Heading Down The Stretch: Some Thoughts As World Championships Draw Closer

Column by John Lohn, Swimming World senior writer

BASKING RIDGE, New Jersey, June 6. AS we creep closer to the festivities in Shanghai, also known as the World Championships, it's time to cobble together some random thoughts. It's getting to be an exciting time, with the Mare Nostrum Series under way and the always exciting Santa Clara International Swim Meet less than two weeks away.

**Ultimately, Germany got away with having extremely stringent qualifying standards to punch a ticket to the World Champs. On the final day of competition at the German Nationals, icons like Britta Steffen and Paul Biedermann achieved the necessary times to earn their way to Shanghai. However, it was looking dicey for a while.

It wasn't until Steffen and Biedermann dipped under the qualification marks in the 50 freestyle and 200 free that the two biggest names in German swimming officially qualified to race against the rest of the world later this summer. And while there was the chance that Steffen and Biedermann would have been placed on the team had they not qualified via the rigorous standards, why did Germany think it was a good idea to make a trip to Shanghai so difficult?

Sure, Germany wants to send the best possible squad to the World Championships. However, it was playing with fire by making the qualifying standards much harder than they needed to be. Unnecessary pressure was placed on the country's premier athletes and had Steffen or Biedermann failed to qualify, the German Swimming Federation would have appeared incredibly foolish.

There is something to be said for fielding a national team that is stacked with medal contenders. Yet, if the process to field that squad puts Olympic and world champions at risk, a second look is seriously needed.

**Given the clocking of 2:09.68 produced by Alicia Coutts at the Barcelona stop on the Mare Nostrum tour, Australia has to be loving its look in the 200 individual medley heading into Shanghai. It will be a difficult chore, but with reigning Olympic champion Stephanie Rice also on the roster in the event, the Aussies have a realistic chance of a gold-silver finish.

**Two weeks ago, I asked the readers for their thoughts on the most underrated American female swimmer. This week, we'll turn to the male side for input. Compared to the United States women, I find that it's tougher to find a man to perfectly fit the category. We'll see what you think in the coming days.

On this end, I'll go with Tyler Clary. Yes, I know he has received a good amount of respect and accolades, but when you sit behind Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in several events, are you really getting your just due. An argument can be made that Clary is the world's third-best all-around swimmer, thanks to his prowess in the backstroke, butterfly and medley disciplines. For that reason, he gets this vote.

**Have to love the effort turned in by Hungary's Laszlo Cseh at the Barcelona leg of the Mare Nostrum tour. Perhaps the best male swimmer in the world to not own a gold medal from the Olympic Games, Cseh threw down a medley statement for the World Champs when he touched the wall in the 400 individual medley in 4:11.22. About seven weeks out from Shanghai, that's a momentum-building swim for the versatile Cseh.

Follow me on Twitter: @JohnLohn

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