The Week That Was: Ledecky Forgoes NCAA Eligibility To Turn Pro

This week, Olympic champion Katie Ledecky made news when she announced that she would be forgoing her final two seasons of NCAA eligibility in favor of turning pro ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Read about that decision and the other biggest news stories of the week below in The Week That Was!

The Week That Was #5 – Olympic Champion Daniel Gyurta Announces Retirement

Gian Mattia D'Alberto / lapresse 18-08-2014 Berlino sport 32mi Campionati Europei LEN di nuoto nella foto: Daniel Gyurta HUN Gian Mattia D'Alberto / lapresse 18-08-2014 Berlin 32rd LEN European Swimming In the photo: Daniel Gyurta HUN

Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia Dalberto/Lapresse

2012 Olympic Champion Daniel Gyurta announced his retirement this week after more than a decade as a major player on the international stage. Gyurta broke onto the scene at the 2004 Olympic Games, when he won silver in the 200 breast as just a 15-year old. He would go on to win three World Championship titles in that event in 2009, 2011, and 2013 while also winning the 200 breast at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Gyurta also broke the world record in the event in both 2012 and 2013. His last international medal came in 2015, where he earned a bronze. Most recently, he finished seventeenth out of the prelims at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2017 World Championships.

The Week That Was #4 – Matthew Willenbring Serves 4 Month Suspension For Positive Test

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This week we learned that Texas commit Matthew Willenbring had tested positive for a banned substance on August 28, 2017 and received a 4-month suspension from FINA. The positive test was for the substance Hydrochlorothiazide (Class S5 Diuretics and Masking Agents). The suspension began on October 19 of last year, meaning it was completed in February. However, Willenbring was required to forfeit his results from the 2017 World Junior Championships, including a gold medal as part of the 4×100 medley relay.

The Week That Was #3 – Brett Hawke Resigns As Head Coach At Auburn

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold / Aringo Photos

University of Auburn Head Coach Brett Hawke announced his resignation this week after 10 years of leading the program. During his tenure with Auburn, Hawke led the men’s program to eight top-10 NCAA finishes, including an NCAA championship in 2009, and the women’s program to four top-10 NCAA finishes. Hawke was also named the NCAA Coach of the Year in 2009 and the SEC Coach of the Year in 2012. All told he has coaches athletes to 64 individual SEC titles, 11 individual NCAA titles, and 479 All-America honors while also mentoring 14 Olympians at Auburn. Hawke is an alum of Auburn, competing from 1997-1999 and winning 2 NCAA Championships as a student-athlete.

The Week That Was #2 – Kristof Milak Powers To 3rd Fastest Performer In 200 Fly

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Hungarian Kristof Milak made waves this week at the 2018 Hungarian Nationals, becoming the third fastest performer ever in the 200 butterfly and announcing himself as a favorite on the world stage. The 18-year old swam to a 1:52.71, a time that would have won gold at this past summer’s World Championships and at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He is only .01 behind countrymate Laszlo Cseh’s national record from 2008 and just over a second off of Michael Phelps’ 2009 world record. Milak won European Juniors with a 1:53.79 last summer, breaking the world junior record in the event, and followed that up with four gold medals at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Indianapolis. That time stands as the fastest in the world so far this year, with the Commonwealth Games and European Championships still on the horizon for this summer. Milak also won the 100 fly in 51.50 over Olympian Laszlo Cseh.

The Week That Was #1 – Katie Ledecky Turning Pro, Staying At Stanford

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This biggest news from this week came on Monday, when Olympic Champion Katie Ledecky announced that she would be foregoing her final two years of eligibility at Stanford to turn pro ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The sophomore said she will continue to train at Stanford under head coach Greg Meehan and intends to complete her undergraduate degree. In her two years in the NCAA, Ledecky won five NCAA titles, set 9 American and 12 NCAA records, and helped lead Stanford to their first NCAA team championship title in 19 years. Just last month she helped the Cardinal to their second-straight NCAA title and the largest point margin of victory in 25 years. Ledecky is a five-time Olympic gold medalist and has set 13 world records during her career and owns 14 Olympic and World Championship individual gold medals, the most ever by a female swimmer.

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Heidi Duncan

6 years ago

Congratulations