OT: Swimming World Championships 2015 Kazan, Russia

Submitted by Wolverine In Iowa on

OT as hell, but I know there are some swim fans lurking here.  Anyone else nervous why the US, both men and women, are doing very poorly at the world championships this year?

Men's 400 free relay didn't even qualify for the final - pathetic.

Lots of swimmers not qualifying even for the semi-finals, or later the finals in their events.

Bright spot: USA's Katie Ledecky won the 400 free, and then she set a new world record in the 1500 this morning.  She is an absolute animal at age 17 or 18.

Hungarian Katinka Hosszu set a world record in the 200 IM (I am convinced she is doping, by the way).  Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) set a WR in the 100 fly.  Both WR's had been held by Americans prior to this meet.

Other notables:

Men's 400 free - Michigan's own Connor Jaeger got fourth, and US got eighth too (Michael McBroom).

Women's 400 free relay - USA third

Men's 100 breast - no Americans in final

Women's 100 fly - no Americans in final

Men's 50 fly - no Americans in final (see the prevailing theme here?)

Women's 200 IM - USA fourth and seventh

 

The Barwis Effect

August 3rd, 2015 at 5:09 PM ^

Read a NYT article (maybe WSJ?) and it said the World Championships are usually a harbinger for the Olympics the following year, so things don't bode well for the US in Brazil next year.




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Wolverine In Iowa

August 3rd, 2015 at 5:37 PM ^

I don't know if there's any difference with testing at the world championships versus the Olympics, but there are strict testing regulations in place for any world class swimmer all the time.  Now, whether one can avoid detection is a different story of course.  The article linked just mentions that Russia has a pretty bad track record as far as doping - not relevant to the fact that the swimming world championships are in Russia this year.

GoWings2008

August 3rd, 2015 at 6:24 PM ^

I'd want to compare their times to previous best times to see how far off the mark they are. Not placing well is one thing about racing that is dependent on the situation, but they can't control how fast everyone else is going.... That said, these initial results are quite disappointing.

chatster

August 3rd, 2015 at 6:58 PM ^

I can't say that I'm a "swim fan," but I'm a USA fan. Considering past history, I also was surprised to see how poorly USA Swimming (other than Katie Ledecky) has been doing in the pool at the world championships -- only two medals oiut of eight events so far for the USA in the pool (one gold; one bronze), compared to two golds and a silver in open water swimming for the USA. LINK TO MEDALS TABLE

If you're old enough to remember when the United States produced many world class swimmers, check the most recently posted FINA World Rankings, because you may be surprised to see that there are relatively few American swimmers ranked among the top ten swimmers in the world in their events. 

Just for example, Natalie Coughlin, the highest-ranked American woman in the long course 50M freestyle, currently is ranked twelfth in the world. Only three other American women are ranked among the top 30 swimmers in that event. Only four American women are ranked among the top 30 swimmers in the long course 100M frestyle. Missy Franklin, the top-ranked American woman is ranked ninth.

Josh Schneider (fifth) and Nathan Adrian (ninth) are the top-ranked Americans in the long course 50M freestyle. Cullen Jones (19th), Paul Powers (27th) and Jimmy Feigen (49th) are the only other Americans ranked in the top 50 in that event. Adrian is the top-ranked American male swimmer at 100M on the long course, but he's ranked only 33rd in the world.

 

 

 

 

Wolverine In Iowa

August 3rd, 2015 at 7:50 PM ^

The only reason I can think of for the poor performances so far (other than other countries' athletes gaining on us and/or we just suck now) is that the US philosophy is to prepare for Rio 2016.  The people representing the US in this meet were chosen in 2014's long course nationals, which was a year ago.  Usually our qualifying meet is about two months prior to the big meet (see 2012 Olympics, 2008 Olympics, other world championship meets).

I'm really reaching for an excuse, aren't I?  :(

Edit: here were the qualifying procedures for Kazan 2015.  https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB…

chatster

August 3rd, 2015 at 8:48 PM ^

Even if the qualifying meets were held a year ago, I would've thought that there would have been enough meets scheduled between then and June 2015 for USA swimmers to have been moving up in the world rankings -- even those who hadn't qualified to be part of the 2015 World Championship team.

It's early in the World Championships, so the USA could improve in the medals count; but it looks like China will be very difficult to catch. Maybe this is China's attempt to justify a system that selects very young children and programs them to excel in specific sports by taking them from their families and putting them through rigorous, round-the-clock traiining that some consider to be near torture. I doubt that such a system ever could work in the USA . . . and I'm thankful that we don't operate that way.

