U.S. Olympic Trials: Michael Andrew, Ryan Held Tie for 50 Free Top Seed; Caeleb Dressel Tied for Seventh
Michael Andrew — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
by DAVID RIEDER – SENIOR WRITER
20 June 2024, 09:13am
U.S. Olympic Trials: Michael Andrew, Ryan Held Tie for 50 Free Top Seed; Caeleb Dressel Tied for Seventh
Michael Andrew returned to the competition pool Thursday morning for the first time since fading to eighth in the 100 breaststroke final, and he will try to sneak onto the Olympic team in the 50 free. Andrew was the World Championships silver medalist in the event in 2022, and his lifetime best is 21.41, second-best in the field behind Caeleb Dressel.
In prelims, Andrew tied for the top qualifying mark as he blasted his way to a time of 21.70 in heat nine while Ryan Held equaled that mark two heats later. Held, who was left off the Olympic team in heartbreaking fashion three years ago after finishing sixth in the 100 free, is again in limbo after Wednesday night’s 100-meter final, but he is sitting in a much stronger position after taking fifth this time around.
The two men who earned individual spots in the 100 free were just behind, with Jack Alexy touching in 21.74 for the third seed and Chris Guiliano claiming the fourth seed in 21.83. Guiliano is the first American man since Matt Biondi in 1988 to qualify for both the 100 and 200 free at the Olympics, and Biondi also swam the 50-meter event at those Olympics.
August Lamb dropped almost a half-second from his seed time to take fifth in 21.87, followed by Quintin McCarty (21.98) and a tie for seventh between Caeleb Dressel and Matt King at 22.00. Dressel qualified for his third Olympic team Wednesday with his third-place finish in the 100 free.
Jonny Kulow finished ninth in 22.01, and Jack Dolan was 10th (22.07). The remaining semifinalists include David Curtiss (22.18),Payton Sorenson (22.19), Matthew Jensen (22.24), Adam Chaney (22.26), Drew Salls (22.28) and Daniel Bates (22.28).
U.S. Olympic Trials: Jack Alexy Pops U.S. Open Record 47.08 in 100 Free; Caeleb Dressel 4th
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
by MATTHEW DE GEORGE – SENIOR WRITER
18 June 2024, 09:12am
U.S. Olympic Trials: Jack Alexy Pops U.S. Open Record 47.08 in 100 Free
Jack Alexy entered the men’s 100 freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials as the on-paper favorite. He did nothing to dissuade people of that notion.
Alexy won the final heat of nine with an authoritative swim of 47.08 seconds. It’s the second fastest time in the world this year. It downs the U.S. Open record held jointly by Ryan Held from Nationals in 2019 and Caeleb Dressel from Olympic Trials in 2021. The latter was the meet record.
Alexy was out in 22.44, the fastest in the field and one of only five sub-23 splits. He came back in 24.64, again the fastest in the field and one of only five sub-25 splits.
Second was Chris Guiliano, who Monday night booked a spot for himself in the 200 free. The Notre Dame swimmer went 47.65. Joining him under 48 seconds was Dressel in 47.82 and Hunter Armstrong in 47.93.
Held won the first of three circle-seeded heats to finish sixth in 48.15, .01 behind Destin Lasco. Patrick Sammon is seventh, with Matt King eighth.
Among the 200 swimmers from the night before, Kieran Smith made semifinals in ninth. Brooks Curry tied for 11th, with Worlds relay qualifier Henry McFadden, and Drew Kibler snuck into the 16th and final spot. Luke Hobson was not so lucky, finishing 20th. Carson Foster scratched the event, as he did the 200 fly.
Kibler denied two swimmers from non-circle-seeded heats, with Matthew Jensen (heat six) 17th and Quintin McCarty (heat 2) in 18th.
Alexy represented the U.S. at the 2023 World Championships, where he won a silver medal. Guiliano didn’t make it out of prelims in Fukuoka. A year earlier, Curry finished fifth in Budapest, an event marked by Dressel’s early withdrawal.
Held, Alexy, Guliano and King swam the relay in Fukuoka, with Lasco and Justin Ress in prelims. Ress was perhaps the biggest name to miss out, finishing 24th in 49.19.
Happy Birthday Michael Gross!!
