The Week That Was: Japan’s Best Race in Olympic Pool Maiden Voyage; Kamminga Rockets to a 2:06 200 Breast

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Pool - Photo Courtesy: Tokyo2020

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The Tokyo Olympic Aquatic Center opened its doors officially to competition to Japan’s best over the weekend with 229 days until the start of swimming at the Olympic Games. In the Netherlands, Arno Kamminga continued his climb on the all-time rankings, as he joined the elite sub-2:07 200 breaststroke club in Rotterdam.

Read below the five biggest stories in The Week That Was sponsored by Suitmate.

The Week That Was #1: Olympic Aquatic Center Christened at Japan Swim 2020

Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu / ISL

By Dan D’Addona

Kosuke Hagino put together a strong start to the 2020 Japan Swim, especially considering he is coming off of the International Swimming League semifinals just a few weeks ago. The meet is being swum at the official 2021 Olympic Aquatic Center in its first taste of action 233 days ahead of the 400 IM heats at the Games.

On Day 1 of the Japan Swim, a non-qualifying meet, Hagino won the men’s 400 IM in 4:13.21, about three seconds off his time from two years ago.

The final day of the Japan Swim wrapped up on Sunday with a stellar showdown in the men’s 200 breaststroke, as Ippei Watanabe and Shoma Sato both dipped under the 2:08 barrier. Trailing Sato through the first half of the race, Watanabe put together a stronger back half and emerged with the victory in 2:07.08, with Sato checking in at 2:07.69.

#2: Arno Kamminga Throws Down 2:06 200 Breast in Rotterdam

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By Dan D’Addona

Arno Kamminga turned in another stellar performance at the 2020 Rotterdam Qualification Meet on Friday.

After setting the Dutch record in the 50 breaststroke on Thursday, Kamminga won the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:06.85, just the fourth swimmer in history to break 2:07 in the event, breaking the Dutch record once again.

The European short-course champion joins Anton Chupkov (2:06.12), Matt Wilson (2:06.67) and Ippei Watanabe (2:06.67) as the only four swimmers to go sub-2:07.

The 25-year-old had served notice in the morning prelims when he went 2:07.17 to take a 0.01 sliver off his personal best from the Antwerp Diamond Race in March.

Splits: 28.81/1:00.84/1:33.53/2:06.85

The Week That Was #3: Coleman Stewart Scares American Record at UNC Invite

Photo Courtesy: MIKE LEWIS / ISL

By Dan D’Addona

The NC State Wolfpack continued their strong performance on the second day of the North Carolina Janis Hape Dowd Invitational on Friday.

But it was Coleman Stewart who stole the show. Swimming unattached, the former NC State swimmer, now a pro swimming for Wolfpack Elite, won the 100 backstroke in 43.62 ahead of Paul Le (46.85). Stewart was extremely close to Ryan Murphy‘s American record of 43.49.

#4: Six Athletes File Suit Against University of Iowa For Cutting Women’s Swim Team

2019-usa-nationals-prelims-university-of-iowa

Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble

By Matthew De George

Six female athletes have filed suit against the University of Iowa, citing gender discrimination in the school’s decision to cut women’s sports teams.

The lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by Swimming World, was filed in the Southern District of Iowa. It seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the cuts.

The six plaintiffs are swimmers Kelsey Drake, Sage Ohlensehlen, Christina Kaufman and Alexa Puccini; Abbie Lyman, who wrestled in high school; and club rugby player Miranda Vermeer. The four swimmers filed a Title IX complaint against the school in September.

Thursday’s filing seeks to maintain the status quo (i.e. an injunction against cutting women’s swimming and diving), citing the University of Iowa cutting the program “at a time during which the University is already out of compliance with Title IX.” The suit also claims the urgency of the move, with 15 of the 35 women on the swimming and diving roster having put their names into the NCAA Transfer Portal, including several of the plaintiffs (Among the swimmers, Drake and Ohlensehlen are seniors, Kaufman a sophomore, Puccini a freshman.) The ability to recruit is also among the needs for immediate action lest the program incur irreparable damage.

The Week That Was #5: Amid COVID Spike, New Jersey Governor Shuts Down Indoor Sports, Including Swimming

speedo-winter-invitational-mihitha-kamasani-16

Photo Courtesy: Mihitha Kamasani

By John Lohn, Associate Editor-in-Chief

Facing rising cases of COVID-19, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced on Monday that all organized indoor sports, including swimming, will be suspended for four weeks beginning on Saturday and running through Jan. 2, 2021. Murphy’s edict calls for the suspension of youth, high school and adult recreation sports, and applies to games and practices.

Because the New Jersey Sports Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) previously delayed the start of winter high school sports until January, those sports will not be affected by Murphy’s decision. However, club and YMCA programs will be expected to shut down for a month, leaving athletes without the opportunity to train.

“As folks know, I am big sports fan and all of my kids play,” Murphy said. “I hope and intend to see the winter sports season in January. I want to see that high school senior get to play his or her last season and I value the importance of sports for the physical and mental well-being of our children. But we are seeing outbreaks related to indoor sports and this is a prudent, short-term step to slow the spread.”

The fact that swimming is affected by Murphy’s decision goes against a recent study by the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance that identified zero COVID-19 breakouts among 200,000-plus people passing through 44 indoor pools between July 2 and mid-November.

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