OT: Thanks for making me appreciate that I can visit MGoBlog and find discussions about ALL sports, even those that aren't considered "major sports." 

ehatch

August 3rd, 2015 at 8:40 PM ^

I definitely think the qualification process is hurting the Americans in Kazan.  Kelsi Worrel and Kelli Meili both would have been faster than Stewart and Hardy, respectively.  

I love Anthony Ervin, but he did not swim well on the relay.  There are at least half a dozen other swimmers that could have swam faster than that, including Junior Nationals Champion Maxime Rooney.  

I can say I have watched Missy Franklin swim all summer long (I swim in the same pool after she does), she hasn't looked sharp, especially on her backstroke.  

I'm not worried about Rio yet, we have a lot of good young swimmers that will only get better by this time next year, including Michael Andrew, Reese Whitley, and Andrew Salinsky to name a few.  

The Open Water swimmers did great.  First in the team and Sean Ryan of the University of Michigan qualified for the Rio, giving UM representation at every Olympics since 1948.

chatster

August 4th, 2015 at 3:31 AM ^

2015 Pan American Games Swimming  Team USA topped the medals table with 32 total (12 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze). Canada had 27 medals (8 gold, 10 silver, 9; bronze); Brazil had 26 (10 gold, 6 silver, 10 bronze)

2015 World University Games Swimming  Team USA topped the medals table with 34 total medals (15 gold, 9 silver, 10 bronze). Japan finished in second place with 21 total medals (5 gold, 7 silver, 9 bronze) and Italy was third with 18 (3 gold, 9 silver, 6 bronze)

You can click on individual event results for the times. 

I guess it might be too soon to press Team USA Swimming's 

Wolverine In Iowa

August 3rd, 2015 at 11:54 PM ^

I know - it is sad.  The reason I question Hosszu's performances is because she has been in a huge amount of meets over the past few years and kicked ass.  No woman is close to her as far as number of high-performance results and quality.  Something is fishy.

Anyways, the US has some people in tomorrow's finals.  Lochte seeded first in 200 free and then Missy Franklin in the 100 back.

Zoltanrules

August 4th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^

My Dexter HS son whose med relay team made an AA time this spring has a rising HS senior, Zofchak, who qualified for the '16 Olympic trials in the 100 and 200 back! So many great HS swimmers in Washtenaw county. Michigan will get their second A2 swimmer this fall, Kai Williams - who is a nice kid and got my respect playing water polo too.

Wolverine In Iowa

August 4th, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^

Day three finals about to start.  I will post as results come in.  USA USA USA

Men's 200 free - Ryan Lochte grabs fourth

Women's 100 back - Franklin fifth, Baker eighth :(

Men's 50 breast semi-finals - WR set by UK's Peaty; American record set by Kevin Cordes!!

Women's 1500 - Ledecky in the water now.  I expect her to crush her own WR.  Update:  her 800 split is the fastest 800 time in the world this year (meet record, actually - insane), two seconds under WR pace. UPDATE:  NEW WORLD RECORD by Katie Ledecky!!!!!!!  (She swims in a bit in the 200 free semi's).

Men's 100 back - Matt Grevers claims bronze.

Women's 200 free semi-finals - Ledecky qualifies for final!!  Just incredible.  Missy Franklin to finals as well! USA USA USA

Men's 200 fly semi-finals - Clary doesn't make finals; Tom Shields in at eighth

Women's 100 breast - no Americans were in this final, which was won by Efimova

rufftime

August 4th, 2015 at 3:00 PM ^

USA should have boycotted the event and all other sports events in Russia until they stop supporting separatists in Ukraine, stop sending "volunteers" to fight in Ukraine, AND return Crimea to Ukraine.  Besides, there is not much to see and do in Kazan anyway (i have actually been there twice).  Russia's so called annexation (actually an armed seizure) of Crimea is completely against international law.  Crimea is very historic and beautiful. (i have actually been there too.) 

Wolverine In Iowa

August 5th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^

Day Four

Men's 100 free semi-finals - Nathan Adrian qualifies fifth.

Women's 50 back semi-finals - No Americans in this.

Men's 200 fly - Ageless (it seems) Hungarian Laszlo Cseh wins; Tom Shields eighth

Women's 200 free - UNREAL:  Katie Ledecky wins her third gold medal; Missy Franklin third!!

Men's 50 breast - Peaty (GBR) wins another gold; Kevin Cordes third!!

Women's 200 fly semi-finals - Americans McLaughlin and Adams qualify fifth and sixth!

Men's 200 IM semi-finals - Lochte qualifies first; Conor Dwyer will be in a swim-off to determine the last qualifying spot.  UPDATE: Dwyer wins swim-off by 0.08 seconds to qualify for the final!

Men's 800 free - Connor Jaeger (U-M boy) fourth; Michael McBroom eighth.

