The latest issue of Swimming World Magazine
is now available for download in the Swimming World Vault!
Non-Subscribers Can Download This Issue Here
A Voice For The Sport: Change Is Afoot For FINA
By John Lohn
It is not easy to ditch a shoddy reputation. Reversing public opinion takes time, whether it is an organization or individual that is seeking a fresh start—and a renewed standing.
Trust must be rebuilt, often generated through decisions that contradict—and remedy—previous shortcomings and blunders. It is a process, not a finger-snap transition.
Consider FINA on the path toward positive change.
For years, the global governing body of aquatic sports has come under fire for a variety of miscues. A lack of transparency. Ignorance toward doping. A lack of appreciation for its inarguable centerpiece—the athletes.
The confluence of these errors led to significant mistrust in FINA, and the sense that nothing would change.
A new era of leadership, though, has shifted doubt to optimism. With Husain Al-Musallam now serving as president, and Brent Nowicki installed as the organization’s executive director, FINA has taken rapid and sizable steps toward repairing its reputation. How? Look no further than a pair of recent moves that supplied substance to the promises Al-Musallam carried into the first day of his presidency.
In mid-November, FINA announced that Lothar Kipke, the chief doctor of the East German systematic-doping program, was immediately stripped of the Silver Pin honor (lifetime achievement) that the governing body bestowed on him in the 1980s. Although Kipke was convicted on more than 50 charges of causing bodily harm more than 20 years ago, it took until the Al-Musallam reign for Kipke to be rebuked for his role.
The decision by FINA backed up Al-Musallam’s promise to drop the hammer on those involved with doping—in the past and present. While additional work remains, including the allocation of medals to athletes beaten by East Germans in Olympic competition (i.e., Shirley Babashoff and Enith Brigitha), the Kipke decision was a start.
“There is no place for doping in aquatics and certainly no place for individuals who have been found guilty of causing great damage to our sport, and cheating clean athletes of a fair chance,” Al-Musallam said. “For a doctor to harm athletes in the search for medals is unacceptable, and I am proud that FINA has decided to send a clear message.”
Just after FINA revealed its condemnation of Kipke, the organization announced a move that was beneficial to athletes participating in the third season of the International Swimming League. With some swimmers still requiring qualifying times for the World Short Course Championships, FINA stated it would recognize times produced during the ISL regular season in Naples and playoff matches held in Eindhoven.
Via this move, FINA followed up on Al-Musallam’s intent to be supportive of athletes. It was an indication that FINA, which was previously not supportive of the launch of the ISL, is placing athletes at the forefront of its decisions.
“I came into this job forward-thinking. I can’t waste time focused on what happened in the past,” Nowicki said during an interview with Swimming World during the summer. “Athletes who are concerned, they can contact me at any time. I made it clear my door is always open, and I mean that. Athletes are our first agenda, and we are doing everything for the betterment of our athletes.”
What does the future hold for FINA? Time will be the ultimate judge. The governing body, under the guidance of Al-Musallam and Nowicki, has vowed to enhance monetary awards, to continue to right historical wrongs and make athletes a top priority. These steps would surely transform the organization’s reputation, and it is a positive development to see gains already being made.
Let the process continue.
John Lohn
Editor-in-Chief
Swimming World Magazine
Click here to download the full January issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
[Photo Courtesy: Robert Hanashiro / USA Today Sports]
Get Swimming World Magazine and Swimming World Biweekly FREE When You
Become A Member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
New! 30 Day Membership to ISHOF AND Digital Swimming World Subscription for just $10 a month!
Want more? Get a 1 Year ISHOF Family Membership With Swimming World Print AND Digital Subscription Order Now!
Non-Subscribers can click here to download this issue for only $5.94
FEATURES
012 THE TOP 5 STORIES OF 2021
by David Rieder
While the pandemic and its massive effects on the sport were the lone top story of 2020, the action in the pool returned to center-stage in 2021. Unsurprisingly, the focus of the year’s top stories centers on Tokyo, where the Olympics produced some amazing performances and historic results.
