This week the World Championship qualifying meets continued around the world, with Great Britain, France, and Brazil holding their respective championships and some of the major contenders for this summer, including Adam Peaty, racing to earn their spot on their countries roster in South Korea this summer.
The Week That Was #5 – Phoebe Bacon, Isabelle Stadden Announce College Commits
Photo Courtesy:Melissa Wolf
Two of the most highly sought recruits for the high school class of 2020 have announced their college commitments. US National Team members Phoebe Bacon and Isabelle Stadden announced their verbal commitments to the University of Wisconsin and the University of California-Berkeley last week. Bacon will be joining the Badger the year after CSCAA Swimmer of the Year Beata Nelson will graduate, a huge pickup for the Badgers as they head into a new era under head coach Yuri Suguiyama. Stadden was third at US Nationals last summer, qualifying here for the 2019 Pan American Games, and will join a long legacy of backstrokers at Cal that includes Natalie Coughlin, Elizabeth Pelton, and Kathleen Baker, among others.
The Week That Was #4 – Ted Knapp Steps Down As Head Coach of Stanford Men’s Team
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Ted Knapp stepped down as the Goldman Family Director of Men’s Swimming this week through an official press release from Stanford Athletics. Knapp, who is a 1981 graduate of Stanford, has been the Director of the men’s program for the last seven years after taking the reins from former head coach Skip Kenney. Knapp has been involved with Stanford swimming as a coach for the last 35 years, serving as an assistant, associate head coach, and as the Director of the entire program. During his tenure at Stanford, the men’s program has won 70 individual national championships, seven national team championships, and 33 team conference championships titles.
The Week That Was #3 – Andrea Vergani Suspended After Testing Positive For Cannabis
Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala/ Deepbluemedia /Insidefoto
Italian swimmer Andrea Vergani, who had posted the world leading time in the 50 freestyle this year, has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for cannabis. The swimmer failed a test taken April 2 during Italy’s National Championships, the same meet where he won the 50 free in a world-leading 21.53. Vergani’s ban could last up to six months, which would leave him out of the 2019 World Championships in South Korea this July.
The Week That Was #2 – ISL Declares Madisyn Cox Ineligible For League
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
According to a representative from the ISL, Madisyn Cox will be ineligible to compete in the newly formed International Swimming League. Cox was wrongfully suspended last year after recording a positive test for trimetazidine. The American swimmer had her suspension reduced from two years to six months after proving that the positive test was a result of a contaminated supplement. Although Cox was cleared through her appeal process, the ISL has a zero tolerance policy for those serving a disqualification period related to doping, making Cox ultimately ineligible. Cox also filed suit against the Cooper Clinic, the manufacturer of the tainted supplement that led to her suspension, last week. A press release from her legal team said Cox is pursuing damages for the “significant reputational, financial and emotional consequences” caused by her suspension.
The Week That Was #1 – Adam Peaty Clocks Another Sub-58 100 Breaststroke
Photo Courtesy: gianmattiadalberto/lapresse
Last week the World Championships qualifying meets continued around the world, with athletes from Great Britain, France, and Brazil all vying for a spot on their country’s championships roster. Adam Peaty was arguably the biggest name competing this week, as the world record holder and Olympic gold medalist continued on his quest to be the first man to swim under 57 seconds in the 100 breaststroke. Peaty won the 50 and 100 breast to secure his spot for Worlds, swimming the eighth fastest 100 breast ever with a 57.87. Other notable swims from the week included a world-leading time in the 50 free (21.47) from Bruno Fratus, a world-leading 50 back (27.36) for Etiene Medeiros, and a new French record and world leading time in the 100 fly (50.85) for Mehdy Metella. You can see all the recaps from the British, French, and Brazil Championships on our event coverage pages.