The Week That Was: World Leading Times Around The World Highlight The Week

Kylie Masse at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Photo Courtesy: Ian MacNicol

This week there were several different qualifying meets for the 2019 World Championships, with swimmers from Canada, Italy, Japan, and Australia (whose meet is not a qualifier but still serves as a senior national meet) all moving to the top of the world rankings. Check out the stories below to see who had the biggest swims from the week!

The Week That Was #5 – Rob Orr Announces Retirement After 40 Years At Princeton

Photo Courtesy: Princeton Athletics

Rob Orr has announced his retirement after 40 years at the helm of the Princeton Men’s Swimming and Diving team, effective at the end of the 2018-19 academic year. Orr’s storied career at Princeton included 330 dual meet victories, 23 Ivy League Championship titles, 24 All-American relays, and 38 individual All-Americans. Orr was also responsible for mentoring several Olympians and NCAA Champions during his time at Princeton, and in 2015 was the recipient of the inaugural Ivy League Coach of the Year Award in 2015 along with the Richard E. Steadman Award from the CSCAA. A national search for Orr’s replacement will begin immediately.

The Week That Was #4 – Paltrinieri Clocks #1 Time In World For 1500 Free

Gregorio PALTRINIERI ITA Copenhagen 11-12-2017 Royal Arena LEN European Short Course Swimming Championships - Campionati Europei nuoto vasca corta Foto Andrea Staccioli / Insidefoto / Deepbluemedia

Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Insidefoto / Deepbluemedia

Italy’s best gathered in Riccione for a chance to qualify for their country’s 2019 World Championship roster. The highlight of the meet had to come on the final day of competition from Olympic gold medalist Gregorio Paltrinieri in the men’s 1500, as he blew away the rest of the field to put up the fastest time in the world for 2019 (14:38.34). There were plenty of other swims to celebrate throughout the week, including Elena Di Liddo in the 100 fly (57.61), Nicolo Martinenghi in the 100 breast (59.65), and a 1:56.60 200 free for Federica Pelligrini in prelims. Gabrielle Detti also rocketed to #1 in the world in the men’s 800 free, touching in 7:43.83 over Paltrinieri (7:45.35). Amazingly, the meet also saw a four way tie in men’s 100 free between Santo Conderelli, Luca Dotto, Alessandro Miressi, and Ivano Ivended, who all touched in 49.02. You can see the full recap of all session of the 2019 Italian Swimming Championships here.

The Week That Was #3 – Matsumoto Posts World Leading Time At 2019 Japanese Nationals

Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

In a busy week of championships around the world, Japanese swimmers had another chance to qualify for their World Championships roster in Tokyo, Japan. Swimmers will only have one more chance to qualify for Japan’s Worlds roster at next month’s Japan Open Swim. Highlights from the meet included Katsuhiro Matsumoto hitting the #1 time in the world in the 200 free (1:45.63), Daiya Seto moving to #3 in the 200 fly (1:54.44) and #2 in the 200 IM (1:56.69), and Ippei Watanabe moving to #1 in the 200 breast (2:07.02). Notably absent from the championships were Rikako Ikee and Kosuke Hagino. Ikee was forced to miss the championships after learning of a leukemia diagnosis in February, while Hagino announced he was pulling out of the championships just a few weeks ago citing a lack of motivation. You can see a full recap of all the sessions of the 2019 Japanese Nationals here.

The Week That Was #2 – Cate Campbell Kicks Off 2019 Aussie Champs With World Leading 100 Free

cate-campbell-100-free-2019-australian-champs

Photo Courtesy: Twitter, @SwimmingAUS

Cate Campbell was on fire on the opening night of the 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships, posting the leading time in the world in the 100 free (52.35). The Aussies actually took the top three spots in the world rankings with their swims, as Emma McKeon (52.84) and Shayna Jack (53.20) were hot on Campbell’s heels. While this isn’t the qualifying meet for the World Championships for Australia (that will be in mid-June), there was still plenty of fast swimming across the board, including Elijah Wittington winning the 400 free (3:44.85) in the #3 time in the world, and Ariarne Titmus putting up the #2 time in the world in the women’s 800 free (8:18.61).

The Week That Was #1 – Masse, Ruck Highlight Canadian Nationals

Photo Courtesy: Ian MacNicol

The 2019 Canadian Swimming Trials were underway in Toronto this week and served as the major qualifying meet for the upcoming international meets for Canada, including the 2019 World Championships. Kylie Masse got the meet started off with a bang, nearly breaking the world record in the 100 back. She ultimately came up just short of the world record and her Canadian record, but took over the #1 spot in the world in the 100 back (58.16). Masse also broke her own national record in the 200 back (2:05.94). Taylor Ruck was another star of the meet, finishing behind Masse in the 100 and 200 back in the #2 ranked times in the world while also taking home the 100 free (53.26) and finishing second to Penny Oleksiak in the 200 free. Marcus Thormeyer also set a new Canadian record in the men’s 100 back, while Maggie MacNeal had a breakout meet to win the 100 fly (57.04) in a world-leading time. You can see all the coverage from the 2019 Canadian Swimming Trials 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