5 Top Swimming Headlines From Russia, Spain, USA On The Week That Was

duet-finals-synchro-swimming-pan-american-games-2015 (34)
Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports Images

Many of the world’s best athletes in aquatic sports are converging on Kazan, Russia, this week for the FINA world championships. It’s an opportunity to showcase the best in aquatic sports one year away from the Olympic Games, and it’s where many of our top swimming headlines for The Week That Was comes from in this edition.

The Week That was is supported by AgonSwim.com

The Week That Was #5: Mixed synchronized swimming makes world championship debut

2665476 26.07.2015 Кристина Джонс и Билл Мэй (США) выступают с технической программой в финальных соревнованиях по синхронному плаванию среди смешанных дуэтов на XVI чемпионате мира по водным видам спорта в Казани. Александр Вильф/РИА Новости

Photo Courtesy: Alexander Wilf/FINA Kazan2015


The sight of men participating in synchronized swimming at the world championships has been more than a decade in the making. Those in the sport have fought to see men showing their grace and power in the pool alongside their female companions, and that came true with the duet competition in Russia. Americans Billy May and Christina Jones captured the inaugural gold medal over the Russians and the Italians. Whether this becomes an Olympic sport is still undecided, but the enthusiasm showed over the event’s inclusion is a big step forward.

The Week That Was #4: FINA extends term limits for president

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Photo Courtesy: FINA Kazan2015


Julio Maglione was given the chance to serve a third term as president of FINA last week after the FINA Bureau voted to change the bylaws to add another term to the president’s term limits.

Maglione’s second term ends in 2017, but he could be re-elected then based not only the term limit extension, but also the new rule that eliminates the age limit for those elected to FINA Bureau positions. Maglione will be 81 when his second term ends, one year longer than the original maximum 80 years.

The FINA Bureau did not make any other wide-sweeping rule changes at this meeting in Russia. The next meeting in 2017, where Maglione will run for a third term, could likely be where rule changes regarding swimming could happen.

The Week That Was

The Week That Was #3: Elizabeth Pelton breaks hand

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott


Elizabeth Pelton broke her hand during a routine training session last week in Berkeley, most likely as part of her preparation for the U.S. nationals next week. In the scheme of things, the injury came at a good time, as Pelton has already competed at the World University Games, where she earned silver in the 100 backstroke. Her 1:00.65 from that race will be used to see if it puts her on the national team. According to California Athletics, Pelton will be out of the water for about a month, giving her plenty of time to be ready for her senior year.

The Week That Was #2: Men’s 10K world championship race picks first swimming Olympians

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Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Perottino / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto


The men took to the Kazanka River in Kazan for the ultra-important 10K swim earlier today. The top 10 finishers would earn automatic selection to next year’s 10K at the Olympics, making strategy very important. American Jordan Wilimovsky won his first major international medal, taking gold by an amazing 12 seconds over the field. The United States will have two swimmers in the Olympic 10K in Brazil next year, as Sean Ryan placed fourth among a tight pack of swimmers. Italy also qualified two swimmers in the men’s 10K with Simone Ruffini and Federico Vanelli also in the top 10.

Richard Weinberger of Canada, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, will return to the Olympics thanks to his eighth-place finish. Ous Mellouli, the reigning Olympic 10K champion, placed 23rd overall in the world championship race, but will have another chance to qualify at a race in Portugal next June. The women’s 10K begins Tuesday morning in Kazan, with Olympic spots also on the line there.

The Week That Was #1: Mireia Belmonte withdraws from world championships

Photo Courtesy: Qatar Swimming

Photo Courtesy: Qatar Swimming


Some have called it a curse. Others say it’s an omen. However you want to describe it, the high number of withdrawals of swimmers from the world championships is unprecedented. For the past six months, high-profile athletes have had to remove their names from rosters due to illness, injury or other extenuating circumstance. The latest – and hopefully last – to do so was Spain’s Mireia Belmonte on Sunday, citing the inability to be 100 percent free of shoulder pain as the reason for pulling out of the meet. Belmonte was in line for multiple medals in the freestyle, butterfly and individual medley events, but she’s been plagued with shoulder problems since this spring and could not fully recover. Belmonte wanted to compete at worlds, but realized it was best to heal and be fully prepared for next year’s Olympic Games.

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INTHEFASTLANE
INTHEFASTLANE
8 years ago

There is plenty to be excited about with the Aussie Dolphins. We have several current world #1 and many ranked top five in the world. So expecting a bunch of medals from our athletes.

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