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CONTENTS 008 BRENT RUTEMILLER’S CANCER IN EARLY REMISSION AFTER 42 WEEKS OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND STEM CELL TRANSPLANT by John Lohn Swimming World is thrilled to announce that Brent Rutemiller is in early remission from the cancer that wracked his body. The publisher of Swimming World Magazine and CEO of International Swimming Hall of Fame shares a detailed announcement of the early-remission news delivered by his doctor regarding his fight against cancer. 010 WHAT WORLD RECORDS ARE IN DANGER AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS? by John Lohn While some of the biggest names in the sport will be absent from the FINA World Championships in Budapest, plenty of speed will be on display inside the Duna Arena. Some of the events that might see the world record challenged include the men’s 50 and 100 meter freestyle as well as the 200 fly, along with the women’s 100 back and 400 IM. 011 INJURY TO ADAM PEATY THE LATEST BLOW TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS FIELD by John Lohn The field for next month’s World Championships was further weakened when two-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty revealed he suffered a broken bone in his right foot. At least seven additional reigning Olympic champions will not compete at Worlds for varying reasons. 012 MALLORY COMERFORD EMBRACING RESURGENCE AFTER “DARK PLACE” HEADING INTO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS by Dan D’Addona After the most difficult year of her career, including a disappointing finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Mallory Comerford proved her resurgence in Greensboro, N.C., making Team USA for the World Championships—something that seemed impossible a year ago. 014 HALI FLICKINGER CHECKS CAREER GOAL BY MAKING TEAM USA RELAY, BUT “THERE IS SO MUCH MORE IN THERE” by Dan D’Addona At this year’s USA Swimming International Team Trials, Hali Flickinger achieved her goal of qualifying for a Team USA relay by finishing fourth in the 200 free. But she’s also hoping to reach her second goal of having a breakthrough in the 200 fly... which could happen this summer at the World Championships. 016 MOLLIE O’CALLAGHAN, SHAYNA JACK BLAST BIG TIMES AT AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS by Ian Hanson Even without Tokyo Olympic stars Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell and her former world champion sister, Bronte Campbell, there was plenty of fast swimming at the Australian Swimming Championships in May at Adelaide, including a 1-2 finish in the women’s 100 free from Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack, who clocked the world’s top two fastest times.
SWIMMING WORLD BIWEEKLY MAY 2022 | ISSUE 10 019 OLYMPIC CHAMPION ARIARNE TITMUS BREAKS THE 400 FREESTYLE WORLD RECORD by Ian Hanson Australia’s Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus blasted her way to a new world record in the women’s 400 meter freestyle – clocking 3:56.40 at the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide. 020 USA SWIMMING ANNOUNCES ROSTERS FOR 2022 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS AND MEL ZAJAC JR. INTERNATIONAL SWIM MEET USA Swimming announced the names of 60 athletes who will represent the U.S. internationally this summer at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships (Aug. 24-27, Honolulu, Hawaii) or the 2022 Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet (June 3-5, Vancouver, Canada). 024 “THE ONLY THING I SAW WAS A SWIMMER”: MICHAEL PHELPS ON IDENTITY AND MENTAL HEALTH by Matthew De George Michael Phelps has long been an advocate for athletes’ mental health and for athletes sharing their emotional and psychological struggles. In an interview with the WHOOP Podcast, the most decorated Olympian in history added to that body of conversations. 026 U.S. MEN’S RELAYS LOOK STRONG FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS by David Rieder Although the United States captured Olympic gold medals last year at Tokyo in the 400 medley and 400 freestyle relays, the Americans did not reach the podium in the 800 free relay, marking the first time that any U.S. relay squad competed in the Olympics, but did not win a medal. Team USA sits in a favorable position a year later at the upcoming World Championships, as SW Biweekly analyzes all three races.
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028 HOW THE U.S. WOMEN’S RELAYS STACK UP FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHI8PS by David Rieder While the Americans would be big favorites in a women’s backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly relay, freestyle is a different story. That bodes well for the medley relay, but not so well for the 400 and 800 freestyle relays. SW Biweekly examines American medal hopes for the three women’s relays set for the World Championships in Budapest. 030 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST BOWE BECKER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT by Matthew De George Bowe Becker, a 400 freestyle relay Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, announced his retirement from swimming. The native of Las Vegas also was an excellent swimmer at the University of Minnesota, finishing third at NCAAs in the 50 free in 2018 and second in the 100 free in 2019. He also swam in the International Swimming League in 2020 with the Cali Condors and with the Tokyo Frog Kings in 2021. Last year, Becker served as a volunteer assistant coach at Minnesota.
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018 AUSTRALIA’S ZAC STUBBLETY-COOK SMASHES WORLD RECORD IN THE 200 BREASTSTROKE by Ian Hanson Australia’s Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook smashed the world record in the 200 meter breaststroke at the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide with a stunning 2:05.95. His time not only bettered the previous mark of 2:06.12 set by Russian Anton Chupkov at the 2019 World Championships, but the 23-year-old from Brisbane become the first man under 2:06.00.
Americas: Matthew De George (USA) Africa: Chaker Belhadj (TUN) Australia: Wayne Goldsmith, Ian Hanson Europe: Norbert Agh (HUN), Liz Byrnes (GBR), Camillo Cametti (ITA), Oene Rusticus (NED), Rokur Jakupsstovu (FAR) Japan: Hideki Mochizuki Middle East: Baruch “Buky” Chass, Ph.D. (ISR) South Africa: Neville Smith (RSA) South America: Jorge Aguado (ARG) PHOTOGRAPHERS/SWTV
Peter H. Bick, USA Today Sports Images, Reuters, Getty Images OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF:
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On The Cover: Brooks Curry | Photo by Peter H. Bick
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Brent Rutemiller’s Cancer In Early Remission After 42 Weeks of Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant BY JOHN LOHN
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’ve known Brent Rutemiller – CEO of Swimming World and the International Swimming Hall of Fame – for about 20 years, our relationship first developed through business. But when you work closely with someone, there is a great opportunity to develop a friendship – and I’m glad that I get to call Brent a good friend. So, when he reached out almost a year ago with the news that he was diagnosed with plasmacell leukemia, it was a tough conversation to say the least. Yet, something from our early chats stood out. Brent didn’t have this woe-is-me mentality. Truthfully, he didn’t have time for that attitude, nor did he care to mope. No, Brent was going to beat this thing. How? Those details would come later, and as you will see in his letter below, his fight was not without several pitfalls, moments of doubt and frustration. Through it all, though, Brent remained positive, refused to dwell on any setbacks and was steadfast in the fact that – one day – he was going to receive excellent news and could be used as motivation for others battling a cancer diagnosis. Today, Swimming World is thrilled to announce that Brent is in early remission from the cancer which wracked his body. It’s an achievement to celebrate, and as I told Brent last week, this wonderful news is his moment atop the podium. He claimed victory. He beat the opposition. He captured gold. The following letter is Brent Rutemiller’s detailed announcement of the early-remission news delivered by his doctor regarding his fight against cancer: 8
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I finally got my long-awaited blood test results to see if my stem cell transplant was successful. It will soon be one year since I was diagnosed with cancer. 90% of my plasma was filled with cancer and my kidneys were failing over Memorial Day Weekend last year. Dr. Google said I had 5 months to live. The first 48 hours, I felt sorry for myself. Then I decided that feeling sorry was a useless emotion. I was going to either win or die, there was no second place. I made the decision that the only thing I can control was my attitude and exercise. I began walking circles in my hospital room and then progressed to the hospital floor. They put a port in my chest and started giving me chemo three times a week. They flooded me with pills to the point that on some days I was taking over 20 within a 24-hour period. They pounded me with steroids once a week to where I now have cataracts in both eyes and will need surgery. With the help of Rob Butcher, I was able to get Dr. Fonseca, head of the Mayo Oncology Department to take me as his patient, but first Mayo had to accept me into their system. With the constant loving support of my wife, Ellen Rutemiller, she navigated the insurance paperwork and maze of hoops to get me admitted into Mayo. I can’t tell you the number of times they said, “no!” to her. She then had to navigate Medicare and our secondary insurance policies while being
on hold for hours to get our expenses down considerably. She learned the system and got me the best care and insurance coverage possible. Ellen never gave up fighting for me and never took no for an answer. For 42 straight weeks, they lit me up with chemo causing night sweats, dizzy spells, loss of appetite, reduced oxygen in my blood and days of no energy. All the time, I tried to walk, hike or swim to push those poisons out of my body and keep moving. I only missed about 20 days of working remotely while leading the International Swimming Hall of Fame through Covid, Induction cancellations, closures, and construction disruptions. Every week Mayo would draw blood to measure my cells and cancer. There were days when my hemoglobin was so low that I needed transfusions.
