International Swimming League: Rivals Turn Teammates, Adding to New Energy (VIDEO)

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Siobhan Haughey reacts with Katie Ledecky after going 1-2 in the 200 free at the ISL debut. Photo Courtesy: Dan D'Addona

The first International Swimming League meet was filled with firsts — the first winner in the series, first day, first points lead, first look at the teams, and many more.

But the International Swimming League also had a sense of renewal as well.

Compatriots are teammates once again, international swimmers returned to the U.S. — and old rivalries were renewed.

While the series is billed as a fun competition, there were clearly events that were more fun and others that were more competition.

The relays were extremely fun with two relays from each team side-by-side encouraging each other and raising the energy for the first weekend of the International Swimming League. Some of the individual races were pretty fun-filled as well.

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But there were a few events that had more of a businesslike feel. After all, the better the finish, the more points for your team — and the more prize money to gain.

The women’s 200 free had more of a businesslike feel.

The event was a who’s who of the world’s best with DC Trident’s Katie Ledecky (USA) and Cali Condors’ Ariarne Titmus (Australia) leading the field as major international champions. Condors’ Mallory Comerford (USA) and Energy Standard’s Femke Heemskerk (Netherlands) are no stranger to the field as well.

So was DC Trident’s Siobhan Haughey (Hong Kong), who nearly scored a medal in this event at the world championships.

Most of the field had competed against each other at world championships or other international meets. Meanwhile, for a two-year stretch, Ledecky, Comerford and Haughey finished in the top four head-to-head in this event at the NCAA championships (with Simone Manuel being the other). Comerford and Haughey continued that rivalry two more years and went 1-3 at NCAAs in March.

Some of the rivalries have changed however, as Ledecky and Haughey are now teammates for the Trident.

Haughey, who has already qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, continued her impressive year by winning the event in 1:52.88, faster than the previous Hong King record. Ledecky was second in 1:53.48, giving the Trident a 1-2 finish.

“It is really exciting. It was nothing like I imagined. It was like a college dual meet on a completely different level. I had so much fun with my team,” Haughey said. “I think it is really fun to make new teammates. I love the concept of being able to race everyone not just at the worlds or Olympics. It is awesome we have chances to race against each other and rehearse for the Olympics. It is great having Katie as a teammate. She is so much fun and I don’t get (to have new teammates like that) very often.”

After touching the wall, the duo exchanged smiles and a high-five, one of the few events to have strong reactions to the finish.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

“The 200 free was awesome. I was hoping we could go 1-2 and it was great to make that happen,” Ledecky said. “I could kind of tell we were out front. It has been cool to get to know my teammates. We are probably about 60 percent American and 40 percent from other countries. So getting to know everyone and having that cultural experience is really cool.”

It wasn’t the only event to have that feel.

The women’s 100 backstroke saw Cali Condors teammates Olivia Smoliga (USA) and Kylie Masse (Canada) go 1-2. They have had some epic battles on the international stage, now different at the ISL.

“You don’t even feel the rivalry because you are on the same team and want to score points together,” Smoliga said. “We got points together. But of course, we still want to win.”

The 50 free skins had the same situation in both the men’s and women’s races with Energy Standard teammates Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) and Femke Heemskerk (Netherlands) going 1-2. The men’s race saw Florent Manaudou (France) and Ben Proud (Great Britain) go 1-2.

“It is more of a tactical thing now,” Sjostrom said. “We have always raced each other, but now we help each other. She had never done skins before so I gave her a some advice. It was a lot of fun. We have been racing for years and it is great to be on the same team as her now.”

Bringing rivals together adds another layer to swimming, especially among the world’s elite. The top swimmers in the world are still swimming against each other, but many are doing it together for the first time — mirroring as a whole, the new International Swimming League.

Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona

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john m razi

4 years ago

Exciting stuff, on so many levels. Courageous endeavor for all engaged. There will be fine-tuning, however..such a fantastic overall gem. – Dan D, consistent thorough-top rate coverage. Keep it goin’!