The Week That Was: Meehan And Durden Selected For Team USA

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This week saw Team USA announce their its coaching selections for this summer’s 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Read about who was picked and the other big stories from this week in The Week That Was!

The Week That Was #5 – Texas Women Vault To No. 1 Ranking

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold / Aringo Photos

Following a historic dual meet win against previously No. 2 University of Georgia, the University of Texas women’s team was ranked No. 1 in the most recent CSCAA TYR Top 25 Coaches Poll. Last week, Texas broke a winning streak for the Bulldogs at home that has lasted since 1995 and included 103-straight dual meet wins. Stanford, the previous top-ranked team, dropped down to No. 2 while Georgia fell to No. 3. This latest poll gives Texas Head Coach Carol Capitani her first No. 1 ranking during her time at Texas. On the men’s side, Cal-Berkeley remained in the top ranked spot ahead of the two-time defending champion Texas Longhorns.

The Week That Was #4 – Swimming Australia Partners With Arena

Photo Courtesy: Paul Seiser/SPA Images

Swimming Australia announced late last year that they were parting ways with Speedo effective December 31, 2016, and this week revealed that their new apparel partnership will be with Arena. The Italian company’s partnership with Swimming Australia started at the beginning of the new year. Swimming Australia CEO Mark Anderson commented that his organization will use the partnership to push Arena products within Australia while also working on developing the best performance wear for their athletes as they move into the new Olympic quad. Australian swimming already has a sizable representation of athletes wearing Arena, including Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell, Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm.

The Week That Was #3 – Ryan Lochte Announces Deal With Powerbar, Reveals Child’s Gender

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Olympian Ryan Lochte made a return to the limelight this week with a new partnership with PowerBar. Appearing in a new ad for the sports nutrition company, the Olympic gold medalist played off of his much-publicized controversy that followed the completion of the swimming competition in Rio this past summer. Falling in line with the PowerBar campaign of a “clean start,” Lochte appears ready to jump back into the pool to prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Lochte is still currently serving a suspension from USA Swimming through June 30, 2017, which leaves him unable to qualify for the 2017 World Championships in Budapest. Lochte also revealed in a CBS News interview related to his new partnership that he and fiancee Kayla Rae Reid are expecting a boy. The couple announced they were expecting near the end of 2016 following their engagement. You can see the full transcript of Lochte’s CBS interview here.

The Week That Was #2 – Olympian Fran Halsall Retires

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch

British Olympian Fran Halsall announced her retirement early last week with a post on her Twitter page. The three-time Olympian admitted that her retirement was bittersweet, saying that she will miss the sport that has given her so much while also acknowledging that she is excited to begin the next phase of her life outside of the pool. Halsall has long been a fixture for Great Britain on the international stage, having competed at multiple Commonwealth, European, and World Championships over the last decade in addition to appearing at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Her first international meet was the 2006 Commonwealth Games, where she walked away with two silver medals from relays. Her highest finish from an Olympic Games came just this summer, when she finished fourth in the 50-meter freestyle in 24.13, just .02 away from the bronze.

The Week That Was #1 – Durden And Meehan Named Worlds Coaches

Photo Courtesy: Peter H.Bick

National Team Director Frank Busch announced this week that collegiate coaches Greg Meehan and Dave Durden will lead Team USA at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary this summer. Both coaches have international coaching experience with Team USA, having served as assistants for the 2016 Olympic Team that competed in Rio de Janeiro. Durden, who is the current head men’s coach at Cal-Berkley, will serve as the men’s head coach, while Meehan, who is the current head women’s coach at Stanford University, will be the head coach of the women’s team. The coaching duo both boast a number of national teamers on their teams, and combined their athletes won a total of 18 medals at the 2016 Olympics. That includes the likes of Nathan Adrian, Ryan Murphy, Simone Manuel, Katie Ledecky and Maya DiRado. This will not be the first time the two coaches have worked with each other. Meehan served as the Assistant and Associate Head Coach for Cal under Durden for five seasons before landing the job at Stanford in 2012. Qualifications for the U.S. World Championships Team June 27-July 1 in Indianapolis, with the actual competition being held July 23-30.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

1 Comment

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Cmdt. Eliezer Otaiza

7 years ago

@agonswim OPEN PROCESS REGISTRATION DAY OF THE SWIMMER 1 Million Meters by RAFAEL VIDAL… https://t.co/9wS9DgT0qZ