FINA will tweak the event order for the final two editions of its new Champions Series, eliminating the single-gender relays in favor of mixed-gender relays and shuffling the events over the two-day meet lineup.
We’ve been told that the new event order will be as follows:
| Day 1 | Day 2 | |||
| 1 |
400m Freestyle, Women
|
1 | 400m Freestyle, Men | |
| 2 | 200m Butterfly, Men | 2 | 200m Butterfly, Women | |
| 3 |
100m Butterfly, Women
|
3 | 100m Butterfly, Men | |
| 4 | 50m Freestyle, Men | 4 | 50m Freestyle, Women | |
| 5 |
200m Breaststroke, Women
|
5 | 200m Breaststroke, Men | |
| 6 |
100m Backstroke, Men
|
6 |
100m Backstroke, Women
|
|
| 7 |
200m Backstroke, Women
|
7 | 200m Backstroke, Men | |
| 8 | 50m Butterfly, Men | 8 | 50m Butterfly, Women | |
| 9 |
100m Freestyle, Women
|
9 | 100m Freestyle, Men | |
| 10 | 200m IM, Men | 10 | 200m IM, Women | |
| 11 |
50m Breaststroke, Women
|
11 | 50m Breaststroke, Men | |
| 12 |
100m Breaststroke, Men
|
12 |
100m Breaststroke, Women
|
|
| 13 |
50m Backstroke, Women
|
13 | 50m Backstroke, Men | |
| 14 | 200m Freestyle, Men | 14 | 200m Freestyle, Women | |
| 15 |
4x100m Freestyle, Mixed*
|
15 | 4x100m Medley, Mixed* |
The old event order was:
| Day 1 | Day 2 | |||
| 1 |
4x100m Freestyle (W)
|
1 |
4x100m Medley (Mi)
|
|
| 2 |
400m Freestyle (W)
|
2 |
400m Freestyle (M)
|
|
| 3 |
100m Freestyle (M)
|
3 |
50m Freestyle (W)
|
|
| 4 |
100m Backstroke (W)
|
4 |
100m Butterfly (M)
|
|
| 5 |
200m Backstroke (M)
|
5 |
50m Butterfly (W)
|
|
| 6 |
200m Butterfly (W)
|
6 |
200m Breaststroke (M)
|
|
| 7 |
50m Butterfly (M)
|
7 |
200m Backstroke (W)
|
|
| 8 |
200m Freestyle (W)
|
8 |
50m Freestyle (M)
|
|
| 9 |
50m Breaststroke (M)
|
9 |
200m Breaststroke (W)
|
|
| 10 |
100m Breaststroke (W)
|
10 |
50m Backstroke (M)
|
|
| 11 | 200m IM (M) | 11 |
100m Freestyle (W)
|
|
| 12 |
100m Butterfly (W)
|
12 |
200m Freestyle (M)
|
|
| 13 |
100m Backstroke (M)
|
13 |
50m Breaststroke (W)
|
|
| 14 |
50m Backstroke (W)
|
14 |
100m Breaststroke (M)
|
|
| 15 |
200m Butterfly (M)
|
15 | 200m IM (W) | |
| 16 |
4x100m Freestyle (Mi)
|
16 |
4x100m Freestyle (M)
|
|
| 17 |
4×100 Medley (M)
|
17 |
4x100m Medley (W)
|
The major change is that instead of having four relays (two for men, two for women), the new lineup will compress down to two relays: a mixed medley relay and a mixed free relay. The relays will close each night, instead of the old lineup in which the relays bookended the session.
In addition, the events are shuffled around a bit to spread out event disciplines. The 100s of fly, back and breast no longer conflict with either the 50 or 200 of the same stroke, and the 50s and 200s share a session – under the previous lineup, the men’s 100 and 200 breaststrokes were the same day, as were the women’s 100 and 200 fly, the women’s 50 and 100 back and the men’s 100 and 200 back.
The first stop of the Champions Series took place last weekend in Guangzhou, China. The next stop is next weekend in Budapest, Hungary, and the series concludes with a May 31-June 1 stop in Indianapolis, IN, USA.
I doubt a Michael Andrew would be happy! If we has the same lineup as Guangzhou he will have 5 races back to back with only one women’s event in between on Day 1 in the: 50 Free, 100 Back, 50 Fly, 200 IM, 100 Breast, Can anyone clarify if his events will stay the same for Budapest and Indianapolis?
After seeing his vlog from Guangzhou, I think he’s more than happy to race beyond where it hurts and make the money. These are training meets for him.
http://www.fina.org/content/fina-champions-swim-series-2019-athletes-list
With this setup, he can come in 4th and get 5000$ with each race without even trying.
Earlier today I watched most of Day #1 of the Guangzhou meet from two weeks ago. I was delightfully surprised by MISSY FRANKLIN’s color commentary. She did a more-than-adequate discussing each event and the strategies employed by the swimmers. Also, she was LESS bubbly and giggly than I thought she might be (that’s a good thing though she can dial her “bubbliness” down another 10% or so).
Here’s my main tip to Missy: keep at it (I think you’ve got a very bright future doing swimming color), and stop using these two words: ABSOLUTELY and PHENOMENAL (you used them way too often). Best wishes!
Her voice has a honey timbre and she was a nice addition to the leading announcer. But she still has a long way to go to lead the broadcasting. She was like a student who did well her homework. But I tell you that it’s not really important of how much interesting information she provides or how correct and professional she is with that. But the way it is delivered. I like to listen to Italian broadcasters despite I understand very little of what they are saying, but emotions are more important to make me involved. The rest I can find on google.
I don’t think she will make it her profession.
Of course she won’t in your view — she’s a woman. Why don’t you pick on a man some time?
If there was indeed “Champions Series” where each event sees four bests then the schedule is not a big deal. Not many swimmers can swim at elite level from 50 to 200. I would say Sarah Sjostrom is the only exception and she was ok with the old schedule. The problem is that for different reasons FINA cannot compose these series as intended (as declare to be more accurate) and invites opportunists who aren’t shy to have doubles, triples or even quadruple. And for those the schedule become critical or even killing.
Do you even follow swimming?
I’ve never missed any of your comments. So I can proudly answer “YES” on your question of curiosity. 😀
The “opportunists” are the ones willing to put their body on the line and risk losing so that they can make money. They’re pros, not amateurs. Frankly, I have more respect for the swimmers that do that than I do someone like Peaty who won’t swim a 200 breast.
Any product has its buyers.
For the organizers to put the 100s and 200s of some strokes in same sessions just shows you how out of touch these FINA folks are!!!
I Don’t see it? Maybe I’m blind. Looks like the 100s and 200s of stoke are alternating. 50s for men one day, women the other.
200 free is tough, but it has to land on one of the two days. Split the difference- men one day, women the other.
Seems reasonable to me. Of course some one will always be disappointed/disadvantaged with the order of events at every meet format. Some one else is advantaged and happy.
Net wash at the end of the day, as far as I can tell.
Fat swimmer, that’s what the second last paragraph was about. Before FINA switched up the program the men’s 100/200 breaststroke and the men’s 100/200 backstroke was in the same session. The Women had the 100/200 double in fly and 50/100 double for backstroke. It was a very strange program.