2015 kicked off with a bang as there were plenty of new beginnings and surprising endings in January and February. \u00a0During the next few days, we’ll take a look back in “Splashbacks”, the most read stories of 2015.<\/p>\n
January and February featured some of the more controversial conversations of the year. \u00a0Former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner<\/strong> was arrested for alleged rape. \u00a0Two of the initial five felony charges have since been dropped<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, FINA made one of many blunders that led to a revolt within the coaching community as FINA elected to hold an open water swim run by the same people who were in charge when Fran Crippen<\/strong> died in an open water FINA event just five years prior. \u00a0The U.S. elected to boycott the race, although USA Swimming made sure the term “boycott” was never officially used for a variety of litigious reasons.<\/p>\n Additionally, Germantown Academy decided to run longtime coach Richard Shoulberg<\/strong> out of the building with a surprising “retirement” of Shoulberg. \u00a0He’s since moved on to coaching his own lessons in the area.<\/p>\n On a more positive note, Michael Phelps<\/strong> started what would become an incredible year of growth by getting engaged to his girlfriend Nicole Johnson<\/strong>.<\/p>\n