The time came on March 16th, to start the stem cell transplant. They hit me with the highest dose of Chemo to wipe out all my marrow producing cells. Two days later, on March 18th, they infused me with 5.25 million of my own stem cells to take me back to my factory settings and froze the remaining cells. The treatment wiped out all my childhood vaccinations and any other ones in my life. I had no immune system and had to be isolated at home for 30 days as my marrow regenerated. After 7 days, I unexpectedly vomited after lunch and then developed a fever. Mayo called in the Infectious Disease Team and identified five different bacteria in my blood. The wired me up to a broad-spectrum of antibiotics that wrecked my gut. I stayed in the hospital for five more days.
Over the holidays, I had a reaction to one of my drugs after developing a full-body skin rash. They took me off that drug and my cancer increased.
My red blood and plasma dropped to a critical point forcing two infusions of each. I went home in pain and finally succumbed to a pain killer for the first time, but for only two days.
Then I got Covid! They stopped Chemo for two weeks and gave me a monoclonal covid shot to help me through the virus. After I recovered, the blood tests showed that the cancer was increasing.
10 days later the entire family caught norovirus. It took us all four days to recover from severe Gastrointestinal issues.
I was discouraged as they decided to get more aggressive in February. They put me back in the hospital and inlaid a three-port line into my chest that tunneled directly into my heart. They wasted no time and infused me through my new ports with 4 different chemotherapies at one time. They let the medicines drip into my veins for 72 straight hours. Then they started giving me another chemo shot in the stomach. Somehow, I found the strength to get out of bed and walk in circles again. Somedays, I got up to 3 miles with Ivan beside me. (Ivan was the name of the IV pole that I pushed around.) Every nurse along the way got a Rutemiller’s Army pin as I told them that I was going to be “The first person cured of this dreaded cancer”. Some of them said they believed me. After they discharged me, I lost all my hair, but the “Chemo Blast” treatment was working. The cancer was receding quickly in my blood, but not fast enough. We were quickly running out of time, so they decided to proceed with harvesting my stem cells to replace the cancer cells in my marrow. My body cooperated by delivering 11.5 million stem cells over two days of harvesting.
Since then, I have been getting stronger. Last week marked the 50th day since my transplant. I am back to pre-cancer exercise having swum 3000 yards this morning and hiking in the mountains on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Glenn Mills – my Olympic standard. The Mayo Doctors usually wait 100 days before testing, but because my cancer is so aggressive, they tested me on day fifty. I was not expecting good news when I got a text from the doctor saying that they COULD NOT FIND ANY CANCER in my blood – “It is in the normal range!!!” (Note he added three exclamation points.). So, after almost one year of positive prayers from everyone, and positive attitudes cheering me on, and regular exercise, I can say that my cancer is in EARLY REMISSION. We did it!!! We now have the upper hand. Remission for my cancer can last 2-4 years, or longer. The way I see it, with the support of my lovely wife, and with the expertise of Mayo, guidance from my god (who surely got a few words from my mom who passed away 4 days ago), and the support of Rutemiller’s Army – we will reach the goal of FINDING a cure… Brent Rutemiller – CEO, President of International Swimming Hall of Fame ◄ BIWEEKLY
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[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
>> Caeleb Dressel
What World Records Are in Danger at World Championships? BY JOHN LOHN
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e’re a little more than a month away from the FINA World Championships in Budapest, and while some of the biggest names in the sport will be absent for a variety of reasons, plenty of speed will be on display inside the Duna Arena. With Caeleb Dressel, Kristof Milak, Katie Ledecky and Kaylee McKeown expected, how many individual world records will be set? On the men’s side, the best bet might be Dressel in the 50-meter freestyle. The reigning Olympic champion in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly, the American star won the shortest of those events at the recent USA Swimming International Team Trials in 21.29, an impressive effort in what was still tuneup action. Dressel owns a career-best mark of 21.04 and has excelled in the Duna Arena before, which might be the site of the end of Cesar Cielo’s 2009 supersuited global standard of 20.91. Of course, Dressel might also make a run at the world record of 46.91 in the 100 freestyle, a standard also belonging to Cielo, and Dressel’s own 49.45 record in the 100 butterfly. Another men’s record which could see its shelf life expire is Milak’s standard in the 200 butterfly, which sits at 1:50.73. Milak captured the Olympic title in the event in Tokyo last summer and has had sub-1:50 as a target. No one can touch the Hungarian in his prime event, so it will be the 22-year-old
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vs. the scoreboard. In women’s competition, the record that seems in the greatest jeopardy is the 100 backstroke, where McKeown, the Olympic gold medalist, will clash with American Regan Smith. The race will also feature Canadian Kylie Masse, which means three world-record holders from the event will battle – as was the case in Tokyo. The record is currently owned by McKeown at 57.45. After the 100 backstroke, the 400 individual medley is the best bet for a solo world record. Although the mark is held by Katinka Hosszu at 4:26.36, Canadian 15-year-old Summer McIntosh is a special talent and earlier this year popped a swim of 4:29.12. Given her rapid ascension and massive time drops, it is not unrealistic to believe McIntosh could threaten Hosszu’s mark – and etch the biggest accomplishment of her burgeoning career. One of the biggest obstacles, however, is the fact that the event will be held on the last day of the meet, as opposed to the men’s version of the event being contested on Day One. ◄ Note: We’re looking at the Olympic-schedule events, so the 50-meter strokes were not considered.
