Arizona’s had quite a bit of turnover at the top of its coaching staff. The Wildcats hired Eric Hansen away from Wisconsin in 2011, but by the fall of 2013, Hansen took an unexpected leave of absence from the team and eventually resigned. The school then tabbed longtime assistant Rick ‘Rocket’ Demont to head up the program.

Demont was well-respected in his four years leading the program, but he announced his retirement earlier this spring. Demont had been with the Arizona program in some capacity for 30 years.

Augie Busch coached alongside Frank Busch and Demont in Arizona from 2003 to 2011.

Sources also say Augie Busch will be bringing along two key assistants from Virginia who also have Arizona ties. Younger brother Sam Busch will make the trip to Tucson, as will former Arizona standout Cory Chitwood. Both were assistants on staff with Augie Busch in Virginia. That leaves the Cavaliers very likely looking for an outside hire, with their most experienced internal candidates following Busch to his new job.

Here’s the full Arizona press release announcing the hire:

TUCSON, Ariz. – Augie Busch has been named Arizona head swimming and diving coach, Director of Athletics Dave Heeke announced on Saturday. A UA assistant for eight seasons under his legendary father Frank Busch and a UA alumnus, Busch returns to Arizona after spending the last four seasons as head coach at Virginia and the previous two seasons as the head women’s coach at Houston.

“The opportunity to return to the University of Arizona as the head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving program is both unexpected and thrilling,” Busch said. “Tucson is not only the place of my fondest family and college memories, but of my proudest professional accomplishments as well. I can’t possibly overstate my gratitude and appreciation to Dave Heeke and Erika Barnes for placing their confidence in me. With whole-hearted determination and fierce loyalty, I look forward to many years of Arizona pride and Wildcat success.”

In four seasons under Busch’s guidance, the Cavalier women won three ACC Championships and posted two fifth-place finishes at the NCAA Championships, the best finishes in program history. The Cavaliers saw 11 individuals earn 25 All-America honors and 22 honorable mention All-America honors, while producing nine All-America relays and eight honorable mention All-America relays. In four seasons, the Cavaliers set 30 school records, eight ACC records and three NCAA records. Based on these accomplishments, Busch was named the ACC Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year three times.

“We’re excited to welcome Augie back to the University of Arizona to lead our prestigious swimming and diving program,” Heeke stated. “Augie has the experience and aptitude to build on the storied history of Arizona swimming and diving. He’s produced high-level results as both a head coach and assistant coach, while developing national-championship and Olympic quality swimmers. I am confident that he’ll lead our program to prominence at both the Pac-12 and NCAA levels.”

In addition to the overall accolades at Virginia, Busch tutored Leah Smith to four NCAA freestyle titles, while Courtney Bartholomew earned four NCAA runner-up finishes in the backstroke. The Cavalier women posted the top relay finish in school history (second in the 400 medley relay in 2015) and recorded the school’s single-season record for NCAA finalist relays with four in 2016.

The Cavaliers were also strong academically under Busch with 38 student-athletes being named to the All-ACC Academic Teams and Ellen Williamson being recognized on the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District squad. Both Williamson and Haley Durmer went on to earn prestigious ACC Postgraduate Scholarships.

In two seasons as the women’s coach at Houston, Busch improved the profile of the Cougars athletically and academically. The Cougars recorded personal-best times in 90 percent of their swims and broke seven school records in 2013, while achieving a program-best 3.42 team GPA. He led the Cougars to a program-best, second-place finish at the Conference USA Championships in 2013, improving on a fourth-place finish in 2012.

Before heading to Houston, Busch was a highly-successful assistant coach at Arizona from 2003-11, when the Wildcats earned 15 top-five NCAA finishes, more than any other program during that period. His tenure was highlighted by both the men’s and women’s programs winning NCAA Championships in 2008.

As an assistant at UA, Busch worked primarily with the backstroke, butterfly and individual medley swimmers, while also serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. In his eight seasons at Arizona, Busch’s training group produced three NCAA champions, 21 individual All-Americans and swimmers on 10 national championship relay teams.

Busch was instrumental in the success of two Olympians in Albert Subirats of Venezuela and Jake Tapp of Canada. Subirats is one of the most decorated swimmers in UA history with six national titles and 20 All-America accolades. Busch served as an assistant coach for the Venezuelan Olympic team in 2008 as well as for the 2007 Pan American Games.

Prior to his time as an assistant at Arizona, Busch spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Arkansas women’s team, helping the Razorbacks to school records in 15 of 18 events and a 31st-place finish at the 2003 NCAA meet.

Busch began his coaching career in 1996 as an assistant coach for the Hillenbrand Aquatics club team, now known as Ford Aquatics. He was also a volunteer assistant with Arizona from 1998-2001 and he was head coach of a high-profile summer league program, Sabino Vista Hills, during those same years. Busch served as the head swimming coach at Tucson’s Salpointe Catholic from 1999-2000.

A two-time letterwinner on the men’s volleyball team at The Ohio State University, Busch returned to his native Tucson and graduated from Arizona in 1998 with a degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Augie Busch Named Head Coach At Arizona

By Olivier Poirier-Leroy on SwimSwam

by Olivier Poirier-Leroy. You can join his weekly motivational newsletter for competitive swimmers by clicking here.

Recently I got an email from a young swimmer asking whether he should start writing out his workouts. Here’s an expanded version of my answer.

Pop quiz time! Which of the following do you agree with?

1. I always set awesome goals, and accomplish them every time.
2. I never get bent out of shape for long periods of time after I have a stinky swim practice or a bad race.
3. Every time I step on deck I know what I’m there to accomplish.

If you found yourself feeling iffy about agreeing with any of these, it’s okay. No judgement here.

And the reason you weren’t belting out a full-hearted, deeply baritone’d “Heck yeah!”‘ isn’t because you aren’t deserving, or aren’t good enough, or anything like that.

It’s because your self-awareness could use some TLC.

In fact, I’d argue that the biggest advantage fast swimmers have over their competition is a greater sense of self-awareness.

Why does self-awareness matter?

• Because it is the thing that helps you create ambitious goals that are doable. (Instead of setting wildly unrealistic goals that leave you feeling perpetually not good enough.)
• Because it helps you to better diagnose and evaluate the weaknesses and shortcomings in your training and lifestyle. (So that you can fix what needs fixin’ much faster.)
• Because it helps give you perspective when the inevitable doo-doo hits the fan with your swimming. (Instead of treating every setback as a game-ender, leaving you feeling like an emotional yo-yo anytime things don’t go your way.)

Self-awareness is a critical skill to have. It’s certified gangster, some might say.

And while some swimmers seem to be more aware than others naturally, there is one thing that you can do to better understand self.

While there is a bunch of other reasons writing out your workouts will help you become a better, smarter swimmer, from managing your training goals to improving motivation levels, here’s how tracking your workouts will help you to better understand self.

A log book helps you to see your workouts for what they are, and not for what they might feel like.

