The Week That Was: News From Swimming, Diving and Water Polo

2 May 2015; Shauna O'Brien, UCD, left, is congratulated by Bethany Carson, Lisburn, after winning her semi-final of the women's 100m butterfly event during the 2015 Irish Open Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre, Abbotstown, Dublin. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
Photo Courtesy: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

The past week was filled with headlines that had people talking not just about pool swimming, but water polo and diving. With the world championships just three months away, title contenders in all three disciplines are starting to take shape, and we count down the top five headlines for The Week That Was.

The Week That was is supported by AgonSwim.com

The Week That Was #5: China still remains on top of diving pyramid

FINA World Cup diving

Photo Courtesy: FINA


China appears pretty much unstoppable at the world championships in terms of taking multiple gold medals in diving. No country has been able to match their form, though some major contenders are taking shape in this year before the Olympics. Last weekend in London was the latest stop in the FINA Diving World Series, and hometown favorite Tom Daley was one of the four who was able to break the Chinese stranglehold. Daley won the 10-meter platform event by 26 points over China’s Yang Jian to continue his return to form after winning bronze in the event at the 2012 Olympics. Russia’s Evgeny Kuznetsov has been a longtime contender for international gold, and he took one in the men’s 3-meter event. Though China won seven events, the world is closing in, and they are no longer winning by substantial margins. We’ll see how it all plays out in Kazan in late July.

The Week That Was #4: American women win Intercontinental World Title on journey to worlds

Photo Courtesy: USA Water Polo

Photo Courtesy: USA Water Polo


The United States failed to win a medal at the 2013 world championships, a year after winning gold at the Olympics. But the USA is having a better year in 2015, and won the Intercontinental Tournament against Australia with a score of 12-10. This tournament was a prelude to the World Polo World League Super Final, which is itself the prologue to the world championships. If the USA wins the Super Final, they get a great placing at worlds. The Americans won the Intercontinental title without star Maggie Steffens, who is likely busy with studies at Stanford University. In her place, Courtney Mathewson and Makenzie Fisher handled the job with three goals each in the final match.

The Week That Was #3: American junior squad shines at Irish Open, Ireland adds to international roster

1 May 2015; Zach Harting, NCSA, on his way to finishing second in the B final of the men's 400m individual medley event, during the 2015 Irish Open Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre, Abbotstown, Dublin. Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

Photo Courtesy: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE


The 52 men and women representing the United States at this year’s Irish Open are part of the future of swimming in the United States, and that talent was on display in Dublin where the 18-and-under squad that competed under the National Club Swimming Association banner won the majority of events. Katie Drabot, one of the members on the team with plenty of international experience on her resume, won four events, while Ruby Martin and Matthew Hirschberger each won three. Ireland showed its potential to be great internationally, as Alex Murphy became the country’s fourth member of the world championship squad, and a few others earned spots on the World University Games team. Swimming World attended the meet, and you can watch race footage from all four finals sessions on the event landing page.

The Week That Was #2: Japan announces strong international racing squad

Daiya Seto Pan Pacs 2014

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr


Japan is going to be dangerous at the three international meets in which it will compete this summer, especially the world championships. Daiya Seto was the only world swimming champion for Japan in 2013, and he returns to defend his 400 IM title. Teammate Kosuke Hagino will be tough in that event and several others, as will perennial podium placer Ryosuke Irie. The women’s team is looking to be just as prominent as the men with the likes of Natsumi Hoshi and Kanako Watanabe in line for medals. Japan has historically done well at the World University Games, with Irie and others getting their first taste of international success there. Japan didn’t make a big impact at the 2013 junior world championships, but in this pre-Olympic year, the country is giving even its younger athletes the chance to swim internationally in case they break through and make next year’s Olympic team.

The Week That Was #1: Team USA’s international rosters get major shakeups

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott


With the announcement that Matt McLean will take the summer off from racing to tend to an injured shoulder, all of the rosters for Team USA’s international competitions dealt with some major changes. McLean’s withdrawal meant another alternate was needed for the 800 free relay. That moved Michael Klueh into the picture, and it’s the second time that Klueh has made the long course worlds team without officially qualifying for it. In 2013, Connor Jaeger dropped out of the 800 free relay, giving Klueh his spot after Klueh placed seventh at the trials. Klueh will still swim at the Pan American Games according to USA Swimming rules and will take McLean’s place in the 200 free, but now he’ll get a second meet this summer. The same day, Ryan Lochte decided to skip the 100 free, which put Jimmy Feigen into that event. Feigen was third at last summer’s nationals, and as a relay-only swimmer for worlds, was allowed to swim the 100 free at Pan Ams. He’s now out of Pan Ams, which moved Cullen Jones up to the 100 free spot vacated by Feigen. Confused yet? There’s more. Ryan Feeley is now in the 1500 free at Pan Ams, taking Klueh’s spot after he decided to not swim that event. And Eugene Godsoe is now in the 100 back and 100 fly at Pan Ams. Luckily, it appears the World University Games roster stays intact. It’s a lot of last-minute changes to many of these athletes’ plans for the summer, but it’s undoubtedly all positive changes.

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