The Week That Was: Andrei Minakov Drops Out of ISL to Save Amateur Status For NCAA

andrei-minakov-junior-worlds-ncaa
Andrei Minakov dropped out of the ISL so he could be eligible to swim in NCAA. Photo Courtesy: FINA / Budapest 2019

The Week That Was is sponsored bySuit-extractor-logo

The International Swimming League has dominated the headlines this week in the world of swimming. With three weeks until the first meet of the new league, the ISL announced some major changes this last week including Cyndi Gallagher being named as head coach of the DC Trident, and David Marsh being named as coach of the LA Current. Gallagher is also going to be leading a historic all-female coaching staff for the Trident alongside Rachel Stratton-Mills and Stefanie Williams.

But the ISL did lose Andrei Minakov, who was set to swim for Energy Standard. Minakov decided to drop out of the ISL in order to save his amateur status so he could one day swim at the NCAA level. Minakov, who is a native of Russia, has been training off and on in California the last few years.

USA Diving also made a big decision in leaving Indianapolis to move its headquarters to Colorado Springs. Indianapolis has been home to USA Diving since 1981.

Check out the five biggest stories from the last week in the week that was.

The Week That Was #5: Michael Phelps, Nicole Phelps Welcome Baby Number Three

Michael Phelps and his wife Nicole Phelps welcomed their third baby boy to the world on Monday September 9, 2019 as Maverick Nicolas Phelps was brought into the world at six pounds five ounces. This is the third son that the Phelps’s have welcomed to the world after baby Boomer was born in May 2016 and Beckett was born in February 2018. Now a family of three boys, perhaps a future relay is in order for the Phelps kids?

The Week That Was #4: USA Diving Moves Headquarters from Indianapolis to Colorado Springs

warm-up-

Indianapolis will no longer be the home of USA Diving. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

USA Diving Inc. announces that it will be moving its national office from Indianapolis, Ind. to Colorado Springs, Colo. in the fourth quarter of this year.

The move to Colorado Springs will allow USA Diving to take advantage of many of the benefits of being located in the hometown of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”).

Additionally, relocating the national office to the USOPC Sport House will significantly decrease USA Diving’s overhead while allowing the organization to work closely with other Colorado Springs-based National Governing Bodies and benefit from the sharing of best practices within the Olympic Movement.

It has been headquartered in Indianapolis, another great sports town, since 1981.

The Week That Was #3: David Marsh Selected as Head Coach of LA Current

david-marsh-bruce-gemmell-rowdy-gaines-

David Marsh will be the head coach of the LA Current. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The LA Current announced David Marsh has been named head coach for the 2019 inaugural season of the International Swim League. Marsh brings over 40 years of experience coaching and competing in the sport of swimming. Also announced were the additions of assistant coaches Brett Hawke and Jack Roach, who each bring their own impressive pedigrees to the Current.

The Week That Was #2: Cyndi Gallagher to Lead DC Trident Alongside All-Female Staff

cyndi-gallagher

Cyndi Gallagher will lead the DC Trident ISL team this fall. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The DC Trident are breaking barriers all over the place. Not only do they one of the first woman general managers in Olympic medalist Kaitlin Sandeno, but they have also announced they will have an all-female coaching staff in the inaugural season of the International Swimming League. The DC Trident announced former UCLA head coach Cyndi Gallagher will lead the team in their first season with the new ISL. Gallagher will be coaching alongside Rachel Stratton-Mills and Stefanie Williams.

Gallagher recently retired after 31 years as head coach of the UCLA women’s swimming and diving team. Gallagher led the Bruins to Pac-12 titles in 2001 and 2003 and has steered UCLA to top-10 finishes at NCAAs in nine separate seasons.

The Week That Was #1: Andrei Minakov Drops Out of ISL to Save Amateur Status For NCAA

andrei-minakov-

Andrei Minakov dropped out of the ISL so he could be eligible to swim in the NCAA. Photo Courtesy: FINA / Budapest 2019

Russia’s Andrei Minakov confirmed to Swimming World that he is pulling out of the International Swimming League (ISL) in order to save his amateur status to be able to compete at the NCAA level in the future. Minakov was set to swim for the Energy Standard team alongside Olympic and World Champions Chad Le ClosAnton Chupkov and Florent Manaudou.

But with the ISL’s professional environment, Minakov wanted to keep his amateur status, so he elected to drop out of the league to be able to swim at NCAAs one day.

“First of all, I would like to thank Energy Standard for this marvelous opportunity,” Andrei Minakov told Swimming World. “And good luck to the team during the meets! I cheer for you guys! 

“This decision was made by several reasons, but the main for them is that I want to save eligibility for my future NCAA career. As I always say, life isn’t just about swimming.

“I hope my withdraw won’t affect the team’s success.”

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

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

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x