They way we feel in the water isn’t always a good barometer for our performance. After all, we’ve all had those swim practices where we got in the pool feeling like garbage and somehow belted out a world-class session.

When we focus exclusively on how we feel–“I felt really motivated, so good workout!”–we (mistakenly) make it a precondition for putting in a good effort in the pool.

Writing out your workouts will help you see that how you do in practice doesn’t have to be connected to how you feel (a.k.a. how motivated you are).

It helps you to clarify what you are doing.

One of the most powerful things when we work diligently on our mental training is that we attain a sense of clarity with our swimming.

The perks of this is hard to overstate; clarity gives us calm, gives us purpose, and keeps us focused on the things that drive improvement.

Tracking your workouts helps you to stay de-cluttered when it comes to your swimming so that you can stay clear about what you are working on improving.

It’s the battle plan for your goals.

The swim season is long. It’s trying.

And you know what makes it worse?

Not having the daily and short-term goals to go with it. Your training journal, more than just a record of your practices, is also where you go to strategize and plan for what you want to accomplish in training.

• Is this going to be the week that you do one extra dolphin kick off every turn?
• Is today going to be the day that you add some core exercises to your training regimen?

Sit down with your training journal, and write out the things you want to achieve today and this week.

It will remind you to be confident.

Self-confidence in yourself and in the process is crucial to success in the pool.

Having a world-class coach, epic facilities, a complete nutrition plan, a comprehensive recovery routine and all the mindset tips in the world is great, but if you don’t have the belief to go with it things will collapse quickly.

Tracking your progress gives you a deeper understanding of the process, and as you better come to grips with what it takes to be successful, and what things best position you to be successful, you will experience a sense of belief that you can accomplish the goals you have.

Again, a training journal is more than just your workout history–it’s a record of all the times you conquered doubt and adversity.

It’s the first place to go when you need to remind yourself that you are tougher than you think.

It helps you weather the setbacks.

You can tell a lot about a swimmer in watching how they deal with a bad swim. Whether it derails the whole meet, or after some reflection, launches them into faster swimming, how we react to the fails in life ultimately predict how far we take our swimming.

Plateaus will happen. Injuries will happen. Dips in motivation will happen. Setbacks of every color and stripe will come your way given enough time.

Having a game plan for these inevitable detours is key, but the understanding of whether this is truly a setback or not is also important.

If you are tracking your progress in a training journal you will know how serious (or not serious) the setback is, better helping you deal with them when they occur.

The Takeaway

When you put all of this together you have an impressive set of tools at your disposal: you have a mechanism for greater self-awareness, you will be able to keep a cooler head after the eventual poor workout and race, you’ll learn to appreciate the process, and along the way you will develop some serious self-belief.

Together you will have a powerful ally in your journey towards achieving your goals in the water—and all this from a pen and a notebook.

More Stuff Like This:

How Katie Ledecky Took Her Training to the Next Level. One of the most aggressive and fearless swimmers in the world today used this old-school training tool to help power her to her first Olympics. (Spoiler alert: It’s a log book!)

7 Things You Can Do Today for a Better Practice Tomorrow. Want to get ahead of tomorrow’s workout? Here are 7 simple things that you can do today to make sure tomorrow’s practice goes down like a cool glass of success.

About YourSwimBook

YourSwimBook is a log book and goal setting guide designed specifically for competitive swimmers.

It includes a ten month log book, comprehensive goal setting section, monthly evaluations to be filled out with your coach, and more.

Learn 9 more reasons why this tool kicks butt by clicking here today.

Team and group discounts are available for clubs. Fill out a request for a complimentary estimate by clicking here.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Why Should I Track My Swim Practices?

By SwimSwam Contributors on SwimSwam

Courtesy of Donna Hale

Today is my birthday. My 14th Year as a swim mom and I’ll spend it at a meet.  No steak and lobster dinner or spa treatments. But instead grilled burgers and a traveling taco.  It will be spa-like if you count the sauna conditions.  It’s my last one as the mom of an age group swimmer. In six weeks she is off to the NCAA and a huge part of my life and that of my family is ending in about 4 weeks.   I’m a Swim Mom. We are a different breed. As these final weeks fly by, I have been reflecting on what I have learned and what I cherish. Here are some of my favorite things about Swim Mom status and things to consider.

1. You belong to an extended family that few can understand. But the bonds run as deep as blood. They are held together by friendships that can not be explained but simply cherished.

2.  Your child grows so much from being a swimmer. But you grow too I used to be so obsessed with the outcome. Now I love to see her win. But I now enjoy every moment. It shows me what my baby is made of — defined not by her butterfly but her character. It moves me to tears to see the young kids respond – once her -and for her to pass it on. Passing on passion, courage and sportsmanship.

3. Every moment counts. Don’t miss any opportunities to share this sport with your child and the friends you make along the way. It really does end.  Can’t imagine my new summers without “take your mark.”

4. Take pictures.  Tons of pictures. While I can still remember the four year old doing her first backstroke and the razor thin victories and defeats, I wish I had more pictures.

5. Swimming slows us down. Probably sounds funny when the point is speed. But we race everywhere.  Meets take some time. You talk to the volunteers, learn about your neighbors and enjoy the traditions.

I miss it already. But am blessed to have been part of this amazing sport.

Donna Hale is swim mom of 14 years.  Her daughter is a high school senior and will swim next year at Davis & Elkins College. She swam for The Potomac Marlins, Lake Braddock Swim & Dive and the Burke Station Destroyers.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: SwimMom Musings: Long Goodbyes

By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam

Courtesy of Gary Hall Sr., 10-time World Record Holder, 3-time Olympian, 1976 Olympic Games US Flagbearer and The Race Club co-founder. 

Swimming technique goes hand in hand with racing strategy. Racing strategy often involves implementing more than one swimming technique. For example, if a swimmer wants to win close freestyle races, then he/she needs to put the head down, not breathe, increase the stroke rate and the kicking effort as he/she approaches the finish. At The Race Club, Nathan Adrian learned his technique of switching to high octane (straight arm recovery), no breath strategy at the end of his 100 meter freestyle. That technique and racing strategy have resulted in him winning many close races.

Recently at the Mare Nostrum meet in Barcelona, Russian Yulia Efimova swam a very fast 2:19.8 in the 200 breaststroke. Her stroke rate increased on each 50 meters from 28 per minute on the first 50 to 58 per minute in the final 25 meters. The latter stroke rate is similar to what Adam Peaty held in the 100 breaststroke in the Olympic Games in Rio. Winding up the 200 breaststroke is not a new technique, as I recall Amanda Beard doing the same thing 20 years ago, but it can be very effective. I am certain many others did the same racing strategy before her.

Rebecca Soni won the 200 breaststroke in London in 2012 with a time of 2:19.59. Her stroke rate was a very even 46 strokes per minute on all four 50’s. Rebecca used a consistent higher stroke rate with a delayed high-arm recovery to swim to her gold medal. These are two examples of talented swimmers using very different techniques and racing strategy, resulting in nearly the same time.

