The Week That Was: USA Swimming Announces Qualifying Procedures for World Championships

The Week That Was, sponsored by Suitmate

The Week That Was featured USA Swimming qualifying procedures for the upcoming world championship trials, Flynn Southam breaking a Kyle Chalmers record, and more.

The Week That Was #1: USA Swimming Announces Qualifying Procedures for Upcoming World Championships

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by Dan D’Addona

USA Swimming has released the selection process for the upcoming 2022 FINA World Championships as well as the Junior Pan Pacific Championships and Mel Zajac International meet.

The U.S. teams for these events will be selected at the International team Trials in Greensboro, N.C.

The Week That Was #2: Australian Age Champs: Flying Flynn Southam Takes Down A Kyle Chalmers Record And Gives Thorpie A Nudge Along The Way

FLYNN SOUTHAM

by Ian Hanson

One of the rising stars of Australian swimming, Bond University’s Flynn Southam has taken down a Kyle Chalmers 100m freestyle record, clocking a sizzling 48.60, also giving Ian Thorpe a nudge along the way in the Australian Age Swimming Championships in Adelaide.

Last night Southam broke Chalmers 16 years Australian Age record of 48.69, set back in 2015, just 12 months before he captured Olympic gold in Rio.

The Week That Was #3: Ahead of U.S. Trials, the Top-15 Female Swimmers in the Country

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by David Rieder

With the U.S. Trials for this summer’s World Championships coming up in less than two weeks, it is time to assess the best American female swimmers. We previously discussed the top-15 men, and now we will rank the top-15 American female swimmers based on their abilities in the long course pool and their chances to win medals at the World Championships.

The American women are coming off a very strong 15-medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Only three of those medals were gold, none of them in relays, but the team managed to win medals in nine out of 14 individual events and place top-five in three of the five non-medal events. Ten of the 26 swimmers who represented the U.S. in the pool were teenagers, and the shortened Olympic cycle leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics should put members of that group in a position to thrive over the next few years.

The Week That Was #4: An Homage From An Official: How Erik Vendt Played the Starting Game to Perfection

Erik Vendt and Michael Phelps were just two members of the Sydney Six. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Guest Editorial by Cynthia Millen Roberts

It was at a Grand Prix Meet at the University of Michigan where I observed the full beauty and brilliance of swimming, and it was exhibited so perfectly by a swimmer who did not win a race.

I have been thinking about that swimmer often after the events of this year in collegiate swimming—events which are an anathema and ugly antithesis to everything competitive swimming represents.

The Week That Was #5: Duncan Scott Wins 200 Free For Third Title Of British Champs As James Guy Hails “A Skinnier Version Of Michael Phelps”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 08: Duncan Scott of Great Britain and Michael Phelps of United States are seen during the Men's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Duncan Scott & Michael Phelps, Rio 2016: Photo Courtesy: Ian MacNicol, Scottish Swimming

by Liz Byrnes

Duncan Scott beat the Olympic champion to win the 200 free following a British Championships which underlined his all-round excellence and led James Guy to describe him as “like a Michael Phelps – but a skinnier version”.

Results

Olympic silver medallist Scott forged ahead in the final 25m with Tokyo champion Tom Dean on his shoulder after Guy had led for 175m to stop the clock at 1:45.54.

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