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INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS Africa: Chaker Belhadj (TUN) Australia: Wayne Goldsmith, Ian Hanson Europe: Norbert Agh (HUN), Camilo Cametti (ITA), Federico

Ferraro (ITA), Oene Rusticus (NED), Steven Selthoffer (GER), Roku Jakupsstovu (FAR), Tom Willdridge (GBR)

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Japan: Hideki Mochizuki Middle East: Baruch “Buky” Chass, Ph.D. (ISR) South Africa: Neville Smith (RSA) South America: Jorge Aguado (ARG), Alex Pussieldi (BRA)

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Photos Courtesy: Delly Carr

Day One

By Jason Marsteller

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Missy Franklin definitely showed signs of having completely shaken off her back spasm issues with a sterling 1:56.04 during the B final

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

GOLD COAST, Australia, August 21. The first night of finals at the Pan Pacific Championships really had just two primary storylines – Katie Ledecky’s dominance and close calls everywhere else.

Women’s 200 Free Shortly after Missy Franklin clipped the Pan Pacific record in the B final (see below), USA’s Katie Ledecky came along and dropped the time even more with a blazing 1:55.74.

That swim lowered Franklin’s meet record of 1:56.04, and nearly beat Laure Manaudou’s 2007 Australia All-Comers record of 1:55.52.

It’s not the same level of speed as Ledecky had at U.S. Nationals, where she moved to second in the world with a 1:55.16, but it was all she needed to easily win the Pan Pacs title.

Australia’s Bronte Barratt charged to silver with a 1:57.22, off her 13thranked season best of 1:56.61 from the Australian Nationals. USA’s Shannon Vreeland took bronze in 1:57.38.

Australia’s Melanie Schlanger (1:57.39), Canada’s Samantha Cheverton (1:58.96), Japan’s Chihiro Igarashi (1:59.08), China’s Zhang Sishi

(1:59.29) and Japan’s Yasuki Miyamoto (1:59.94) also swam in the A final.

Missy Franklin definitely showed signs of having completely shaken off her back spasm issues with a sterling 1:56.04 during the B final. That swim lowered the Pan Pacs record of 1:56.10 set by Allison Schmitt when she won the event in 2010. It’s also faster than Franklin’s season best of 1:56.40 and moved her to seventh in the world. Her time also would have placed her second in the A final if she had made it through this morning.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Men’s 200 Free

Australia’s Thomas Fraser-Holmes definitely defended his position as the top 200 freestyler in the world right now as he won the finale in 1:45.98.

That’s not quite his world-leadAustralia’s Emma McKeon finished ing 1:45.08 from the Commonsecond in 1:57.21 with Hong Kong’s wealth Games, but it was more than Camille Cheng taking third in 1:58.99. enough to win the title tonight.

Canada’s Alyson Ackman (1:59.25), New Zealand’s Samantha Lucie-Smith (2:00.75), Japan’s Aya Takano (2:00.90), Hong Kong’s Hang Yu Sze (2:02.65) and Canada’s Tabitha Baumann (2:03.25) also swam in the consolation heat.

Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, one of the most well-rounded swimmers in the world, took second in 1:46.08. That’s off his seventh-ranked 1:45.89 from Japanese Nationals, but enough for silver. Australia’s Cameron McEvoy snared bronze with a 1:46.36. He’s 7

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

wealth Games, while Franklin settled for bronze in 1:00.30. She just Women’s 100 Back could not duplicate her third-ranked She’s been looking to score a big 59.38 from U.S. Nationals after head-to-head victory against Missy battling back spasms the past day.

Franklin, and she finally got it as Australia’s Emily Seebohm took advan- USA’s Kathleen Baker had a strong tage of a bit of a wounded Franklin to consolation heat as she won in 1:00.35. scorch the finale in 58.84. That’s an Canada’s Brooklyn Snodgrass placed Australian All-Comers and Pan Pacs second in 1:00.57 with Brazil’s Etiene record. Her previous world-leading Medeiros placing third in 1:00.82. time from the Australian Nationals of 58.92 had been the All-Com- Men’s 100 Back ers record, while Seebohm also took In a bit of an upset following Matt down her meet record of 59.34 from Grevers’ Australian All-Comers and this event in 2010. That’s a suc- Pan Pacific record of 52.91 during cessful title defense for Seebohm. prelims this morning, Japan’s Ryosuke Irie managed to touch out the giant, Japan’s Sayaka Akase (1:00.65), 53.02 to 53.09 this evening. Irie has Canada’s Dominique Bouchard been much faster this year with a sec(1:00.82), Canada’s Hilary Cald- ond-ranked 52.57 from Japanese Nawell (1:00.99), USA’s Elizabeth tionals, but did not need that speed Pelton (1:01.37) and Japan’s Miyu- to hold off a hard-charging Grevers. ki Takemura (1:01.88) also com- USA’s Ryan Murphy closed out peted in the championship heat. the podium with a third-place time of 53.27, while Australia’s Australia had a huge showing in USA’s David Plummer took home the the race as Belinda Hocking took B final win in 53.19. That’s just off second in 59.78 to tie her sev- his fifth-ranked 53.12 from U.S. Naenth-ranked time from Common- tionals. Australia’s Josh Beaver took

been much faster with a third-ranked up times in the consolation heat.

1:45.46 from Aussie Nationals.

It was not a banner event for the Americans as Conor Dwyer (1:46.45) and defending champion Ryan Lochte (1:46.75) could not get themselves on the podium.

Brazil’s Nicolas Oliveira (1:46.98), New Zealand’s Matthew Stanley (1:47.33) and Japan’s Reo Sakata (1:47.76) also competed for the championship title.

He couldn’t quite replicate his 16thranked 1:46.90 from U.S. Nationals, but USA’s Matt McLean had enough in the tank to capture the B final with a time of 1:47.16. Australia’s David McKeon touched second in the heat with a 1:47.48, while Japan’s Yuki Kobori tied Brazil’s Joao de Lucca for third with matching 1:47.98s.

