Decade In The Mirror: Andy Ross – My Top 10 Led By Podium Protests

Mack Horton AUS protests Sun Yang's CHN Gold Medal, 400m Freestyle Final, 18th FINA World Swimming Championships 2019, 21 July 2019, Gwanju South Korea. Pic by Delly Carr/Swimming Australia. Pic credit requested and mandatory for free editorial usage. THANK YOU.

Mack Horton protests Sun Yang's Gold Medal in the 400m free at 2019 World titles in Gwanju, South Korea - Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr/Swimming Australia

Decade in the Mirror – Between now and the end of 2019, Swimming World Writers will be listing their favourite moments of the decade 2010-2019. Today, Andy Ross lists his top 10, podium protests at the top of the pile. In reverse order:

#10: Missy Franklin’s London Double Shoots Her Into Legend Status

I have to admit I am slightly biased here. Missy Franklin and I are the same age. We graduated the same year so in a lot of ways it felt like Missy’s accomplishments were my own. She was the first big time athlete that was my age to “make it” on the world stage since basketball players in my class weren’t drafted until 2014 and football players the next couple of years in 2015 and 2016.

I remember the famous 200 free – 100 back double that Franklin was going to have to do on night three of the London Olympics. She would have to do the 200 free semi final and then merely 10 minutes later, swim the final of the 100 back. She was granted access to the diving well in between events and I remember the NBC cameras panning over from the competition pool to show her in the well, trying to loosen up as much as she could in the small amount of time allotted.

In the 100 back it was really expected that Australia’s Emily Seebohm would be the overwhelming favorite and that Franklin would just be fighting for a medal. But Franklin went out and won the 100 back, vaulting her into superstardom as she was already becoming one of the fan favorites of the Games.

Of course NBC had tape delayed the swimming events to be shown on primetime later that night. Except there was a commercial shown right before the 100 back final that showed Franklin eagerly hugging her parents in celebration of her gold medal — immediately spoiling what was about to happen for those who avoided the internet all day.

Four days later she won the 200 back final in dominating fashion, breaking the world record that would stand for seven years. After the Games, she got to go to the VMAs, star in a cameo role in The Internship, be on the set of Pretty Little Liars, and do the coin toss at a Denver Broncos game; living the dream senior year.

#9: France vs. USA Battle in 4×100 Free Relay

michael-phelps-caeleb-dressel-celebrate-400-free-relay-win-2016-rio-olympics

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

The men’s 4×100 free relay from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is arguably the most famous moment in American swimming history. Almost anyone who was alive during that time could tell you where they were when Jason Lezak ran down Alain Bernard in the anchor leg to give the US the improbable win with the iconic photo of Michael Phelps and Garrett Weber-Gale celebrating behind the blocks becoming the stuff of legends.

Four years later in London, France unexpectedly won the gold medal in the 4×100 free relay with Yannick Agnel running down Ryan Lochte in eerily-similar fashion to what transpired in Beijing. Australian commentator Bruce McAvaney had the iconic line during the anchor leg of “can France do it to America?!” when Agnel was running down Lochte, ultimately giving France the gold medal they all thought they would win in 2008.

That set up a rematch in 2016.

France was the heavy favorites coming into Rio, having had the fastest time in the world each of the last four years. But the Americans had revenge on their minds. With veterans Michael Phelps and Nathan Adrian joining rookies Caeleb Dressel and Ryan Held, they wanted the gold medal back. The US led from the start with Dressel swimming his very first Olympic race on the lead-off leg, handing over to Phelps, who had probably one of his best turns in his entire career.

Phelps handed over to Held, who had the most amazing relay start I have ever seen in my entire life. And Held gave way to Adrian, who held off the best from France and won the gold medal back for the Americans. It was one of the most hyped races of the 2016 Games and it certainly lived up to it.

