USA vs. European All Stars Duel in the Pool Set for Scotland

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, September 17. THIS year’s Duel in the Pool has the makings to be a special competition, and swimmers from both sides of The Pond are getting excited about it.

This year’s USA vs. European All Stars Duel in the Pool will take place in Glasgow, Scotland from Dec. 20-21, and the teams are going to be made up of some seriously fast swimmers.

The Stars and Stripes will be represented by swimmers who posted the top time in each Olympic event at the 2013 FINA World Championships, 2013 World University Games or 2013 U.S. Open, with the top two swimmers from the 100 and 200 freestyle at these events also qualifying. In the end, the roster will be compiled of 22 men and 22 women.

Not all of these qualifiers will accept an invitation to take part in the event, especially with NCAA swimmers right in the middle of competing for their collegiate teams. Regardless, Team USA should field a significantly swift roster.

The European All Stars are in the process of receiving invitations at this moment.

The rules regarding participation are as follows: swimmers will be able to compete in six events max, including individual and relay events. Additionally, each team can enter up to four swimmers in each individual event with the relays being head-to-head between two squads. A combined-point score will be kept to determine the overall winner.

Scoring in individual events will be: 1st place – 5 points, 2nd place – 3 points, 3rd place – 1 point, 4th, 5th and 6th – 0 points, while a premium will be put on relays with the head-to-head winner claiming 7 points, while the loser walks away with nothing.

The meet, which will consist of short course meter competition, will be held at the Tollcross International Swimming Center, which also is going to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The first day will begin at 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 20, with the second session starting at 9 a.m. on Dec. 21.

This is the sixth Duel in the Pool in the history of USA Swimming. So far, USA Swimming has won all five previous battles that also featured some USA vs. Australia matches.

Overall, nearly $120,000 in prize money is up for grabs with event winners and team winners picking up prize money throughout the meet. Meanwhile, world records will also earn a bonus should they occur.

Those records likely will be a bit tougher to take down by December, however, with the short course dynamos all fighting for huge bonus checks on the rest of the FINA World Cup circuit taking place in October and November.

Information regarding television broadcasts is expected later this week.

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