Dale Neuburger to join ISHOF Class of 2024 as Honor Contributor
Dale Neuburger has spent a lifetime in service to aquatic sports and Olympic ideals. He was elected as Vice President of FINA on five occasions (2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017) representing the 45 National Federations of the Americas. In 2021, he was elected as FINA Treasurer, and, in 2023, he was elected as World Aquatics Treasurer for a term ending in 2027.
Since 2005, he has served as the Bureau Liaison to the FINA/World Aquatics Technical Swimming Committee and Chairman of the FINA Technical Swimming Commission, overseeing all FINA/World Aquatics swimming competitions.
Mr. Neuburger has been appointed by FINA/World Aquatics and the International Olympic Committee to be the Technical Delegate for the swimming competition for five Olympic Games: 2008 Beijing, through 2024 Paris. The technical delegate roles encompass competition director duties, as well as general oversight of all venue-related issues.
Since its creation in 2009, Mr. Neuburger has been the Chairman of the FINA Development Commission, appointed by FINA President Julio C. Maglione. In this role, he has helped to create its extensive Athlete Scholarship Program, implement the Swim for All/Swim for Life Program and Pools for All Program, and created five global training centers for athletes from developing countries.
In 2015, Mr. Neuburger was elected as President of UANA (now known as Pan Am Aquatics), the Continental Association for aquatics serving the 45 National Federations of the Americas. Simultaneously, he was elected as a member of the Executive Committee of ACODEPA, the council of continental sport organizations that oversees sport competition in the Pan American Games. In 2019, he was elected First Vice President of ACODEPA, and he retained a position on its Executive Committee in the run-up to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (CHL) and served as Technical Delegate for Swimming at the Games.
Mr. Neuburger was a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Olympic Committee for eight years, from 1994 to 2002, and a member of its Executive Committee from 1996 to 2000. In recognition of his prominence within the USOC structure, Mr. Neuburger was designated to serve as Deputy Chef de Mission of the 531-member United States delegation for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games that won 101 medals, topping the medals standings.
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This year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees include:
Honor Swimmers:
Lars Frölander (SWE)
Daniel Gyurta (HUN)
Dana Vollmer (USA)
1976 Women’s 4×100 Freestyle Gold Medal Relay Team (USA)
(Includes Shirley Babashoff, Wendy Boglioli, Kim Peyton*, Jill Sterkel)
Honor Divers:
Alexandre Despatie (CAN)
Yulia Pakhalina (RUS)
Wu Minxia (CHN) 2023
Honor Artistic Swimmer:
Virginie Dedieu (FRA)
Honor Water Polo Players:
Carmela “Lilli” Allucci (ITA)
Vladimir Akimov* (USSR)
Honor Coach:
Dennis Pursley (USA)
Honor Contributor:
Dale Neuburger (USA)
ISHOF 59th Annual Honoree Induction weekend
~ HOTEL INFORMATION ~
Host Hotel: Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort & Spa
To make reservations click here: https://book.passkey.com/e/50757008
321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 467-1111. Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $219 per night,
Additional Hotel Option:
Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach
Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony
440 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 524-8733
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $169 – $199 per night
~ TICKET INFORMATION ~
Friday, October 4, 2024: Includes:
The Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) Induction Ceremony
The ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal and
The ISHOF Specialty Awards
Click here to purchase tickets: MISHOF/AWARDS
Saturday, October 5, 2024: Includes
The 59th Annual International Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree Induction Ceremony
The Al Schoenfield Media Award and
The 2024 ISHOF Gold Medallion Award
Click here to purchase tickets: INDUCTION
#ISHOF #WorldAquatics #CityofFortLauderdale #USASwimming #AquaCal #Olympics #SwimmingHallofFame #SwimmingWorld #2024Paris
Paris Olympics: Top 10 Performances From Swimming Competition
Bobby Finke — Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
by DAVID RIEDER – SENIOR WRITER
08 August 2024, 05:29am
Paris Olympics: Top-10 Performances From Swimming Competition
Thirty-five gold medals were awarded over nine days of swimming at La Défense Arena, and despite significant struggles by the U.S. men, the American team emerged with the most gold medals (eight) and most overall medals (28) while accounting for three of the four world records set. With the competition concluded, we can assess which swimmers impressed the most on the sport’s biggest stage.
Below are our picks, with a heavy emphasis on record-breaking swims and those in which an athlete used a clutch performance or came from behind to secure gold.
