The Week That Was: Peaty, Kolesnikov Kick Off 2018 Euros With A World Record

Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

This week saw two more long course world records come down as the major international competitions of the summer commence! Read about the two newest swims on the books and the rest of the biggest stories of the past seven days in the week that was!

The Week That Was #5 – Clark Kent Breaks 23-Year-Old Phelps’ Record

180731111419-01-clark-kent-beats-michael-phelps-exlarge-169

Photo Courtesy: Salinas Aquatic Center MCAT Facebook Page

10-year-old Clark Kent Apuada of the Monterey County Aquatic Team made headlines in news outlets across the country this week after breaking a 23-year old meet record that was set by none other than Michael Phelps. Competing at the Far West International Championships this week in California, Clark won the 100-meter butterfly in 1:09.38, breaking Phelps old record by from 1995 by more than a second. Kent, whose coach says he is “unlike any other young man I’ve ever coached,” has been swimming for four years and admittedly loves swimming because of “people supporting me and my coaches are always there for me.”

The Week That Was #4 – Kathleen Baker Announces Start Of Pro Career

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Just one week after setting her first long course world record at the 2018 US Summer Nationals in Irvine, Olympian Kathleen Baker announced through her social media accounts that she will be forgoing her last year of collegiate eligibility at Cal to begin a pro career. Baker, who has won four NCAA titles at Cal, is also the fastest yards swimmer in the 200 backstroke, the second fastest in the 100 backstroke, and third fastest in the 200 IM. She joins a rising “class” of impressive newly professional swimmers, including Katie Ledecky, Simone Manuel, and Caeleb Dressel. Baker, who has stated whether she will train with Cal next year or remain with Team Elite, her traditional summer training group, will be heading into Pan Pacs as the favorite in the 100 back this week. You can see Baker’s original social media posts announcing her decision to go pro here.

The Week That Was #3 – Several YMCA National Records Fall In College Park

Photo Courtesy: Ethan Cooke

This saw several national records fall at the 2018 YMCA Long Course National Championships in College Park, MD. 15-year-old Matt Fallon broke two National records over the course of the meet, first in the 200 breast (2:14.55) and then in the 400 IM (4:25.27). 16-year-old David Curtiss was another one of the stars of the meet, breaking the national record twice in the 50 free on the fourth day of the meet. The young sprinter went 22.77 to break the record in the morning before registering a 22.64 at night, taking down Joe Bonk’s 2012 record by nearly half a second. Curtiss also split 21.96 on the third night of the meet as part of the 200 medley relay. Other record breakers at the meet included Jessie McMurray (50 breast – 32.49), Brendan Burns (200 fly – 2:00.41), and Marie Schobel (50 back – 29.09). You can see results and recaps of the meet here.

The Week That Was #2 – Irvine Novaquatics Takes Combines Juniors Title In Home Pool

alexei-sancov-jake-mitchell-claire-tuggle-juniors-high-point

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ross

The 2018 Junior National Championships picked up right after the conclusion of senior nationals in Irvine, CA this week, with Irvine Novaquatics coming away with the combined team title in their own pool with 333.50 points. Claire Tuggle of Clovis Swim Club came away with two individual event wins and the women’s high point award, scoring 76 points in total, while Jake Mitchell of Carmel Swim Club and Alexei Sancov of Terrapins Swim Team tied for the men’s high point award with 67 points. Sancov broke Caeleb Dressel’s old meet record in the 200 free by almost a second (1:47.75), while Andrei Minakov also broke Michael Andrew’s meet record in the 100 fly with a 51.88. You can see recaps of each night of competition at the 2018 Juniors meet as well as athlete interviews here.

The Week That Was #1 – Adam Peaty Rockets To World Record At European Championships

Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

The 2018 European Championships got off to an exciting start in Glasgow, Scotland this week, with a couple world records falling along with some fast swimming all around. Great Britain’s Adam Peaty broke his own world record in the final of the 100 breaststroke, initially clocking a 57.00 to break his 2016 world record before being adjusted to 57.10 due to timing issues from day two (you can read more about that here). That brings Peaty ever closer to his goal of a 56-second 100 meter breaststroke, something he hopes to accomplish by the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Russian Kliment Kolesnikov also took down his first long course world record in the men’s 50 back, clocking a 24.00 to continue the teenagers ascent to a backstroke powerhouse on the international stage. Kolesnikov’s time was unaffected by the error in timing equipment at the Games. The 2018 European Championships will continue this week through August 12th, and you can see all recaps of the meet this far here.

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