#8: Sarah Sjostrom, Maggie MacNeil and Emma McKeon Pay Tribute to Rikako Ikee on Podium at World Championships

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

Rikako Ikee was one of the breakout stars of 2018, swimming the fastest time in the world in the 100 butterfly in winning Pan Pacs, as well as winning the silver ahead of Katie Ledecky in the 200 free. Heading into 2019, Ikee was a big favorite to challenge world record holder Sarah Sjostrom in the 100 butterfly at the World Championships, as well as challenge for a podium spot in the 200 free and all of Japan’s relays. It would have been a good meet to gauge where she is at ahead of a home Olympics where she would have been one of the faces of the Games.

But all that came crashing down in February 2019 when Ikee was diagnosed with leukemia. At 19-years-old Ikee had a lot of momentum and was in the prime of career but that was suddenly halted with the diagnosis. Not only would she miss the Worlds, but she would likely miss the Olympics the next year as well.

The 100 butterfly final at the World Championships did not go the way anyone expected, with Sjostrom getting out-swum by another rising star in Canadian Maggie MacNeil. But regardless of not winning her fifth World title in the event, Sjostrom wanted to do something special for Ikee and asked MacNeil and bronze medalist Emma McKeon to send a message to her after the medal ceremony that they wish her the best in her fight. They wrote on their hands for Ikee saying “never give up.”

It was a touching moment that shows that some things are bigger than sports.

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#7: Ariarne Titmus Takes Down Ledecky in 400 at 2019 Worlds

If there was a “swimmer of the decade” award, it would probably be Katie Ledecky. There aren’t enough superlatives to really describe her performances from 2013 – 2016 where she broke 13 world records in a four-year span and was undefeated in international competitions in the 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle finals. That all culminated in Rio when she became the first woman since Debbie Meyer to win the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle gold medals in the same Olympics.

Ledecky was considered unbeatable until an Australian teenager by the name of Ariarne Titmus swam a 3:59 400 at Pan Pacs in 2018, becoming just the third woman in history to do so. She followed that up with another 3:59 in 2019 and set up a showdown with the American in Gwangju. But it felt like Titmus was still a year away from challenging the world record holder and that the real duel would be in Tokyo.

Titmus took the Worlds final race out hard but Ledecky eventually tracked her down, taking the lead at the 250. It looked to be all over as Ledecky had the lead heading into the final 100, but Titmus turned into a new gear and eventually ran down the world record holder, giving her the first loss over 400 meters in her international career.

Later we found out that Ledecky had not been feeling well in the lead-up to the meet, but it did not take away from the amazing feat that Titmus had in that 400 free final. That race goes to show that anyone can be beat on any given day.

#6: Kristof Milak Breaks Phelps’ 200 Fly World Record at 2019 Worlds

Whenever a Michael Phelps world record gets broken, it is a big deal. However, the 200 butterfly was Phelps’ best event and many thought that it would be another decade until that 1:51.5 got broken. After all, nobody had been within a second of that time since 2009, so it seemed unlikely that someone would even break 1:52, let alone drop another half second at 1:51.5.

Hungarian teenager Kristof Milak had been the best 200 butterflyer all year and had been known to take it out fast the first 100. He was right on world record pace the year before at the European Championships through 150 meters before falling off on the last 50 meters. So when he turned under world record pace at the 150, it felt like he was going to do the same and fall off pace. But when I looked up to the video boards to see that he was ahead of the world record line with 15 meters to go, it almost seemed surreal that it was actually happening.

#5: Alexander Dale Oen Wins 100 Breast World Title Days After 2011 Terrorist Attack in Norway

Just two days before the start of the 2011 World Championships, 77 people died in terrorist attacks in the country of Norway. Alexander Dale Oen, one of Norway’s greatest athletes, was really affected by the events that transpired in his home country.