Michael Gross (FRG)
Honor Swimmer (1995)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1980 silver (4x100m medley relay); 1984 gold (200m freestyle, 100m butterfly), silver (200m butterfly); 1988 gold (200m butterfly), bronze (4x200m freestyle relay); WORLD RECORDS: 12 (4-200m freestyle, 1-400m freestyle, 1-100m butterfly, 4-200m butterfly, 2-4x200m freestyle relay); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1982 gold (200m freestyle, 200m butterfly), silver (100m butterfly), bronze (4x200m freestyle relay); 1986 gold (200m freestyle, 200m butterfly), silver (4x100m medley relay, 4x200m freestyle relay); 1991 gold (4x200m freestyle relay), silver (100m, 200m butterfly), bronze (4x100m medley relay); EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1981 gold (200m butterfly); 1983 gold (200m freestyle, 100m, 200m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle relay), silver (4x100m medley relay); 1985 gold (200m freestyle, 100m, 200m butterfly, 4x100m medley relay, 4x200m freestyle relay); 1987 gold (200m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle relay), silver (100m butterfly), bronze (200m freestyle); EUROPEAN RECORDS: 24.
What does this West German superstar’s Porsche and swimming have in common? They are both very, very fast.
At 19, Michael Gross set his first world record at the German nationals in 1983. The next three years Michael broke his own record in the 200meter freestyle four times and set world marks in the 200m butterfly (four times) and 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle. At one time, Michael actually held four world records in four different events.
This 6-foot-6 record breaker has dominated the surface of the water for a decade as one of the greatest West German swimmers in history. His stature is so large that his wing span reaches almost lane-to-lane. For this, he has been coined, the “Albatross.” Michael says he likes his nickname, “because there are much more stupid nicknames in the world.”
Throughout his swimming career, Michael won gold medals at the European Championships in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987; the World Championship Games in 1982, 1986 and 1991; and was a triple gold medalist and a silver medalist at the 1984 Olympics. In the 1988 Olympics he won the gold again in the 200m freestyle and two silver medals in both butterfly events.
Michael’s last meet was at the 1991 World Championships in Perth, but he has no intention of leaving the world of sports. He is looking forward to enjoying sports such as skiing and marathon running.
Aside from his swimming, Michael is a philosopher and holds a doctorate in this thought provoking science. To him, this achievement is as important as being an Olympic champion. Gross believes, “The worst thing in life is to have no wishes, no goals, because then you have nothing to reach for, nothing to live for.” Needless to say, Michael has had much to live for.
Happy Birthday Steve Clark!!
Steve Clark (USA)
Honor Swimmer (1966)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1960 (participant); 1964 gold (4x100m, 4x200m freestyle relay; 4x100m medley relay); WORLD RECORDS: 50yd, 100yd, 100m, 200yd, 200m freestyle.
Steve Clark swam the 1960 Olympics out of Los Altos High School and the 1964 Olympics out of Yale and Santa Clara. He won five NCAA individual championships at Yale and six AAU titles for Santa Clara Swim Club. He won 3 gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, setting a world record of 52.9 for the 100 meter freestyle.
Clark is the first man in the world to have swum faster than 21 seconds for 50 yards, 46 seconds for 100 yards, 53 seconds for 100 meters, 1:50 for 200 yards and 2 minutes for 200 meters.
Clark’s 9 world records would have been at least 29 in an earlier time when FINA was accepting short course times for 50, 100, 200 and 220 yard, 100 meter and 200 meter freestyle. Steve Clark was Santa Clara’s first great male swimmer at the time Hall of Famer Chris Von Saltza was Santa Clara’s premier woman swimmer. Whereas Chris’ father characterized Chris by saying, “The longer the distance, the better the Von Saltza”, he might have added, “and the shorter the distance, the better the Clark.” Steve Clark was unquestionably the World’s fastest freestyle sprint swimmer for five years retiring to Harvard Law School with his records unchallenged.
In speculating on what might have been, swim buffs will always wonder on the fate that might have kept Steve from being the first man to win four gold medals in an Olympiad. Steve had tendonitis in his shoulder during the USA’s sudden-death Olympic Trials. His fourth place made the team, but only as a relay swimmer. By Tokyo, the tendonitis was gone, but U.S. rules limited Steve to 3 relays and 3 gold medals. He started off the 400 freestyle relay in the fastest gun start 100 of the Olympics. It was a new world record, but Steve didn’t get to do it when it would count for that fourth gold medal.
Clark’s book, Competitive Swimming As I See It , is a swimming best seller.
Happy Birthday Stephanie Rice!!
