The Week That Was: Rikako Ikee Qualifies For Tokyo Olympics In Inspirational Story

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Many countries’ swimming federations have started selecting their Olympic teams this past week as some big names put their names on to the start lists for the Tokyo Games that are 110 days away. The CSCAA also announced its postseason awards after the conclusion of the 2020-21 swimming and diving season.

The Week That Was #1: Rikako Ikee Wins 100 Fly at Japanese Nationals

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By John Lohn

The official word will come from the Japanese Federation, but it appears that Rikako Ikee is headed to this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, thus writing one of the great feel-good stories the sport has seen.

As the second day of the Japanese Olympic Trials got underway, Ikee posted a time of 57.77 to claim victory in the 100-meter butterfly, her time bettering the 58.18 of Suzuka Hasegawa. Although Ikee’s time falls short of her Federation’s mandated standard of 57.10 for individual qualification to the Olympics, she should be granted a roster spot for Japan’s 400 medley relay.

Ikee’s effort is nothing short of phenomenal and awe-inspiring, as she was diagnosed in 2019 with Leukemia and forced to battle the disease with the same force that made her one of the world’s premier swimmers. As Ikee battled her cancer diagnosis, she received considerable support from the swimming community, including at the 2019 World Championships. At that meet, 100 butterfly medalists Maggie MacNeil, Sarah Sjostrom and Emma McKeon expressed support for Ikee during the medals presentation.

Now, Ikee is likely to see her fellow competitors on deck at the Tokyo Games.

#2: Olympic Medalist Aliaksandra Herasimenia Facing Criminal Charges

Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

By John Lohn

Three-time Olympic medalist Aliaksandra Herasimenia is facing criminal proceedings by the Belarusian government for her involvement as a leader of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation. According to reports out of Belarus, Herasimenia and her co-leader of the BSSF, Alyaksandr Apeykin, are accused of spreading false information concerning last year’s Belarusian presidential election.

“On the Internet and in the mass media, (Herasimenia and Apeykin) made appeals to foreign states and international organizations to take action aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus,” stated a press release by the Belarusian government.

By speaking out against the goverment, Herasimenia and Apeykin are accused of damaging their country’s reputation and imparting financial damage. The government claims that Herasimenia cost Belarus the opportunity to host various international sports competitions, and the subsequent financial boost they would have brought. If convicted of harming Belarus’ national security, Herasimenia faces five years in prison.

The Week That Was #3: Olympic Fate of Sun Yang to be Decided by CAS in Late May

Sun Yang – Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

By John Lohn

The future of Sun Yang in the sport and the possibility of the Chinese swimmer racing at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo will be determined in late May. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced on Wednesday that Sun’s appeal of his eight-year ban for his conduct during a 2018 out-of-competition doping test.

Sun was initially found guilty by the CAS and handed an eight-year ban, but the Olympic champion appealed the ruling to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, citing that one of the panel’s three judges was biased. As a result, the case was sent back to the CAS, which will use a new three-member panel in rehearing the case. The dates announced are May 24-28.

“In light of the travel restrictions and sanitary measures in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the hearing will be held by video conference,” CAS indicated. “At the conclusion of the hearing, the panel will commence its deliberations and prepare the arbitral award. Accordingly, the decision will not be announced when the hearing concludes, but at a later date.”

The case stems from an out-of-competition test in September 2018 in which Sun got into arguments with testers and accused them of not having the proper credentials. During the late-night dispute, a vial of Sun’s blood was smashed with a hammer by a member of Sun’s team.

#4: Margherita Panziera Breaks Italian Record in 200 Back

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

By Liz Byrnes

Margherita Panziera lowered her own national 200m backstroke record to 2:05.56 on the first day of the Italian Swimming Championships in Riccione.

Link to results

Panziera had set the previous Italian mark of 2:05.72 in 2019, a year after she won the European title in 2:06.18 and had already booked her spot on the team for Tokyo.

The 25-year-old went out in 30.11 to establish a lead of almost a second at the first turn over nearest challenger Erika Gaetani and her splits thereafter were metronomic: 1:01.88 (31.77), 1:33.82 (31.94) and then a final 50 of 31.74.

It rockets the Italian to the top of the world rankings in 2021, eclipsing Australian Kaylee McKeown and her 2:05.66 in the process, and sends her fourth all-time in a textile suit behind world record-holder Regan Smith (2:03.35), Missy Franklin (2:04.06) and McKeown (2:04.46).

The Week That Was #5: Eddie Reese, Shaine Casas Take CSCAA Postseason Awards

Photo Courtesy: Luke Jamroz Photography

By Dan D’Addona

The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced its top NCAA Division I men’s award winners and All-Americans for the 2020-21 season.

Texas sweeps the coaching honors as head coach Eddie Reese and diving coach Matt Scoggin were selected as the Swimming Coach of the Year and Diving Coach of the Year, respectively. Longhorn diver, Jordan Windle is the CSCAA Division I Men’s Diver of the Year. Shaine Casas, of Texas A&M, is the CSCAA Division I Men’s Swimmer of the Year, earning both the coaches and the public vote.

Reese won his 15th national championship last week. He has been at the helm of Texas for 43 years and has led the Longhorns to 41 consecutive top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. He has now won a national title in five different decades (1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021).

Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas is the CSCAA men’s Division I Swimmer-of-the-Year. Leading his team to a top ten finish in the NCAA Championship meet, Casas became the fourth swimmer, along with Cal’s Ryan Hoffer, since 2000 to win all three of their individual events at NCAA Championships (200 Individual Medley, 100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke). He is the first individual NCAA champion for the Aggies.

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