New Zealand’s Dylan Dunlop-Barrett (1:49.30), New Zealand’s Steve Kent (1:49.71), Canada’s Coleman Allen (1:51.30) and China’s Ma Tianchi (1:56.27) also put 8

second in 54.05, while New Zealand’s Canada’s Brittany MacLean finished Corey Main placed third in 54.70. third in 8:20.02 to better her fifthranked 8:20.91, while USA’s Becca Brazil’s Fabio Santi (55.08), Canada’s Mann secured a spot on the 2015 Russell Wood (55.12), Japan’s Hayate Worlds roster to beating training Matsubara (55.57), South Africa’s partner Cierra Runge, 8:22.45 to Richard Ellis (55.68) and Venezue- 8:25.17 for fourth and fifth place. la’s Albert Subirats (55.83) also put up times in the consolation heat. Venezuela’s Andreina Pinto (8:30.66), Mitch Larkin took fourth in 53.28. USA’s Haley Anderson (8:30.87) and Australia’s Alanna Bowles Australia’s Ben Treffers (53.84), Japan’s (8:31.92) made up the rest of the Junya Koga (54.02), Brazil’s Thiago top eight in the timed final event.

Pereira (54.38) and Brazil’s Guilhermo Guido (54.53) finished fifth through eighth to close out the finale field.

Men’s 200 Fly Japan’s Daiya Seto topped the men’s 200-meter fly tonight in 1:54.92, just off his second-ranked season best of 1:54.70 from the Monte Carlo stop of the Mare Nostrum. Brazil’s Leonardo De Deus took second in 1:55.28 to move to sixth in the world, while Tyler Clary of the U.S. placed third in 1:55.42 for eighth in the rankings.

Tom Shields, ranked third in the world with a 1:55.09 from U.S. Nationals, drew a disqualification this morning. However, with no other American than Clary competing in the 200 fly, he’s a lock for the 2015 World roster alongside Clary now.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Women’s 200 Fly

USA’s Cammile Adams clipped Japan’s Natsumi Hoshi at the wall, Women’s 800 Free USA’s Katie Ledecky, the world-re- 2:06.61 to 2:06.68 in a huge viccord holder with an 8:11.00 from tory for the American. Hoshi is June at The Woodlands Senior In- the world leader this year with a vite, nearly upended that time again 2:05.98 to her credit from Japanese as she raced to an 8:11.35 for the Nationals, and Adams was able to win tonight. She absolutely demol- improve upon her 2:07.12 from ished the Australian All-Comers re- U.S. Nationals to capture the title. cord of 8:18.52 previously set by Kate Ziegler way back in 2007, and USA’s Katie McLaughin lowered her crushed Janet Evans’ 1989 meet re- own World Junior Record of 2:08.02 cord of 8:16.22. Nearly every single from prelims with a third-place time Ledecky sets foot in a pool, she’s 2:07.08 to vault to eighth in the world rewriting history. Ledecky’s consis- rankings as well. The time also moved tency is downright scary as she had her back ahead of Maya DiRado for the exact same final 50 in her world the second spot on the U.S. roster record as well as her swim tonight. at the 2015 World Championships.

Japan’s Miyu Nakano (2:08.54), Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Lauren Canada’s Audrey Lacroix (2:08.81), Boyle, who is still battling her own Canada’s Katerine Savard (2:09.42), Madeline Groves controversy as she awaits word wheth- Australia’s er her short course world record in the (2:10.15) and Venezuela’s Andre1500 free is ratified, took second in ina Pinto (2:13.28) also compet8:18.47 to move to third in the world. ed in the championship finale.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Men’s 1500 Free In what can only be described as a 15-round heavyweight championship bout, USA’s Connor Jaeger took the title off the defending champ as he edged Canada’s Ryan Cochrane in one of the most exciting 1500 frees of all time. Cochrane went out hard before Jaeger caught up around the 500-meter mark, then the two traded shots every 50 before Jaeger had just enough of a lead going into the final 50 to withstand a 27.29 split by the defending champion. Jaeger finished with a 14:51.79 for the win, while Cochrane settled for silver with a 14:51.97.

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Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Day Two

By Jason Marsteller

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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Michael Phelps earned his first international gold medal since returning from retirement.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

GOLD COAST, Australia, August 21. Katie Ledecky continued to demonstrate why she’s the reigning Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year, while Michael Phelps earned his first international gold medal since returning from retirement.

Women’s 100 Breast In an incredibly exciting finale, USA’s Jessica Hardy simply had too much in the tank to hold off a hardcharging Kanako Watanabe of Japan for gold, 1:06.74 to 1:06.78. Hardy went out fast as she usually does with a 30.96, then withstood Watanabe’s 35.01 coming home. Both swimmers have been faster this year with Hardy actually securing a bit of an upset. Watanabe is ranked second in the world with a 1:05.88 from the Japan Open, while Hardy posted a 1:06.51 at U.S. Nationals.

That’s Team USA’s fourth win in a row in the event, with the fourth different winner as Amanda Beard (2002), Tara Kirk (2006) and Rebecca Soni (2010) are the previous U.S. winners dating back to Pennie Heyns’ 1999 win for South Africa.

USA’s Breeja Larson gave the U.S. a 1-3 in the event with a third-place 1:06.99, just off her 1:06.73 from U.S. Nationals.

Australia’s Lorna Tonks (1:07.41), Australia’s Taylor McKeown (1:07.55), Japan’s Satomi Suzuki (1:07.99), Canada’s Kierra Smith (1:08.49) and Canada’s Martha McCabe (1:08.96) wrapped up the rest of the championship heat.

It wasn’t the same type of speed she used to get here at U.S. Nationals with a sixth-ranked 1:06.51, but USA’s Micah Lawrence had plenty enough to torch the rest of the B final with a 1:07.16. Japan’s Rie Kaneto (1:08.03) and Australia’s Sally Hunter (1:08.52) placed well behind the American in the consolation heat.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Men’s 100 Breast Japan’s Yasuhiro Koseki clipped Brazil’s Felipe da Silva, 59.62 to 59.82, for gold in the finale. That’s a season best for both men as Koseki moved up to seventh in the world from a 59.91, while da Silva improved upon his own 59.91.

The win kept the title in Japanese hands after breaststroke legend Kosuke Kitajima won the title back in 2010.

New

Zealand’s

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Snyders 13

(1:00.18), USA’s Nic Fink (1:00.24), Canada’s Richard Funk (1:00.36), Australia’s Jake Packard (1:00.54) and Japan’s Naoya Tomita (1:01.08) completed the A final with legal swims.

You do not, however, want to be Kevin Cordes of the U.S. right now. In yet another high profile meet, he has drawn a breaststroke disqualification. A year after being part of a relay transition disqualification with Matt Grevers in the 400 medley relay at the 2013 World Championships, Cordes was disqualified tonight in the 100.