Stephanie Rice (AUS)
Honor Swimmer (2019)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (200m I.M, 400m I.M, 4x200m freestyle; 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): bronze (200m I.M, 400m I.M.); 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (200m I.M, 4x100m medley); bronze (400m I.M.); 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): bronze (400m I.M., 4x100m medley); 2006 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze (200m I.M., 400m I.M); 2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: gold (200m I.M, 400m I.M)
She first showed promise of being a great swimmer at 16, when she qualified for the 2005 Junior Pan-Pacific Championships. It was there that Stephanie Rice won two gold medals for Team Australia.
Rice burst onto the international senior scene in 2006 under coach Michael Bohl, winning two gold medals in both IMs at the Commonwealth Games in her home country. The next year at the World Championships also in front of a home crowd, Rice won two bronze medals in both IMs, lowering the Australian record in the 200.
In March 2008 at the Australian Olympic Trials in Sydney, Rice unexpectedly broke the world record in the 400m IM by a full second. Three days later, she broke the 200m IM world record that had stood for 11 years and qualified for her first Olympic team.
At the Olympic Games in Beijing, Rice became just the sixth Australian athlete to win three gold medals at a single Olympics when she won both IMs and led off Australia’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.
Stephanie became the first woman to break 4:30 in the 400m IM and lowered her own world record in the 200m IM later in the meet. To finish off her meet, she broke the Australian record in the 200m freestyle en route to Australia breaking the world record in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Rice was honored as the World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine and in January 2009 was awarded the prestigious Order of Australia Medal.
After the Olympics, Rice started dealing with nagging shoulder pain while she swam. At the 2009 World Championships, she won silver in the 200m IM and bronze in the 400m IM, not quite as good as her Olympics performances.
In 2010, her shoulder pain had gotten so bad, she underwent surgery, causing her to drop out of international competition.
Her surgery was successful but nine months before the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she tore a tendon in her shoulder. She was going to need surgery with a six-month recovery, but with the Olympic Trials only ten weeks away, full surgery was not an option. She elected for a smaller surgery that would hopefully keep her healthy for the Olympics. Despite these injuries, Rice qualified for the London Olympics in both the 200m and 400m IM, posting times near the top of the world rankings at the Olympic Trials.
In the weeks leading up to the Olympics, the pain in her shoulder continued to get worse. She was cutting her work load in the pool to ease the pain, but it was still a struggle. With all the injuries behind her, Rice was proud of her 4th place 200m IM and 6th place 400m IM performances in London and announced her retirement in 2014 at the age of 24.
She co-authored the book, The Art of Wellness, and is an ambassador for numerous well-known Australian health brands. Rice’s passion in life is to share her wealth of knowledge and her insights to positively impact others’ lives and inspire them to be the best they can be.
She is now giving back to the sport of swimming with her coach Michael Bohl. They are planning to build Learn-to- Swim programs all throughout India. In addition, they plan to develop the “Stephanie Rice Elite Academy,” with the goal of producing India’s very first Olympic swimming medalist in the next decade.
Happy Birthday Dr. Denes Kemeny!!
Dr. Denes Kemeny (HUN)
Honor Water Polo (2011)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP S: gold; 2003 FINA WATER POLO WORLD LEAGUE: gold; 2004 FINA WATER POLO WORLD LEAGUE: gold; 1999 FINA WATER POLO WORLD CUP: gold; 1997 EUROPEAN WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 1999 EUROPEAN WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP S: gold; 2000 LEN WATER POLO EUROPEAN LEAGUE: gold.
Born in Budapest 1954, Denes Kemeny began playing water polo at the young age of six. For the next 21 years, he played for six teams making the Hungarian National Team from 1974 to 1986 and competing in over 17 international games for his country. But his competition days were only preparing him for what was to come. In a country where water polo is the national sport, Kemeny would become one of Hungary’s most successful water polo coaches ever.
He graduated college in veterinary medicine, but later with a degree of water polo master trainer, he assumed the head coaching reigns of the National Team of Hungary; a country that had won an Olympic medal at all 12 Olympic Games from 1928 through 1980, but had not won an Olympic medal for the 20 year period from the1980 Moscow Olympics to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Kemeny changed all that! Within two short years as National Team Coach in 1978, his style, leadership and coaching ability returned.
Hungary to world prominence and water polo world dominance. Everything he touched turned to gold: the 2000 Olympic Sydney Olympic Games defeating Russia with the biggest goal margin in the history of Olympic finals; the 2004 Olympic Athens Games defeating Serbia & Montenegro coming back from a two goal deficit in the final period; and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games defeating a strong, surprise team from the USA.
