Coaches React to FINA Proposal to Add Olympic Events

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Over the weekend, Swimming World reported that FINA has proposed adding ten events—the women’s 800 free and men’s 1500 free, stroke 50s and mixed 400 free and medley relays—to the Olympic program in 2020. That would match the current schedule of the FINA World Championships.

In the coaching community, the reaction to this proposal has been mixed. Some, including Arizona State head coach and 2016 U.S. men’s head coach Bob Bowman, worry that if the IOC chose to add events, the cap on athletes would not be increased, limiting the entry limits in current Olympic events.

“While I think it is highly unlikely that the IOC will expand the event program, I would prioritize adding the men’s 800 and women’s 1500, then the 50s of strokes, and finally the mixed relays.

“I have concerns about adding relay events and also adding individual events while keeping the roster sizes the same. The IOC has been insistent on keeping participant numbers at the same level. It doesn’t make sense to add relay events in this dynamic.” Bob Bowman, 2016 USA Olympic Head Men’s Swim Coach

USA Swimming National Team director Frank Busch had a similar stance to Bowman, arguing in favor of the distance events but expressing reservations otherwise.

“I would support the addition of the 800 for men and 1500 for women. We have added the mixed relays for the past couple of years at the FINA World Championships and I have not seen any data that suggests one way or another as to its impact.

“I am sure that the 50’s would add a level of excitement to the swimming competition, but swimming is already the most successful sport at the Summer Olympics and not sure why you need to go from an A-plus to A-plus-1.

“The IOC has stated that the games be limited to a certain number of athletes, so unless they decide to go over that limit, something or someone is at risk to be cut in order to compensate for any additions.” – Frank Busch, USA Swimming National Team Director

FINA made the recommendation to the IOC without consulting the FINA Coaching Commission, according to Busch and another member coach, reinforcing the claim made by American Swim Coaches Association Executive Director John Leonard last week that the FINA Coaches Commission is “broken.”

Still, Leonard called FINA’s suggestions “reasonable.”

“The proposed addition of the form stroke 50’s and two more distance events strikes me as quite reasonable considering that they are World Championship Events. In my opinion, a bit more time should go by and more time testing is required to decide if the mixed Relays are appropriate additions to the Olympic Program or should fall into the category of novelty events.

“Adding the two additional distance events seems to me to be the most pressing need, to add balance to the program and move past the point where distance women are disadvantaged as they have been for 100 years. If only 2 events are added, it seems to me that the 800 (men) and 15000 (women) should be those events.” – John Leonard, Executive Director For American Swim Coaches Association

Swimming World also reached out to U.S. women’s head coach David Marsh, but he offered no comments on the proposed changes.

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Rhonda Horton Miller
6 years ago

Yes because with the 50 – 100 – 200 – 400 – 800 & 1500 there certainly aren’t enough opportunities for those who swim freestyle { sarcasm }.

Adding 50’s of stroke ( fly / back / breast ) would do more to level the field of opportunities for others IMO.

Peter Scott
6 years ago

Yes far too many freestyle events already

Billy Nicholson
6 years ago

The 50 form strokes are no different to the 50 freestyle so they should be considered at an olympic level

Kristyn Albrant-Textor

Distance freestyle swimmers don’t swim the 50, 100, 200 or even the 400 free. So they only get one event. 800m for women and 1500m for men. Please add the distance events, long overdue.

Jeff Salomon
6 years ago

I am inclined to agree that the 1500 women’s and 800 men’s are the most important to add.

Kristie Wisniewski
Kristie Wisniewski
6 years ago

The 50’s would be so much fun!!

AC
AC
6 years ago

Definitely!

Laura Riddell
6 years ago

David. Pretty much what I said. . .

David Stern
6 years ago
Reply to  Laura Riddell

What you say makes sense swimming-wise. They may be thinking of ways to up the ratings (although I believe swimming is typically #1) and thus ad revenue. Sad but true….the Olympics is big business

Dana Barbin Hamm
6 years ago

Sydney Fisher 50 fly???

