The Week That Was: Cate Campbell Makes Triumphant Return at Aussie Short Course Champs

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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The big news from this week was from Down Under, where Australian Cate Campbell made a triumphant return to racing in a dramatic fashion. Catch up on all of the races from that meet and more in The Week That Was.

The Week That Was #5 – LSU Swimmer Honored By USA Deaf Sports Federation

Photo Courtesy: LSU Sports

Swimmer Matt Klotz was named the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) Sportsman of the Year this week. Klotz is a sophomore who competes for LSU and represented the United States at this past summer’s Deaflympics, where he won gold in the 50, 100 and 200 backstrokes in addition to silver medals in the 50 fly and 50 free. He set Deaflympic record in all three backstroke races and also set new world records in the 50 and 200 backstroke. Klotz also served as the Team Captain for USA Deaf Swimming.

The Week That Was #4 – TYR Signs Great Britain’s Ross Murdoch

Photo Courtesy: British Swimming

TYR announced this week that Commonwealth Games gold medalist Ross Murdoch has signed on with the company. Murdoch won gold in the 200 breast at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in 2:07.30, which still stands as the British record, and was also the 2016 European champion in the event. Murdoch joins a rapidly growing list of high profile athletes that have signed on with TYR in the last year, including Ryan Lochte, Lia Neal and Leah Smith. Murdoch most recently finished fourth in the 200 breast at this past summer’s World Championships and earned a silver medal for swimming on Britain’s 400 medley relay. He will have a chance to defend his 200 breast Commonwealth Games title in Australia in April.

The Week That Was #3 – Terry Laughlin, Founder of Total Immersion, Passes Away at 66

Photo Courtesy: Cathleen Pruden

The swimming world learned of the passing of Terry Laughlin, the creator of the “Total Immersion” swim training system. Laughlin had been battling prostate cancer for the past two years and is survived by his wife, Alice, and three daughters Fiona, Carrie and Betsy. The family announced his passing on Monday, “He displayed his characteristic optimism, wit and passion for life—and swimming—until the very end. Our family is in mourning and we ask that we be given time and space to grieve a beloved husband and father privately.” Total Immersion is a unique technique-based program that Laughlin founded in 1989 and is centered around teaching efficiency in the water. In lieu of flowers, Laughlin’s family “will be accepting donations for the Total Immersion Swimming Foundation, a philanthropic arm of the company.” Read more about Terry Laughlin and Total Immersion by clicking here.

The Week That Was #2 – Brazil Court Reopens Lochte Case

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

According to multiple reports, the Brazilian criminal case involving Olympian Ryan Lochte has been reopened following an appeal by the Rio de Janeiro prosecutor’s office. Lochte was cleared of criminal charges back in July, but a ruling by the Court of Justice has suspended the decision that dismissed that case. The Olympian, who is making a return to racing after his ban from USA Swimming has completed, had originally been charged for falsely communicating a crime to authorities after the so-called “gas station incident” following the end of the competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Jeff Ostrow, Lochte’s Florida-based attorney, told USA TODAY Sports they they are disappointed with the decision and plan to continue to fight the case.

The Week That Was #1 – Cate Campbell Makes Dramatic Return At Aussie SC Champs

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Australian Olympians Kyle Chalmers, Jess Ashwood and Cate Campbell made a triumphant return to the pool at the 2017 Australian Short Course Championships in Adelaide. Campbell was the highlight of the meet, returning for her first major competition since the 2016 Rio Olympics. The 25-year-old reclaimed the world record in the 100 free with a blazing fast 50.25, taking back the record from Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, who has broken it earlier this year. She backed that up with a national record in the 50 free (23.19) the very next day, re-affirming her declaration coming into the meet that she still has unfinished work to do in the pool. Olympic gold medalist Kyle Chalmers also made his return to competition after sitting out World Championships following heart surgery, winning the 100 free in 47.72. Australian Emily Seebohm also continued her reign as the most successful short course swimmer in Australia’s history, winning her 26th event title. You can see full recaps of the 2017 Australian Short Course Championships on our Event Coverage Page.

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