Cordes is now on the outside looking in for the 2015 Worlds roster spot after that disqualification.

Cordes’ cap slipped off at the start, and his goggles filled up with water. He wound up trying to take them off during the turn as his international meet bad luck continued.

USA’s Cody Miller could not replicate his sub-1:00 swim from Nationals, where he posted a 59.91, but he still managed to take the B final win with a 1:00.76 in his first major international night swim.

Brazil’s Joao Gomes took second in 1:00.99 with Japan’s Hiromasa Sakimoto finishing third in 1:01.54.

Brazil’s Tales Cerdeira (1:02.44), Canada’s Lyam Dias (1:03.03), Philippines’ Joshua Hall (1:03.18), South Africa’s Jared Pike (1:03.20) and Hong Kong’s Ronald Tsui (1:03.52) also contested the consolation heat.

Women’s 100 Free The Campbell sisters dominated the finale as Cate (52.72) and Bronte (53.45) went 1-2 in the 100-meter free tonight. Cate was unable 14

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

to match her Australian All-Comers and Pan Pacs Championship mark of 52.62 from prelims, but had more than enough to chart a title-winning effort this evening.

Australia’s Melanie Schlanger ran away with the B final win in 53.65, moving to eighth in the world rankings in the process. USA’s Abbey Weitzeil, the American high school sprint queen with national high school That’s the first time since 1989 that records in both the 50 and 100-yard an American has not won the ti- events, stepped up in competition in tle. In fact, 1989 is the only time a big way with a second-place 54.78. someone from America has not won the 100 with Zhuang of China tak- Brazil’s Graciele Herrmann (54.94), ing that title in 55.68. This is the Japan’s Misaki Yamaguchi (55.17), first time an Australian has won the Japan’s Yayori Matsumoto (55.60), event in the history of Pan Pacs. Canada’s Alyson Ackman (55.79), New Zealand’s Samantha LucMeanwhile, USA’s Simone Manuel ie-Smith (55.97) and New Zeaedged teammate Missy Franklin at the land’s Laura Quilter (56.00) wall for third, 53.71 to 53.87. Both also put up times in the B final. have been faster this year with Manuel (53.60) and Franklin (53.43) both In a bit of a stunner, Australia’s Camturning in better times at Nationals. eron McEvoy crushed the field in the men’s 100-meter free for the win in Canada’s Chantal Van Lande- 47.82. That performance lowered ghem (54.55), Canada’s Victo- Nathan Adrian’s Pan Pacific Chamria Poon (54.82), Japan’s Miki pionship record of 48.05 from preUchida (54.91) and Hong Kong’s lims, and delivered the sprint title Camille Cheng (55.09) also back to Australia for the first time swam in the championship heat. since Michael Klim (1997, 1999) and

Ian Thorpe (2002) won the award three straight years for the Aussies.

McEvoy was unable to duplicate his second-ranked season best of 47.65 from Australian Nationals, but he had more than enough to win tonight as USA’s Nathan Adrian was unable to put together a successful title defense as he wound up with silver in 48.30.

fer with a bronze-winning 4:38.84.

Japan’s Sakiko Shimizu (4:39.29), Japan’s Miho Takahashi (4:40.86), Canada’s Emily Overholt (4:41.64), Canada’s Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson (4:46.45) and China’s Chen Ziyi (4:57.46) also vied for the title in the A final.

as he won in a time of 4:08.31 in the 400-meter IM at the Pan Pacific Championships. That’s the first time Japan has ever won the intercontinental title, much less even take second in the event. Takahiro Mori was the lone medalist for Japan in the event with a bronze in 2002.

James Magnussen of Australia, who leads the world this year with a 47.59 from the Australian Aquatic Super Series, finished third in 48.36, while USA’s Michael Phelps just missed the podium in his first chance since returning from his 18-month retirement. Phelps wound up posting a fourth-place 48.51.

USA’s Caitlin Leverenz kicked off the night with a 4:38.31 to win the B final of the event. That performance moved her up to 19th in the world rankings. Meanwhile, USA’s Becca Mann took second in the consolation heat with a 4:39.93, while Americans also picked up third and fourth in the heat with Cammile Adams (4:40.41) and Melanie Margalis (4:40.94) leading the U.S. dominance in the B final.

Hagino’s time came up a bit short of his own world-leading 4:07.88 from Japanese Nationals.

Brazil’s Nicolas Oliveira (48.69), Japan’s Katsumi Nakamura (48.96), Brazil’s Joao de Lucca (48.97) and Japan’s Shinri Shioura (49.08) rounded out the A final.

The U.S. demonstrated its depth in the event with Tyler Clary (4:09.03) and Chase Kalisz (4:09.62) taking silver and bronze. Clary cleared his second-ranked season best of 4:09.51 from U.S. Nationals, while Kalisz became just the third swimmer under 4:10 this year.

Japan’s Rika Omoyo (4:42.94), Japan’s Miyu Otsuka (4:43.62) Fraser-Holmes (4:10.55), Japan’s and Canada’s Sydney Pickrem Daiya Seto (4:12.77), South Africa’s (4:48.69) also competed in the heat. Michael Meyer (4:17.62), Australia’s Travis Mahoney (4:17.95) and CanWomen’s 400 IM Men’s 400 IM ada’s Luke Reilly (4:21.96) finished USA’s Elizabeth Beisel became the Kosuke Hagino scored a huge vic- fourth through eighth this evening. first person to defend the wom- tory for Japanese individual medley en’s 400-meter IM Pan Pacs title since Janet Evans won in 1987 and 1989 as Beisel popped a sterling 4:31.99 tonight for the win. The 2010 winner improved her winning time then by three seconds to move to fourth in the world this year.

Only Ye Shiwen (4:30.84), Katinka Hosszu (4:31.03) and Hannah Miley (4:31.76) have been faster this year.

Beisel was swimming against the clock as teammate Maya DiRado took a distant second in 4:35.37.

That performance still ranks the American seventh in the world, but demonstrates just how much of a gap there is to the upper echelon of the elite. Australia’s Keryn McMaster claimed the other medal on of-

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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Japan’s Takeharu Fujimori topped the B final with a time of 4:14.12, just off his 10th-ranked 4:13.80 from Japanese Nationals. USA’s Michael Weiss finished second in 4:14.85 to tie Josh Prenot for 17th in the world.

the 2007 World Championships.

