Streamlined News: Competition Recap, WADA News, Water Polo Victory


PHOENIX, Arizona, June 4. ALLISON Schmitt stole swimming's spotlight over the weekend with some impressive performances at the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite in Austin. On Saturday, Schmitt swam a 1:55.04 in the 200 free, which broke Katie Hoff's U.S. Open record and is less than a tenth of a second off her American record of 1:54.96. The time ranks as second in the world behind Camille Muffat's 1:54.87. Schmitt also moved into the top ten in the world with a lifetime best time of 53.94 in the 100 free. Schmitt, who has never swum the 100 free in international competition, now has the top time this year among Americans.

Michael Phelps swam in what is believed to be his final in-season meet last weekend in Austin, winning the 100 fly and 400 IM and placing second in the 100 free. The capper was a 1:54.79 in the 200 fly, breaking the pool record of 1:54.92 he set in 2001 when he first broke the world record in the event. That makes four men under 1:55 so far this year.

Coming off an American record in the 200 free at NCAAs, Megan Romano flew under the radar to an impressive performance in Austin. Romano finished second to Schmitt in the 100 free in 54.16, a lifetime best and the third-best time by an American this year. On Sunday, Romano won the 100 back in 1:00.19 to move to 12th in the world and into contention for this event at Olympic Trials.

Jimmy Feigen won the men's 100 free in Austin with a 48.63, moving behind Phelps and Nathan Adrian as the third-fastest American this year. George Bovell then got to the wall ahead of Feigen in the 50 free, 22.11 to 22.21. Brendan Hansen's comeback continued with a breaststroke sweep, and Missy Franklin got in some racing in Austin, where she took first in the 200 back.

The USA Swimming Grand Prix series wrapped up in Santa Clara over the weekend. Dana Vollmer started things off with a double on Friday, winning the 100 free and then the 100 fly in 57.03. The reigning world champion in the 100 fly, Vollmer moved to second in the world behind world record-holder Sarah Sjostrom. Vollmer then moved up to tenth in the world with a 1:57.25 in the 200 free, finishing behind just Bronte Barratt, who put up a 1:57.01.

Aussie Stephanie Rice battled Caitlin Leverenz in the women's IM events. Rice posted a 4:35.61 to get the better of Leverenz in the 400 IM. Leverenz came in at 4:37.13. Leverenz then held off Rice to win the 200 IM, 2:10.81 to 2:11.18. Neither came close to their season-best times, but for Rice, these swims are her fastest in-season since her run to double Olympic gold in 2008.

Japan's Takeshi Matsuda swam in Santa Clara, winning the 200 fly in 1:54.57. Only he has bettered that time this year, as he holds the world's top time with a 1:54.01. Matsuda's time beat the 1:54.79 that Phelps swam in Austin, and gives him the four fastest performances in the event this year. Tae Hwan Park also made the trek to Santa Clara, where he showed consistency in winning the 100, 200, 400, and 800 free. His 400 time of 3:44.96 fell just off of his 3:44.22 from last week in Canada, a time which stands second in the world behind Sun Yang.

The Mare Nostrum circuit opened up this weekend in Barcelona with a handful of meet records. Rebecca Adlington got under 8:20 with an 8:19.68 in the 800 free. Adlington, the Olympic and World champion in the event, fell about a second off her best time this year, the top time in the world. Cameron van der Burgh was a big highlight on the men's side, breaking 1:00 in the 100 breast for the first time this year with a 59.73 to move up to fourth in the world. The series continues Wednesday in Canet, France.

The World Anti-Doping Association is trying to re-instate Rule 45, which would prevent any athlete banned for doping for a period longer than six months to participate in the Olympic Games following their suspension. The IOC overturned this rule initially as a violation of the World Anti-Doping Code, so WADA wants to include this rule as part of the code. American swimmer Jessica Hardy almost fell victim to this rule after a suspension for what turned out to be a tainted supplement before the IOC overturned the rule.

As expected, the Americans won the FINA women's water polo super final gold medal, their fourth straight title, by beating Australia 6-4. Maggie Steffens and Annika Dries were key players in the win, earning two goals each in the final game. The team will now put their focus on the Olympics, where they will be looking to improve on their silver medal from 2008.

David Rieder contributed to today's Streamlined News.

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