016 2021 ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
by Dan D’Addona and Matthew De George
- Diving: Shi Tingmao, China & Xie Siyi, China
- Artistic Swimming: Svetlana Kolesnichenko & Svetlana Romashina, Russia
- Water Polo: Maddie Musselman, USA & Filip Filipovic, Serbia
- Paralympic: Jessica Long, USA & Maksym Krypac, Serbia
018 THE GREATEST WORLD RECORDS IN HISTORY
by John Lohn
As the 2022 campaign gets underway, Swimming World decided to look at the greatest world records in history. No, this is not a perfect science, but the eight records featured are—plain and simple—spectacular in nature and deserve all-time recognition.
020 ISHOF FEATURE: REMEMBERING SAN FRANCISCO’S SUTRO BATHS
by Bruce Wigo
Located on the ocean side of the southerly entrance to San Francisco Bay’s Golden Gate, the Sutro Baths—built in the 1890s by Adolph Sutro and eventually destroyed in the 1960s—was the world’s largest indoor swimming facility and one of the most amazing recreational and entertainment complexes ever built.
024 2021 WORLD & AMERICAN RECORD PROGRESSION
by David Rieder
026 SWIMMING TOWARD GREATNESS
by David Rieder
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus first beat Katie Ledecky, history’s greatest female distance swimmer, at the 2019 World Championships. She repeated the feat this past summer at the Tokyo Olympics, and now has her sights set on achieving even more challenging goals.
029 NUTRITION: CHILLED TO THE BONE
by Dawn Weatherwax
Bone broth is a home remedy worth adding whether you live in a cold or warm climate.
034 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH MAX McHUGH
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COACHING
032 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: MAXIMIZING SWIMMING VELOCITY (Part 7)—OPTIMAL STROKE CYCLE FOR BUTTERFLY AND FREESTYLE
by Rod Havriluk
A swimmer who takes full advantage of the propulsive phase and eliminates the wasted time on the non-propulsive phase can optimize stroke cycle time. This article presents optimal times for both the propulsive and non-propulsive phases of butterfly and freestyle with corresponding predicted performance improvements.
036 COLLEGE SWIMMING POST-COVID
by Michael J. Stott
College swim coaches from around the country offer their thoughts on how COVID has affected their sport.
042 SPECIAL SETS: LETITIA SIM—DYNAMITE TALENT FROM TNT SWIMMING
by Michael J. Stott
Coach Jan Mittemeyer shares some sets he has given to Letitia Sim and her fellow senior swimmers at TNT Swimming in Daphne, Ala. Now swimming for Michigan, Sim was 2021’s No. 1-ranked recruit from Alabama and 15th nationally.
043 Q&A WITH COACH BRENT ARCKEY, SARASOTA SHARKS (Fla.)
by Michael J. Stott
044 HOW THEY TRAIN OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST EMMA WEYANT
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
031 DRYSIDE TRAINING: READY, SET, GO!
by J.R. Rosania
With the new year, it’s time to think about what lies ahead and how to begin preparation for winter and early spring racing. This month’s dryland article focuses on exercises for each stroke and some explosive and core training exercises.
JUNIOR SWIMMER
039 GOLDMINDS: THE ART OF SWIMMING
by Wayne Goldsmith
The key to fast swimming is to follow the coach’s leadership and guidance, but it’s also important to choose and make the workout special and unique just for you.
047 UP & COMERS: MAXIMUS WILLIAMSON
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
009 DID YOU KNOW: ABOUT OSCAR NORIN, CHAMPION HIGH DIVER OF THE WORLD?
041 THE OFFICIAL WORD
046 MOMS AT MEETS: BETH CURTISS
048 GUTTERTALK
049 PARTING SHOT
Swimming World is now partnered with the International Swimming Hall of Fame. To find out more, visit us at ishof.org