This marks the first time a country has won three successive Olympic Games since Great Britain in 1908, 1912 and 1920. Kemenycoached teams have won gold medals at World Championships, World League, World Cups, European Championships and the European League. Kemeny has the ability to take young players and turn them into great players.
Ellie Smart Joins Board of Directors for International Swimming Hall of Fame
Ellie Smart Joins Board of Directors for International Swimming Hall of FameFort Lauderdale, 6/10/2024 – The International Swimming Hall of Fame proudly announces theappointment of Ellie Smart to its esteemed Board of Directors. Smart, a leading figure in highdiving, brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for the sport to the organization.At just 29 years old, Smart has been described by a former FINA official as a “greatentrepreneur” and “the number one ambassador for high diving.” Beginning her diving journeyat age five, she competed collegiately at the University of California, Berkeley beforetransitioning to high diving. Smart debuted in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2017 andsecured a permanent spot in the 2019 season, finishing the 2022 season ranked #1 in the USAand #3 globally.Smart currently represents Team USA in international competitions and is a key figure in theRed Bull Cliff Diving World Series. In addition to her competitive achievements, she foundedHigh Dive Global (formerly The International High Diving Institute) in 2021. The companyfocuses on developing high diving by providing training opportunities, hosting events, andfostering a community for athletes, coaches, and fans. High Dive Global notably partnered withUtah Olympic Park to create the USA’s first high diving training platform.Smart’s commitment to the environment led her to establish the Clean Cliffs Project in 2017.This initiative aims to raise awareness about global pollution and promote sustainability throughadventure activities. By traveling to some of the world’s most beautiful locations and hostinglocal beach cleanups, Smart educates communities on the effects of pollution and encouragesenvironmental stewardship.“We are thrilled to welcome Ellie Smart to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. William Kent,Chairman of the Board of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. “Her impressive trackrecord in high diving and her dedication to promoting the sport align perfectly with our mission.We look forward to working with Ellie to further elevate the International Swimming Hall of Fameand honor the achievements of swimmers and divers around the world.”As a board member, Smart will play a crucial role in shaping the future direction of theInternational Swimming Hall of Fame and supporting its mission to celebrate the history andachievements of divers at all levels. Her insights and leadership will be invaluable as theorganization continues to inspire and educate future generations of swimmers.For more information about the International Swimming Hall of Fame and its Board of Directors,please visit ishof.org.
Happy Birthday Jennifer Chandler!!
Jennifer Chandler (USA)
Honor Diver (1987)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1976 gold (springboard); 1980 member U.S. Olympic team; WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 1978 bronze (springboard); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1975 bronze (springboard); AAU NATIONALS: 4 Indoors (1m 1975; 3m 1974, 1976, 1978); 2 Outdoors (1m 1977; 3m 1978); AMERICAN CUP: 1977 bronze (springboard).
Gutsy, articulate, graceful, pretty Jennifer Chandler is studying to hone her skills as an artist with pencil and paint brush. Her water color commentary can be heard on network television, and her aquatic artistry began as a springboard diver when she was nine. A bad back caused her early retirement at 21, an age when most divers are just approaching their physical peaks.
Before her forced career change at 21, she had won the Pan American Games at Mexico City at age 15, gold medaled at the Montreal Olympics at 17 and made the ill-fated Olympic team that did not go to Moscow in 1980. Jennifer left her Birmingham hometown to 13 to follow her coach Carlos DeCuba to Atlanta. She won her first of six nationals the next year in Dallas, Texas. She says of diving and herself, “You only really dive against yourself again and again and again, so outside pressure never bothered me. I wanted to win, and I worked hard for it, but the fame was real difficult to handle. Winning for me came almost too young. It brought a lot of early responsibility. It’s made me a better adult, but it was tough for a while.”
Happy Birthday Debbie Muir!!
Debbie Muir (CAN)
Honor Synchronized / Artistic Swimming Coach (2007)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1984, 1988, 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: Synchronized Swimming Coach; 1978, 1982, 1986, 1991 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Synchronized Swimming Coach; Coach of FOUR OLYMPIANS Winning Three Gold Medals and Three Silver Medals; Coach of SIX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALISTS winning eight gold and two silver medals; Coach of THREE PAN AMERICAN GAMES MEDALISTS winning three gold medals; Coach of ONE COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEDALIST winning one silver medal; CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAM COACH: 1976 – 1991
For a twelve year period from 1978 to 1991, most all of Canada’s international synchronized swimming medalists came from Coach Debbie Muir’s hometown team, the Calgary Aquabelles. She began her coaching career in 1973 as an assistant with the Aquabelles. Within two years she became the head coach and within seven years she was the Canadian National Team Coach. Debbie developed a team of winners who emerged as National, Pan American, Commonwealth, World and Olympic Champions. She is recognized as one of the most winningest coaches in synchronized swimming and in Canadian sport.