“I try to imagine what is happening back home, but it’s quite hard,” Dale Oen said to reporters at the time. “We need to let everyday life come back because we can’t let things be ruined. I am happy to put my head in the water for a minute or two and focus on the game. In a time like this for Norway, we need to be together, to be one. I know everyone back home is paralyzed and I can feel the emotion. While I’m here in Shanghai, I’m going to show my best.”

Dale Oen dedicated his 100 breaststroke swim at the World Championships to his country, who had witnessed unthinkable events just days before. When he touched the wall and saw he won the gold medal, he pointed to his cap with the Norwegian flag.

It was a great moment that showed the power that sports can have in tragedy.

“I think of those at home when I look at the flag and hear the national anthem,” he said at the time. “What happened is shocking. I hope my results here can bring some confidence. I will go back to help after the championships.”

Tragically, Dale Oen passed away in April 2012 from a myocardial infarction. Cameron van der Burgh won the 100 breast gold medal in London that year and immediately pointed to the sky to pay tribute to Dale Oen, who would have been in that race had he not passed away.

#4: Katie Ledecky Puts on 16 Stunning Laps in 800 Free to Close Out Rio Campaign

It is safe to say that Katie Ledecky’s reign from 2013 – 2016 where she broke 13 world records is one of the most impressive 4-year runs in the history of the sport of swimming. She absolutely demolished the competition for four straight years in the 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle events, and also won a couple gold medals in the 200 free. She redefined what we considered fast in distance swimming. She brought a whole new meaning to the word dominance that we tried to come up with stronger adjectives to describe her. She was the best swimmer – male or female – for this entire decade.

Her four year run was encapsulated by the 800 free final in Rio, where she put on an absolute show in the pool for 16 laps, lowering the world record by two seconds and finishing ahead of silver medal winner Jazz Carlin by a whopping 12 seconds.

As soon as she dove into the pool in Rio, Ledecky was in front and she was steadily ahead of her own world record pace throughout. When she touched at an 8:04, a whopping nine seconds faster than anyone else in the history of the event has been, many wondered if she was ever going to be beaten. For eight straight minutes in front of a worldwide audience, Ledecky swam probably the best race of her entire career and closed out an incredible four-year run with her 13th world record. A run that will probably not be replicated anytime soon.

When the American national anthem played for her for the fourth time after the 800, Ledecky was in tears. It was as if everything she had accomplished at this point in her career was finally sinking in.

#3: The Phelps – Le Clos Rivalry

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

One of my favorite races of the last ten years was the men’s 200 butterfly from the 2012 Olympics. If this was a list of “my favorite calls from the 2010s” this would be number one for Dan Hicks’ call of the final in London seven years ago.

“Phelps…is hanging on! Hanging on! 5 meters left and Phelps is going…to just be out-touched by Le Clos!”

And the ensuing analysis from Hicks and Rowdy Gaines breaking down the replay of that last stroke over and over again, comparing it to what happened four years prior when Phelps out-touched Milorad Cavic in Beijing, was outstanding. And to top it all off, they showed the replay of the finish again, but this time from the perspective of Debbie Phelps, Bert Le Clos and Bob Bowman (who was standing in front of Katie Ledecky just three days before she shocked the world in winning the 800 free). It was incredible television and was an incredible moment in the sport of swimming to see the mighty king go down in his best event in his final Olympics.

But of course Phelps couldn’t go out as a silver medalist in the 200 butterfly. He announced his return to swimming in 2014 but was hesitant on getting back into the 200 fly. After he called the event “slow” in an interview in 2015, Le Clos responded at the World Championships after he won the 100 fly by saying “I swam a time that Phelps hasn’t done in four years so he can be quiet now.”

Of course that didn’t sit well with Phelps and the two were set for a very hyped rematch in 2016. It was the first time the two had met head to head since London and the entire world was watching. In fact, the NBC primetime coverage of the fourth night of the Olympic Games (the night of the 200 fly) was the most viewed night of any at the Games, drawing in over 33 million homes, and more people tuned in to that than did for Game 7 of the NBA Finals that year.