[ PHOTO BY MINE KASAPOGLU / ISL ]
were awarded in 28 individual events – 14 for each gender. Here is a look at the reigning Olympic champions who will not compete at the World Championships, and the reason for their absence. More female champions will be missing than men’s titlists. >> Adam Peaty
Injury to Adam Peaty the Latest Blow to World Championships Field
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BY JOHN LOHN
he field for next month’s World Championships in Budapest was further weakened on Wednesday, when two-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty revealed he suffered a broken bone in his right foot. The injury will prevent Peaty from chasing fourth consecutive world titles in the 50 breaststroke and 100 breaststroke at Duna Arena, where he would have been a heavy favorite. Peaty is simply the latest superstar to announce his absence from the World Champs, although his medical reason differs from other standouts who will not be in Budapest. A number of athletes, notably Australians Emma McKeon and Kyle Chalmers, have opted to place their focus on the Commonwealth Games, which are scheduled for Birmingham from late July into early August. At last summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, gold medals
Note: Canadian Maggie Mac Neil, the Olympic champ in the 100 butterfly, has decided to skip individual events, but will contribute to her country’s relays. Men Evgeny Rylov (100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke) – FINA Suspension Adam Peaty (100 Breaststroke) – Broken Foot Women Emma McKeon (50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle) – Focus on Commonwealth Games Ariarne Titmus (200 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle) – Focus on Commonwealth Games Lydia Jacoby (100 Breaststroke) – Failed to Qualify Tatjana Schoenmaker (200 Breaststroke) – Focus on Commonwealth Games Maggie Mac Neil (100 Butterfly) – Bypassing Individual Events ◄
吀栀攀 伀刀䤀䜀䤀一䄀䰀 刀攀猀椀猀琀愀渀挀攀 匀圀䤀䴀 吀刀䄀䤀一䤀一䜀 䜀䔀䄀刀 唀猀攀搀 戀礀 䄀琀栀氀攀琀攀猀 圀漀爀氀搀眀椀搀攀
刀攀猀椀猀琀愀渀挀攀 吀爀愀椀渀椀渀最 吀漀漀氀猀 䐀攀猀椀最渀攀搀 琀漀 䤀洀瀀爀漀瘀攀 匀琀愀洀椀渀愀Ⰰ 倀漀眀攀爀Ⰰ 䘀漀爀洀Ⰰ 匀琀爀漀欀攀 愀渀搀 䤀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀 䴀攀搀氀攀礀 吀椀洀攀猀
一娀䌀漀爀搀稀⸀挀漀洀 㠀 ⸀㠀㠀㘀⸀㘀㘀㈀ BIWEEKLY
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[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
Mallory Comerford Embracing Resurgence After ‘‘Dark Place’’ Heading Into World Championships BY DAN D'ADDONA
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allory Comerford left the Olympic Trials stunned, but a year later, at the International Team Trials, she left in tears … happy tears. After the most difficult year of her career, including a disappointing finish at the Olympic Trials, Comerford proved her resurgence in Greensboro, making Team USA for the World Championships — something that seemed impossible a year ago.
“It was the happiest I have been after a race for a long time,” Mallory Comerford told Swimming World. “I walked out crying after they told me I was going to Budapest. It was amazing.” Comerford finished sixth in the 100-meter freestyle, which was enough to make a relay spot for Worlds. “Having the 100 the first day is nice. I was nervous for it. Had a good morning swim and knew I had a chance. Obviously I would have loved to touch better than sixth, but I am happy to have made it. The hardest part is waiting and counting roster spots until that becomes official,” she said. The wait was worth it for Comerford. 12
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“I was pretty excited to get to the meet. My mindset has been a lot healthier and I have fallen back in love with swimming. I never hated it but I was in a really bad place with it,” Mallory Comerford said. “I have enjoyed racing and the process of it all. That has been really refreshing and exciting. It has allowed me not to feel the pressure and race like I used to. “My confidence is back with how it was before. I felt confident and so proud of the work I had done to get me out of the dark place I was in.” That darkness lasted nearly a year. After looking like a favorite to make the Olympic team in 2020, the postponement because of the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything for Comerford. Health problems began, and piled up — so did the mental toll everything was taking. “I had some health issues and had struggled since September of 2020. That is when everything started. I really struggled through that entire year, then trials was the (bad) cherry on top. I had hope for trials, but I wasn’t shocked by my results,” she said.
Swimming hadn’t been fun for her anymore, and the results reflected that. “I would cry at practice every single week. I couldn’t figure out why I was struggling so much. I really struggled to find out what was going wrong. After a couple of months you get to a place when there is not a lot of positive going on,” she said. “I was in a bad place. It is really hard to go to trials and the year before I had a really good shot at making the team, but a year later, I wasn’t confident and wasn’t swimming to the level I was capable of and all of that affected me that meet. It was tough.” Along the way, Comerford dealt with many physical ailments, but also realized she was suffering from Overtraining Syndrome. “When you go through that for months without a change. It became harder to see the light. It was the same thing over and over again,” Comerford said. “There is a lot that goes on in our sport that feeds into overtraining. A lot of coaches and swimmers believe more is better. The more you do, the more in shape you are. But I have learned that that is not necessarily true and that can affect you mentally. I understand where (Simone Manuel) was coming from and fully support her. It is not easy. “Everyone is so different. As a swimmer, that is hard to balance. It ultimately comes with what is best for you and believing in that.” After the Olympic Trials, Comerford was at a crossroads, but determined to figure out what she needed in and out of the water. “After trials, I took a month off completely … avoided the pool,” she said. “I traveled some and hung out with friends, things that I usually have to say no to because of swimming. I took that month fully for myself. I would have taken longer but I decided to do ISL, so I wanted to get in the water.” Training for the ISL, she started focusing more on sprinting, and it opened up a physical revolution for Comerford. “I started training with Chris Lindauer. I went to ISL after training for a couple of weeks. I had a really good time at ISL. It was completely different from what I have ever done in swimming. It was so refreshing to have a meet without pressure. That helped me figure out that I loved to do this. Part of that is people on my team,” she said. “When I got back to Louisville, I continued training with Chris and he has really helped me figure out that balance between life and swimming. I have been so thankful for him and his guidance this year — his love and his tough love.
“I have started lifting different and sprint training is different than what I have been doing the past six years. Mentally I have enjoyed the change and new perspective.” The physical refreshment has led Comerford to a mental refreshment that has built more confidence heading into the World Championships. “I am excited every time I go to practice. Last year, I kind of dreaded going to practice,” Mallory Comerford said. “This entire year, I have not gone over 5,000 in a practice. Before I was swimming 6-7K per practice. The quality and intensity is super high, but everything has a purpose that translates directly to my 100. In weights, for the first time I have learned new lifts. I feel so strong. It is fun to learn and be challenged in a new way. Some more power. I learned how to hang cling, power cling and adding different jumps to increase my power. I can tell the difference in my body. I think before my body got kind of stale because it was used to it. “It is pretty frustrating when you are so in shape but it isn’t translating. I had realized that was happening, but I didn’t know how to communicate it or do anything about it. You have to make sure you get what you need.” Comerford needed a refresh and transformed that into a resurgence. “I am so excited. I am super pumped to be on the team again and be in that environment. I am really excited to be on the relay with these girls, some of whom I have never been on a relay with before. I want to help them and be there for them, but also learn from them because they are crushing it,” she said. “We got back and hit it hard in the weight room the first two days, then hard in the pool. It is just getting the training back then sharpening everything. That will get me to the quality I need to.” Her progress puts her back on track to her ultimate goal of making the Olympic team in 2024. Comerford knows she can’t have another year of struggles, but more importantly, knows how to get out of those struggles now. “My goal has always been to go to 2024. Making the team definitely validates that goal a little bit,” Mallory Comerford said. “It was really hard to not make the team at trials, but it was a relief to start looking at what was going on. I kept saying I needed a change, but never did anything. I will never let that happen again. “Never again.” ◄ BIWEEKLY
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[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
Hali Flickinger Checks Career Goal by Making Team USA Relay, but ‘‘There Is So Much More in There’’ BY DAN D'ADDONA
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ali Flickinger made a stunning change to her lineup last year, adding a grueling race like the 400 IM in her mid20s. It worked as she made the Olympic team in the event, along with her signature 200 butterfly, and earned the bronze medal in both events in Tokyo. With two Olympics down, heading into the recent USA Swimming International Team Trials, Flickinger had just two goals — the same two goals that she was aiming for by the time her career ended. One down, still one to go. The one down is making Team USA in a relay. For someone who qualified for the Olympic Trials in nearly every event, Flickinger specializes in two events that don’t cater to relay spots. Very few 200 butterflyers and 400 IMers ever make international relays. Up until recently, her best events after those two might have been the 200 backstroke and 400 freestyle, events still not opening up any relay spots to her. But Flickinger has quietly become one of the top 200 freestylers in the U.S. and finished fourth in 1:57.53, joining Katie Ledecky, Claire Weinstein and Leah Smith as the 800 free relay automatic qualifiers. “It has been a goal of mine for the longest time to make a
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relay. To finally be able to do it, I am elated. I am so excited,” Flickinger told Swimming World. “I got to swim a prelim race one time in a relay, but to actually qualify for it is incredible. I have watched relays for so many years. It always seemed so amazing and such an honor. I am so excited to be able to have that opportunity.” It was something Flickinger wasn’t sure if she would ever get. Usually relay spots are for sprint freestylers as well as stroke swimmers who specialize in the 100. Flickinger is neither, but found the right spot at the right time. “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t an honor that we all look at. I have definitely been envious of those who get to step up on the blocks and the podium with your teammates. I have had it in the back of my mind that it might not happen or happen very often,” she said. Flickinger said the 200 freestyle is still a work-in-progress. “I have been 1:57 mid four years ago, so I wasn’t necessarily happy with the time, but it shows that I am much more capable of doing more than I have in that race,” she said. “It is a strategy that I haven’t quite figured out. Once I do, it could be a really big race for me. I have always been really good in practice in freestyle, and that shows in my 400 IM. I have the capability, and Bob (Bowman) has said it since I got to ASU. We were eyeing this relay for a very long time. I am lucky that the time
I posted got me in. We are moving in the right direction. I have a lot to learn in that event.” Flickinger performed well in her other events, too. She won the 200 butterfly in 2:06.35, near the time she set at the Olympic Trials last year, but also two seconds ahead of the field, to qualify for worlds. She took third in the 400 IM (4:39.50) and fifth in the 400 free (4:07.97). But it still wasn’t the performance she was looking for, which brings us to her second goal — having a breakthough in the 200 fly.
