5 Swimming Meets To Watch In 2015

Above Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

Commentary by Jeff Commings

PHOENIX – We’re going to be following a lot of major competitions in this year before the Olympics. Five swimming meets in particular are bound to create some major headlines.

Women’s NCAA Division I swimming and diving championships

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

This meet will be noteworthy mostly because it will be Missy Franklin’s final collegiate competition. When she made her verbal commitment to California-Berkeley, the five-time Olympic medalist stated that she would only compete as a collegiate swimmer for two years, then become a professional athlete. Though we’re not sure what events she’ll swim in Greensboro, it’s bound to be a big sendoff.

It will also be the NCAA championship debut for Stanford sophomore Simone Manuel, who will be looking to regain the American record she lost to Abbey Weitzeil last month. If Franklin sticks with the 200 freestyle, Manuel is likely to be her biggest challenger. But Manuel is going to be the biggest name in the 50 and 100 freestyles, with 50 free reigning champion Olivia Smoliga and fast-improving Ivy Martin in the hunt.

Australia’s world championship trials

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

A couple of Australia’s best male swimmers will have the world on notice in early April at the world championship trials. The big story might be the return of Grant Hackett, the two-time Olympic champion in the 1500 freestyle. Earlier this year, Hackett returned to the pool, just for fitness, but soon word got out that he was mulling a comeback and being coached full-time by Denis Cotterell, who guided him through his nine years of international success. Will Hackett’s comeback be as golden as Michael Phelps’ or crash like Ian Thorpe’s? Certainly the road won’t be easy for Hackett. He hasn’t raced in an elite competition since the 2008 Olympics, and several athletes have risen in the ranks since then. Mack Horton and Jordan Harrison have taken control of the 1500 free, while David McKeon is at the top in the 400 free. If Hackett wants a spot in the 800 free relay, the lineup is even tougher.

James Magnussen will have raced in a couple of meets before the world championship trials, but it will be his first true test under new coaches Mitch and Lach Falvey. Magnussen parted ways with longtime coach Brant Best last summer and spent the fall researching options. Despite urgings from Swimming Australia that Magnussen choose a location that caters to athletes of his age and caliber, he went with two coaches who run an age-group team in Sydney, and have never coached an international star like Magnussen. But the three are around the same age, which was one factor in Magnussen’s choice. Magnussen is the reigning 100 free world champion, and while a coaching change in 2015 might give him time to adjust for the 2016 Olympics, no one will roll over in Russia this summer.

Michael Phelps’ long course championship meet

Photo Courtesy: JD Lasica

Once Michael Phelps withdrew from the world championships after his DUI troubles, I wondered what meet he would pick for his long course championship meet. The most logic choice would be nationals starting August 6. It would be a perfect choice, as it comes right before the FINA World Cup meet in France, which sources report will be attended by Phelps. That would mean two weeks of racing with a long trip across the Atlantic in between, but Phelps couldn’t possibly be thinking about letting 2015 go by without shaving and tapering for a long course meet. Maybe he’ll race in a sectional meet near Baltimore or step up at a local senior meet. Wherever he races, we’ll see how he stacks up against those at the world championships, to create one of the greatest virtual competitions ever. Phelps vs. The World. It has a nice ring to it.

FINA World Cup meet in Chartres

Photo Courtesy: Maria Dobysheva

Let’s talk about that World Cup meet. If Phelps is attending, it would mark a rare short course meters meet for him. Phelps very rarely travels outside the country to race short course meters. He did so in 2011, where several people grinned as they out-touched an unshaved Phelps in World Cup races. Will Phelps put in a good taper for the France meet and chase some world records? Last year, many of the top athletes from the world championships swam in the first meets of the World Cup, and could do the same this year.

That means Phelps might not be the only headliner. Katinka Hosszu is bound to be there, as will many others who are bound for gold at the world championships. It’s going to be one of the most exciting World Cup meets of the season.

FINA world championships

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Several reigning world champions are in danger of losing their crowns this summer in Russia. It’s safe to say that Katie Ledecky is safe in the 400, 800 and 1500 freestyles. If she races the 200 free, that could be four individual golds for her in a major international competition for the second year in a row.

The world has caught up to Missy Franklin in the backstrokes, and she’ll have plenty of competition. Emily Seebohm is back on track, and Katinka Hosszu made big strides in the backstrokes this year. Barring another physical setback similar to her back muscle strain last summer, Franklin should be on target to defend her backstroke titles and give Ledecky a race in the 200 free.

While you might think that Cate Campbell is looking secure for a 100 free title, I feel that Simone Manuel might have something to say about that. Sarah Sjostrom is also rapidly improving in the sprint freestyles, while Cate’s little sister Bronte might also surprise us with a big swim.

On the men’s side, expect the home team to put up a big fight in sprint freestyles. Vlad Morozov was expected to medal in the 50 and 100 freestyles in Barcelona last year, but only walked away with a silver in the 50 free. Russia’s 400 free relay is always strong, but needs to make sure all four men are healthy this summer.

After a very strong showing at the Commonwealth Games and European championships, Adam Peaty will be the king of sprint breaststroke. Could Great Britain win gold in all three breaststroke events? It’s possible, if Ross Murdoch and/or Michael Jamieson can beat three-time 200 breast champion Daniel Gyurta.

Let’s not forget about diving, which is one of the more exciting sports at world championships. Will China be able to win all 10 diving gold medals, or does another country have any hopes of spoiling the Chinese party? The Americans have talent. Mexico, Russia, Canada and Italy are strong as well. But China is too perfect and everyone else has to be beyond perfect.

What other meets will be exciting to watch this year? Let us know in the comments section.

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Kim

9 years ago

Sorry brits: Gyurta will take it in a sub 2.07! Peaty does not have the stamina, maybe Murdoch can put up a fight, but Koch (who beat Murdoch in Berlin) and Jamieson have been beating so often by Gyurta, that they don’t have the confidence to challenge him. And Yamaguchi, there is he today, probably not even in Kazan or Rio?

Kim

9 years ago

Reply to Kim

Just for the record: Yes, I know that Koch is German 🙂