Australia’s Bronte Barratt, Emma McKeon, Brittany Elmslie and Melanie Schlanger could not overcome Ledecky’s incredible speed, and settled for silver with a 7:47.47, while CanJapan’s Hiromasa Fujimori (4:19.33), ada’s Brittany MacLean, Samantha Canada’s Mack Darragh (4:22.54), Cheverton, Alyson Ackman and EmChina’s Wei Haubo (4:27.07) and- ily Overholt took bronze in 7:58.03.

Canada’s Will Brothers (4:28.77) also put up times in the consolation heat. Japan (8:00.83), New Zealand (8:04.58) and Hong Kong (8:23.53) Women’s 800 Free Relay also swam in the championship heat.

The early MVP of the meet thus far is easily USA’s Katie Ledecky. After a pair of powerful performances last Men’s 800 Free Relay night to win the 200 and 800-meter For the second straight relay tonight, freestyle golds, including a near world it took a special effort by an Amerrecord in the 800, Ledecky overcame ican anchor to deliver Team USA a full second deficit to deliver Team the gold. After Katie Ledecky made USA the women’s 800-meter freestyle up more than a second to win the relay gold as the vaunted anchor leg. 800 free relay, Matt McLean gave training partner Michael Phelps his first international gold since returning from his 18-month retirement.

Entering the water at the same time as Takeshi Matsuda of Japan, McPhoto Courtesy: Delly Carr Lean held off Matsuda down the stretch with a 1:46.44 anchor against Entering the water behind Australia, Matsuda’s 1:46.58 as the U.S. won 5:50.84 to 5:52.04, Ledecky blitzed in 7:05.17. The U.S. foursome the water with a 1:54.36. It might was made up of 3/4 North Balnot be the top 200 free split of the timore Aquatic Club swimmers year with Sarah Sjostrom uncork- with Conor Dwyer, Phelps, Ryan ing a 1:53 for Sweden over in Eu- Lochte and McLean taking the tirope, but it was more than enough tle for the Red, White and Blue. for a USA victory from the team of Shannon Vreeland, Missy Frank- Japan, meanwhile, took second in lin, Leah Smith and Ledecky as 7:05.30 with the team of Kosuke the foursome clocked a 7:46.40. Hagino, Reo Sakata, Yuki Kobori and Matsuda. Australia’s DaThat effort smashed the previous vid McKeon, Cameron McEvoy, Pan Pacs record of 7:51.21 set by the Mack Horton and Thomas FrasAmericans in 2010. It also serves as er-Holmes finished third in 7:08.55. the Australian All-Comers record, New Zealand (7:13.83) and Hong beating a U.S. mark of 7:50.09 from Kong (7:41.74) also competed.

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Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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Day Three

By Jason Marsteller

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The U.S. had no answer for a pair of sizzling 47’s from James Magnussen and Cameron McEvoy

Photos Courtesy: Delly Carr

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

GOLD COAST, Australia, August 22. KATIE Ledecky followed through with a world record in the women’s 400-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships, while the rest of the night had some incredibly dramatic occurrences as well. It included a big win for Michael Phelps, as well as an Aussie relay sweep.

Women’s 100 Fly It was certainly a close call as Alicia Coutts returned the 100 fly title back to the Australians for the fourth time, joining Susie O’Neill and Jessicah Schipper as Aussie victors in the event.

Coutts raced her way to a 57.64 to 57.76 win against China’s Lu Ying in the finale. Coutts has been faster this year with a 57.60 to rank eighth in the world, while Lu moved up to 12th in the event with her swim.

USA’s Kendyl Stewart raced her way onto the podium, edging Australia’s Emma McKeon, 57.82 to 57.85, for the bronze medal. That’s a season best for Stewart, lower than her 57.98 from Nationals, while McKeon came up short of her 57.66 from the Commonwealth Games.

It wasn’t the same speed as her 16thranked 58.14 from U.S. Nationals, but USA’s Felicia Lee still managed to trump the rest of the consolation heat by a pretty wide margin with a 58.37.

Australia’s Madeline Groves took second in 58.88, while Japan’s Natsumi Hoshi claimed third in 59.20.

Brazil’s Daynara de Paula (59.66), Japan’s Miki Uchida (59.68), Japan’s Miyu Nakano (59.75), New Zealand’s Samantha Lee (1:00.44) and South Africa’s Vanessa Mohr (1:01.9) put up the rest of the B final swims.

Men’s 100 Fly

A day after his first international gold medal since his return came by way of the 800 free relay, the Greatest of All Canada’s Katerine Savard (57.95), Time Michael Phelps also ascended to USA’s Claire Donahue (58.31), Bra- the top of the podium individually on zil’s Etiene Medeiros (58.67) and the international stage with a sizzling Canada’s Audrey Lacroix (58.82) 51.29 in the finale. He did so against also vied for the title in the finale. longtime rival Ryan Lochte, who

took silver for the U.S. with a 51.67.

Phelps still holds the top time in the world with a 51.17 from Nationals, but that time came during prelims.

Tonight, he finally put together a second swim worthy of victory as his comeback from an 18-month retirement continues. Lochte, meanwhile, could not clear his fifth-ranked 51.55 from prelims to secure a spot on the 2015 World Roster in this event as Tom Shields’ 51.29 from U.S. Nationals held up to tonight’s scrutiny to keep him on the Kazan roster.

With that outcome, Lochte now has just two individual events for 2015 Worlds in the 200 free and 200 IM. Japan’s Hirofumi Ikebata clinched bronze in 52.50, while Australia’s Tommaso D’Orsogna took fourth in 52.67.

Brazil’s Thiago Pereira (52.71), Australia’s Chris Wright (52.75), Ja pan’s Kenta Hirai (52.84) round21

ed out the championship heat. er in the 400-800-1500 free, that’s a pretty strong argument, but her It wasn’t the same speed as his fourth- consistency and ability to break a ranked 51.49 from U.S. Nationals, world record at nearly any meet she but USA’s Tim Phillips certainly decides to do it is just remarkable. had plenty in the tank in the B final with a 51.52. He blasted the USA’s Cierra Runge took silver in rest of the field by a wide margin, 4:04.55, while New Zealand’s Lauwhich make sense considering he ren Boyle placed third in 4:05.33. finished third this morning but was Brittany MacLean bumped to the consolation heat. Canada’s (4:05.91), Venezuela’s Andreina Australia’s Jayden Hadler (53.07) Pinto (4:07.51), Australia’s Bronand Japan’s Masato Sakai (53.38) te Barratt (4:10.40), Australia’s Alled the way for the rest of the anna Bowles (4:10.58) and Canapack, while Canada’s Coleman Al- da’s Samantha Cheverton (4:12.25) len (53.89) and China’s Shi Yang also swam in the historic heat.