body does not function the same way it did when I was a teen or early 20s. It is not easy when you are my age,” Flickinger said. “It is the fact that I have not gone times that I know I am capable of. That hope that it will one day come through, gives me motivation every single day. I want it for myself. I want it for my coaches and teammate who see it every single day and believe in me. “There is so much more in there. I hope that am able to see it.” It could happen this summer, with the whole world to see it. ◄
“It was fine. I have built this 2:06 consistently. I hope that there is a breakthrough in my future. At this point, 2:06 is my mental memory at this point. I am very happy that I have the chance to swim it at world championships, but I wasn’t happy with the time. I haven’t had that breakout yet. I just hope one day I am able to see it,” Flickinger said. “It has been a while since that has been a goal. I would just like to have one swim in that race before end of my career where I feel like that was what I was training for.” It is an interesting position to be in, one that happens to elite athletes who reach a plateau. Some athletes find a way to continue, which is what Flickinger is looking to do. “I am so grateful and so happy to have medaled at the Olympics. But anyone who knows me, knows I want more. I am very proud of them but I am in no way satisfied. I am more happy with the 400 IM because I don’t think anyone thought I would have medaled in that one. That one is a little more special to me. It was very out of left field for everyone,” she said. That is why she puts in the extreme amount of work to get there. The smallest drop in time can take the most amount of work in a career. “The one thing I am so confident in is how hard I work. I know the times I have posted in my career do not match how I train. We are all a little frustrated with that, but it shows how hard I have trained to do that at 27 years old. My BIWEEKLY
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[ PHOTO BY DELLY CARR / SWIMMING AUSTRALIA ]
>> Mollie O'Callaghan (right) & Shayna Jack
Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack Blast Big Times at Australian Championships BY IAN HANSON
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n an emotionally charged opening night of exceptionally fast swimming, established and shooting stars, returning stars and pop stars all booked their places on the Australian Swim Teams for Budapest and Birmingham in Adelaide tonight. It was the start of the five-day Australian Swimming Championships to behold at the city’s SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre – with stunning performances all round as the “Battle From The Blocks” raged on for the World Championship and Commonwealth Games teams. Established stars Mack Horton (Griffith University, QLD) and Mitch Larkin (Chandler, QLD) were joined by shooting stars Mollie O’Callaghan (St Peters Western, QLD) and Lani Pallister (Griffith University, QLD) and emerging stars like backstroking’s Josh Edwards-Smith (Griffith University, QLD) and freestyle sprint find Thomas Nowakowski (Somerset, QLD). With returning star Shayna Jack (St Peters Western, QLD) – producing an emotional Australian Championship comeback after fighting a two-year doping ban. It was in a world class women’s 100m freestyle final with O’Callaghan improving her heat swim in another personal best time of 52.83 to 52.49 (25.92/26.57) – to confirm her ranking as world number one with Jack a close up second also in a personal best of 52.60 (#2 in the world) from Meg Harris (Marion, SA) right in the mix in 53.09 for third (#3 in the world). And to think this was an Australian championship final
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without Tokyo Olympic champion Emma McKeon, Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Cate Campbell and her former World Champion sister Bronte Campbell– who have steered the Dolphins to so many golden glories in the 4x100m freestyle relay. But no need to worry girls, the next generation are more than keeping your lanes warm – in fact they are red hot. Jack’s is remarkable story of mental toughness that typifies all the strength and tenacity it takes to overcome two years of hell – finishing second to an 18-year-old O’Callaghan who has arrived in a a world of her own to claim an individual 100m freestyle spot in style. “That’s something that I really, really wanted and to do that with Mollie who did an amazing time and for me to come away with a personal best like that – I’m just so proud of myself,” said Jack who said she just wanted to get behind the blocks, hold her head high and swim the race of her life. “I had so many emotions going through my body, I was just glad to swim that time and get myself back on the team.” Before an encore from pop star Cody Simpson (Griffith University, QLD) who again took centre stage, living up to all the hype that a chart topping singer brings to the pool – and doing his thing. The 24-year-old was right on song, finishing a gallant third in the 100m butterfly, something he knew he was capable of –
but maybe not just yet – to qualify for his first National teams.
rest of the week.”
Simpson (Griffith University, QLD) finished behind Marion, SA Olympians Matt Temple 51.50 and Kyle Chalmers in 51.96, which equalled the Selection Qualifying Time which he had bettered in his heat – swimming 51.79But Head Coach Rohan Taylor confirmed with Giaan Rooney on Amazon Prime Video that with Chalmers unavailable for World’s that Simpson would be named and nominated on the teams for both Budapest and Birmingham.
While Winnington too, disappointed with his Tokyo performances, saying: “I’ve been through a lot of mental preparation and I really struggled mentally coming off Tokyo,
“It is a dream come true, I’ve made so much progress from last year….and I have trained so hard all year,” said Simpson, who clocked a qualifying time in the heats and equalled the time in the final.
Larkin also admitted he doubted a week ago he would make the team and it didn’t look positive after his average heat swim either, but he has now given himself a chance at a third Commonwealth Games gold in the 200m backstroke – 10 years after first winning the event at the 2012 Olympic Trials.
“It’s amazing to see results like this pay off; I was hoping to swim a little bit faster but it’s a real dream. “I had no idea it would happen at this meet; I only started training a little under two years ago…..with Paris 2024 as my dream.” The women’s 800m freestyle saw another world class swim from former three-time World Junior champion Pallister who swam away with the second fastest time by an Australian (Olympic silver medallist Ariarne Titmus) in 8:17.77.
“I really had to work with psychologists to build up my mind and not so much put together a swim like that but more so get up and stand behind the blocks and be confident in myself… .I’m just happy I got another title.”
The 28-year-old, now at Chandler under Vince Raleigh, hung on grimly for second to young gun Edwards-Smith, formerly from WA, who linked up with Gold Coast-based super-squad under Michael Bohl in the 200m backstroke. “I haven’t had the best prep but Vince has been able to tweak and tailer it for me and I’m just stoked to get away with that and a week or so ago I was worried about making the team but we got there and I’m pretty stoked,” said Larkin. ◄
It comes 12 months after illness forced her out of the Olympic Trials – crushing her Tokyo dream. “It’s been a very long journey to get back to these Trials – happy to be back on deck, racing and being healthy again and being my normal self,” said Pallister who payed tribute to her coach Michael Bohl and her mother and coach, 1988 Olympian and 1987 and 1988 Australian champion Janelle Elford.
