ISL Match Six, Day 1 Notes: Florent Manaudou Putting On Speed Show
The defending league champion, Energy Standard battled through an early test from the Toronto Titans to take a comfortable lead after the first day of Match Six of the International Swimming League season. Energy Standard will carry 279 points into the second day of the meet, with Toronto sitting second with 241 points and the New York Breakers in third with 202 points. The Aqua Centurions round out the four-team field with 150 points.
Here are a few notes from the opening day of Match Six.
Going With the Flo
The last time Frenchman Florent Manaudou competed at a major championship, he found himself clipped by American Anthony Ervin in the final of the 50 freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Games. It was in Rio de Janeiro that Manaudou, the 2012 Olympic titlist, lost his crown by the slimmest of margins, Ervin going 21.40 to the 21.41 of Manaudou.
For the next two-plus years, Manaudou ventured away from the pool, and even got involved with competitive handball. But in March 2019, the French star announced his official return to his prime sport, and there is no doubt he has reestablished medal-contender status ahead of the delayed Olympic Games in Tokyo next year.
Manaudou looked sharp in the 50 freestyle for Energy Standard on Sunday, posting the fastest time of the ISL season, an effort of 20.55 that enabled him to claim Jackpot points from five foes. Although the short-course pool is far different from the long-course setup, Manaudou has once again proven himself as one of the world’s fastest sprinters. In addition to winning the 50 free, Manaudou anchored Energy Standard’s winning 400 medley relay with the fastest split in the field.
The reemergence of Manaudou, coupled with the prowess of the United States’ Caeleb Dressel, has generated a measure of anticipation for an Olympic duel between the sprint stars. Given his standing as the two-time defending world champ, Dressel is the favorite for gold in Tokyo, but Manaudou will surely be a factor.
Marco Koch Stays Cooking
The New York Breakers Marco Koch, a former world champion from Germany, continued to excel in the 200 breaststroke as he covered his eight lengths in 2:00.58, good for a second-plus triumph over Toronto’s Anton McKee. Koch has targeted the world record of 2:00.16 for this ISL season, that standard currently owned by Russian Kirill Prigoda from 2018.
The Absence of Sarah Sjostrom
The MVP of the inaugural season of the ISL, Sarah Sjostrom sat out Energy Standard’s second meet of the season while dealing with a minor back issue, an injury she incurred while getting dressed last week. The Swedish star is a do-everything talent for coach James Gibson, flourishing in the freestyle and butterfly events, and serving as a hammer when given the chance to handle relay and Skins duties.
Sjostrom’s absence was felt largest in the 400 medley relay, where Energy Standard was beaten by Toronto, a victory which handed the Titans control of the women’s Skins competition on Monday. Had Sjostrom been available for the medley relay, her presence on either the freestyle or butterfly leg would have had a significant influence on the outcome.
“I’m getting older and hurt my back a little bit,” she told five-time Olympian Mark Foster in an interview. “But I’m getting better every day and looking to be back soon.”
A Weak Link
The difference between the Aqua Centurions’ men and women is startling. While the men have been solid and have carried the Italian franchise, the women have crushed any chance of the team finishing out of the basement in the team standings. In Sunday’s action, the Aqua Centurions received only 33 points from their female contingent, with scoring repeatedly stolen through the league’s Jackpot system.
The 50 breaststroke marked the only event in which the Aqua Centurions scored more than six points, with their 13 points coming from a two-three finish by Martina Carraro and Arianna Castiglioni.
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