(53.98) also cleared 54 seconds.

USA’s Leah Smith opened up the Hong Kong’s Geoff Cheah (54.11), night with a dominant effort in Canada’s Gamal Assaad (54.78) and the consolation heat. She smashed Canada’s Mack Darragh (54.86) also the rest of the field with a 4:06.91, put up times in the consolation heat. a bit off her season best of 4:06.28 from U.S. Nationals that ranked Women’s 400 Free her 15th coming into the meet.

While USA’s Katie Ledecky went out like a banshee at U.S. Nationals en Australia’s Jessica Ashwood finished route to breaking Federica Pellegri- second in 4:10.14, while Japan’s Chini’s world record of 3:59.15 with her hiro Igarashi took third in 4:13.72.

3:58.86 from Irvine, tonight Ledecky took her record-breaking swim just The next pack came in with New a bit differently. Actually training Zealand’s Samantha Lucie-Smith the world-record pace through the (4:15.19), New Zealand’s emma 300, Ledecky came roaring home Robinson (4:15.92), Japan’s Aya in 30.33, 29.30 to nearly take the Takano (4:16.07) and Japan’s Yasuworld record under 3:58 with a ri- ko Miyamoto (4:16.38) all jockeydiculously fast 3:58.37 this evening. ing for position. Canada’s Tabitha

first three-time winner period. He broke a tie with Ian Thorpe (1999, 2002) with his victory tonight. Park also vaulted to the top of the world with his time, eclipsing the 3:43.46 set by Ryan Cochrane of Canada at the Commonwealth Games.

Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, who won the 400 IM earlier this week, took silver in the 400 free with a 3:44.56.

That’s off his third-ranked 3:43.90 from Japanese Nationals, but still enough for second as USA’s Connor Jaeger picked up bronze in 3:45.31. That’s a bit better for Jaeger than his ninth-ranked 3:45.34 from the Bulldog Grand Slam.

Cochrane was unable to replicate his Commonwealth Games speed as he took fourth in 3:45.99.

Australia’s Mack Horton (3:46.19), Australia’s David McKeon (3:46.40), Japan’s Yuki Kobori (3:49.05) and USA’s Michael McBroom (3:52.77) rounded out the rest of the top eight.

In an exciting battle before the television broadcast kicked on with the big lights, Australia’s Jordan Harrison clipped USA’s Matt McLean in the middle distance consolation heat, 3:47.45 to 3:47.70. No one else came close in the B final as those two Baumann checked in with a 4:23.47 finished a few seconds ahead of New for the final spot in the heat.

Zealand’s Matt Stanley (3:50.75).

Not only did that swim break Ledecky’s world record, it also smashed the Australian All-Comers record of 4:02.61 Men’s 400 free set by Laure Manaudou back in Korea’s Tae Hwan Park became the 2007, and lowered Ledecky’s Pan Pacs first man to ever win this particular mark of 4:03.09 from this morning. Pan Pacs title three straight times as he put up a 3:43.15 in the finaThere’s little doubt that Ledecky le. Not only is Park the first to win is the best distance freestyler of all the title three straight times with titime. As the world-record hold tles in 2006 and 2010, he’s also the 22

New Zealand’s Ewan Jackson (3:52.32), China’s Qiu Ziao (3:52.97), Japan’s Kohei Yamamoto (3:53.15), New Zealand’s Dylan Dunlop-Barrett (3:53.96) and Canada’s Will Brothers (3:58.25) also competed in the consolation heat.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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USA’s Elizabeth Pelton dropped a 2:09.36 to win the B final toThe 200 back looked similar to night. That’s better than her 17ththe 100 back, with a pair of Aussranked 2:09.73 from the Santa Clara ies taking the top of the podium as stop of the Arena Grand Prix, and world-record holder Missy Franklin moved her into the top 15 in the just has not looked the same since she world. Canada’s Brooklynn Snohad back spasms shortly prior to the dgrass, meanwhile, took second in meet and has been struggling just to 2:09.76 as she’s in the top 20 now. swim, much less win here in Australia.

Women’s 200 Back

Canada’s Genevieve Cantin (2:10.76), Japan’s Shiho Sakai (2:12.36), China’s Zhao Ying (2:17.65), Hong Kong’s Claudia Lau (2:18.12), South Africa’s Beatrix Malan (2:19.42) and South Africa’s Marce Loubser (2:19.63) also competed in the consolation heat.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Belinda Hocking won the finale in 2:07.49, just ahead of teammate Emily Seebohm’s second-place 2:07.61 as both undercut the Pan Pacific Championships record of 2:07.83 set by Elizabeth Beisel when she won in 2010. Hocking has been faster with a 2:06.40 from the NSW State Championships, while Seebohm broke 2:08 for the first time this year to move to second in the world. In fact, only Hocking and Seebohm have seen a 2:07 this year.

Men’s 200 Back The U.S. has never lost the men’s 200-meter backstroke at the Pan Pacific Championships, and Tyler Clary made sure it didn’t happen on his watch as he held off Japan’s Ryosuke Irie, 1:54.91 to 1:55.14, for the win. Neither time is the best for either swimmer this year, but tonight it was just about getting your hand on the wall first.

Clary came up just off his thirdranked 1:54.73 from U.S. Nationals, while Irie was not able to repeat his world-leading 1:53.91 from JapaDemonstrating just how hard of a nese Nationals as he settled for silver. time Franklin is having this week, she failed to even make the podium in her The surprise on the podium went world-record event as Beisel beat her to Mitch Larkin, who took third in for third, 2:08.33 to 2:08.82. Beisel 1:55.27. That’s just off his 1:55.26 moved to fifth in the world with her from the Australian Nationals, but swim, while Franklin was unable to the podium initially seemed to favor duplicate her 2:08.38 from Nationals. Japan’s Kosuke Hagino being in the top three. Hagino ranks second in Canada’s Hilary Caldwell (2:09.02), the world with a 1:54.23 from JapCanada’s Dominique Bouchard anese Nationals, but faded badly to(2:09.59), Japan’s Sayaka Akase night as he took eighth in 1:59.86.

