The Week That Was: United States Dominates Pan American Games

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Will Licon won the 200 breast gold medal at the Pan American Games in Lima. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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The Pan American Games, World Cup and Speedo Junior Nationals wrapped up this week in the world of swimming as the taper meets are starting to come to a close and athletes around the world will begin to take a break before the hectic year that is the Olympic year. The final World Cup stop in Singapore is this week while the World Junior Championships are at the end of the month.

Read below some of the biggest stories from the world of swimming last week in the week that was.

The Week That Was #5: Brazil Wins Mixed Medley Relay After US DQ

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Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

The United States ran away with the gold medal in the mixed medley relay at the 2019 Pan American Games, but wound up disqualified due to Cody Miller taking more than one dolphin kick on his pullout. USA Swimming challenged this call, but was unsuccessful. Brazil ended up winning the gold medal with the likes of Guilherme GuidoJoao GomesGiovanna Tomanik and Larissa Oliveira.

The Week That Was #4: Vladimir Morozov Swims 21.5 at World Cup

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Russia’s Vladimir Morozov posted the world’s fifth fastest time in the 50 free at the World Cup in Jinan two weeks after the World Championships. Morozov was a 21.50 as he was 0.01 off his own World Cup meet record he set last year. Morozov was fourth in Gwangju in the 50 free as he went 0.03 faster than he did at Worlds.

The Week That Was #3: Campbell, Rapsys Break World Cup Records in China

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Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

Danas Rapsys and Cate Campbell broke World Cup records to close out the second stop of the 2019 FINA World Cup in Jinan, China. Campbell swam a 52.34 in the 100 free which was faster than what she swam to win the silver medal at the World Championships just two weeks before. She was a 52.1 earlier in the season but it is a good sign for Campbell to be able to hold on to a rest two weeks after a big meet. Campbell lowered the World Cup record that she set earlier this year at 52.64

Rapsys swam a 1:45.07 in the 200 free to break the World Cup record that he also set earlier this year at 1:45.74. Rapsys was the World Champion in the 200 free at the World Championships before getting disqualified for flinching at the start. He was under 1:45 in that race in Gwangju but he managed to swim a solid 1:45.0 in China to sit fourth in the world for the year.

The Week That Was #2: Delfina Pignatiello Wins Argentina’s First Pan Am Gold in Women’s Swimming Since 2003

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Argentina’s Delfina Pignatiello won three gold medals at the Pan American Games in Lima with wins in the 400, 800 and 1500 free. It was the first time Argentina captured a gold medal at Pan Ams in women’s swimming since 2003 when Georgina Bardach won the 400 IM in 2003. Pignatiello elected not to swim at the World Championships to focus on being her best at the Pan American Games.

The Week That Was #1: Will Licon Swims 2:07 200 Breast to Win Pan Am Gold

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

USA’s Will Licon was one of the many gold medal winners at the Pan American Games but his 200 breast gold was one of the more significant victories. His 2:07.62 ranks him seventh in the world but also makes him the fastest American this year. He was third at the Olympic Trials in 2016 in the 200 breast, fifth at World Trials in 2017, and third at US Nationals in 2018. He finally put himself on the map with a huge breakthrough 2:07 in Lima, which is also at altitude. He will be one of the faces to watch at next year’s US Olympic Trials where he will try to make his first Olympic team.

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