Paris 2024 Olympics: Day six highlights
1. Bobby Finke (USA), Men’s 1500 Freestyle
The man who never led at any point of his first two Olympic-gold-medal-winning swims in 2021 took a different approach this time. The rest of the world, most notably, Ireland’s Dan Wiffen, had figured out his strategy of coming from nowhere on the final length, so Finke went out hard and swam under world-record pace for all 30 laps. Unlike the final at last year’s World Championships, when Australia’s Sam Short served as the pace-setting rabbit and Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui swam with Finke all the way, Finke had to set his own standard this time.
The strategy worked, with Wiffen and Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri never able to make up the deficit. Moreover, Finke managed to knock off the world record, the 14:31.02 set by China’s Sun Yang that had lasted since the London Olympics. He built enough of a gap ahead of record pace to hold on despite Sun’s legendary final 100 meters and take down one of the oldest records on the books.
2. Pan Zhanle (China), Men’s 100 Freestyle
Pan Zhanle — Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
The global pace in the men’s 100 free had been largely stagnant since the banning of full-body polyurethane suits in 2009. The world record had only dropped by 11-hundredths during that time, with David Popovici and Pan Zhanle coming through for new marks after James Magnussen, Cameron McEvoy, Caeleb Dressel, Kyle Chalmers and others all made runs before falling just short of Cesar Cielo’s global standard that stood for 13 years.
Then, Pan blasted the record by four tenths while winning gold over a stacked heat by more than a second. Pan, a few days shy of his 20th birthday, put together the perfect 100 free swimmers had been striving for, going out in 22.28 and returning in 24.12, both splits well ahead of the field. That secured him individual gold, and h would add another gold medal later in the week when he anchored China’s 400 medley relay to the top spot in 45.92, the fastest relay split ever.
3. United States, Mixed 400 Medley Relay
The first relay world record came from the Americans in the mixed medley relay, the same event in which they had finished fifth three years earlier in Tokyo after deploying a faulty lineup. No such problems this time, but even the perfect strategy required perfect execution to emerge with a tight victory over China.
The two returning members from the Tokyo group got redemption: Ryan Murphy, who had missed the final of the 200 back three days earlier, put together his best race of the meet on the leadoff leg, while Torri Huske, who had handled the butterfly leg at the last Olympics, swam a 51.88 relay split, by far the fastest of her career, to take down Chinese anchor Yang Junxuan and secure the win. On the middle legs, Nic Fink and Gretchen Walsh were both nearly perfect.
4. United States, Women’s 400 Medley Relay
One day after the mixed relay triumph, the American women finished the meet with a dominant 400 medley relay performance, with Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske returning from the mixed relay to comprise the back-half of the team after Regan Smith and Lilly King. This one was not remotely close, with the Americans crushing the field by three-and-a-half seconds, but the team made history by becoming the first to ever break 3:50.
Three individual world-record holders swam for the U.S. Sunday evening, with Smith, King and Walsh, and they all produced. Smith had the second-fastest 100 back mark ever on the leadoff leg. King, who had largely struggled previously in Paris, was the only swimmer to break 1:05 on the breaststroke leg. And Walsh recorded the fastest butterfly split ever, allowing Huske to cruise home to a new record.
5. Leon Marchand (France), Men’s 200 Butterfly & Men’s 200 Breaststroke
Leon Marchand — Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
No world record here, but what Leon Marchand achieved Wednesday evening was one of the all-time great performances in the sport’s history. Michael Phelps captured two gold medals in one night on three different occasions in his legendary career, each time, one of those golds came in relays. In Paris, Marchand won both the 200 fly and 200 breast, defeating the defending champions on both occasions.
There was a dramatic final turn in the 200 fly final that allowed Marchand to run down Hungary’s Kristof Milak, his final split an absurd 28.97 that beat everyone else in the field by more than six tenths. He came in at 1:51.21 to break the Olympic record and swim faster than Phelps ever did. Two hours later, Marchand never trailed in the 200 breast final, and he did not allow Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook to close the gap down the stretch. Once again, his final time of 2:05.95 was a new Olympic record, and it made him the second-fastest man ever.
6. Summer McIntosh (Canada), Women’s 200 Butterfly
She did not break a world record in this one, but when the mark at question is a 15-year-old standard from the polyurethane suit era that no one has ever approached, the second-fastest time ever is pretty darn good. Summer McIntosh had already won gold in the 400 IM, cruising by more than five-and-a-half seconds in that race, but the 200 fly would be much tougher as American Regan Smith was swimming well and not backing down. McIntosh turned eight tenths ahead of Smith at the final turn, but Smith’s dynamite underwater kicks nearly caught the Canadian teenager.
