In this episode of the SwimSwam Breakdown, I sat down with SwimSwam Co-Founders Braden Keith and Mel Stewart to analyze what happened in this post-Olympic week of swimming, which was surprisingly a lot. Here’s a synopsis:
- By winning seven medals – four gold, three bronze – at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Australian Emma McKeon set the record for the female athlete with the most medals at a single Games, tying with Soviet gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya in 1952. McKeon is also Australia’s most successful Olympian, with a total career haul of 11 medals.
- South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker represented just one of two medalists in total at the Tokyo Games hailing from South Africa. However, her Olympic achievements were met with a somber reality check upon returning home, as the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) confirms they are likely unable to pay out Olympic medal bonuses.
- FINA President Husain Al-Musallam has announced that the prize money pool for the upcoming Short Course World Championships in December has been significantly increased. Al-Musallam announced the prize money will total over $2.8 million USD, including a 50% increase in prize money for individuals.
- We sat down with the 2016 Olympic champion and 2020 silver medalist in the 100 free, Kyle Chalmers to get his perspective on the 2020 Olympic Games. Chalmers starts with the lead-up to his trials which was riddled with injury, namely in both of his shoulders. Chalmers admits he couldn’t even train at a full schedule until after the Australian trials.
- Rising Ohio State senior Hudson McDaniel swam a time trial of the 50 breast on Tuesday at the Greensboro site of the Speedo Summer Championships. In that time trial, McDaniel smashed his previous best time of 27.73, roaring to a 26.92.
- The SEC has officially extended an invitation to the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma to join the conference beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, the SEC announced Thursday.
- Mission Viejo 17-year-old Justina Kozan clocked a 2:11.96 to win the women’s 200 IM in Irvine, marking her 4th title of the meet. Her free split tonight was 29.75, which was the fastest split in tonight’s field by nearly 2 seconds and faster than anyone of the 8 females in the Olympic final.
I just like that Coleman was surprised that somehow y’all kept talking about the Olympics no matter what topic was brought up.
Of course ya did!! It’s the Olympics! It just happened! It’s sorta the only thing anyone ever cares about!
Hey, the 3 of you, PLEASE do this every single week.
I will listen.
Do it.
And if you want to send any of those rumors that aren’t fit for publication directly to me, I will also totally keep them secret. (Who am I gonna tell, I don’t have any friends!! {Except for all my fellow commenters. My one true family.})
Have the dates been set for the 2022 Phillips 66 National Championships? Inside scoop, anyone?
What happened to Ryan Lochte? Saw his story post said surgery was a success.
Inflatable water slide incident. His wife Kayla said it was a torn meniscus.
Ouch!
Also just saw there is a SS article.
Swimming news question — Regan Smith signed with Speedo and Torri Huske signed with TYR. I know NCAA rules changed, but I didn’t follow it that closely. They can still swim in college, correct? Are there any limitations to their sponsorships that they wouldn’t have if they weren’t doing NCAA swimming?
Lots of thoughts here:
1. I have always said that the USA success is based on numbers and money! Many countries do a much better job of bringing along their athletes technically and for the long haul. And most medal foreign swimmers aren’t coming up thru the USA collegiate system. And money! No comparison! I think of each university as a training center….GB has 3 or 4 very good centers….the USA has maybe 50 with all the support and financial backing?
2. About the medal money! SA not having the medal money is so not surprising. And I bet she is very happy with her Gold and Silver. Hopefully no one is swimming for the medal money but… Read more »
We’re here for it! This weekly segment is all about opinions and discussion, so please continue to share your thoughts!
A little surprised (unless I’ve just missed it) that there has been no coverage or discussion related to Simone’s comments about not interviewing swimmers after disappointing swims. Would have thought to be a topic right within this site’s wheelhouse.
https://www.axios.com/simone-manuel-interviews-media-mental-health-204f5a16-1c50-4972-a83b-a973b4b50ccb.html
Brden, Coleman, Mel: Great discussion. Keep it up!
Dynamic trio!