The Week That Was: Shymanovich, Toussaint Break World Records, Russia Gets Flag Banned From 2021, 2022 Olympics

Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu / ISL

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Two new world records were added to the record books last week from Ilya Shymanovich of Belarus and Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands, with Shymanovich lowering Adam Peaty’s 100 breast world record in short course meters, and Toussaint tying her own mark in the 50 back.

The Russian Federation will also not be able to fly its own flag or play its anthem at the next two Olympics – 2021 summer in Tokyo and 2022 winter in Beijing.

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

The Week That Was #1: Ilya Shymanovich Lowers 100 Breast SCM World Record

Photo Courtesy: MIKE LEWIS / ISL

By Andy Ross

Ilya Shymanovich, fresh off a best time in the 50 breaststroke at the Belarusian short course championships in Brest, broke the first world record of his career on Saturday with a 55.34 in the 100 breaststroke in short course meters to lower Adam Peaty’s record he set last month in the International Swimming League.

It is the third time that world record has been set this year after Peaty initially broke Cameron van der Burgh’s 2009 record in the ISL semi-finals, and lowered it again over Shymanovich in the final. Shymanovich was a 55.49 during the ISL season for the second fastest time overall.

It is a huge step for the sport considering there were serious talks about the possibility of no world records falling in 2020 due to the complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic where many of the best athletes were forced out of their training routines and halted their preparations for what were the 2020 Olympic Games.

Shymanovich was out in 25.88, compared to Peaty’s record pace of 25.85, and the Belarusian was home in a 29.46 to stretch his hands to a new world record.

#2: Russia Cannot Use Name, Flag, Anthem For Next Two Olympics

Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / MIA Rossiya Segodnya

By Dan D’Addona

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Thursday that Russia will face a two-year international ban and will not be able to use its name, flag and national anthem at the next two Olympics or at any world championships for the next two years.

The case was based on charges that Russian governmental agencies altered and/or deleted parts of the anti-doping database before handing it over to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) investigators in 2019.

The two years is half of the ban originally proposed by the WADA in a case that accused Russia of state-ordered tampering of a testing laboratory database in Moscow. The decision was unanimous:

“This Panel has imposed consequences to reflect the nature and seriousness of the non-compliance [to the WADC] and to ensure that the integrity of sport against the scourge of doping is maintained. The consequences which the Panel has decided to impose are not as extensive as those sought by WADA. This should not, however, be read as any validation of the conduct of RUSADA or the Russian authorities. In making its orders, the Panel is limited by the powers granted under the applicable law, in particular the WADC and the ISCCS. It has considered matters of proportionality and, in particular, the need to effect cultural change and encourage the next generation of Russian athletes to participate in clean international sport.”

The Week That Was #3: Kira Toussaint Ties 50 Back WR SCM

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

By Andy Ross

Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands tied her own world record in the 50 backstroke in short course meters in Amsterdam as she stopped the clock in 25.60, tying her exact time from last month’s International Swimming League semi final where she swam exactly that in breaking Etiene Medeiros’ record from 2014.

Toussaint was one of two swimmers in the race as Silke Huisman was second at 29.66. Toussaint also returned later in the session with a 25.62 and again with a 25.64, and then again with a 25.83. She is the first Dutch woman to hold the world record in the 50 backstroke and the first European since Croatia’s Sanja Jovanovic held the record for five years from 2009 – 2014.

Kira Toussaint also won the 100 backstroke with a 56.55 as she was a 55.68 during the ISL season

#4: Worlds Medalists Peaty, Wilby, Scott, Greenbank Added to British Olympic Team

duncan-scott-adam-peaty-medley-relay-2019-fina-world-championships

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

By Liz Byrnes

British Swimming has announced its selection policy for Tokyo 2020 which will include the pre-selection of individual medallists from the 2019 World Championships with the 2021 British Championships acting as the main consideration meet for the Great Britain team.

Adam Peaty, James Wilby, Luke Greenbank and Duncan Scott all reached the podium in Gwangju back in July 2019 and they are all assured of being part of the team – with a maximum number of 35 – that will be nominated to the British Olympic Association.

The nomination is solely to the team – not to specific events which will be decided following the trials process.

Peaty won the 50 and 100br in Gwangju – although the former is not on the Olympic programme – with James Wilby second over two lengths as the pair claimed the first British one-two in history.

Greenbank and Scott both won bronze in the 200m backstroke and 200 free respectively.

The British Championships – which are being held at the London Aquatics Centre from 13-18 April – represents the main selection meet.

The Week That Was #5: Campbell Sisters & Ellie Cole Move Back to Queensland to Follow Simon Cusack

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

By Ian Hanson

Australia’s favourite swimming sisters, Cate and Bronte Campbell have confirmed today they will leave Sydney and return home to make Brisbane their training base to prepare for the Tokyo Olympic Trials after two successful years training in the Harbour City.

Swimming World can reveal exclusively that the golden girls of the Australian Dolphins Swim Team will be joined by their Sydney-based training partner, Paralympic golden girl Ellie Cole with the trio all electing to follow coach Simon Cusack back to Queensland.

NSWIS and Swimming NSW have supported the faces of Swimming Australia since their move with Cusack to Sydney in 2018 – swimming out of Pymble Ladies College (PLC) on Sydney’s North Shore.

Cusack has coached the Campbell girls since they first began swimming competitvely at Indooroopilly turning them into swimming’s “Sisters Of Speed” – world champions and Olympic and Commonwealth Gamers gold medallists.

It was Cusack who requested the move back to his home State of Queensland and the move has been fully supported as a National alliance.

Together with NSWIS, New South Wales Swimming, Swimming Australia and the Queensland Academy of Sport, it was agreed to support Cusack’s transfer of the NSWIS elite group and as members of the NSW Championship winning club the from the “Knox-Pymble Swim Team” on Sydney’s North Shore to the Brisbane Aquatic Centre at Chandler.

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