In the men’s 1500 meter freestyle, the four fastest swimmers in the world over the past two Olympic Games have used very different techniques. Sun Yang used a 60 stroke rate hip-driven freestyle technique with two surge kicks per stroke cycle, taking extra breaths in and out of each turn and in the middle of the pool. Gregorio Paltrinieri used a fast 96 stroke hybrid freestyle with a single hard left down kick timed with the right hand entry, breathing every cycle. Ryan Cochrane used an 86 stroke rate shoulder-driven freestyle with a steady six beat kick, breathing every third stroke for at least 800 meters, then switching to every cycle. Connor Jaeger used an 86 stroke rate hybrid freestyle with a steady six beat kick, breathing every cycle. Even though these four great swimmers used very different freestyle techniques, they were within ten seconds of each other in a race lasting about 14 1/2 minutes.

If we can learn anything from these examples, it is that one technique does not work equally well for every swimmer. A swimmer and his coach need to identify the technique that works best for him or her. A swimmer needs to play with the hand that he or she has been dealt. In other words, a coach and swimmer should use the swimmer’s physical attributes to help determine the best technique for him or her. Some swimmers are taller. Some have stronger kicks. Some have better aerobic systems. All factors need to be considered when determining the best technique for each swimmer and when and if to change it during a race.

Good racing strategy often involves using more than one technique in the race. Doing so can alter the biomechanics of the swimmer’s motion and lead to increases in speed. Nathan’s 100 freestyle is a good example of that. In London, in the women’s 800 freestyle, Katie Ledecky would switch from an 86 stroke rate, hybrid freestyle with a six beat kick while breathing to the right, to a 100 stroke rate, two beat shoulder-driven freestyle when breathing to the left. While she would breathe to the left for only a few strokes occasionally, it was impressive to see her change her technique so rapidly. Today, she breathes only to the right side.

All swimmers should develop different techniques for each stroke, depending on the event. The freestyle technique in the 50, 100, 200 and up should all be very different. For the other strokes, the 100 technique and racing strategy should be very different than the 200 technique, as well.

At The Race Club, we not only help determine the best stroke technique for you, we also help you determine your racing strategies. Both are very important processes in becoming the best swimmer you can be.

Yours in swimming,

Gary Sr.

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Gary Hall, Sr., Technical Director and Head Coach of The Race Club (courtesy of TRC)

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THE RACE CLUB

Because Life is Worth Swimming, our mission is to promote swimming through sport, lifelong enjoyment, and good health benefits. Our objective is for each member of and each participant in The Race Club to improve his or her swimming performances, health, and self-esteem through our educational programs, services and creativity. We strive to help each member of The Race Club overcome challenges and reach his or her individual life goals.

The Race Club provides facilities, coaching, training, technical instruction, video, fitness and health programs for swimmers of all ages and abilities. Race Club swim camps are designed and tailored to satisfy each swimmer’s needs, whether one is trying to reach the Olympic Games or simply improve one’s fitness. Our programs are suitable for beginner swimmers, pleasure swimmers, fitness swimmers, USA swimming or YMCA swimmers, or triathletes; anyone who wants to improve swimming skills. All of our Race Club members share an enjoyment of being in the water and use swimming to stimulate a more active mind and body.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Swimming Technique & Racing Strategy

By SwimSwam Contributors on SwimSwam

Courtesy of Josh Brown

Of course, not everyone can say they are spending their summer training for the national championship meet. Some of us enjoy our summers in a more laid-back setting, focusing on the summer championship meet or even the neighborhood community leagues where our competitive side can also come out. Not everyone has the ability or access to facilities to focus on a year-round team and long course season.  If that’s the case we can find ourselves with some down time in swimming.  So, if we do find ourselves with some down time, one important thing to do is to make sure we keep improving and having fun in the sport.  One of the best ways to spend our summers in between the high school/college season or short course club season is to improve our technique; learning new things is a great way to get ahead and have some new tricks for the upcoming winter season. What are some things we could focus on over the summer so that we can either maximize our current long course season or be ready for the upcoming winter season as a better and faster swimmer? Check out these three tips.

TIP #1: Build your underwaters:

Underwaters are becoming the staple of fast swimming in a host of events. Events are getting faster than they ever have before at the NCAA level, and the swimmers setting these new standards are some of the best when it comes to underwaters and fly kicks. So, if you are taking your summers at a slower pace use this as a time to focus on your underwaters and build them throughout the summer. Add fly kicks and focus on maintaining consistency off each wall, and increase the speed of your underwaters week by week. If you are doing less yardage and shorter set work during the summer, then it’s the perfect time to really focus on the intensity of your underwaters at those short distances, building them up through the summer weeks for the upcoming season.

TIP #2: Drag and feeling the water:

With perhaps a more laid-back training routine, examine your previous races at your respective distances. Consider things like: Where are your weaknesses?  What part of your body fatigues the quickest and at which points? Do you feel that you are dragging water in certain areas? How is your catch?  Do you have comfortable breathing patterns? Examine past races at your conference or state meet and see what you should work on, developing habits that improve upon those weaknesses for the upcoming season. It is important as a swimmer to develop a comfortable feel in the water while swimming at a difficult pace, so allow yourself to improve your comfort in the water.  Reducing drag maximizes your body for certain lengths and will help you enter the next season with a newfound confidence.

TIP #3: Read Swimswam articles:

Maximize the use of resources available to you. Articles are posted every day on how to improve your drag or technique to be like the pros. A number of great coaches are talking about ways to improve your speed and drive in the pool. When these resources are available, use them! Swimming is still a growing sport, and both coaches and swimmers are constantly learning and emphasizing new techniques and swim hacks for what makes a faster swimmer.  Articles are also posted which discuss mental strength or maintaining the fun in the sport, because that’s the most important part. Being an active part of a community dedicated to improving the sport and making it fun is a good way to stay motivated, so get on board!

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Things To Focus On During The Summer Season

By Lauren Neidigh on SwimSwam

2017 FINA World Championships

• Sunday, July 23rd – Sunday, July 30th
• Budapest, Hungary
• 50-Meter Course
• Event Schedule
• Meet Info

Yulia Efimova (photo: Mike Lewis)

Swimming fans are getting ready to see the rematch between rivals Lilly King and Yuliya Efimova in the 100 breast at the 2017 FINA World Championships. The rivalry became one of the big storylines of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games when King made it well known that she didn’t approve of Efimova competing despite a recent positive doping test for meldonium. Efimova, who was cleared to compete in Rio following that drug test, went on to win silver in both breaststrokes and placed 2nd behind King in the 100 breast.

A year later, King and Efimova are atop the World Rankings in the 100 breast again. Both have broken 1:05 already this season and are the only women to have done so in 2017 thus far. Efimova leads the way with her 1:04.82 from the Canet stop of the Mare Nostrum tour. That was a new Russian Record for Efimova and made her the 3rd fastest performer ever. King is just a tenth behind this season with a 1:04.95 from U.S. Nationals. After both put up smoking in-season swims, it could come down to who hits their taper better.