(2:09.65) and Japan’s Marie Kamimura (2:12.69) also swam in the finale. USA’s Ryan Murphy (1:56.17), Aus24

tralia’s Josh Beaver (1:57.70), Brazil’s Leonardo de Deus (1:57.78) and New Zealand’s Corey Main (1:59.63) were also part of the top eight.

Japan’s Hayate Matsubara cruised to victory in the B final with a 1:57.94, off his 16th-ranked 1:57.13 from the Japan Open earlier this year. No one else came within two seconds of the Japanese swimmer.

Women’s 400 Free Relay After the Australians set the world record with a 3:30.98 at the Commonwealth Games earlier this month, about the only entity more favored to win any specific event this week was Katie Ledecky in anything she decided to swim, and the Aussies came through with flying colors tonight.

The foursome of Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie, Melanie Schlanger and Bronte Campbell could not duplicate the 3:30 speed from Glasgow, but they still managed a Pan Pacs record time of 3:32.46. That smoked the 3:35.11 set by the U.S. back in 2010.

Meanwhile, Simone Manuel, Missy Franklin, Abbey Weitzeil and Shannon Vreeland raced to silver in 3:34.23 with a team much different than the veteran-laden team that won the 2010 title that featured Natalie Coughlin, Jessica Hardy, Amanda Weir and Dana Vollmer. Team USA’s sprint group has some seasoning to do to return to the type of form the Red, White and Blue is used to seeing.

Japan’s Miki Uchida, Misaki Yamaguchi, Yasuko Miyamoto and Yayoi Matsumoto snatched bronze in 3:39.06.

Canada (3:39.78), Brazil (3:42.20), New Zealand (3:47.51) and Hong

Kong (3:50.47) also fielded teams.

Men’s 400 Free Relay Shortly after finding the happiness he so desires at the top of the individual podium, Michael Phelps came back down to earth a bit as the Australian completed a 400 free relay sweep tonight when the men followed the women with a victory.

Although it was closer than the women’s race, and Phelps got the American men off to the right start with a 48.88 leadoff, the U.S. had no answer for a pair of sizzling 47s from James Magnussen and Cameron McEvoy. In the end, Tommaso D’Orsogna, Magnussen, Matthew Abood and McEvoy turned in a 3:12.80 to win gold in front of a highly-partisan crowd.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

The big-name American foursome of Phelps, Nathan Adrian, Anthony Ervin and Ryan Lochte did enough to take silver, while Brazil’s Joao de Lucca, Marcelo Chierighini, Bruno Fratus and Nicolas Oliveira showed signs of being a world title contender with a third-place time of 3:13.59 that did not include Cesar Cielo as part of this trip. Once Cielo is back to firing on all cylinders, Brazil could be in the mix for just about any title on the planet.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Japan (3:14.93), Canada (3:19.26), Hong Kong (3:24.47) and South Africa (3:24.70) claimed the other finishes in the finale.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Day Four

By Jason Marsteller

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Ledecky is moving 30 seconds ahead of the entire world with a ridiculously fast 15:28.36

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Photo Courtesy: David Farr

GOLD COAST, Australia, August 24. The 2014 edition of the Pan Pacific Championships came to a close in the pool with Katie Ledecky turning in yet another stunning world record, this time with a six-second drop in the 1500 free.

Men’s 800 Free Canada’s Ryan Cochrane defended his 2010 title with a 7:45.39 tonight. That swim nearly challenged Grant Hackett’s sizzling 7:44.78 meet record from the 2002 edition, and moved Cochrane firmly into third in the world this year. Only Italy’s dynamic duo of Gabriele Detti (7:42.74) and Gregorio Paltrinieri (7:43.01) have been faster this year.

who swam all by himself in the first heat of the timed final event, moved up two spots to seventh overall with his 8:01.53. Not only did Takeda have to swim by himself this morning, a technical glitch in the timing system forced officials to stop him after he’d already swum 125 meters to reschedule him until the end of prelims. That’s a gutsy performance for the Japanese swimmer.

out his epic Olympic runs – eye on the prize, set a lifetime best. It just so happens that Ledecky is on that Phelps level now where every single lifetime best is a world record.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

The big difference though, is that Australia’s Mack Horton turned in a Ledecky is doing it in events that silver-winning time of 7:47.73 as he Women’s 1500 Free have not had all that much progresmoved to fourth in the world, while Katie Ledecky has entered that Michael sion compared to some of the swims USA’s Connor Jaeger raced to bronze Phelps realm, where she just toys with Phelps took part in. Where Phelps in 7:47.75 for fifth in the world. Aus- races to find different ways to break would potentially cut half-a-second tralia’s Jordan Harrison took fourth, world records, and she did just that off a 200, Ledecky is moving 30 secjust off the podium, with a 7:48.20 with a mind-bending 15:28.36 this onds ahead of the entire world with for sixth in the rankings as Pal Jo- evening in the women’s metric mile. a ridiculously fast 15:28.36. That’s a ensen of the Faroe Islands dropped nearly six-second drop from the world from third to seventh with his 7:48.49 When all is said and done, Ledecky record she set at The Woodlands Sefrom the European Championships. keeps her focus on the most basic nior Invitation earlier this summer, as thing in swimming – setting a new she nearly took down the 400, 800 Notably, this morning’s tough luck lifetime best. That’s exactly how and 1500 freestyle world records in a swimmer Shogo Takeda of Japan, Phelps kept his train going through- single meet here in the Gold Coast.

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Women’s 200 IM USA’s Maya DiRado knocked off Australia’s Alicia Coutts, 2:09.93 to 2:10.25, for the title this evening.

That swim tied Emily Seebohm’s meet record from 2010 and moved DiRado up to fourth in the world this year. Only Katinka Hosszu (2:08.11), Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (2:08.21) and Coutts (2:08.89) have been faster. USA’s Caitlin Leverenz captured bronze with a 2:10.67, equaling her bronze from 2010 but with a faster time (2:11.21).

Japan’s Kanako Watanabe (2:11.16), Japan’s Rika Omoyo (2:12.39), China’s Zhou Min (2:12.41), Australia’s Emily Seebohm (2:13.25) and Canada’s Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson (2:13.31) also put up times in the championship heat.

Seebohm, the defending champion, just never got on track in the IM this week after putting up some amazing times in the backstroke.