McIntosh would reassert herself, and even as Smith swam a time of 2:03.84, breaking her own American record, McIntosh would blast a personal-best mark by more than a second, her time of 2:03.03 a new Olympic record. The 2:01.81 established by Liu Zige in 2009 remains way out there, but McIntosh could reach 2:02-territory soon enough.
7. Leon Marchand (France), Men’s 200 IM
More Leon Marchand? You bet. The man won four individual Olympic gold medals, a feat only Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps ever accomplished beforehand. He did not break any world records in Paris, but each of his finals swims were the second or third-fastest times in history in his respective events. Two days after his historic gold-medal double, Marchand completed his individual program in the 200 IM, and he came up just short of an 11-year-old world record held by Ryan Lochte.
The 22-year-old Frenchman was facing a strong field that included the gold and silver medalists from the Tokyo Games, Wang Shun and Duncan Scott, respectively, but as usual, Marchand pulled well clear of the field on the breaststroke leg. He moved under world-record pace heading into the last 50 before finishing in 1:54.06, six hundredths shy of Lochte’s world record, leaving the pursuit of 1:53 until next year.
8. Kaylee McKeown (Australia), Women’s 100 Backstroke
Only two other Australian women, Dawn Fraser and Ariarne Titmus, have ever successfully defended an Olympic gold medal in swimming. McKeown has done it twice, overcoming tough fields in the 100 and 200 back in Tokyo to bring her total of Olympic gold medals to five and become one of the most successful Aussie Olympians in history.
McKeown makes the list here for the 100 back as she overcame the loss of her world record to American Regan Smith in June to run down Smith in the Olympic final. McKeown trailed Smith halfway down the final lap, but her finishing speed has become legendary, and McKeown is always ready with her best form in the biggest moment. She finished the race in 57.33, tying her best time that had been the world record while finishing three tenths ahead of Smith.
9. Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), Women’s 100 Freestyle
Sarah Sjostrom — Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
She has owned the world record in the event for seven years, but Sarah Sjostrom had never won an Olympic or World Championships gold medal in the 100 free before Paris, despite collecting has collected 14 world titles in her career in the 50 free and the butterfly events and an Olympic gold in the 100 fly in 2016. Her accomplishments in the 100 free include four Worlds silvers and one bronze, plus 2016 Olympic bronze the still-standing world record of 51.71 Sjostrom clocked on a relay leadoff at the 2017 World Championships.
Sjostrom originally planned on only swimming the 50 free in Paris, but she opted to add the 100-meter race back to her lineup because she would have two days of rest before the one-lapper, in which she entered as heavy favorite. And she ended up shocking the field with a gold medal, overcoming two-time world champion Mollie O’Callaghan, No. 3 all-time performer Siobhan Haughey and surging American Torri Huske.
10. Kristof Milak (Hungary), Men’s 100 Butterfly
Returning to the international level after missing the 2023 World Championships, Kristof Milak could not defend his gold medal in the 200 fly thanks to the magic of Leon Marchand. Entering the 100-meter race, where Milak is the second-fastest performer in history, he was somewhat overshadowed thanks to the exploits of Josh Liendo, Maxime Grousset, Noe Ponti and others plus the return of Caeleb Dressel, the man who beat Milak for Tokyo gold in world-record time.
But Milak sparkled with a 50.19 prelims time, and he led the event through semifinals as well. Milak lacks the speed of many rivals in the 100 fly, but after turning fourth at the halfway point, the 24-year-old picked off his rivals and won a tight finish with Canada’s Josh Liendo, 49.90 to 49.99, to win the second individual gold of his career.
Olympic Women’s Water Polo: Australia Tops U.S. in Shootout to End Four-Peat Quest
Gabriella Palm of Australia faces a shot from the United States’ Maddie Musselman during a women’s water polo semifinal match on Thursday; Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
by MATTHEW DE GEORGE – SENIOR WRITER
08 August 2024, 11:57am
Olympic Women’s Water Polo: Australia Tops U.S. in Shootout to End Four-Peat Quest
The American quest for four straight gold medals in women’s water polo is over.
Gabriella Palm stopped Maddie Musselman in the sixth round of the penalty shootout at the Paris La Defense Arena Thursday, sending Australia to a 14-13 win in the semifinals.
