COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Featuring Team USA’s top swimmers squaring off against Europe’s best, the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool returns to the United States on Dec. 11-12 at the Indiana University Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI in downtown Indianapolis.
Designed to showcase the sport’s most exciting athletes in a short-course meters, dual-meet format, the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool is a made-for-television event that has captivated spectator audiences since its 2003 debut in Indianapolis.
“Highlighting that swimming truly is a team sport, the athletes really enjoy the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool’s dual-meet format, which also makes for a thrilling competition for fans,” USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch said. “Over the past 12 years, this event has proven to be one of the most exciting events on the international swimming calendar.”
Action from the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool will be televised on Dec. 19 on NBC. Additional broadcast coverage will be announced in the future.
“Mutual of Omaha is excited to once again bring the world’s best swimmers together in a head-to-head competition as undefeated Team USA takes on the European All-Stars,” said Mutual of Omaha Senior Vice President John Hildenbiddle. “With its thrilling competition and great coverage on NBC, the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool builds excitement and enthusiasm for swimming leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games.”
The iconic Indiana University Natatorium was the site of the inaugural Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool in 2003, with the U.S. topping Australia by a score of 196-74. It is one of the foremost swimming venues in America, hosting such events as the 1984, 1992, 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, as well as eight USA Swimming National Championships.
This year will mark the seventh Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool, held every other year since the 2003 inception. The U.S. is undefeated and holds a 6-0 all-time record in the competition.
The 2013 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool was the most thrilling edition of the event yet. Team USA capped a 23-point comeback with a victory in the tie-breaking 200-meter mixed medley relay en route to a 132-131 victory over the European All-Stars, in Glasgow, Scotland.
The 2013 Team USA roster featured the likes of Olympic gold medalists Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Md.) and Tyler Clary (Riverside, Calif.), while gold medalists Missy Franklin (Centennial, Colo.) and Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) led the U.S. in 2011. At the 2003 event in Indianapolis, a 17-year old Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) broke the world record in the 400-meter individual medley in the first individual event of the competition.
Swimmers can compete in a maximum of six events (individual and relays), and each team may enter up to four swimmers per individual event and one relay. A running score will be kept combining the points earned by both women and men to determine the winning team.
The meet will be comprised of 15 events per gender (13 individual and two relays) with over $120,000 in prize money on the line. The winning team will take home a portion of the winnings while prize money will be awarded to the winner of each race. A bonus will also be awarded for any world-record swim at the event.
Rosters for both teams will be announced in early October, and ticket information will be available at usaswimming.org in the near future.
Year-By-Year Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool Final Scores
2013: U.S. 132 European All-Stars 131 (Glasgow, Scotland)
2011: U.S. 181.5 European All-Stars 80.5 (Atlanta, Ga.)
2009: U.S. 185 E-Stars 78 (Manchester, England)
2007: U.S. 181.5 Australia 129.5 (Sydney, Australia)
2005: U.S. 190 Australia 102 (Irvine, Calif.)
2003: U.S. 196 Australia 74 (Indianapolis, Ind.)
United States: 3-0 vs. Australia, 3-0 vs. Europe
GREAT POOL BATTLE!!! CONGRATULATIONS !!!
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