Splashbacks: Ariana Kukors Smith, Missy Franklin Top Jan-Feb Headlines

It’s been another amazing year of aquatics competition, including exciting trips to Glasgow for the European Championships and Tokyo for the Pan Pacific Championships, and Swimming World had our readers covered every step of the way. During the next few days, we’ll take a look back in “Splashbacks”, the most read stories of 2018.

First up is January and February of 2018:

1. Missy Franklin Now Training and in School at University of Georgia

Early in 2018, Missy Franklin took on a new challenge when she relocated from California to Athens, GA to train at the University of Georgia. Franklin’s decision to move included many factors, such as the desire to train with a combined-gender program and to be closer to extended family and a former college roommate.

2. 2009 World Champion Ariana Kukors Alleges Former Coach Sean Hutchison Sexually Abused Her

Ariana Kukors Smith came forward in early February with news that her former coach, Sean Hutchison, had sexually abused her from the age of 16 until 24. According to Kukors Smith, Hutchison began grooming her for a sexual relationship when she was 13.

3. USA Swimming Statement on Involvement in Sean Hutchison, Ariana Kukors Case

Following reports that Ariana Kukors Smith had been sexually abused by her coach Sean Hutchison, USA Swimming issued a formal statement on the serious case. USA Swimming’s statement expressed support for Kukors Smith and informed the public that the 2010 case file had been proactively sent over to the Center for Safe Sport.

4. 7 Reasons Why Swimmers Stop Swimming

Swimming World college intern, Alice Reeves-Turner, tackled a tough topic in mid-February, examing seven different reasons why swimmers often leave the sport of swimming.

5. Ella Eastin Heartbroken But Not Defeated

Ella Eastin experienced heartbreak in the form of disqualification in the summer of 2018, but Swimming World staff writer David Rieder penned a touching story about the growth that Eastin experienced after being disqualified from a trip to Budapest and the 2017 World Championships.

6. A Huge Mistake 75% of Swimmers Make

Swimming World guest contributor, Dawn Weatherwax, examined one of the biggest mistakes that swimmers make in their career: nutrition. Weatherwax, a registered/licensed dietician and board certified specialist in Sports dietetics, tracked changes in two swimmer’s season’s when they made the change of monitoring their nutrition and calorie intake.

7. Calm Strikes University of Hawaii Swim Team During False Balistic Threat

Kasey Schmidt penned a guest commentary about her experience during a false balistic threat at the University of Hawaii. Schmidt was at practice when the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency issued an alert that a balistic missile was heading for the state of Hawaii.

8. USA Swimming Safe Sport Director Susan Woessner Announces Resignation

Following the news that Sean Hutchison had allegedly sexually abused Arian Kukors Smith, Susan Woessner announced her resignation as USA Swimming’s Safe Sport Director. Woessner cited an incident in 2007 where she had kissed then-coach Hutchison, but failed to disclose the information before contributing to an investigation of Hutchison years later.

9. TCU Head Coach Sam Busch Placed on Administrative Leave

First year head coach Sam Busch was placed on indefinite administrative leave at the beginning of February so that the university could conduct “an internal inquiry into program rules, policy and procedure violations.” However, 16 days after he was placed on administrative leave, Busch elected to resign.

10. Swimming’s Most Interesting Comeback Stories

Swimming World intern, Jason Tillotson, penned a commentary that looked at some of swimming’s more interesting comeback stories, including Ian Thorpe, Davis Tarwater, and Missy Franklin.

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