The race was huge. And Phelps stepped up to the occasion and got the gold medal back, with Le Clos fading to fourth. It was one of Phelps’ most iconic Olympic moments and it may be his signature 200 butterfly moment of his career.

#2: The King – Efimova Rivalry

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This rivalry felt much more significant to the swimming world for what it represented. The Lilly King – Yulia Efimova rivalry in 2016 and 2017 was like a good vs. evil matchup in the eyes of a lot of people. When Efimova tested positive for meldonium in March 2016, it felt like her entire career was over. She had already served a doping suspension in 2014 for DHEA and a second positive test would warrant a lifetime ban. But after her Olympic status being uncertain all summer, Efimova was granted a spot in Rio at the last minute and flew to Brazil the day of the Opening Ceremonies.

This obviously did not sit well with a lot people in the Games, and certainly not the women breaststrokers that would have to compete against her. The gold medal favorite was a 19-year-old with little international experience in American Lilly King. She made headlines when Efimova won the first semi final of the 100 breast and shook her finger number one to which King waved a finger back at her while watching on the monitor in the ready room. The gesture was caught by the cameras and were shown to the millions of people on TV watching. And thus the finger wagging rivalry had begun.

Efimova had walked out to the Olympic final of the 100 breaststroke to boos from the crowd, perhaps the first time an athlete had been received like that at an Olympic Games. To top it off, she wore a black cap as opposed to the usual pink one she wears, giving herself a more villainous appearance whether that was intentional or not. King ultimately won the gold medal with a 1:04.9, a half second ahead of Efimova’s 1:05.5.

That set up a huge rematch a year later at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest. With the 100 breast final set for the end of the night on day three, King and Efimova were side by side again and it seemed that the winner would get the world record after they traded 1:04’s in the semi finals. In the final, King was out lightning quick the first 50 and Efimova couldn’t seem to get back on track from her poor start. King would never relinquish the lead and she broke the world record with a 1:04.13. Efimova slipped to the bronze as American Katie Meili beat her for the silver.

The rivalry has simmered down since 2017 but the two still bring the best out in each other every time they race and it makes for an exciting show each time.

#1: Podium Protests at 2019 Worlds

One of the most iconic swimming photos of 2019. Duncan Scott refuses to pose with 200 freestyle gold medalist Sun Yang after the 200 freestyle medal ceremony. – Photo Courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer

The World Championships this year were incredibly controversial with the presence of Chinese superstar Sun Yang, who had been allowed to compete in Gwangju despite the fact he had tampered with a doping sample in September 2018 in a news story that broke to the public in January. Many athletes were not happy with the fact Sun had been allowed to compete with his controversial history, and his main rivals decided to take a stand against his presence at the championships.

Australian Mack Horton, who had been the second best 400 freestyler behind Sun each of the last three years, first started the protests by refusing to share the podium with Sun on the 400 free medal ceremony. And when it came time to take pictures with the other medalists, Horton stood to the side, refusing to take part. That gesture was met with a standing ovation at the athlete’s village that was not televised nor documented on social media but showed that Horton had support from the other athletes at the championships.

Sun controversially won the 200 free final two days later after Danas Rapsys had originally touched first but was disqualified for a false start, generating boos from the crowd. All the swimmers stood on the podium with Sun in the 200 free medal ceremony. But after the Chinese anthem was played and it was time for photos, bronze medalist Duncan Scott stood off to the side refusing to pose with the group. This angered Sun to the point where he got in Scott’s face and said “you’re a loser! I’m a winner!” Horton, Scott and Sun all received warnings for their actions on the podium.

Sun had a public hearing in November this year with the Court of Arbitration of Sport as he defended himself over his actions where he smashed a vial of his blood for a doping test with a hammer. Sun’s fate in the 2020 Olympic Games will be decided in January. If he is handed a suspension that could ultimately end his career, the last memory of his swimming will be the podium protests from Horton and Scott.

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