5 Top Swimming World Headlines You Might Have Missed In The Week That Was

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Shocking news from Australia and the first statewide high school championship in California were all the buzz in the past few days, and they are just two of the five headlines reported by Swimming World last week. Here are the top five:

The Week That was is supported by AgonSwim.com

#5: Masters swimmers shatter world records in USA and Canada

Rich Abrahams

Photo Courtesy: Rich Abrahams

Though this is technically the beginning of a new season for Masters swimmers around the world, it didn’t keep several of them from breaking world records in meets across North America. One of the notable record setters was three-time Olympian Darian Townsend, who took down two freestyle records in the 30-34 age group. As part of his race preparation for the Pan American Games, Townsend swam a 50.81 in the 100 free and 1:51.91 in the 200 free at a long course meet in Phoenix. Jim McConica, no stranger to Masters world records, set his fourth and fifth records of 2015 during a 1500 freestyle in California. He broke the 800 world record on the way to a 19:42.51 in the mile, becoming the oldest man under 20 minutes. David Guthrie started his campaign of obliterating breaststroke world records in his first meet in the 55-59 age group with marks in the 100 and 200 breast in Texas. At the Canadian short course nationals, eight world records fell, including five by Rich Abrahams in the 70-74 age group and two by Jerry Frentsos.

The Week That Was

#4: Japan and Australia continue collaboration at Japan Open

Daiya Seto Pan Pacs 2014

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

The Japan Open has typically been one of the top meets in Japan each year, with Kosuke Kitajima’s 200 breast world record in 2008 one of the meet highlights. That tradition continued with some outstanding swims from Daiya Seto to continue his impressive journey to the world championships, and a junior world record in the 200 breast by Ippei Wantanabe with a 2:09.75 to break his own record by half a second. Australia had a few wins at the meet, with siblings Emma and David McKeon among the victors. The competition also featured a breakout of sorts for 15-year-old Rikako Ikee, who set two junior national records in the 200 free and 100 fly.

#3: Emily Seebohm dislocates knee

Emily Seebohm, Pan Pacs 2014

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

It hasn’t been a great week for Swimming Australia, as two of its top athletes suffered major injuries that made news around the world. First, Emily Seebohm dislocated her knee during a horse riding accident. Seebohm sent out a Tweet saying the injury won’t keep her from her preparation for world championships, but one wonders how the brief time out of the water will affect her training. Seebohm has been swimming well in 2015, ranked number one in the world in the 100 and 200 backstroke and sixth in the 200 IM.

#2: California debuts statewide high school swimming championship

ella-eastin-winter-junior-nationals-2014

Photo Courtesy: “Melissa Lundie”

It’s been a long time coming, but California finally staged a single state swimming and diving championship. The meet, held on the campus of Clovis High School, had its share of fast swimming, but the event will likely be remembered more for who did not attend. Three of the four athletes who set national high school records just one week earlier in sectional meets opted not to extend their tapers for the state meet, leaving just Ella Eastin to serve as the top swimmer. Swimming with a cut on a finger that had required stitches, Eastin did very well in her final high school meet, winning the 100 breast and 200 IM. She was expected to challenge the overall national record in the 200 IM after setting the independent school mark a week earlier, but she fell a bit short. JSerra managed to win the women’s meet by 10 points over Crean Lutheran, while Northgate took the men’s team title by 59 points over San Ramon Valley.

#1: James Magnussen to have shoulder surgery, will miss world championships

Photo Courtesy: SwimmingWorld.TV

Photo Courtesy: SwimmingWorld.TV

The men’s 100 freestyle at the world championships will be without James Magnussen, who will be healing from shoulder surgery. Magnussen will have the surgery in a few weeks after having to withdraw from a meet in Australia because swimming at a fast speed aggravated the sub-scapular tear in his left shoulder. In order to train at the level needed for the Olympics next year, Magnussen and his coach elected to have the surgery now. That means Magnussen won’t get the chance to go for a third consecutive 100 free world title, something no one has ever done. Swimming Australia hasn’t officially announced the athletes who will replace Magnussen in the 50 and 100 freestyles, but will likely do it with athletes already on the world championship team.

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