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Horton and Larkin dug deeper than ever before to show they ain’t done with yet – Horton booking an individual spot on the Australian teams for the World Championships and Commonwealth Games in the 400 freestyle and Larkin in the 200m backstroke – his sixth World’s team. Both boys were happy to finish second – Horton (3:44.06) grabbing silver on the touch behind Tokyo team mate Elijah Winnington (St Peters Western, QLD) 3:43.10 with a brave Sam Short (Rackleys Swim Team) 3:44.34pb a fingernail away in third – his time rocketing him into the Australian alltime top ten.
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Horton saying: “The move to the Gold Coast (and Michael Bohl) has been so refreshing it’s something different (that I needed)….but very happy to knock that spot off and enjoy the BIWEEKLY
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[ PHOTO BY DELLY CARR / SWIMMING AUSTRALIA ]
who equaled the world record in a semi-final swim at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, in hot pursuit – with the boy from Brisbane absolutely ecstatic when he touched the wall.
Australia’s Zac StubbletyCook Smashes World Record in the 200 Breaststroke BY IAN HANSON
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ustralia’s Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook smashed the world record in the 200 meter breaststroke in a stunning 2:05.95 (1:01.89), setting the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre alight in Adelaide. The 23-year-old from Brisbane was 0.17 under the previous mark of 2:06.12 set by Russian Anton Chupkov at the 2019 World Championships – the first man under 2:06.00. Here are the new world record splits: 29.43; 1:01.89; 1:34.32 for his 2:05.95 with these 50m splits – 29.43; 32.46; 32.43 and home in 31.63 – his second 100 was 1:04.06. But it was his Tokyo teammate and former world record holder Matthew Wilson (SOPAC, NSW; coach Adam Kable) who set the world pace splitting 29.22 (faster than Chupkov’s 29.73). Then Stubblety-Cook powered toward the 100m mark, hitting the wall faster than the renowned back-ender, Chupkov’s 1:02.22 with that 1:01.89. Wilson too was also under the WR pace, with his split of 1:02.17. But it was the signal for Stubblety-Cook to unleash his own trademark second 100 as he chased the world record line on Amazon Prime Video. Stubblety-Cook charged down the final 50m with Wilson,
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The crowd, including his father in the grandstand jumping for joy, when the 2:05.95 lit up the scoreboard – Wilson second in 2:10.14 – the bonus of a World Championship and Commonwealth Games qualifying time with Adam Sellwood (Propulsion, VIC) third in 2:13.68. “I can’t really believe it to be honest,” a surprised StubbletyCook told Amazon Prime’s pool deck interviewer, Olympic gold medallist Giaan Rooney. “ I was obviously trying to swim fast here…but I didn’t think that fast…but I’m very, very happy with that. Last year (at the Olympics) you put everything in and we got that result but this year there is a lot less pressure. “It’s a different kettle of fish and it’s nice not to have that pressure so I’m just stoked with that. “The end goal (of course) is Paris in 2024 but obviously whatever happens in between (like World’s and Comm. Games) I’m just going to enjoy my swimming. “And there will be a lot of fast racing this year and a lot of good competitors and (this bloke here next to me) Matthew Wilson will be one of those; he’ll be great to race the rest of the year.” Stubblety-Cook admitted winning the Olympics relieved a lot of tension, saying: “It gives you the confidence to achieve something you put your mind to – that is the biggest thing I’ve gotten out of it and I’m really looking forward to the future…” Sending a clear message to the world that: “There is always room for improvement….” And Wilson said he could hear the crowd go up. “I was still five metres out from the wall and I knew Zac had that world record before I touched the wall,” said Wilson, who himself was the world record holder for a day, when he equalled the previous mark in the World Championship semifinal in 2019 before Chupkov’s 2:06.12 in the final. “I know what Zac’s going through now..it’s pure elation. He’s going to have a lot of messages on Facebook – but I know he’s going to enjoy being the new world record holder – the first man under 2:06.00 which is just insane so congrats to Zac, that was huge!” ◄
[ PHOTO BY DELLY CARR / SWIMMING AUSTRALIA ]
Olympic Champion Ariarne Titmus Breaks the 400 Freestyle World Record
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BY IAN HANSON
ustralia’s Tokyo Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus blasted her way to a new world record in the women’s 400 meter freestyle – clocking 3:56.40 at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide. The 21-year-old Titmus took .06secs off the previous world mark, set by the world’s greatest female swimmer, the USA’s Katie Ledecky who clocked 3:56.46 to win the Rio Olympics in 2016. Titmus, who beat Ledecky to win the Olympic gold in Tokyo, was under the American’s world record splits from the first 50 metres. Titmus, coached by Dean Boxall, went through the first 50m in 27.58, turning at the 100m in 57.13; the 200m in 1:56.99 and the 300m in 2:57.37 with her 100m breakdowns: 57.13; 59.86; 1:00.38 and 59.03. Titmus has made the decision not to contest this year’s World Championships in Budapest next month, and will be one of the real superstar attractions at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July-August. “The biggest thing that Dean (Boxall) said to me since the Olympics is that you have this freedom now and the monkey’s off your back,” Titmus told Olympic gold medallist Giaan Rooney, poolside for Amazon Prime Video.
“I could see Dean (cheering me on) from he side of the pool and he has (actually) been (pretty) subdued the whole week “It’s nice that he saved all his energy up for the big one…I’m absolutely cooked, but it’s all worth it…” Asked by Giaan Rooney whether it was the most rested she had been, Titmus replied: “Tonight has got to be up there as the most rested I’ve been (given it is on the last night). “Usually the 400m is on the first day and going in fresh but is has been strange having the 100 and the 200 (before this) and in between I’ve just been doing light swimming and waiting to go (again) and it would be the biggest taper I’ve done and so maybe I should keep doing that from now on… “I did not expect this at all after thoroughly enjoying my break and I took it slow in the beginning (when I first got back in) and I never thought that at this meet post the Olympics I’d be swimming faster than at an Olympics Trials and the Olympic Games but I suppose if you keep surprising yourself it keeps the sport interesting.” And although Titmus won’t swim at the World Championships, she will contest the Commonwealth Games.
“I have just loved swimming this last six months; going to training with no pressure, just enjoying the sport, something that is under-rated just how important that is.
“I’m very excited about the Commonwealth Games – we’ve got a great team going in; all our girls in the freestyle as well it’s insane.
“Coming here with no pressure other than the pressure I put on myself which is still pretty high…it’s fun to come here and swim like that.
“You have the whole final of the 200m freestyle faster than the second placed in America shows the depth we have and I’m excited to go to Birmingham and have a good race.” ◄ BIWEEKLY
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USA Swimming Announces Rosters for 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships and Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet
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SA Swimming, the National Governing Body of swimming in the United States, today announced the names of 60 athletes who will represent the U.S. internationally this summer at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, which take place August 24-27 in Honolulu, Hawaii; or the 2022 Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet, which takes place June 3-5 in Vancouver, Canada. Headlining the 41-person U.S. roster in Honolulu are National Age Group record holders Erin Gemmell (Potomac, Md./Nation’s Capital Swim Club), Ilya Kharun (Las Vegas, Nev./Sandpipers of Nevada) and Thomas Heilman (Crozet, Va./Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA). Sixteen members of this year’s National Junior Team roster will compete in Hawaii and will look to follow in the footsteps of notable U.S. National Team members who competed at a Junior Pan Pacific Championships such as Michael Andrew, Olivia Smoliga, Alex Walsh and others. The Junior Pan Pacific Championships roster will be led by head coach Brent Arckey (Sarasota Sharks) and assistant coaches Chuck Batchelor (SwimMAC Carolina), Tom Kleiboeker (Tsunami Swim Team of K.C.), Ginny Nussbaum (Long Island Aquatic Club), Chris Plumb (Carmel Swim Club) and Gary Taylor (Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA).