Another name to add to the rivalry mix is World Record holder Ruta Meilutyte, who stunned the world to win the 100 breast at the 2012 London Olympics when she was only 15-years old. Meilutyte wasn’t at her best last summer in Rio, finishing 7th in the final with a 1:07.3 while recovering from injury. Her lifetime best of 1:04.35 was done at the 2013 World Championships, and she’ll look to return to the medal stand once again after taking gold in 2013 and silver behind Efimova in 2015. Meilutyte is training with a new coach in Lithuania, Paulius Andrijauskas, and says that she’s found “new motivation.” She hasn’t been 1:07.0 yet this year to prove that she’s recaptured the magic she had training with Jon Rudd, but hasn’t had a reason to rest yet either.

Katie Meili and Lilly King (photo: Simone Castrovillari)

It should take at least a 1:05-mid to make the medal stand, and Olympic bronze medalist Katie Meili is certainly still in the conversation after putting up a 1:05.51 at U.S. Nationals. Sweden’s Jennie Johansson has produced a season best of 1:06.30, and will look to join Meili in the 1:05-range. Johansson has plenty of speed, as she’s the reigning 50 breast world champ.

The battle for a spot in the top 8 could be very close considering the number of women who enter the meet with best times in the 1:06-range. China’s Shi Jinglin (1:06.28), Iceland’s Hilda Luthersdottir (1:06.45), and Canada’s Rachel Nicol (1:06.68) are all returning finalists from the Rio Olympics. Japan’s Reona Aoki (1:06.53) and Satomi Suzuki (1:06.65) are looking dangerous this season after throwing down a pair of 1:06s, as is Spain’s Jessica Vall with her 1:06.44 from the Spanish Championships. Great Britain’s Siobhan-Marie O’Connor(1:06.34) ripped a 1:06.8 at British Trials and also boasts a lifetime best 1:06-low. Teammate Sarah Vasey has been a hair faster than O’Connor this season with a 1:06.78 at British Trials.

Update: we’re also including Alia Atkinson, who stormed back into contention over the weekend in Orlando. The Jamaican Olympic finalist was conspicuously absent from the long course scene post-Rio, competing on the World Cup and at Short Course Worlds, but not logging a single long course swim since August 2016 (at least, per USA Swimming’s database). In fact, Atkinson’s only registered swims since December were a pair of 50 yard butterflys at at Florida club meet.

But Atkinson looked in good form at the Orlando Sectional over the weekend, going 1:07.6 in the 100 breast and 30.9 in the 50. She’s typically been a pretty good in-season swimmer, but should be good enough to sneak into the final in Budapest.

Denmark’s Rikke Moller Pedersen, the 200 breast World Record holder, missed out on the 100 breast final after putting up a 1:07.0 in semis at the Rio Olympics. She was faster in prelims, though, with a 1:06.58. So far, her season best is a 1:07.33 from the Danish Open, so she’s on track to dip into the 1:06s again if she hits her taper, but could go even faster given her lifetime best is a 1:05.93 from 2013 Worlds.

Top 8 Predictions:

DARKHORSE: Ireland’s Mona McSharry has been doing very well this season, taking down an Irish Senior Record in the 50 breast at European Juniors to become the first ever Irish swimmer to win gold at that meet. She swam a personal best 1:07.38 at the Irish Championships in April, and will now go after the Irish Record of 1:07.15. If she can crack the 1:07 barrier, we could see her in the final in Budapest. Regardless, she’s a target for Tokyo – the new man in charge in Ireland is Jon Rudd, who was Ruta Meilutyte‘s old coach.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2017 Worlds Previews: King vs. Efimova Rematch in W. 100 Breast

By Loretta Race on SwimSwam

Following a successful European Junior Championships campaign, Dutch teenager Marrit Steenbergen has withdrawn herself from the Netherlands’ World Championships roster. Originally lined-up to swim the 200m freestyle individually and as a part of the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay, the 17-year-old will be ‘taking a rest after the successful EJC in Netanya’, according to the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB).

While competing in Israel at the EJC competition, Steenbergen raced her way to an individual gold medal in the 100m freestyle, clocking a time of 54.13. She also won the women’s 200m IM event in a time of 2:13.69, while scoring silver as a member of the 4x100m freestyle relay, firing off a speedy anchor leg of 53.37.

From the KNZB website, it appears that Robin Neumann will be racing the women’s 200m freestyle now in addition to Femke Heemskerk.

Below is the revised list of Dutch swimmers with their associated events scheduled out for Budapest, as it appears on the KNZB site.

Program Swim 
Sunday, July 23
09.30: 100m Butterfly Kim Busch
9:30: 400m freestyle Maarten Brzoskowski
09.30: 200m Medley Marjolein Delno
09:30: 50m butterfly Mathys Goosen
09.30: 100m breaststroke Arno Kamminga

17.30: Final 400m freestyle Maarten Brzoskowski (tbc)
17.30: ½ final 100m butterfly Kim Busch (tbc)
17:30 ½ finals 50m butterfly Mathys Goosen (tbc)
17:30 ½ final 100m breaststroke Arno Kamminga (tbc)
17:30 ½ final 200m medley Marjolein Delno (tbc)

Monday July 24
09:30: 100m backstroke Kira Toussaint
09:30: 200m freestyle Kyle Stolk

17.30: final 100m breaststroke Arno Kamminga (tbc)
17.30: Final 100m Butterfly Kim Busch (tbc)
17.30: Final 50m butterfly Mathys Goosen (tbc)
17.30: ½ final 100m backstroke Kira Toussaint (tbc)
17.30: ½ final 200m freestyle Kyle Stolk (tbc)
17:30: final 200m medley Marjolein Delno (tBC)

Tuesday, July 25
09:30: 50m breaststroke Arno Kamminga
09.30: 200m freestyle Femke Heemskerk / Robin Neumann
09:30: 800m freestyle Ferry Weertman

17.30: final 200m Freestyle Maarten Brzoskowski (tbc)
17.30: ½ final 50m breast Arno Kamminga (tbc)
17.30: final 100m backstroke Kira Toussaint (tbc)
17.30: ½ final 200m Freestyle Femke Heemskerk / Robin Neumann (TBC)

Wednesday July 26
09:30: 50m backstroke Kira Toussaint / Maaike de Waard
9:30: 100m freestyle Ben Schwietert

17:30: final 200m Freestyle Femke Heemskerk / Robin Neumann (TBC)
17:30: ½ final 100m freestyle Ben Schwietert (tbc)
17:30: ½ final 50m back Kira Toussaint / Maaike de Waard (TBC)
17:30: Final 50m breast Arno Kamminga (TBC )
17:30: final 800m freestyle Ferry Weertman (tbc)

