In the last year-or-so, the 100 meter IM has really gained a new pedestal around the world. No, it’s still not an event viewed with the same prestige as the 200 IM, the 200 free, or the 100 fly, but it’s a swimmer that many of the world’s best have taken to as a really “fun” event. If the 200 IM is the NBA finals, the 100 IM is the dunk contest. If the World Series is the 400 free, then the home run derby is the 100 IM. If the World Cup is the 200 back, then the 100 IM is the FA Cup or the Confederations Cup.
And there’s nothing wrong with a little fun.
This all-star event has the potential to bring swimmers from different specialties together into one all-star event that could grow into the highlight of short course championships is well-marketed.
In the above interview at the 2014 Scottish Short Course National Championships in Edinburgh, NCAA and Commonwealth Games 400 IM Champion Dan Wallace talks about how while the longer, “harder” race is still his primary, this 100 IM is a really fun one for him, and that’s why he still races it every year at Scottish Nationals.
He also discusses how short course yards swimming in the United States really forces him to emphasize his turns, which in the long run benefits his meters swimming as well.
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Stephen – if you click on an article immediately after it has been posted, videos in the header won’t appear yet. Wait a few minutes and refresh. It’s a glitch in WordPress.