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Nineteen athletes, all from different clubs, make up the U.S. roster for the 2022 Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet. Baylor Nelson (Huntersville, N.C./SwimMAC Carolina) comes in qualified in five events to lead the U.S. roster, followed by Matthew Chai (La Habra Heights, Calif./FAST Swim Team) and Blair Stoneburg (Jensen Beach, Fla./ Treasure Coast Aquatics) who qualified in two events each. The U.S. last sent a roster to the competition in 2019, when Torri Huske and Luca Urlando—who recently qualified for the 2022 FINA World Championships—each won multiple events. The Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet roster will be led by head coach Abi Liu (Bellevue Club Swim Team) and assistant coach Gunnar Schmidt (Club Wolverine). Athletes qualified for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships via their swims at the 2022 Phillips 66 International Championships. The Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet roster was selected from times performed from May 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022. See Full Rosters on Pgs. 21 & 22 ◄
2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships U.S. Roster Women’s Team
Name Event(s) Hometown Club* Berit Berglund . . . . . . . . . . .100 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carmel, Ind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carmel Swim Club Lily Christianson . . . . . . . . .50 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Osceola, Ind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Irish Aquatics Jillian Cox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cedar Park, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . .Longhorn Aquatics Piper Enge . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 BR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mercer Island, Wash . . . . . . . . . .Bellevue Club Swim Team Erin Gemmell . . . . . . . . . . . .200/400 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . Potomac, Md . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nation’s Capital Swim Club Cavan Gormsen . . . . . . . . . .400 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wantagh, N .Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Long Island Aquatic Club Kayla Han . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1500 FR/400 IM . . . . . . . . La Mirada, Calif . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Mirada Armada Bailey Hartman . . . . . . . . . .100 FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danville, Calif . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Crow Canyon Sharks Tess Howley . . . . . . . . . . . . .200 FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rockaway Park, N .Y . . . . . . . . . .Long Island Aquatic Club Natalie Mannion . . . . . . . . .200 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston, Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Commonwealth Swimming Michaela Mattes . . . . . . . . .800/1500 FR . . . . . . . . . . Sarasota, Fla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarasota Sharks Anna Moesch . . . . . . . . . . . .50/100 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . Green Brook, N .J . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greater Somerset County YMCA Kennedy Noble . . . . . . . . . . .200 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avondale, Ariz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Phoenix Swim Club Teagan O’Dell . . . . . . . . . . .200 IM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West Covina, Calif . . . . . . . . . . . .Irvine Novaquatics Julia Podkoscielny . . . . . . . .400 IM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fort Lauderdale, Fla . . . . . . . . . . .Pine Crest Swimming Alex Shackell . . . . . . . . . . . .100/200 FL . . . . . . . . . . . . Nashville, Tenn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carmel Swim Club Emily Thompson . . . . . . . . .200 IM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Basking Ridge, N .J . . . . . . . . . . . .Greater Somerset County YMCA Maggie Wanezek . . . . . . . . .100 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brookfield, Wisc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elmbrook Swim Club Gracie Weyant . . . . . . . . . . .200 BR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarasota, Fla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarasota Sharks Kayla Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . .100/200 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . Virginia Beach, Fla . . . . . . . . . . . .Tide Swimming
Men’s Team Name Event(s) Hometown Club* Spencer Aurnou-Rhees . . .200 IM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bexley, Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Albany Aquatic Club Ben Delmar . . . . . . . . . . . . .200 BR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte, N .C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SwimMAC Carolina Daniel Diehl . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cumberland, Md . . . . . . . . . . . . . .YMCA of Cumberland Diggory Dillingham . . . . . . .50 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bend, Ore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bend Swim Club Bobby Dinunzio . . . . . . . . . .1500 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Virginia Beach, Va . . . . . . . . . . . .Tide Swimming Alec Enyeart . . . . . . . . . . . . .400/800/1500 FR . . . . . . Kansas City, Mo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tsunami Swim Team of K .C . Zhier Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 BR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plano, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Metroplex Aquatics Thomas Heilman . . . . . . . . .100/200 FL, 50 FR . . . . . . Crozet, Va . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA Keaton Jones . . . . . . . . . . . .200 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gilbert, Ariz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Swim Neptune Ilya Kharun . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Las Vegas, Nev . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sandpipers Of Nevada Cooper Lucas . . . . . . . . . . . .400 IM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keller, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lakeside Aquatic Club Matthew Lucky . . . . . . . . . .200/400 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . Harrisburg, N .C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SwimMAC Carolina Rex Maurer . . . . . . . . . . . . .200/400 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . Pasadena, Calif . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rose Bowl Aquatics Henry McFadden . . . . . . . . .200 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Haddonfield, N.J. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jersey Wahoos Watson Nguyen . . . . . . . . . .100 BR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plano, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Metroplex Aquatics Josh Parent . . . . . . . . . . . . .800 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wilbraham, Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bluefish Swim Club Aaron Shackell . . . . . . . . . .200 FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carmel, Ind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carmel Swim Club Hudson Williams . . . . . . . . .100 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Powell, Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Albany Aquatic Club Maximus Williamson . . . . .200/400 IM . . . . . . . . . . . . Southlake, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Texas Nadadores Kaii Winkler . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miami, Fla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eagle Aquatics Josh Zuchowski . . . . . . . . . .100/200 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . Jupiter, Fla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Flood Aquatics Swim Team Head Coach: Brent Arckey (Sarasota Sharks) Assistant Coaches: Chuck Batchelor (SwimMAC Carolina), Tom Kleiboeker (Tsunami Swim Team of K .C .), Ginny Nussbaum (Long Island Aquatic Club), Chris Plumb (Carmel Swim Club), Gary Taylor (Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA) *Club affiliation when athlete had their qualifying swim. Events listed are the events each athlete qualified for the team in. Athletes may choose to swim additional events at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships. BIWEEKLY
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2022 Mel Zajac Jr. Invitational U.S. Roster Women’s Team Name
Event
Hometown
Club
Lucy Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fort Collins, Colo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fort Collins Area Swim Team Hannah Bellard . . . . . . . . .800 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grosse Ile, Mich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Club Wolverine Lilla Bognar . . . . . . . . . . . .200 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greenville, S .C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Team Greenville Chloe Kim . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1500 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Rock, N .J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Scarlet Aquatics Erika Pelaez . . . . . . . . . . . .100 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miami, Fla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eagle Aquatics Addison Sauickie . . . . . . . .200 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarasota, Fla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarasota Sharks Levenia Sim . . . . . . . . . . . .100 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Montrose, Ala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TNT Swimming Blair Stoneburg . . . . . . . . .800/1500 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jensen Beach, Fla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Treasure Coast Aquatics Maddie Waggoner . . . . . . .1500 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moorestown, N .J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jersey Wahoos Ella Welch . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louisville, Ky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cardinal Aquatics
Men’s Team Name
Event
Hometown
Club
Matthew Chai . . . . . . . . . .800/1500 FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Habra Heights, Calif . . . . . . . . . . .FAST Swim Team JT Ewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Falls Church, Va . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arlington Aquatic Club Nate Germonprez . . . . . . .200 IM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Omaha, Neb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iNspire Swim Team Braeden Haughey . . . . . . .200 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Apex, N .C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TAC Titans Mitchell Ledford . . . . . . . .100 FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sebastian, Fla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Treasure Coast Swimming Conquistadores Will Modglin . . . . . . . . . . . .200 BK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zionsville, Ind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zionsville Swim Club Humberto Najera . . . . . . .400 IM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif . . . .The Swim Team Baylor Nelson . . . . . . . . . .100/200 FR, 200/400 IM, 200 BK . Huntersville, N .C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SwimMAC Carolina Jacob Pishko . . . . . . . . . . .200 FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fort Worth, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lakeside Aquatic Club Head Coach: Abi Liu (Bellevue Club Swim Team) Assistant Coach: Gunnar Schmidt (Club Wolverine) *Club affiliation when athlete had their qualifying swim. Events listed are the events each athlete qualified for the team in. Athletes may choose to swim additional events at the 2022 Mel Zajac Jr. Invitational.
