3 Ways to Make Duel in the Pool Even More Thrilling

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By Andrew Ross, Swimming World College Intern

The recent Duel in the Pool was a great showcase of some of the world’s best swimming talent. Young kids in the Indianapolis area were able to see their favorite swimmers, like Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin, compete against some of the best European swimmers, like Gregorio Paltrinieri and Katinka Hosszu. I was not there to see the event in person, but I knew a few people that were there and said it was such a fun experience. In fact, the Duel in the Pool was what got me into swimming.

In 2003, Indianapolis hosted the very first Duel against some of the best Australian swimmers. My grandparents had come in from South Carolina to meet my whole family in Indianapolis for the meet. I didn’t know much about swimming before this. I didn’t really know who any of the swimmers were. I didn’t even know who Michael Phelps was. In fact, Larsen Jensen became my favorite swimmer that day because I thought he had a cool name.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The few things I really remember about that April 2003 day were getting my picture taken with a live kangaroo that someone from Mutual of Omaha brought in (animals were my passion before sports) and seeing Phelps break the 400 IM world record. I remember Jenny Thompson anchoring the 400 free relay and the crowd going nuts. I also remember being so oblivious to the meet that I thought the US had lost the meet when Lindsay Benko jumped on the last women’s relay. When the announcement came at the end for who was the winner of the meet, I was sitting anxiously in my seat awaiting for the results. Little did I know that the US won the meet by over 100 points.

So long story short, I love the Duel in the Pool. It ignited my love for the sport of swimming and I am sure I am not the only one that fell in love with swimming after watching the Duel. I love that we have a Ryder Cup style meet now against the European all-stars and I love the great TV exposure it provides to kids in the United States and in Europe.

But I would like to propose some additions to the meet. After all, this is basically the All-Star Game of swimming. The best swimmers in the world are competing against each other in an exhibition format. But I’d like to propose more events catered to the crowd. Bear with me here.

A few years ago, Texas held the American Short Course Championships and then had a fundraiser meet the day after the meet called the “Encore Meet.” It entailed a number of exhibition events, as it was sort of a “world record challenge day.” There were also a few fun events that gave the crowd a few laughs (videos below). If that could be incorporated into the Duel in the Pool as a possible fundraiser for something like Make A Splash, it would be fun to see the swimmers competing with a sense of humor.

The NBA has “All-Star Weekend” with numerous skill competitions like the dunk contest, three-point shootout and the shooting stars competition. The shooting stars competition consists of a current male star, a current female star and an NBA legend.

Photo Courtesy: Presse Sports

1. LEGEND RELAYS

So, what if the Duel in the Pool had a special Legend Relay? The United States could send a solid squad for a 200 free legends relay. Rowdy Gaines, Josh Davis, Matt Biondi and Jason Lezak. Swimming fans over the age of 30 would salivate over something like this (hopefully). I mean, it would be very fun to see legends like Biondi or even Tom Jager come back and race in a not-so-serious atmosphere. Europe would be no slouch either if they sent guys like Pieter van den Hoogenband, Mark Foster, Alexander Popov and Alain Bernard (Yes, I just set up a Lezak-Bernard rematch. Who wouldn’t want to see that?). It might be hard to get some legends on board, but it is just an idea.

2. BELLY FLOP CONTEST

Sticking with basketball, the dunk contest could correlate to a belly flop contest. I’d be interested to see if anyone would want to challenge Tyler Clary in this, but it would be a fun event to get the crowd engaged. They could even help out with scoring by holding up giant 10s in the stands as the swimmers attempt each flop by trying to achieve the maximum amount of splash. I would like to see Cynthia Potter do analysis for this.

3. UNDERWATER KICK-OFF

The three-point shootout could be like an underwater kick contest. Who has the fastest 25 underwater? 50? There is always debate about who is the best dolphin kicker. Is it Ryan Lochte, Matt Grevers, Michael Phelps, Tom Shields, Jeremy Stravius, Arkady Vyatchanin? That could be solved in an underwater contest. All these potential events would be co-ed, I don’t mean to discriminate in my examples.

I’m not saying I don’t like the current Duel in the Pool format. I love the idea of it and what it has done to grow the sport of swimming. But if there were a few “fun events” at the end of the meet that fans can stick around and see, it could be an even more entertaining events.

David Cromwell vs. Brendan Hansen

Where is Aaron Peirsol?

100 Butterfly Two-Person Relay

Throwback 100 IM

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*

3 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Dunc1952

8 years ago

Best underwaters — Ryan Hoffer

Emanuele Calderone

8 years ago

this has been by far the most boring event of the year.

Bill V.

8 years ago

a few spectators wouldn’t hurt either