The Week That Was: Ariarne Titmus Crushes 400 Freestyle World Record

The Week That Was, sponsored by Suitmate

The Week That Was featured the Australian Championships wrapping up, breaking news out of Cal Berkley, and a retirement.

The Week That Was #1: Olympic Champion Ariarne Titmus Terminates the 400m Freestyle World Record In Adelaide Clocking 3:56.40

Ariarne Titmus

by Ian Hanson

Australia’s Tokyo Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus has tonight blasted her way to a new world record in the women’s 400m freestyle – clocking 3:56.40 at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide.

The 21-year-old Titmus took .06secs off the previous world mark, set by the world’s greatest female swimmer, the USA’s Katie Ledecky who clocked 3:56.46 to win the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Titmus, who beat Ledecky to win the Olympic gold in Tokyo, was under the American’s world record splits from the first 50 metres.

The Week That Was #2: Kyle Chalmers Deserves Celebration, Not Criticism, For Decision to Race at World Champs

CHALMERS Kyle LON London Roar (LON) ISL International Swimming League 2021 Match 8 day 1 Piscina Felice Scandone Napoli, Naples Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

by John Lohn

There are several instances from history in which an athlete has yielded a position at a major international event to a competitor, consequently allowing that individual to realize a dream. Notably, Michael Phelps fits that description – on several occasions.

At the 2004 United States Olympic Trials, Phelps finished second in the 200-meter backstroke, finishing behind Aaron Peirsol. Phelps, though, didn’t see the 200 back fitting into his Athens Games program, which led to him withdrawing and handing the spot to Bryce Hunt. Eight years later, Phelps withdrew from the 200 freestyle after the Olympic Trials, a decision that gave Davis Tarwater a bid to the 2012 Olympics in London. Phelps also yielded his place in the final of the 400 medley relay at the Athens Games to Ian Crocker.

The Week That Was #3: Day After Report on Teri McKeever Conduct, Cal Swimmers Walk Out

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

by Matthew de George

Members of the University of California’s women’s swim team walked out of practice on Wednesday, a day after an investigative report on the conduct of coach Teri McKeever was published. The report was published by Southern California News Group, alleging years of verbal abuse, bullying and the creation of a toxic environment that led to attempts of suicide by swimmers and rampant transfers out.

Wednesday, swimmers in Berkeley met with McKeever and walked out of practice, per SCNG. A meeting later in the day was scheduled with Cal administration, at which time McKeever was placed on administrative leave.

Cal’s statement on the matter apparently provided little consolation to the community, or the 19 swimmers and six parents who spoke to SCNG. The SCNG revealed Wednesday that three additional swimmers came forward with abuse allegations, stretching back to 2005.

The Week That Was #4: Kelsi Dahlia Announces Retirement After Decorated Career in Sprint Butterfly Events

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by David Rieder

After a lengthy run as one of the top sprint butterfly specialist in the United States and in the world, Kelsi Dahlia has announced her retirement from swimming. The 27-year-old originally from Westampton, N.J., and a graduate of the University of Louisville, Dahlia was a multi-time NCAA champion during her career with the Cardinals, an Olympian for the United States in 2016 (where she won gold in the 400 medley relay as a prelims swimmer) and an individual bronze medalist at the 2017 World Championships in the 100 butterfly.

Dahlia narrowly missed qualifying for the 2021 Olympic team as she finished fourth in the 100 fly at Olympic Trials, but she rebounded less than six months later to set the world record in the short course meters 100 fly in December 2021, a mark which still stands. Last month, she placed third in the 100 fly at the U.S. International Team Trials in Greensboro, N.C., and that turned out to be her last race.

The Week That Was #5: Three-Time Olympian Nathan Adrian To Be Inducted Into Cal Athletic Hall of Fame

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

by John Lohn

Three-time Olympian Nathan Adrian, whose career was defined by an individual Olympic title and repeated clutch performances for Team USA, will be inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame during the weekend of Oct. 21-22. Adrian is one of six individuals set for induction, including Valerie Arioto (softball), Gavin Arroyo (water polo), Ray Lehner (rugby), Peter Wright (men’s tennis head coach) and Ahmad Anderson (football).

Adrian is regarded as one of the United States’ finest sprinters, having powered Team USA in multiple international competitions. Adrian was routinely the anchor of American 400 freestyle and 400 medley relays, his ability to handle pressure one of his greatest attributes. His most notable performance was his title-winning effort in the 100-meter freestyle at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where he clipped Australian James Magnussen for the gold medal by .01.

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