Open Water News Tops Swimming Headlines On The Week That Was

Brazil was the host of another major swim meet last week, and the topic of discussion regarding the possibility of polluted waters where Olympians will swim next year. It’s all part of this edition of The Week That Was, counting down the top five swimming headlines of the past week.

The Week That was is supported by AgonSwim.com

The Week That Was #5: Masters world records fall in Mission Viejo

The Ventura County Masters team sent a strong group of swimmers to the Southern Pacific LMSC championships last week in Mission Viejo, Calif., where they set three relay world records in the 400 free relay, 800 free relay and 400 medley relay. Michael Blatt, Glenn Gruber and Mike Shaffer were a part of all three relays, with Jim McConica participating in the 800 free relay and Hubie Kerns taking his place in the 400-meter relays.

Also swimming fast in California was Japanese sprinter Kohei Kawamoto, who set a world record in the 50 fly with a 24.14. That sets a new record for the 35-39 age group and puts him in good position to swim for a spot on next year’s Olympic team for Japan.

The Week That Was #4: Deaf world championships features Russian dominance, multiple world records

The deaf world swimming championships in San Antonio was dominated by a strong Russian contingent, winning 36 medals. Among the 13 world records broken at the meet, the Russians only broke four, including the men’s and women’s 400 free relay to close out the meet. American Marcus Titus, who is training for a spot on next year’s Olympic team in the 100 breast, set two deaf world records in the 50 free and 100 free. Titus swam a 23.34 in the 50 free and 51.22 in the 100 free. His 100 breast time of 1:00.52 wasn’t a world record, but it was faster than he swam for seventh place at the U.S. nationals a week earlier.

The Week That Was #3: Jose Finkel meet allows Brazilians one more shot at racing

The Jose Finkel Trophy meet is always a top meet in Brazil, and often gives some of the country’s top talent one more opportunity to swim fast before closing out the long course season. Nicholas Santos, who was the 50 butterfly silver medalist at the world championships with a 23.02, swam a 23.00 at the Jose Finkel meet. It wasn’t his fastest of the year, but still a strong swim. Other great swims from Brazilians included a 27.03 from Joao Gomes Jr. in the men’s 50 breast and a 48.43 from Marcelo Chierighini in the 100 free.

The meet often brings international talent as clubs recruit from outside Brazil for the chance to win the coveted team trophy. Australia’s Taylor McKeown won the 100 and 200 breaststrokes in fine fashion with meet records in both (1:08.23 and 2:24.09).

The Week That Was #2: Sailing athlete falls ill in Rio waters, swimmers hold 10K test event

Speculation that the waters off the coast of Rio de Janeiro are unfit for use during next year’s Olympic Games escalated last week when a Korean sailor fell ill after competing in a test event off Guanabara Bay. Wonwoo Cho was hospitalized after complaining of headaches and dehydration after competition, though officials were quick to note that Cho was one of two athletes to need medical attention among the hundreds who competed.

The Olympic 10K swim test event also took place last weekend, with Great Britain’s Kerri-Anne Payne and Brazil’s Allan do Carmo taking the wins. The athletes reportedly praised the venue, the setting and the conditions of the race, where the warm temperature shone throughout both races.

The Week That Was #1: Men in their 80s complete relay swim across Catalina Channel

Someone told Don Baker that it couldn’t be done, so he set out to show that six men in their 80s could do a relay swim across the treacherous Catalina Channel. He recruited some of the best Masters swimmers he could find, including Masters world record holders and accomplished open water swimmers. The relay started late Thursday night, with the team reaching the shore 12 hours later, around noon on Friday. They are now the oldest to complete the 22-mile swim, each of them contributing about two one-hour shifts to make it happen.

In addition to Baker, David Radcliff, Graham Johnston, Bob Beach, Bob Best and Bill Spore made the historic swim. Cheering them on from the boat was alternate Norman Stupfel, as well as a medical team and support staff. The previous record for the oldest group to cross the Catalina Channel was a sextet in their 70s, and they did it in 2013. It was one of the members of that group that inadvertently goaded Baker into making last week’s swim happen.