At synchronized swimming’s Olympic debut in 1984, her swimmer Carolyn Waldo won the silver medal in the solo event. Waldo returned in 1988 to win the gold medal and she also won the gold medal in the duet event with Aquabelle teammate Michele Cameron. Debbie’s swimmers Kelly Kryczka and Sharon Hambrock won the duet silver medal in the 1984 Games.
Debbie’s first World Champions began to appear at the 1978 Berlin Championships when Helen Vanderberg won the solo event and the duet event with teammate Michele Calkins. Winning ways continued in 1982 Quayaquil with Kryczka and Hambrock winning the duet event. A mostly all-Muir team won the Team event. In 1986 Madrid, Canada was on top again when Muir-coached swimmers won all the events solo (Waldo), duet (Waldo/Cameron) and team.
Muir’s teams won all the solo and duet medals at the 1979 and 1987 FINA Cups. Her swimmers won medals at the 1979 Pan American Games and the 1982 Commonwealth Games. She served as the Canadian National Team Coach from 1978 to 1991. When the off-the-wall under water dolphin kick in backstroke was in its infancy, she used her under water synchro skills to help Mark Tewksbury win the gold medal in the 100m backstroke at the 1992 Olympic Games.
After retiring from the Canadian program, she was a consultant for many teams and coaches in Japan, Sweden, South Korea, England and Egypt. From 1995 to 2000, Debbie coached the Australian National Team in preparation for the Sydney Olympics and led the squad to its best international result at the Games. Debbie returned to Calgary to found her own company, Performance Training and Development, providing senior managers with the necessary skills to help their employees be more effective on the job.
As one of the world’s most celebrated synchronized swimming coaches ever, Debbie Muir coached four swimmers inducted into the prestigious International Swimming Hall of Fame – Carolyn Waldo, Helen Vanderberg, Michele Cameron and Michele Calkins.
Happy Birthday Aleksandr S. Kabanov!!
Aleksandr S. Kabanov (URS)
Honor Water Polo (2001)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1972, 1980 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 1973 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver; 1975, 1982 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 1983 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 1974, 1981 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver; 1981, 1983 WORLD CUP: gold; Russian National Team Coach: 1994-1996; Russian National Assistant Team Coach: 1985-1992.
He was 14-years-old when he saw his first foreign water polo team at play. They were the Yugoslavians – players of formidable size to a youngster just beginning his career. Hall of Famer Mirko Sandic was not only a giant to his Yugoslavian team but also to young Aleksandr. He studied those players who came before him and those players who became his opposition, such as Hall of Famers Eraldo Pizzo and Gianni deMagistris of Italy, Istvan Szivos and Tames Farago of Hungary and his Russian teammate Alexei Barkalov. The career of Russian Aleksandr Kabanov grew rich from experience accumulated by watching others.
At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, the U.S.S.R. won its first Olympic gold medal with Kabanov playing on his first Olympic team. The final game was hard-played and the victory over the powerhouse Hungarian team came down to the last three seconds.
Kabanov and his team won the silver medal the next year at the 1973 Belgrade First World Championships losing to the same Hungarian team they had beaten the previous year at the Olympics. But at the 1975 Call Second World Championship and again at the 1982 Quayaquil Fourth World Championships, Kabanov’s team beat the Hungarian team again for the gold medal. Kabanov was team captain.
In European Championship competition, probably the toughest water polo competition in the world other than the Olympic Games, Aleksandr and his teams won a gold medal (1983) and two silver medals (1974,1981). They also won the 1981 and 1983 World Cup of Water Polo.
Representing the Central Navy Sports Club of Moscow, Kabanov competed for 19 years playing in over 432 games for the U.S.S.R. National Team. As a center forward player, he was most feared for his drives on the goalie and shots on goal.
Upon retirement as an athlete in 1985, he immediately entered the coaching ranks as Russian National Team assistant coach and then head coach 1994-1996. He coached at three Olympic Games, winning two bronze medals (1988,1992); three World Championships, winning three bronze medals (1986,1991, 1994); five European Championships, winning two golds (1985,1987) and one bronze (1991); and four World Cups winning one silver and one bronze. He also coached his local water polo club to numerous national championships.
Aleksandr Kabanov, a boy who had studied the giants of his sport eventually became a giant in his sport.