Thursday, July 27
09:30: 100m freestyle ranomi kromowidjojo / Maud van der Meer
09.30: 200m breaststroke Arno Kamminga

17:30: ½ final 100m freestyle ranomi kromowidjojo / Maud van der Meer (tbc)
17:30: Final 100m freestyle Ben Schwietert (tbc)
17:30: Final 50 back ladies Kira Toussaint / Maaike de Waard (tbc)
17:30 ½ final 200m breaststroke Arno kamminga (tBC)

Friday, July 28
9:30: 50m freestyle Jesse Puts
09:30: 50m butterfly ranomi kromowidjojo / Maaike de Waard
9:30: 100m butterfly Mathys Goosen

17:30: final 100m freestyle ranomi kromowidjojo / Maud van der Meer (tbc)
17:30: ½ final 50m free Jesse Puts (TBC)
17:30: ½ final 100m butterfly Mathys Goosen (tbc)
17:30: ½ final 50m butterfly ranomi kromowidjojo / Maaike the Waard (tBC)

Saturday July 29
9:30: 50m freestyle ranomi kromowidjojo / Tamara van Vliet

17.30: final 50m butterfly ranomi kromowidjojo / Maaike de Waard (TBC)
17.30: Final 50m free Jesse Puts (TBC)
17.30: final 100m butterfly Mathys Goosen (tbc)
17.30: ½ final 50m Freestyle ranomi kromowidjojo / Tamara van Vliet (tbc )

Sunday, July 30
17:30: Final 50m Freestyle ranomi kromowidjojo / Tamara van Vliet (tbc)

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Dutch European Jr Champion Steenbergen Opts Out Of World Championships

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

Below, find links to the Twitter and Instagram accounts of the 2017 Australian World Championship team. With the meet now less than two weeks away, you can follow along as the athletes put together their final preparations for the biggest competition of the year.

The Australians received a big blow when 100 free Olympic gold medalist Kyle Chalmers opted out of Worlds to undergo heart surgery, which was successful. He was one of the few bright spots for a team that fell well below lofty expectations in Rio, and his absence demolishes any chance of a gold medal in the men’s 400 free relay.

Along with Chalmers, there are several notable names sitting out of Worlds this year, including Cate Campbell, Madeline Groves and James Magnussen. With Chalmers and Groves out, Mack Horton, Mitch Larkin and Emma McKeon are the only returning individual medalists from last year.

You can check out our full roster announcement here.

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

2017 Maccabiah Games

• July 9-12, 2017
• Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel
• Male Results
• Female Results

The swimming portion of the 2017 Maccabiah Games got underway at the Wingate Institute in Netanya, Israel on Sunday, the same facility used for the 2015 Short Course European Championships. The competition is open to Jewish athletes from around the world, as well as all Israeli citizens regardless of their religion. This year’s version of the event, the 20th edition, is set to be the largest ever with other 10,000 athletes competing.

The most notable name swimming at the event is American Anthony Ervin, who won a pair of gold medals at the Olympics last summer. Ervin failed to make the U.S. World Championship team in the 50 freestyle at their trials just over a week ago, but started this meet off with a respectable showing in the 100 free.

Ervin won gold in 49.76, managing to hold off Israel’s David Gamburg who earned silver in 49.83. Gamburg’s Israeli countryman Alexi Konovalov took the bronze in 50.78.

2013 U.S. World Championship team member BJ Johnson competed in the men’s 200 breaststroke, earning the win in a time of 2:11.60. This is Johnson’s first competition since racing in one of the World Cup meets last October. He was 6th at the U.S. Olympic Trials in this event, and opted out of World Trials to focus on this event.

Recent Texas Longhorn graduate Tasija Karosas was also in action, picking up a decisive win in the women’s 200 backstroke in 2:10.88. The American also sat out of U.S. World Trials, though her time here would’ve earned a top five finish.Kelly Fertel (2:17. 62) came in for silver to make it a 1-2 for the U.S.

While the Americans had four wins on day 1, Israel had four of their own. Two-time Olympian and three-time LC European medalist Yakov Toumarkin won the men’s 200 back in 2:00.17, with teammates David Fridlander (2:04.87) and Yonatan Batsha (2:05.51) taking 2nd and 3rd for a sweep of the podium.

Fellow Israeli Andrea Murez, who has previously represented the U.S. internationally, won the women’s 100 freestyle in a time of 55.15. Murez won five gold and two silvers for the U.S. at the 2013 Maccabiah Games, and also picked up a pair of relay medals at the World University Games that year. She first represented Israel at a major championship in 2015 at the SC Europeans. She previously competed for Stanford in the NCAA.

OTHER WINNERS:

• American Maija Roses (2:31.65) won gold in the women’s 200 breaststroke, with Peyton Greenberg (2:34.14) making it a 1-2 finish for the U.S.
• Israel swept the 200 fly, with Keren Siebner (2:16.57) and Etay Gurevich (2:01.11) winning the women’s and men’s events respectively.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Ervin Opens Maccabiah Games With 100 Free Gold

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

Harvard has landed quite the catch with a verbal commitment* from Mission Viejo Nadadores’ Samantha Shelton. A rising senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Shelton will be part of Harvard‘s class of 2022.

A sprint/mid-distance freestyler and backstroker, Shelton is the 12th-best 200 yard freestyler in U.S. 15-16 history with her 1:44.95 from her victory at the 2016 Winter Junior Nationals (West). She’s also ranked in the top 100 all-time in the 15-16 age group for the 100m, 200m and 400m free as well as the 100m back and 100y free.

Shelton is a 4-time CIF Southern Section (D1) champion, having won the 200 free and 100 fly her sophomore year at Santa Margarita Catholic, and the 200 free and 100 back this past May as a junior. This past season, she also anchored their free relays in 22.07 and 48.71, helping them break section records in both relays. In the 400 free relay, her team set the national independent high school record. Keep in mind that Shelton threw down that 48.7 split after doing the 200 free relay and 100 back right before it, with just the 100 breast serving as her rest.

She also has international experience, racing for Team USA at the 2015 World Junior Championships in Singapore. She swam during prelims on the USA’s 4×100 and 4×200 free relays.

TOP TIMES

• 50y free 22.87 (22.07 relay)
• 100y free 49.11 (48.71 relay)
• 200y free 1:44.95
• 500y free 4:45.26
• 100y back 53.04
• 100y fly 53.72
• 200y fly 1:59.05

Shelton would’ve A-finaled in any of the seven races listed above with her lifetime bests at the 2017 Ivy League Championships. Her 1:44.95 would’ve won the 200 free title by half a second, and it would’ve also earned her a spot in the B final of the 200 free at NCAAs. She would’ve been 2nd in the 500 free and 100 back with her best times, too, at Ivies.

She offers multiple options to head coach Stephanie Morawski in terms of her Ivies lineup– she could do either the 50 or 500 free on day 2, the 100 back, 100 fly, or 200 free on day 3, and then the 200 fly or 100 free on day 4. Additionally, she immediately will make any of Harvard‘s five relays faster, be it with a freestyle leg or a backstroke one.

