The Week That Was: Training Switch-Ups, Retirement, And A Return To Racing

This first full week of 2016 brought the swimming world news of training changes, athletic honors, and a significant retirement all with a return to racing on the collegiate scene. Read below to see the five most significant stories from the past week!

The Week That was is supported by AgonSwim.com

The Week That Was #5 – Megan Romano Heading To South Florida Aquatic Club To Prep For 2016 Trials

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Photo Courtesy: Sue Borst

World Champ Megan Romano announced this week that she will be heading back to her home state of Florida to continue her preparations for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. Romano, who is perhaps best known for her amazing anchor legs for U.S. relays in 2013, will be training with the South Florida Aquatic Club’s ProFlo Group. She will be joining Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson and U.S. Olympian and gold medalist Claire Donahue. In a release from the South Florida Aquatics Club’s blog, Romano remarks that she feels “better in the water than I have in a long time” and is aiming to make a spot on the Olympic team. In 2012, Romano missed the Olympic team by one spot, finishing seventh in the finals of the women’s 200 freestyle to miss a relay berth. Three weeks later at the U.S. Open, she posted times that would have qualified her in both the 100 and 200 freestyle events.

The Week That Was #4 – Katie Ledecky Named To Forbes 30 Under 30 Athletes List

Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / MIA Rossiya Segodnya

Katie Ledecky received another honor this week, as the 18-year-old was named to the Forbes magazine 30 Under 30 Athletes List. Called by Forbes “undoubtedly the most dominant female swimmer in the sport today,” Ledecky was included on the list along with basketball star Steph Curry and 14-year old baseball prodigy Mo’one Davis. The distance phenom was was just one of only four teenagers who were named to the list. An Olympic gold medalist from the 2012 London Games and current world record holder in three events, Ledecky became the first woman to sweep the 200, 400, 800, and 1,500 freestyles in a world championship while also winning four individual gold medals this past summer. Read the full Forbes list here.

The Week That Was #3 – Bob Duenkel Retires From International Swimming Hall Of Fame

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This week saw the venerable Bob Duenkel retire as Executive Director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Duenkel had spent an amazing 40 years serving with the institution. Duenkel began his journey with swimming at the YMCA of New Jersey, where he developed into a state record holder by 1960. Graduating from Kansas State University as a multiple school record holder with a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Physical Education, Duenkel moved to South Florida and joined with ISHOF full-time in 1976. In addition to running the Hall of Fame, Duenkel and his wife Colette run Camp Chikopi, the World’s first swim camp founded US Olympic Swim Coach Matt Mann II in 1920. Over the years Bob Duenkel received numerous awards for his coaching, service, and outstanding contributions to the swimming community. Read the full statement regarding Bob Duenkel’s retirement here.

The Week That Was #2 – Chad le Clos Has Strong South African Grand Prix Meet

Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / Mia Rossiya Segodnaya

This week saw South African Olympian Chad le Clos start the Olympic year off with three individual wins at the South African Grand Prix in Mpumalanga. On the first night of the multi-day meet le Clos took home wins in the 50 butterfly and 100 freestyle, touching in 24.14 and 49.22 respectively. In the final night of the meet, le Clos cruised to a dominant win in the 100 butterfly when he touched in 51.82. These times are a great start for le Clos as he looks toward the Rio Olympics and a potential rematch with Michael Phelps, who he famously upset in the 200 butterfly at the London Olympics and also finished behind en route to a silver medal in the 100 butterfly.

The Week That Was #1 – College Teams Across The Country Return To Competition

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This week saw teams across the country return to dual meet competition while still in the midst of heavy winter training. Notably, several teams continued their strong dual meet performances, with the NC State women coming away with a staggering five dual meet victories in two days, Duke downing South Carolina to remain undefeated, and the #1 ranked Virginia women taking down Notre Dame to keep a perfect record. Georgia senior Hali Flickinger had a strong performance in the Bulldog’s dual against Texas. Flickinger scored 27 points across three individual wins in the 200 freestyle (1:46.14), 200 butterfly (1:55.93) and 200 backstroke (1:53.23) to walk away as the top performer from the meet. The Bulldog women would win the meet to improve to 7-0, while the Georgia men fell to #1 ranked Longhorn men. In Division III action, top 25 NESCAC rivals Williams and Amherst split their much-hyped dual meets, with the Eph women emerging victorious while Amherst prevailed on the men’s side. Denison University, whose men’s and women’s teams are currently ranked second and third respectively, also took home wins against DePauw. For all of the stories from this week’s collegiate meets, visit Swimming World’s College homepage.

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