Mixed 4x100 medley relay (two women; two men) - Never seen this event before.  USA finishes second, with GBR winning in a new WR.  US had set the WR this morning.

Wolverine In Iowa

August 6th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^

Day Five

Women's 100 free semi-finals - Simone Manuel and Missy Franklin qualify for USA.  If either of them places, it will be a miracle.

Men's 200 IM - Ryan Lochte is your world champion!!  Conor Dwyer takes fifth.

Women's 200 breast semi-final - Micah Lawrence is on to the finals, qualifying second behind WR-holder Rikke Moller Pedersen.  What is harsh is two women have to do a swim-off later for the last qualifying place - 200 breast is absolutely brutal.

Men's 100 free - Nathan Adrian gets seventh.

Women's 200 fly - Cammile Adams wins silver, while McLaughlin gets sixth.

Men's 200 breast semi-finals - Kevin Cordes on safely to finals. Nic Fink does not qualify.

Women's 50 back - No Americans in this final.  China wins gold and bronze, with Brazil silver.

Men's 200 back semi-finals - Ryan Murphy and Tyler Clary on to finals!!

Women's 4x200 free relay - GOLD for USA (Katie Ledecky's fourth of this meet)

Wolverine In Iowa

August 7th, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^

Day Six.  Weird stuff going on with the Mexican team - seems there may have been some dishonesty about whether their meet qualifying times met meet 'A' or 'B' standards.

Women's 100 free - Simone sixth, Franklin seventh

Men's 200 back - Murphy fifth, Clary seventh

Women's 200 back semifinals - Missy Franklin qualifies third; Elizabeth Beisel fails to qualify.

Men's 50 free semi-finals - Nathan Adrian qualifies first; ol' man Anthony Ervin (34yo) to the swim-off for the eighth qualifying spot.

Women's 200 breast - Great swim by Micah Lawrence to finish in second!

Men's 100 fly semi-finals - Tom Shields qualifies first (tied).  No joy for Tim Phillips, as he finishes 13th.

Women's 50 fly semi-finals - Kendyl Stewart misses out on finals by 2/100th's of a second.

Men's 200 breast - Kevin Cordes silver!!

Men's 4x200 free relay - The lads finish second to GBR, whose anchor bitch-slapped our anchor.

Wolverine In Iowa

August 8th, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^

Day Seven.  An item of interest is that Michael Phelps won the US championship yesterday in the 200 fly with a time that would have won the Olympics in 2012 and this championship.  It looks like he will be back in business for Rio 2016.

Women's 50 fly - no Americans in this final, won by Sarah Sjostrom in a meet record.

Men's 50 free - Nathan Adrian grabs second!!

Women's 200 back - MIssy Franklin in second!!

Women's 50 breast semi-finals - Jessica Hardy qualifies third.

Men's 100 fly - Tom Shields finishes in fourth place.

Women's 50 free semi-finals - Simone Manuel qualifies for finals.

Men's 50 back semi-finals - Matt Grevers and David Plummer qualify for finals - this is nice.

Women's 800 free - KATIE LEDECKY, NEW WORLD RECORD BY MORE THAN 3.5 SECONDS, FIFTH GOLD MEDAL OF THIS MEET

Mixed 4x100 free relay (two men, two women) - this is a thing now (sorry for using that term).  USA NEW WORLD RECORD IN TAKING GOLD!!!!  Lochte and Adrian, Manuel and Franklin

Wolverine In Iowa

August 9th, 2015 at 2:07 PM ^

Men's 50 back - Matt Grevers wins silver; David Plummer finishes eighth.

Women's 50 breast - Jessica Hardy claims fifth.

Men's 400 IM - Kalisz third; Clary fourth.

Women's 50 free - Simone Manuel finishes eighth.

Men's 1500 free - Wolverine Connor Jaeger wins silver!  Mike McBroom finishes in sixth.  Not bad.

Women's 400 IM - Maya DiRado wins silver!!

Men's 4x100 medley relay - USA USA USA GOLD!!!

Women's 4x100 medley relay - China stronk; USA fourth :(

All in all an interesting meet, with clearly Katie Ledecky the dominant swimmer in all the world.  I think that we will see a much more effective US team in Rio 2016, as some new faces (and old ones) will be swimming some kick-ass times leading up to the trials in Omaha next year.

Overall Medal Count (this is all sports, like diving, swimming, water polo, etc.)

China 35 (15-10-10)

USA 33 (13-14-6)

Russia 17 (9-4-4)

Swimming Medal Count (this blows my mind).

USA 23 (8-10-5)

Australia 16 (7-3-6)

China 13 (5-1-7)