Even more exciting, in the vein of her 200 free, is her pairing with rising Harvard sophomore Miki Dahlke. Also from California, Dahlke was the only Harvard swimmer to qualify for NCAAs with her Ivy League record 1:45.23 leading off the 800 free relay. When Shelton gets to Harvard, her and Dahlke may well be the two best 200 freestylers the conference has ever seen, and the Crimson could even end up sending a relay or two to NCAAs with Shelton and Dahlke at the helm of the program.

*IVY LEAGUE DISCLAIMER: A “verbal commitment” by a coach is not an offer of admission, as only the Admissions Office has that authority. An Ivy League coach can only commit his or her support in the admissions process.

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

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Samantha Shelton Sends Game-Changing Verbal to Harvard for 2018

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

Ohio native Hannah Whiteley is returning to her home state after her freshman year with the University of Louisville. She will join the Ohio State Buckeyes for the upcoming season, and have three years of eligibility left in Columbus.

Whiteley was a promising recruit to Louisville, and was part of the U.S. NCSA junior contingent that competed at the 2015 Irish Spring Nationals. An alumna of Springboro High School in western Ohio, Whiteley was an Ohio state champ in the 100 back her junior and senior year. She still holds the 100 back state record.

TOP TIMES

• 50y back 24.95
• 100y back 52.92
• 200y back 1:57.49
• 100y fly 54.68
• 50y free 23.21
• 100y free 50.84

Whiteley’s best times all come from high school. She did not swim at ACCs, with her last meet being the Ohio State Winter Invite a few days before ACCs– there, she finished at 56.30 and 2:00.54 in the backstroke. Her season best in the 100 was a 54.73 from Louisville’s home mid-season invite in November of 2016.

Whitley has been training with the OSU group on campus this summer and taking classes there, as well. If she can return to her high school form, she will be a fantastic addition to the Buckeyes roster. Her best times would’ve been good for 7th in the 100 back at 2017 Big Tens and 21st in the 200 back, which is big considering OSU had no A-finalists at Big Tens last year in the 100 back. She would also be a huge upgrade on their medley relays, as she is faster than OSU’s medley lead-offs were at Big Tens (25.35 and 54.10) by a solid margin, especially in the 100.

She joins 15 other incoming freshmen and transfers this upcoming season for OSU, which recently became a combined men’s and women’s program under previous women’s coach Bill Dorenkott. Among the newcomers should be a great training partner for Whiteley in Kristen Romano of the Long Island Aquatic Club. Romano is an excellent backstroker (25.4/53.3/1:53.9) who is right with Whiteley in the 50 and 100.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 52.9 Backstroker Hannah Whiteley Transferring from Louisville to OSU

By Loretta Race on SwimSwam

Most of us are familiar with the pre-race sprinter slap seen on pool decks around the world, but have you ever seen ‘The Captain Morgan’ or ‘The High Jump’? The boys at SkillsNT have produced another amusing video, this time with their take on swimmers’ top rituals behind the blocks, ranging from the traditional to the rare.

Take a look at the ‘Top 12 Pre-Race Rituals’ and see which one depicts how you and your squad get hyped before the big splash.

Video courtesy of SkillsNT. 

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Swimmers’ Top 12 Pre-Race Rituals (Video)

By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

USA Swimming has announced its 44-swimmer squad for the 2017 World University Games, with only two of the eligible World Champs team members electing to take part in both meets.

Selection procedures for this summer’s international meets allowed a small window for swimmers to compete at both Worlds and World University Games – swimmers who made the World Champs team in only relay events or non-Olympic events would be allowed to swim individual events at World University Games just over a month later. (You can read up on the full selection procedures here).

There were 6 swimmers in that boat after the conclusion of U.S. Nationals, but only 2 will swim both meets, per the rosters released by USA Swimming today. Both are the Worlds representatives in the 50 backstrokes: Justin Ress and Hannah Stevens. Here’s a quick rundown:

Dual Worlds/WUGs eligible qualifiers:

• Lia Neal: Worlds only
• Cierra Runge: Worlds only
• Zach Apple: Worlds only
• Michael Chadwick: Worlds only
• Hannah Stevens: both
• Justin Ress: both

We projected the likely qualifiers for WUGs (also known as the Universiade) right after the meet wrapped up. Only three names from that projection don’t appear on USA Swimming’s roster:

Absent From World University Games roster:

• Gunnar Bentz
• Vanessa Krause

With World University Games taking place very late this year (August 20-26), it’s possible that some swimmers couldn’t attend the meet without missing classes at early-starting universities, or that swimmers or coaches didn’t want to set back their college seasons by training right up until the start of NCAA season. There’s no word yet on why these two aren’t included on the roster. Rising Georgia senior Bentz would have been the nation’s top entrant in the 200 fly, 200 IM and 400 IM, while Michigan sophomore Krause was set to swim the 200 fly.

Tennessee’s Joey Reilman was also in the mix in the men’s 200 backstroke, but that spot went to Austin Katz. Katz was the only swimmer to qualify for World University Games and the Junior World Championships, and it appears he’s set to attend WUGs and skip Junior Worlds.

New Names From Projected Roster:

To fill in for those 6 absent names are 6 new ones:

• Caroline Baldwin
• Katie Drabot
• Katrina Konopka
• Grant Sanders
• Dillon Virva
• Sean Grieshop

Baldwin, Drabot and Konopka all qualified under USA Swimming’s selection procedures originally, but were left off the projected team because the roster max of 20 was hit. Sanders gets bumped into Bentz’s 200 IM spot, Grieshop to Bentz’s 400 IM spot and Virva take one of the 50 free spots vacated by Apple and Chadwick.

The other vacant 50 free and 100 free slots go to Ryan Held, who was originally set to only swim the 4×100 free relay. Maxime Rooney takes over the other vacant 100 free spot and Zach Harting the 200 fly entry. For the women, Kaersten Meitz gets Runge’s 800 free spot and Katie McLaughlin will get to swim her signature 200 fly, taking Krause’s spot.

You can view the full World University Games roster here.

