Swim Poll of the Week: 52% Disagree With Swimming Australia Withdrawing Swimmers From ISL

This is the Swim Poll of the Week for Thursday September 24, 2020, sponsored by Strechcordz Swim Training Products. In our last poll, we wanted to know: Do you agree with Swimming Australia withdrawing its swimmers from the ISL over COVID-19 concerns?

The biggest names in Australian swimming were not prepared to risk career ending health issues or their places on next year’s Olympic team with their decisions to withdraw from this year’s multi-million dollar International Swimming League (ISL) – scheduled for Budapest next month.

Dual Olympian Rob Woodhouse – general manager of the London Roar and Queensland-based coach Dean Boxall – a coach on the US-based Cali Condors have spoken exclusively to Swimming World after a tumultuous day which saw the majority of the Australian Dolphins reluctantly withdraw from the second season of the League.

Swimming Australia’s advice from the travel and health perspective was to stay home – but at the end of the day the swimmers and the coaches had to weigh up all the information and all the risks and make their individual decisions.

The domino effect began last Wednesday morning Australian time when Olympic champion and London Roar co-captain Kyle Chalmers posted on social media that injury would prevent him from taking his place in the Australian dominant London-based Roar team.

And by the end of the day it had become clear that his fellow Roar team mates, including Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell and Emma McKeon as well as the Australian-based US Condor connection – which included Ariarne Titmus and Mitch Larkin had all confirmed they were not prepared to risk travelling to Europe – with so much at stake – all pulling out.

Others staying at home are ISL season one world record holder Minna Atherton, Holly Barratt, Alex Graham, Matt Wilson and Elijah Winnington (all from the London Roar) and Jack Cartwright, Meg Harris and Clyde Lewis from the Cali Condors and Mollie O’Callaghan and Abbey Harkin (NY Breakers) as well as coaches Peter Bishop and David Lush (Roar) and Boxall (Condors).

It leaves both the Roar – finalists in the inaugural League last year and the emerging Condors both decimated without the Swimming Australia athletes.

Here are the answers regarding Swimming Australia’s decision:

Yes, not worth the risk – 48%

No, they will follow strict medical protocols – 52%

ONE IN THOUSAND

Show how special you are and become a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s “One In A Thousand” Club. Help keep the International Swimming Hall of Fame moving forward toward a new vision and museum by joining now!

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use