USA’s Melanie Margalis had to follow Katie Ledecky’s epic world record swim, and she did a good job of it with a 2:11.42 to win the B final. Japan’s Miho Teramura finished second in 2:12.75 with China’s Zhang Sishi earning third in 2:12.92.

1:56.02 to 1:56.04. Hagino would have liked to have had his world-leading 1:55.38 from Japanese Nationals in play here to make it less of a battle, but he still managed to stop the clock just .02 seconds ahead of the Greatest of All Time. Phelps lowered his thirdranked season best of 1:56.55 from U.S. Nationals, but could not keep pace with Ryan Lochte, as Lochte tied Hagino’s time with his epic B final swim just minutes earlier (see below).

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Japan’s Daiya Seto finished third in 1:57.72, half-a-second back of his fourth-ranked 1:57.32 from the Canet stop of the Mare Nostrum, while Brazil’s Thiago Pereira took fourth in 1:57.83.

ond-ranked season best of 1:56.50 from Nationals by half-a-second, and he had to do so while basically swimming by himself, and would have tied him with Hagino for the title.

Japan’s Takeharu Fujimori (2:01.05) and Hiromasa Fujimori (2:01.38) placed well behind for second and third in the consolation heat.

Women’s 50 Free Australia’s Cate Campbell tied the textile best of 23.96 set by Fran Halsall at the Commonwealth Games earlier this month with a 23.96 of her own tonight. The time downed her Pan Pacs record of 24.35 from this morning, and also edged Libby Trickett’s Australian record of 23.97 from 2008 in the process. Notably, Halsall’s time also stood as the Commonwealth record, putting Campbell in a tie for that mark as well as she continues her remarkable ascendance to the top of the sprint heap.

Campbell is the first swimmer to sweep the 50, 100 frees on the women’s side since Jenny Thompson did it in 2002 with a 25.13 in the 50 and a 54.89 in the 100.

USA’s Tyler Clary finished fifth in 1:58.79, and along with Lochte’s amazing swim in the consolation heat, put Phelps and Lochte onto the 2015 Campbell’s sister Bronte took secWorlds roster for the U.S. in this event. ond among a pack of swimmers that touched well behind the leader Australia’s Keryn McMaster Australia’s Travis Mahoney (1:59.79), as Bronte posted a 24.56. Canada’s (2:14.53), Canada’s Sydney Pickrem New Zealand’s Mitch Donald- Chantal Van Landeghem won bronze (2:15.42), Canada’s Marni Older- son (2:01.34) and South Afri- in 24.69 to beat Victoria Poon’s Cashaw (2:15.90), China’s Zhang Jiaqi ca’s Michael Meyer (2:01.78) nadian record of 24.75 from 2009.

(2:19.14) and South Africa’s Beat- also competed in the A final.

USA’s Simone Manuel (24.70), Brarix Malan (2:24.03) also competed.

Knowing his spot on the 2015 World zil’s Graciele Herrmann (24.78), Men’s 200 IM Championship roster was in jeopar- Brazil’s Etiene Medeiros (25.07), Japan’s Kosuke Hagino had just dy after missing the A final, USA’s USA’s Ivy Martin (25.18) and Canenough in the tank to hold off a hard- Ryan Lochte didn’t mess around as ada’s Michelle Williams (25.64) charging Michael Phelps for victory he smashed the consolation heat with also took part in the epic finale. in the shorter distance 200-meter IM, a 1:56.02. That bettered his sec- Australia’s Melanie Schlanger had just 28

enough to take down USA’s Madeline Locus in the B final, 25.23 to 25.24, in what proved to be an entertaining consolation heat. Brazil’s Alessandra Marchioro finished third in 25.37 with Japan’s Miki Uchida (25.56) and Canada’s Victoria Poon (25.69) also among the top finishers in the heat.

Men’s 50 Free Brazil’s Bruno Fratus slayed some major dragons to take home the Pan Pacific gold medal. Bettering his second-ranked season best of 21.45 with a 21.44, Fratus became the first Brazilian ever to win the event. In fact, he’s just the second non-American to win since this meet began in 1985.

He joins South Africa’s Mark Dedekind, who won in 1997 with a 22.42.

Notably, Fratus’ time beat Nathan Adrian’s meet record of 21.55 from 2010 and moved him just a bit closer to Cesar Cielo’s world-leading time of 21.39 from the Maria Lenk Trophy meet.

Anthony Ervin, meanwhile, showed that he still has a lot left in his 33-yearold body with a silver-winning 21.73, while pre-meet favorite Nathan Adrian settled for bronze in 21.80.

Australia’s Cameron McEvoy (22.07), Japan’s Shinri Sioura (22.11), Australia’s Matt Abood (22.18), Japan’s Kastumi Nakamura (22.42) and Brazil’s Marcelo Chierighini (22.46) rounded out the top eight.

USA’s Jimmy Feigen thumped the consolation heat with a 22.38, while Canada’s Luke Peddie took a distant second in 22.68. Japan’s Kenta Ito rounded out the top three in 22.74 in the heat.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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Canada’s Yuri Kisil (22.78), Canada’s Kyle Troskot (22.94), Hong Kong’s Geoff Cheah (22.99), South Africa’s Doug Erasmus (23.05) and Brazil’s Nicholas Santos (23.35) also put up times in the B final.

Women’s 200 Breast The Japanese went 1-2 in the final, and it wasn’t even close. Kanako Watanabe (2:21.41) and Rie Kaneto (2:21.90) put their stamp on the race with a pair of 2:21s. They both have been faster this year with Watanabe (2:21.09) and Kaneto (2:21.58) ranking second and third behind Rikke Moeller Pedersen’s world-leading 2:19.61, but they didn’t need that speed tonight.

Australia’s Taylor McKeown placed third in 2:22.89, off her fourth-ranked 2:22.10 from Aussie Nationals, while Canada’s Kierra Smith finished fourth in 2:23.32.

USA’s Micah Lawrence (2:24.60), USA’s Breeja Larson (2:24.90), Australia’s Sally Hunter (2:25.25) and Canada’s Martha McCabe (2:25.62) claimed the other finishes in the championship heat.

With the meet winding down, it was obvious no one decided to swim in the B final unless they had to. Mio Motegi won the consolation heat in 2:27.20 with teammate Satomi Suzuki taking second in 2:30.87. South Africa’s Jonker Franko (2:33.87) and China’s Liu Xiaoyu (2:35.14) also swam in the event.