Women (22):

• Bridgette Alexander – 200 back
• Caroline Baldwin– 50 free, 100 free, 4×100 free relay
• Kayla Brumbaum – 200 breast
• Veronica Burchill – 100 free, 4×100 free relay, 4×100 medley relay
• Katy Campbell– 10K open water
• Andee Cottrell – 50 breast, 100 breast, 4×100 medley relay
• Ali DeLoof – 50 back, 100 back
• Katie Drabot– 200 free, 4×200 free relay
• Ella Eastin – 200 fly, 200 IM
• Brooke Forde – 200 IM, 400 IM
• Katrina Konopka– 50 free
• Becca Mann– 10K open water
• Kaersten Meitz – 400 free, 800 free
• Katie McLaughlin – 50 fly, 100 fly, 200 fly
• Ally McHugh – 400 IM
• Hellen Moffitt – 50 fly, 100 fly, 4×100 medley relay
• Hannah Moore – 800 free, 1500 free
• Claire Rasmus – 200 free, 4×200 free relay
• Sierra Schmidt – 400 free, 1500 free
• Asia Seidt – 200 back
• Hannah Stevens – 50 back, 100 back, 4×100 medley relay
• Miranda Tucker – 200 breast, 100 breast, 50 breast

Men (22):

• Taylor Abbott– 10K open water
• Mitch D’Arrigo – 200 free, 400 free, 4×200 free relay
• Taylor Dale – 50 back, 100 back
• Sean Grieshop– 400 IM
• Zach Harting – 50 fly, 100 fly, 200 fly
• Ryan Held – 50 free, 100 free, 4×100 free relay
• David Heron– 10K open water
• Austin Katz– 200 back
• Will Licon – 200 breast, 200 IM
• Kevin Litherland – 1500 free
• Justin Lynch – 50 fly, 100 fly, 4×100 medley relay
• Jacob Montague – 50 breast, 100 breast
• Robert Owen – 200 back
• PJ Ransford – 800 free, 1500 free
• Justin Ress – 50 back, 100 back, 4×100 medley relay
• Jonathan Roberts – 400 IM
• Maxime Rooney – 100 free, 200 free, 4×200 free relay, 4×100 free relay
• Grant Sanders– 200 IM
• Grant Shoults – 4×200 free relay, 400 free, 800 free
• Dillon Virva– 50 free
• Andrew Wilson – 50 breast, 100 breast, 4×100 medley relay, 200 breast
• Justin Wright – 200 fly

Coaching Staff

USA Swimming also named its coaching staff. Head coaches were announced in advance (covered here in March), but assistants were finalized after U.S. Nationals.

Men’s team:

• Head coach Whitney Hite (Wisconsin)
• Braden Holloway (NC State)
• Jeff Poppell (Florida)
• Brian Smith (Georgia)

Women’s Team:

• Head coach Carol Capitani (Texas)
• Rick Bishop (Michigan)
• Tracy Duchac (Stanford)
• Duncan Sherrard (North Carolina)

Read the full story on SwimSwam: US Releases WUGs Roster; Only 2 Swimmers To Double With Worlds

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

WOMEN’S 400 IM

• 2015 World Champion: Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 4:30.39
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 4:26.36
• World Record Holder: Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 4:26.36

In Rio, Katinka Hosszu had her most impressive performance in the 400 IM, decimating the competition en route to setting the world record by over two seconds. She touched almost five full seconds ahead of silver medalist Maya Dirado. Hosszu has only been 4:33.71 this year, the 2nd-fastest time of 2017. She has not looked as good this year as she did in-season last year– before Rio, she had already broken 4:30 and been in the 4:30-lows. Whether the rumors of her harder-than-ever training regimen are true or not, Hosszu does not need to go a 4:26.3 to win this race in Rio.

First in the world this year, and by a solid margin, is Japan’s Yui Ohashi. She exploded for a Japanese record 4:31.42 in April at the Japanese Nationals, bettering the old mark by more than three seconds. One of the new faces in this 400 IM crowd, Ohashi works with Norimasa Hirai, who helped coach Kosuke Kitajima and Kosuke Hagino into international stars.

“When I told her she could swim a 4:35, she didn’t believe me and she did it,” Hirai said in an interview with Japanese news agency Kyodo News. Hirai is referring to the 4:35 that Ohashi dropped in February. “I told her 4:31 for today and she managed that, too. So the next time I tell her she can do something, she better not doubt me — even by a single percent.” It’s anyone’s guess as to what Hirai plans for Ohashi in Budapest, but the 21-year-old breakout performer has Hosszu and the rest of the world chasing her down as the world leader this year.

Mary-Sophie Harvey is another new face to international competition in this event. One of many rising Canadian teenagers, Harvey comes in with a 4:36.48 from the Sette Colli Trophy in June. That’s actually faster than the 4:36.60 that she swam at Canadian Trials to qualify for the meet, and Harvey did say in an interview at the Mesa PSS that she had been slammed with a virus after the 400 IM at Trials that left her bed-ridden. Of course, one week after that virus, Harvey was able to get back up and beat Katie Ledecky in the 400 IM in Mesa. She’s a versatile talent, and could surprise with a big swim in Budapest. Meanwhile, her fellow Canadian Sydney Pickrem posted a 4:35.43 at Canadian Trials, and while Pickrem is better in the 200 IM, the two women will likely represent Canada in the 400 IM final in Budapest.

The 400 IM in Indianapolis nearly sent two new faces to Budapest (in this event, at least) but for the infamous DQ of Ella Eastin for the Lochte Rule. Leah Smith, with her world #3 time 4:33.86, was still safely qualified in this race, but Eastin’s DQ bumped Elizabeth Beisel up to the 2nd spot. Beisel had an elongated break after Rio, but she credited her Bluefish coach Chuck Bachelor and UF coach Gregg Troy for her “huge swimming base” that kept her in shape after that break. Smith, meanwhile, alluded that she didn’t come down to a full-blown taper for Indy because she had confidence in her races. The 400 IM time for her was a surprise for most swim fans watching, and if she really does have more to whittle down in Budapest, Smith will be a medal contender– especially because of what she can do on the last 100 meters.

Finally, two veterans will swim to keep the rising talent at bay and shoot for podium finishes. Spain’s Mireia Belmonte and GBR’s Hannah Miley are regular names in this event, and last summer in Rio, Belmonte knocked Miley out for bronze at 4:32.39 to Miley’s 4:32.54. They’ve posted similar times this year already– Miley a 4:34.12, Belmonte a 4:35.01. Miley has not medalled in this race since 2011 Worlds, while Belmonte has picked up the silver in Barcelona in 2013 and bronze in Rio last summer. Miley does have an edge, however, as Belmonte will have to contest the 400, 800 and 1500 free before the 400 IM on the last day of competition– Miley is only swimming the 400 IM. That said, Belmonte has been here plenty of times before, and she has a knack for finding her way to the podium.

Dark horse: Vien Nguyen of Vietnam. She was just three hundredths away from making the final in Rio with a 4:36.85, and since Rio, she’s posted a solid 4:37.71 which won her gold at the 2016 Asian Championships in November of 2016. That time set a new meet record.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2017 Worlds Preview: New Faces Scramble for W400 IM Minor Medals

By Loretta Race on SwimSwam

The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) and Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) have partnered on an agreement rendering 6 training bases allocated to the former in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

After having visited the designated training based in Japan on 5 separate occasions, the Brazilians have decided on the University of Fikkyo as their primary training base, set to host 120 athletes from 10 different disciplines as they make final Olympic preparations in 2020. According to Inside the Games, another 90 Brazilian athletes will be located at  Sagamihara, while Hamamatsu, Enoshima, Ota and Koto are also designated as preparation venues.

