5 Top Swimming Headlines On The Week That Was

baku-european-games-2015
Photo Courtesy: Baku 2015

Though some of the world’s best were in the pool racing, some of the major swimming headlines from the past few days involved news that took place outside the pool. We’re recapping the top five headlines on this edition of The Week That Was.

The Week That was is supported by AgonSwim.com

The Week That Was #5: World junior records fall at European Games

(140818) -- Nanjing, Aug 18,2014 (Xinhua) -- Gold medalist Anton Chupkov of Russian Federation celebrates after the final of Men's 100m Breaststroke of Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, capital of east China?s Jiangsu Province, on August 18, 2014. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) (lyq)

Photo Courtesy: Chen Yehua


Some of swimming’s future talent showed the promise they have at the first European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, with three world junior records set at the meet. The swimming competition was staged only for 18-and-unders in European countries, and it turned out to be a great opportunity for the continent’s young swimmers to race each other. Maria Astashkina of Russia swam a 2:23.06 in the 200 breast to break the record of 2:23.12 by fellow Russian Viktoriya Solnceva, win by almost five meters and rank sixth in the world. Astashkina swept the breaststroke events to put herself in contention for a place on the senior-level Russian team, possibly for next year’s Olympics, behind Yuliya Efimova.

Russia celebrated another breaststroke world junior record with a 1:00.65 by Anton Chupkov in the men’s 100 breast, lowering his own junior record by two tenths that he set at last year’s Youth Olympics.

Great Britain sent a strong squad to the meet, and from that group came a world junior record by Luke Greenbank in the 200 backstroke with a 1:56.89. That not only gave him the record, but makes him the fastest British swimmer in the event this year. It’s a drop of nearly two seconds off his lifetime best, and puts the 17-year-old in position for a spot on next year’s Olympic team.

Russia had great success in the pool, winning 42 medals, 23 of which were gold. Great Britain was a distant second with 23 medals. The European Games now gives every major continent a multi-sport competition, and we’ll see how this rivals the Asian Games, Pan-American Games and African Games in terms of stature as it builds through the years.

The Week That Was #4: USA Swimming, athletes, coaches mark one year to Olympic Trials

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick


Last week, social media was ablaze as athletes and coaches marked the one-year countdown to the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. “Won’t be long now,” wrote coach Bob Bowman on his Twitter account, while others also made inspirational remarks to get themselves ready for one of the most intense competitions in the world. Tickets for spectators were put on sale today for all-session passes, and are likely to sell well as fans and family members rush to get the best seat in the house. The Olympic Trials begins June 26 in Omaha.

The Week That Was

The Week That Was #3: Yannick Agnel withdraws from world championships

Yannick Agnel

Photo Courtesy: David Farr


The men’s 200 freestyle at the world championships will be without reigning champion Yannick Agnel, who announced that he’s withdrawing from the meet due to a lack of training while overcoming illness. Agnel was struck with pleurisy, an inflammation of the lining around the lungs most likely caused by a virus. Agnel wasn’t able to train for about a month, which would severely set him back in terms of being at full strength in time to be in the medal hunt in Russia.

“The Olympics remain my goal,” Agnel said. “I know that it is better to play it safe since I already had pneumonia in 2011. I prefer to fully recover this summer instead of expending considerable energy to prepare for the World Championships in conditions that are far from optimal.”

Look for Agnel to come back with a vengeance in 2016 as he tries to defend his 200 free Olympic title.

The Week That Was #2: NCAA allows 100 IM, synchronized diving as optional events

KNOXVILLE, TN - August 5, 2014: Synchro Shelton/Butcher during the 2014 USA Diving Age Group and Junior National Event at Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Matthew S. DeMaria

Photo Courtesy: Matthew S. DeMaria


In a somewhat surprising vote last week, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the addition of the 100-yard individual medley to the event program, but only as an option at conference championships. The event would take place on the final day of the conference meet after the 1650 freestyle, though it’s unclear if the event would count as points toward team totals.

Also approved was synchronized diving for non-conference meets. Putting this event into a competition would need consent from all diving coaches involved, and would replace one of the existing diving events. Synchronized diving already is a part of national and international competitions, including the Olympics. The NCAA has not indicated if the vote to add these events is leading up to putting them into the NCAA championships, but many for and against the events have begun to make their voices heard.

The Week That Was #1: Jeanette Ottesen and Marco Loughran injured in road rage attack

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch


Jeanette Ottesen’s work to defend her 50 butterfly world title was put in jeopardy last week when she and boyfriend Marco Loughran were attacked in Denmark by a driver who was angry that they were driving too slow. Loughran, a backstroker who hails from Great Britain but is training in Denmark, suffered the most injuries, including a shoulder injury and broken teeth. Loughran did not make Great Britain’s world championship team, which will allow him time to heal and be back in the water to train for a spot on the 2016 Olympic team. As for Ottesen, reports indicate that she’s back in the water despite doctor’s orders to take three weeks off to heal her broken fingers. Ottesen would be one of Denmark’s best athletes at the world championships, and we’ll see if her injuries will heal in time to be competitive in Russia.

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