22
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MAKE WAVES with the Voice of Swimming Olympian Rowdy Gaines knows a thing or two about swimming, which is why he’s passionate about leading PHTA’s Step Into Swim initiative to create more swimmers. This industry initiative provides children with the education and learn-to-swim programming they need to be safer in the water and empowers them to be confident individuals. Together, we’re making waves in support of drowning prevention. Get involved. Be a wave maker.
Your support is critical.
Join Rowdy
in his mission to create more swimmers one splash at a time. www.stepintoswim.org/ get-involved/donate
[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
‘‘The Only Thing I Saw Was a Swimmer:’’ Michael Phelps on Identity and Mental Health BY MATTHEW DE GEORGE
M
ichael Phelps has long been an advocate for athletes’ mental health and for athletes sharing their emotional and psychological struggles.
never saw myself as a human being. Now being able to see myself as a human being – it’s a completely different outlook on life, and I love myself. I like who I am.”
In an interview with the WHOOP Podcast, the most decorated Olympian in history added to that body of conversations. Phelps spoke for nearly an hour on a variety of topics on the podcast run by the wearable fitness and wellness company.
Phelps is happy to see how the discourse has progressed since he retired, for the second time, in 2016 after his fifth Olympics. He cited the way star athletes like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka have been willing to speak about the steps they need to take to preserve their mental well-being.
Among the topics that he touched on was how much of his identity he drew from being a swimmer, to the exclusion of everything else. That factored in to how and when he reached out for help when he faced adversity, both personal and very public. “Throughout my career, I had a lot of cries for help and didn’t really know what to say or how to do it,” Phelps said. “And in that one moment [the DUI], I was taking the spiral staircase and the express elevator straight down. I got to the point where I didn’t want to be alive. But I got to the point where I learned to ask for help, too. All of these moments that I’ve gone through – whether they’re good, bad, or ugly – they’ve all been learning experiences for me. … “I used to hate who I saw in the mirror. The only thing I saw was a swimmer. I 24
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“When Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka spoke publicly about their mental health challenges, I was so inspired,” Phelps said. “It really brought me joy because for anybody who opens up and talks about struggles like this, it’s so freeing. For so many years, we’ve all wanted to shove everything under the rug. Now the Band-Aid’s off the rug is out, right? People are ready to talk about it, make change and to help others. I loved when Naomi opened up because she did it in such a powerful way. On her terms, in her words, on her platform. To be able to do that on a public stage, she showed vulnerability, and that’s a scary thing for a lot of people. When I saw Simone at the Olympics go through what she went through, it’s so wild to see because it shows you that mental health can creep up at any given time. No matter if it’s the Olympics or your birthday.” ◄
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[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
>> Caeleb Dressel
U.S Men’s Relays Look Strong for World Championships BY DAVID RIEDER
ast year, the two U.S. men’s relays captured Olympic gold medals, with the 400 freestyle relay squad pulling away to win by more than a second before the 400 medley relay quartet capped off the Games by breaking a 12-year-old world record. But in between those two golden moments, the Americans did not reach the podium in the 800 free relay, marking the first time that any U.S. relay squad competed in the Olympics but did not win a medal. What should we expect from the U.S. men’s relays for
>> Kieran Smith 26
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this year’s World Championships in Budapest? We will go event-by-event, but based on performances from Trials and key swimmers missing from Worlds, the Americans sit in a favorable position in all three events. After examining what to watch for in the women’s relays last week, here’s what we have for the men. 400 Freestyle Relay Caeleb Dressel led off the U.S. men’s 400 free relay for the first time at the 2016 Olympics, and the Americans took gold. Dressel has held down the first spot at every major meet since, and the team has not lost. The group of Dressel, Blake Pieroni, Bowe Becker and Zach Apple won gold in Tokyo with the fastest time in 13 years. Dressel is the only one from that group set to return this year, with Pieroni injured and both Becker and Apple missing the Worlds team (and Becker subsequently retiring). Still, this year’s squad has some impressive talent.
[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
L
Brooks Curry, a prelims relay swimmer in Tokyo, was the No. 2 100 freestyler behind Dressel at Trials with his time of 48.04, while Ryan Held will return to the 400 free relay at a major meet for the first time since the 2016 Olympics after finishing third in 48.18. Both of those swimmers have 47-mid potential from a relay start. Hunter Armstrong and Drew Kibler tied for fourth at Trials in 48.25, while Justin
Ress qualified as a relay alternate in 48.38.
Sure, the U.S. would hope to establish some more proven options in this relay before going for a third consecutive Olympic gold in 2024, but there’s time for that. For this year, the Americans enter as a pretty clear favorite.
[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
No other country has that combination of opening speed (Dressel) and depth. Italy has the next-best group with Alessandro Miressi leading the way and three swimmers who 47-mid on the way to an Olympic silver medal. On the other hand, Australia will miss superstar Kyle Chalmers at Worlds while Russia, with 100 free Olympic bronze medalist Kliment Kolesnikov, will be completely absent from Worlds because of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
>> Brooks Curry
800 Freestyle Relay That ill-fated 800 free relay from the Olympics included Townley Haas’ last hurrah as a relay stalwart as well as Kieran Smith and Drew Kibler swimming in a relay final at a major international meet for the first time. And a disappointing effort from Zach Apple, selected for the last spot on the relay over Caeleb Dressel or Andrew Seliskar, doomed the relay’s medal hopes.
American veteran Nathan Adrian. In Tokyo, however, the Americans rebounded to win gold in world-record time while the British claimed silver.
In 2022, the Americans will bring the strongest group in years to Worlds for this relay. Smith, Kibler and Carson Foster all swam in the low-to-mid 1:45-range at Trials, with Trenton Julian at 1:46.69 for third. The composite time created using those four swimmers’ times from the Trials final produces a mark of 7:02.92, less than a half-second off the Americans’ Olympic final time, and that’s without the benefit of relay starts.
Britain’s usual weapon in this relay is Adam Peaty, the top sprint breaststroker in the world since 2014. Peaty split 56.53 in the Tokyo relay final, almost two seconds faster than American Michael Andrew. But Peaty will miss this year’s Worlds because of a foot injury. The British men will still contend for a medal, likely with James Wilby stepping into Peaty’s breaststroke spot, but any chance at winning gold is gone, particularly with the all-around strength of this American group. The U.S. men’s group will consist of either Hunter Armstrong or Ryan Murphy on backstroke followed by Nic Fink or Andrew on breast. Expect Caeleb Dressel to handle the butterfly, where he produced history’s fastest split in Tokyo (49.03), and that leaves Brooks Curry as the likely anchor swimmer. In a race missing Peaty, it would be surprising if that American team did not win gold by at least two seconds. ◄
And once again, no Kyle Chalmers to lift Australia, the team took bronze in Tokyo. Olympic silver medalist Russia is also out because of the ongoing Ukraine war. Great Britain won Olympic gold last year, and that squad will be tough to beat with 200 free Olympic gold medalist Tom Dean, 200 free Olympic silver medalist Duncan Scott and veteran SWIM MART James Guy, but the Americans should be the favorites for silver with this year’s young and improving squad. 400 Medley Relay In a stunning performance three years ago, Great Britain upset the United States to win the world title in the 400 medley relay as Duncan Scott unleashed a 46.14 split, the second-quickest in history behind only Jason Lezak’s 46.06 from the 2008 Olympics. Scott’s performance allowed him to overtake and pass
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[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
>> Torri Huske
How the U.S. Women’s Relays Stack Up for World Championships BY DAVID RIEDER
F
ollowing the U.S. International Team Trials, the U.S. women are set up to win a lot of medals at the FINA World Championships next month in Budapest. Consider this list of swimmers: Katie Ledecky, Lilly King, Kate Douglass, Claire Curzan, Torri Huske, Hali Flickinger, Regan Smith, Phoebe Bacon, Rhyan White, Alex Walsh, Katie Grimes and Emma Weyant. All 12 of those women, ranging in age from the 16-year-old Grimes to 27-year-old Flickinger, have at least a strong chance to win one individual medal or more.