Men’s 200 Breast Japan’s Yasuhiro Koseki nearly put up a Pan Pacific Championship record as he won the finale in 2:08.57.

That’s just off Kosuke Kitajima’s 30

2010 mark of 2:08.36, and fell short of Koseki’s fifth-ranked 2:08.34 from the Japan Open earlier this year.

erra Smith (1:08.09), Katerine Savard (57.46) and Chantal Van Landeghem (53.82) snared bronze in 3:59.85.

USA’s Nic Fink powered his way to a 2:08.94 for silver, moving to 10th in the world rankings, while Japan’s

Men’s 400 Medely Relay

Kazuki Kohinata finished third for bronze with a time of 2:10.14.

USA’s Josh Prenot, initially set to swim in the B final before Kevin Cordes scratched to focus on the medley relay, took fourth in 2:11.05.

Brazil’s Tales Cerdeira (2:11.49), Canada’s Richard Funk (2:13.75), Brazil’s Simon Thiago (2:13.89) and Canada’s Lyam Dias (2:16.19) comprised the rest of the A final.

Women’s 400 Medely Relay In a bit of a stunner, as the American women are not used to losing the 400 medley relay internationally, the Australians lowered the Australian All-Comers record with a 3:55.49 this evening, and it wasn’t even close.

Emily Seebohm (59.44), Lorna Tonks (1:07.44), Alicia Coutts (56.76) and Cate Campbell (51.85) beat the U.S. on nearly every single leg. In fact, the only swimmer to beat their Aussie counterpart for the women was Jessica Hardy. The winning time tonight edged the previous All-Comers record of 3:55.74 set by a 2007 team with the likes of Leisel Jones, Jessicah Schipper and Libby Lenton (Trickett) Team USA’s Missy Franklin (59.99), Hardy (1:06.35), Kendyl Stewart (57.62) and Simone Manuel (53.45) took silver in 3:57.41, while Canada’s Brooklynn Snodgrass (1:00.48), Ki-

Shortly after a disappointing outcome for the Americans in the women’s 400 medley relay, the U.S. men ended the meet on a high note for the Red, White and Blue as Matt Grevers (53.10), Kevin Cordes (58.64), Michael Phelps (50.60) and Nathan Adrian (47.60) crushed the field with a 3:29.94.

That effort blasted the Pan Pacific record of 3:31.79 set in 2006 by the U.S. foursome of Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Ian Crocker and Jason Lezak. It also beat the Australian All-Comers mark of 3:31.91 set by Japan back in 2009.

This swim had to exorcise some demons for Cordes. His disqualification yips really took center stage in Barcelona a year ago when a relay transition between he and Grevers was just .01 fast and caused the U.S. to lose a gold-medal performance. Earlier this week, Cordes lost out on the 100 breaststroke after being disqualified when he broke his stroke to recover his goggles that had just filled up with water on an errant turn. Being part of a winning relay, with a seriously amazing breaststroke split has to be cathartic for the man.

Japan’s Ryosuke Irie (52.99), Yasuhiro Koseki (59.52), Hirofumi Ikebata (51.81) and Katsumi Nakamura (47.76) turned in a second-place time of 3:32.08, while the hosts Mitch Larkin (53.46), Jake Packard (1:00.02), Tommaso D’Orsogna (52.34) and Cameron McEvoy (47.63) closed out the podium with a third-place 3:33.45.

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Best of Press

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Check out the best interviews from Pan Pacs in our interactive media gallery.

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Michael Phelps

Ryan Lochte

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Matt Grevers

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USA 400 Free Relay

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The 2014 Pan Pacs Championships Swimmer Awards Commentary by Wayne Goldsmith | Photos Courtesy: Delly Carr

GOLD COAST, Australia, August 25. HERE at the Pan Pacs, the winners got the gold medals. The runner-ups got the silvers. And the third-placed swimmers received bronze. But who won the real prizes?

Who won the “2014 PAN PAC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS SWIMMER AWARDS”?

The “I’ve Got to Stop Looking Around to See Where Michael Is” Award And the winner is: Ryan Lochte. Lochte is such an amazing swimmer but he missed out on a place in the men’s 200 IM final at this year’s Pan Pacs because he was a little too focused on where Michael Phelps was in their heat swim. Lochte’s time in the B FINAL would have got him the gold medal in the A FINAL. If Lochte just focuses on swimming his own race, he’ll be even more brilliant than he is already. Lesson: “Swim your own race”

The “Smoother than Olive Oil on a Glass Table” Award And the winner is: Australia’s Cate Campbell. The secret to swimming fast 50s is having a great start.

And the secret to a great start is to take off with a great dive from the blocks, hold a perfect streamline, kick with fast, powerful kicks underwater, execute a strong and deliberate kick into your breakout stroke and then “explode” with your first few strokes on the surface. Campbell does all these skills magnificently but what makes her so special is the smooth, seamless way she combines all of these swimming skills into one single, continuous, uninterrupted, flowing motion. Lesson: “Get to top speed faster than your opposition by mastering all the skills from blocks to breakout”

The “I Think She Might Be a Robot” Award And the winner is: Katie Ledecky. OK – she’s fast. And sure, her endurance is amazing. But her pacing skills are extraordinary. During her astonishing 1500-metre world record, her 50 metre splits varied only slightly. Her ability to manage her speed and maintain an even pace throughout her race is something very, VERY special. You’d be tempted to x-ray Katie to make sure there wasn’t some sort of machine inside her body which helps her to maintain such a relentless pace throughout her races, but the reality is she’s very human – a human who’s trained very, very hard at mastering accurate race pacing. Lesson: “Train the way you want to race”

The “Look Out World: I’m Back” Award And the winner is – you guessed it – Michael Phelps. Reportedly only swimming a fraction of the training volume that he’s done in the past, Phelps again proved that he’s got it all: technique, skills, power, speed, endurance and guts. Even “Ironman” Hagino, who defeated Phelps in the final of the 200 IM said in his post race interview (through an interpreter) “I only beat Michael because he’s not in his best shape.” If Phelps is this fast when he’s “out of shape,” just imagine what is he capable of at the 2015 FINA World Championships and the 2016 Olympic Games when he is back in peak form? A sub-49-second 100 fly? Or what about the first man to swim under 1:54 for the 200 IM? One thing’s for certain: Michael’s future will be faster. Lesson: “There are no limits to what you can achieve” 36

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