COB Chairman Carlos Nuzman says, “We are sure that the Brazilian athletes will benefit from the best structure in the final preparation phase for the Tokyo Games.

“The facilities are of the highest quality and we are very pleased to be able to provide our athletes with all the conditions to train and adapt the best way possible to the local climate and time.” (Inside the Games)

The announcement is another in what is sure to be a string of pre-Olympic training camp decisions being made this year, already just 3 years out from the next Summer Games. In March we reported how the British Olympic Association (BOA) signed training venue contracts with 3 Japanese sports facilities, one of which is the Yokohama International Pool based in the city of Yokohama. The city is just about a 45 minute drive from Tokyo.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Tokyo 2020: Brazilians Procure 6 Japanese Training Bases

By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

Budapest, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Kazan are the final four candidates to host FINA’s 2022 and/or 2024 Short Course World Championships, per a FINA press release today. FINA will select hosts next week.

This is a major month for FINA meetings. The FINA Bureau met today in Budapest, preparing for the meetings of the General Congress and Technical Congress later this month. The General Congress meeting also coincides with the vote for FINA’s next president – incumbent Julio Maglione is running for a third term against challenger Paolo Barelli, currently the president of Italy’s swimming federation and of the European swimming federation.

The meetings take place before the start of the 2017 FINA World Championships, which will also be held in Budapest. The FINA press release notes a handful of notable results of this FINA Bureau meeting. Here are a few of the most impactful:

• Budapest (Hungary), Chinese Taipei (Thailand), Hong Kong (Hong Kong) and Kazan (Russia) are in the mix to host Short Course Worlds in 2022 and/or 2024. That decision will be handed down on July 17.
• The FINA Bureau approved voting methods for the upcoming General and Technical Congresses. The Technical Congress will vote by show of hands, while the General Congress will use secret ballot.
• The Bureau also approved a Revision Committee and Scrutineers for the General Congress. Here’s the list, per the press release: The Revision committee is “Mr Onat Yildrim, Mr Maurice Watkins, Mr Richard Young and Chief Olatokunbo Thomas (all members of the FINA Legal Committee). The Scrutineers (one per continent) will be: Africa – Mr Mustapha Larfaoui; Americas – Mr Eldon Godfrey; Asia – Mr Qiuping Zhang; Europe – Mr Bartolo Consolo; Oceania – Mr Christopher Fydler.”
• A couple proposals were finalized to update technical rules for women’s water polo, given the recent IOC decision to expand the Olympic women’s water polo field from 8 teams to 10.
• The 2018 World Junior Synchronized Swimming Championships will be awarded to Budapest, Hungary.

The release also mentions a new “FINA anti-doping educational programme,” though no specifics are given. FINA also says it will be providing financial assistance to federations competing at Junior Worlds starting in 2019.

Here’s a look at the upcoming hosts for FINA World Championship events in both short course and long course:

• 2017 Worlds (LCM): Budapest, Hungary
• 2018 Worlds (SCM): Hangzhou, China
• 2019 Worlds (LCM): Gwangju, South Korea
• 2020 Worlds (SCM): Abu Dhabi, UAE
• 2021 Worlds (LCM): Fukuoka, Japan
• 2022 Worlds (SCM): TBD
• 2023 Worlds (LCM): Doha, Qatar
• 2024 Worlds (SCM): TBD

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Four Cities Up For 2022, 2024 World Champs Hosting Duties

By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam

Global water instinct brand arena known, for making bold statements with eye catching and podium topping technical racing suits, releases 12 new limited edition Powerskin Carbon Series colors that continue to advance the appearance of elite competitive swimming from a sea of black to an explosion of self-expression and stand-out performances.  

Rebecca Soni (courtesy of Arena USA)

arena’s launch of its carbon legacy in 2012 with the Powerskin Carbon-Pro not only ushered in a new realm of high-performance racing suits, it also made an aesthetic statement as color made a welcome return to the competition pool. Released in bold contemporary shades of red, blue and green, it caught the eye, standing out on the blocks with visual dominance. A month before the 2012 London Olympics, a very special “White Hot” Limited Edition raised the stakes with fiery flames etched on a steely grey background – highlighting both the athlete and the unprecedented technology. arena swimmers duly fanned the flames as they topped the podium and shattered records, Rebecca Soni leading the charge with two new world marks and a medal haul of two golds and one silver.

Along with several members of arena’s Elite Team around the world, Soni played a leading role in the development of the groundbreaking POWERSKIN Carbon Pro through extensive prototype testing and feedback.  The world took notice as she sliced through the water in London in a flash of color and touched the wall first, cementing the new Carbon legacy with her performance, her attitude, her look – professional, striking, smart.

Following Rebecca’s retirement, arena’s racing colors carried her torch with stylish Italian expression, introducing orange and cyan innovations in full-suit or highlights that accented the 2013 Carbon-Pro MK2’s lines.  Anthracite black with vibrant magenta detailing followed in 2014 with the POWERSKIN Carbon-Flex Limited Edition, and then fluorescent green and steel grey color combos in 2015 for the Carbon-Flex World Championship Edition. Launched the same year, the POWERSKIN Carbon-Air featured striking electric blue and fuschia versions, while the Cobra Ultra goggles also got in on the act, brightening the pool scene with its own spectrum ranging from shocking pink to deep blue and lime green.

The arrival of the new POWERSKIN colors marks the fifth anniversary of arena’s debut of color on deck and the milestone performances set by Soni in the competition pool.  The new colors offer a palette of striking visual combinations from the past and the future, using a new approach with a balanced yet unconventional touch that explores how interactions between fabric, color, light and the human body affect the swimmer. In this way, color itself is instilled with a new importance and quality that is tangible, physical, and in turn creates captivating sensory experiences for the swimmer.

The new colors will take center stage in Budapest this week during some of the world’s most anticipated Fina World Championships races. Seasoned superstar Sarah Sjöström will be racing in the Carbon Ultra during her 50m and 100m buttlerflies and freestyle races. The ubiquitous champion Katinka Hosszuandsprint-phenomAdam Peaty will unleash their power in the Carbon Flex VX. Meanwhile, the Carbon Air hits the deck on South Africa’s master of butterfly, Chad Le Clos. U.S.A. middle-distance swimmer and rising star Madisyn Cox will be making her World Championship debut also in the Carbon Air. As these athletes prepare for their races against the world’s top swimmers, looking and feeling good, may well tip the balance when the time comes to hand out medals.

About arena

For over 40 years arena has equipped the world’s leading swimmers and lovers of watersports with racing, training, and leisure swimwear and accessories built on a foundation of in-depth research, technical know-how, and an unyielding commitment to quality. With U.S. headquarters in Portland, Ore., Arena is the exclusive outfitter of the U.S. National Team, and a proud partner of USA Swimming. www.arenausa.com.

Swimming news courtesy of Arena, a SwimSwam partner.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Carbon Series Powering Up The World’s Best Athletes With Color