[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
That group covers almost every individual event. The major
>> Claire Curzan 28
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exception? The shorter freestyle events: 50, 100 and 200. Simone Manuel was the world champion in the 50 and 100 in 2019, but she has not competed since the Olympics last year. The top American sprinters have not posted times competitive internationally. Ledecky was the 2015 world champion and 2016 Olympic champion in the 200, but after she dropped the event from her individual lineup this year, the remaining U.S. women in the 200 free are a step behind. And the short freestyle events are disproportionately significant at major competitions because of the relay implications. While the Americans would be big favorites in a women’s backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly relay, freestyle is a different story. Let’s go event-by-event to look at the three women’s relays set for the World Championships to examine American medal hopes. 400 Freestyle Relay This relay has been the domain of Australia over the past decade. The American women did edge out the Aussies for gold at the 2017 World Championships, but at that point, Simone Manuel and Mallory Comerford were each capable of 52-mid flat start times and the Aussies were missing star sprinter Cate Campbell. In 2022, the Americans have no swimmer on their World Championships team who has ever broken 53 as Abbey Weitzeil narrowly missed out with a seventh-place finish in the 100 free at Trials.
Campbell is again skipping this year’s Worlds, and so is 100 free Olympic gold medalist Emma McKeon. Bronte Campbell, Cate’s younger sister, hasn’t competed so far this year. And >> Lilly King Australia still has a legion of extremely competitive 100 freestylers. But the Aussies should have Shayna Jack, ranked No. 1 in the world in the 100 free at 53.13, and Madison Wilson and Mollie O’Callaghan both have 53-low capabilities. Meg Harris, who swam on the gold-medal-winning Olympic finals squad last year, may also be in the mix. And this race won’t be just about the U.S. and Australia. After edging out the U.S. women for silver last year, Canada should bring a formidable squad led by 2016 Olympic co-champion Penny Oleksiak, and a Chinese squad featuring Zhang Yufei and Yang Junxuan is also capable of winning a medal. 800 Freestyle Relay The group representing the U.S. in the 800 free relay will be inexperienced. Three of the four swimmers from last year’s Olympic silver-medal-winning squad will be absent, with only Katie Ledecky returning, plus Bella Sims from the prelims relay. Ledecky was the 200 free winner at Trials in 1:55.15, but no one else swam under 1:57. The runnerup in that race was surprising 15-year-old Claire Weinstein, with Leah Smith and Hali Flickinger clinching relay spots and Sims and Alex Walsh getting on the team as alternates. That group will face an Australian roster missing Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus, the Olympic gold medalist in the 200 and 400 free, but three other Australians (Mollie O’Callaghan, Kiah Melverton and Madison Wilson) have already been under 1:57 with the country’s Trials still to come. China returns a group that won Olympic gold last year in a shocking upset, and Canada has fast-improving 15-yearold Summer McIntosh to team with 200 free Olympic bronze medalist Penny Oleksiak and likely Taylor Ruck and Kayla Sanchez. Long-term, the Americans have hope for improvement in the 200 free with four teenagers (Weinstein, Sims, Erin Gemmell and Katie Grimes) swimming in the final at Trials and Walsh just now coming into her own as a 200 freestyler, but this
[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
Torri Huske was the 100 free winner at Trials in 53.35, while Claire Curzan, Erika Brown and Natalie Hinds were all in the 53mid range. That should produce a medal-winning relay, but Australia will still present a big challenge, even the Aussies set to bring a scaled-down roster to Budapest this year.
year’s group looks caught in between. More likely than not, the Americans do win a medal in this event at Worlds, but you could make a case for Australia, China and Canada all to be ranked ahead of the Americans right now. Of course, the U.S. women have a track record of success in this relay, and Ledecky knows it. “I don’t know how many times I’ve been on it now, eight or nine times maybe. It’s a different group each time, and I think we always find a way,” she said. “We always find a way to be in the mix.” 400 Medley Relay Much better news for the Americans in the medley relay. Australia touched out the U.S. for Olympic gold by 0.13 in Tokyo, but that required little-known breaststroker Chelsea Hodges to produce the split of her life and then Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell to deliver on the end. But a projected team of Regan Smith, Lilly King, Claire Curzan and Torri Huske might be the favorites for a world title even against a full-strength Australia. Smith looked great with her 57.76 performance in the 100 back at Trials, and King has her sights set on a return to 1:04 territory in the 100 breast. Curzan and Huske are both better butterflyers than freestylers, so the key will be seeing which swimmer can produce a big-time performance in the 100 free to prove ready for this key anchor spot. The Americans typically use a completely different squad from prelims to finals for the medley relay, but Curzan and Huske account for five of the eight spots in the 100-meter events (both are swimming the 100 fly and 100 free, while Curzan also qualified for the Worlds team in the 100 back). But the Worlds team includes plenty of capable alternates qualified in other events. Rhyan White and Katharine Berkoff can handle backstroke duties in prelims, and Kate Douglass (fly) and either Erika Brown or Natalie Hinds (free) can allow both Huske and Curzan to rest for the finals relay as they both navigate extremely busy competition schedules. ◄ BIWEEKLY
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[ PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]
Olympic Gold Medalist Bowe Becker Announces Retirement BY MATTHEW DE GEORGE
B
owe Becker, an Olympic gold medalist from the 400 freestyle relay in Tokyo, announced his retirement from the sport on Wednesday. Becker made the announcement on social media. Becker wrote, in part: After a lot of thinking and evaluating this past year, I have decided it is time for me to retire from the sport of swimming. This was not an easy decision to make, but I know it’s what is best for me. I have been swimming since I was 11 years old and not by choice. For years, it was just to stay healthy because of my Rheumatoid Arthritis, but it became more than that. I was good at it and I loved athletics. The friendships and work ethic I have gained because of this sport was worth all the hard work. The native of Las Vegas had an unlikely path to a gold medal, as he alluded to in his farewell. He was an excellent swimmer at the University of Minnesota, finishing third at NCAAs in the 50 freestyle in 2018 and second in the 100 free in 2019.
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But he retired from the sport for six months in 2020, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Against many odds, he returned better than ever. He finished fifth at U.S. Olympic Trials in the men’s 100 free in 48.22 to book his relay spot. (He was also fourth in the 50 free.) In Tokyo, his prelims leg of 47.59 earned him a shot to swim in finals. He sped up to 47.44 on the third leg, helping the American squad ease to gold in 3:08.97. Becker swam in the International Swimming League in 2020 with the Cali Condors – he specifically thanks Condors’ general manager Jason Lezak in his farewell post – and with the Tokyo Frog Kings in 2021. Becker served as a volunteer assistant coach at Minnesota last year. “I proved to a lot of people I was a force to be reckoned with,” Becker wrote in his post. “Not too many people believed I could make it to the Olympics and yet there I was, standing on an Olympic podium at the end with a GOLD MEDAL in my hand. I’m excited and nervous for the next stage in life but I am ready!” ◄
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