Peter Scott
6 years ago

Reality the chances of any new events being approved by IOC is very small unless they ask for others to be removed from the program

Cameron Narimanian
6 years ago

Seth Vanneerden 50 Breast comeback?

Cameron Narimanian
6 years ago

Chris Belair thoughts?

Chris Belair
6 years ago

I agree with Bowman and Bush although the article got it wrong. Adding the men’s 800 and the women’s 1500 is fine. Not thrilled about the 50s unless you up the numbers on the team. Mixed relays are fun, but not relevant for the olympics.

Cameron Narimanian
6 years ago

I know the distance events I get. Relays I think are just kinda irrelevant. But 50s would be fun to watch

Karin Bockrath
6 years ago

I agree with you Chris. There are already a lot of events but they should add the 800 and 1500. The 50s are ridiculous and not real events for adults. The 50 free is that one exception and it’s enough.

Cameron Narimanian
6 years ago

Matthew Aungst thoughts?

Matthew Aungst
6 years ago

I like all of it. There needs to be something different.

Cameron Narimanian
6 years ago

Mixed relays though? I get the distances and the 50s

Cameron Narimanian
6 years ago

Cindy Higgins Millison thoughts?

Marco Foelske
6 years ago

I would argue that Mixed Relays bring very much excitement to the audience, because often it can be last swimmer who decide who will win! Tactical game often plays with that!

Kimberly Hoodin
6 years ago

The mixed relays would be fun to watch, but let’s get the distance races added first.

Our Fam
6 years ago

Interesting

Holden Bank
6 years ago

And better to swim… 😉

Collette Sappey
6 years ago

50s stroke! Yes! That’s just fun to watch.

Holden Bank
6 years ago

And even better to swim…;)

Russ Marsh
6 years ago

Adding the 50’s wouldn’t add excitement?! He must not watching very closely.

Hamish Meachem
6 years ago

Jamie Watson
Watch this space…could be interesting when you go in to review our program of events…

Brent Mifsud
6 years ago

Frank Sharp

Frank Sharp
6 years ago
Reply to  Brent Mifsud

That’s what’s up

Brian Williamson
6 years ago

Why not ,great for swimmers and spectators alike .and great television .we need this for our sport .Coach Brian

Ashlea Smith
6 years ago

Drew Ross-Ashby

Swim Giggles LLC
6 years ago

It will be interesting to see how it shakes out. However, there is no reason why not to have both the 800 and the 1500 for men & women. The 50’s would be fun. If there is the 50 free, why not the 50 strokes?

Leander
Leander
6 years ago

Given that my summer league has the identical events for girls and boys in the early 1970s, I have never understood why the IOC has not had the same events for men and women at the Olympics. Like most here, I think that both men and women should compete in the 800 and 1500, which are, after all, much different races just like the 100 and 200 are much different races.

But, if the IOC is not going to increase the number of swimmers on each team, then adding the 50s is going to create a number of problems. And, while the mixed relays are great fun at masters meets, adding them should be a really low priority for the Olympics.

Zewdu Bekele Wendemagegnehu

interesting

Cindy Higgins Millison

NO mixed relays- yes to distance events and 50s

Kristyn Albrant-Textor

Adding the women’s 1500 and men’s 800 meter free should be first priority, long overdue.

Hannah Davies
6 years ago

Yes to mixed relays and 50s no to distance- they have these already.

Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy
6 years ago

I agree with Bob and his comments. Although,in my opinion,the relays could be added in the first day or the last day of the games.

Lynette Besonday-Washburn

The 1500 and 800 are so boring to watch. The 50’s are more fun and exciting

RYAN
RYAN
6 years ago

It is well known that biologically the men are going to be faster and if there are mixed relays it will come down to who has more men and probably only one women so no relays yes distance and 50’s

Eric R. Jaeger
6 years ago

Katie will establish a record for the 1500 that will never be equalled.

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