USA Swimming to Officially Recognize American Records Set in ISL Meets

Melanie Margalis' American record in the 200 IM at the ISL will officially count. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

USA Swimming has confirmed to Swimming World that they will recognize American records set in International Swimming League competitions as official records, unlike FINA, the sport’s governing body with world records.

Melanie Margalis and Katie Ledecky had strong starts to their 2019-20 seasons over the weekend, each taking part in the first ever International Swimming League meet for their respective clubs. While the two normally represent USA Swimming in international competition, Margalis was representing the Condors and Ledecky the Trident.

Ledecky nearly broke the world record in the 400 free on Sunday afternoon, swimming a 3:54.06 which was just off Ariarne Titmus’ world record of 3:53.92 from the 2018 World Championships. Had Ledecky gone under Titmus’ 3:53, then her time would not have counted by FINA as an official world record, despite it being the fastest time ever. FINA has stated they will not be recognizing world records set in ISL events, causing some discourse with the athletes competing in the league.

Many of the world’s best swimmers voiced their opinions on why FINA should recognize world records set in ISL events.

But Ledecky’s time will still count as an American record, since she was quicker than the 3:57.07 set by Katie Hoff in 2010. Representatives from USA Swimming confirmed to Swimming World that they will recognize American records set during ISL competitions.

Ledecky was not the only American record breaker on the weekend as Melanie Margalis finally became the fastest American with a 2:04.18 in the 200 IM. Margalis broke her own record of 2:04.62 from last year’s World Championships, but she was not the fastest American all-time. That distinction belonged to Julia Smit, who swam a 2:04.60 at the 2009 Duel in the Pool in Manchester.

USA Swimming put a ban on the polyurethane body suits in October 2009, but they were still allowed in FINA competitions until January 2010 so the Americans were permitted to use them at the Duel in the Pool in December ’09 without penalty.

Margalis’ time on Sunday will officially count as the true American record.

EVENT	SWIMMER	TIME	DATE	LOCATION
50 Free	Abbey Weitzeil	23.44	18-Sep-21	Naples, ITA
100 Free	Abbey Weitzeil	51.26	10-Nov-20	Budapest, HUN
200 Free	Mallory Comerford	1:51.81	11-Dec-18	Hangzhou, China
Not-ratified*	Allison Schmitt	1:51.67	19-Dec-09	Manchester, GBR
400 Free	Katie Ledecky	3:52.88	28-Oct-22	Toronto, CAN
800 Free	Katie Ledecky	7:57.42	5-Nov-22	Indianapolis, USA
1500 Free	Katie Ledecky	15:08.24	29-Oct-22	Toronto, CAN
50 Back	Claire Curzan	25.54	16-Dec-22	Melbourne, AUS
100 Back	Olivia Smoliga	55.04	22-Nov-20	Budapest, HUN
200 Back	Missy Franklin	2:00.03	22-Oct-11	Berlin, GER
50 Breast	Lilly King	28.77	21-Nov-20	Budapest, HUN
100 Breast	Lilly King	1:02.50	22-Nov-20	Budapest, HUN
200 Breast	Lilly King	2:15.56	21-Nov-20	Budapest, HUN
Not-ratified*	Rebecca Soni	2:14.57	18-Dec-09	Manchester, GBR
50 Fly	Claire Curzan	24.55	19-Dec-21	Abu Dhabi, UAE
100 Fly	Kelsi Dahlia	54.59	3-Dec-21	Eindhoven, NED
200 Fly	Kelsi Dahlia	2:01.73	12-Dec-18	Hangzhou, CHN
100 IM	Beata Nelson	57.90	17-Sep-21	Naples, ITA
200 IM	Kate Douglass	2:02.12	13-Dec-22	Melbourne, AUS
400 IM	Melanie Margalis	4:24.15	20-Dec-19	Las Vegas, USA
Not-ratified*	Julia Smit	4:21.04	18-Dec-09	Manchester, GBR
4x50 FR	Torri Huske Claire Curzan Erika Brown Kate Douglass	1:33.89	15-Dec-22	Melbourne, AUS
4x100 FR	Torri Huske Kate Douglass Claire Curzan Erika Brown	3:26.29	13-Dec-22	Melbourne, AUS
4x200 FR	Alex Walsh Hali Flickinger Erin Gemmell Leah Smith	7:34.70	14-Dec-22	Hangzhou, China
4x50 MR	Olivia Smoliga Katie Meili Kelsi Dahlia Mallory Comerford	1:42.38	12-Dec-18	Hangzhou, China
4x100 MR	Claire Curzan Lilly King Torri Huske Kate Douglass	3:44.35	18-Dec-22	Melbourne, AUS