Speedo Performance of the Week, Presented By Pace Club: Nov. 5, 2013

PHOENIX, Arizona, November 5. THE college dual swim meet season here in the United States is getting hotter as the weather gets cooler, and that was evident in a big way at the highly anticipated dual meet between Georgia and Florida.

Though the Florida Gators men’s team beat Georgia handily, the Bulldogs did not give up without a fight, particularly Chase Kalisz. It wasn’t that surprising that Kalisz won the 200 breast and 200 IM, posting the fastest collegiate times so far this season. He’s been on the cusp of international success in those events, so he’s expected to be dominant there.

But the event that took us by surprise was the 200 fly, where Kalisz beat Florida’s Marcin Cieslak. If you saw Kalisz swim the 400 IM at the world championships last summer, you’d see that his butterfly was one of the weaker of the four strokes, at least compared to those racing him. But years of training with Michael Phelps at North Baltimore Aquatic Club are starting to pay off, and Kalisz’s time of 1:43.55 is a lifetime best.

This present a couple of interesting options for Kalisz heading into the championship season. Does he swim the 200 breast, as he did last year, and go up against Kevin Cordes, or does he try the 200 fly, which is pretty much wide open now that Tom Shields has graduated? We’ll know in a few months.

Congratulations, Chase. You’ve won our Performance of the Week.

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