The Aussies will face Spain, which survived a 19-18 decision with the Netherlands in penalties in the earlier semifinal, for gold. The Dutch and Americans will faceoff for bronze.
The first 11 shooters converted in penalties, with Zoe Arancini beating Ashleigh Johnson for a second time in the sixth round. Palm, who had been subbed out after the first three penalties, came back in and denied Musselman’s attempt to her right to set off the green-and-gold celebrations.
Olympic Women’s Water Polo Group Stage Day 1 Recap
Olympic Women’s Water Polo Group Stage Day 2 Recap
Olympic Women’s Water Polo Group Stage Day 3 Recap
Olympic Women’s Water Polo Quarterfinals Recap
Arancini and Bronte Halligan scored three times each for Australia. Abby Andrews led the way with five goals on a day where Alice Williams, the tournament’s leading scorer, was held scoreless after picking up three exclusion fouls. Palm was one better than Johnson on the day, with 13 saves. Johnson had 12.
It was a dour ending for Musselman, who was excellent with three goals and two assists. Jenna Flynn scored three times for the U.S.
The Americans, coming off a 5-4 win over Hungary in the quarterfinals, tried to keep it low-scoring again. They led 5-2 at the half, thanks in large part to six saves from Johnson.
Musselman scored two of the game’s first four goals, one on a five-meter penalty.
The Aussies were playing most of the way without Williams, who picked up two exclusion fouls on the same possession in the first quarter. She committed her third just 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, drawn by a dogged Musselman.
The American youth gave it some breathing room late in the second quarter. After Palm turned aside Ryann Neushul, Jovana Sekulic was first to the ball at two meters and deposited the rebound. A block of an Arancini shot with 25 seconds left led to a Jewel Roemer outlet that found Emily Ausmus, who took her space and beat Palm in close to set the halftime edge.
Australia respond out of the break, Andrews taking the lead. She scored four times in the third quarter, ripping home a pair of goals in the first two minutes to get Australia within one. Johnson got her hand to the last one and briefly stemmed the tide with a save on Halligan on the next possession. But Andrews tied the game at 5 with a rip from distance, then when Flynn scored off a Jordan Raney dish, Andrews took a Sienna Hearn feed and picked out a corner on the power play to knot it at 6.
Maggie Steffens, vying to become the first individual to win four straight gold medals, scored her first goal of the game off a Musselman feed to make it 7-6 at the end of the third, but the Americans’ offensive execution abandoned them in the fourth, with five turnovers.
Musselman set up Fattal to make it 8-6 early in the fourth, but Halligan got it right back. Halligan tied the game at 2:54, and two saves by Johnson got the game to the shootout, with Palm denying Musselman with 2:30 to play and Raney hitting the crossbar late on.
Rowdy Gaines Reveals 2028 Olympics Will Be His Last as NBC Sports Color Commentator
Rowdy Gaines — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
by DAVID RIEDER – SENIOR WRITER
08 August 2024, 07:59am
Rowdy Gaines Reveals 2028 Olympics Will Be His Last as NBC Sports Color Commentator
For generations, Rowdy Gaines has been the voice of swimming in the United States, the excitable analyst joining Dan Hicks in the NBC Sports broadcast both for every Olympic Games going back to 1996 in Atlanta. Hicks and Gaines have called all the Olympic races for Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and every other star for the past three decades.
Gaines has also been the color commentator for nearly every other national and international-level meet, including the World Championships, national championships, NCAA Championships, conference championship meets and Pro Swim Series meets.
But that run will be done after the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Following the conclusion of nine days of action in the pool at the Paris Games, Gaines revealed on social media this week that he will leave his roles after calling a ninth Games alongside Hicks four years from now. Gaines chose LA as his final Games because he will be returning to the city where he won three Olympic gold medals, including in the 100 freestyle, at the 1984 Games.
Perhaps the most memorable call the excitable Gaines offered the world came at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing during the men’s 400 freestyle relay. With American anchor Jason Lezak trailing France’s Alain Bernard, Gaines told the world, “I don’t think he can do it, Dan,” but when Lezak began closing the gap in the final 25 meters, Gaines screamed, “There’s no doubt that he’s tightening up!” That gave way to Hicks’ call of perhaps the greatest comeback in the sport’s history.
In recent Games, NBC Sports has set up a “Rowdy Cam” so fans can see Gaines’ enthusiasm during the races and his nerves as American swimmers battle for Olympic gold. Most recently, NBC revealed the “Rowdy Cam” footage of the mixed 400 medley relay Olympic final, when the U.S. team edged out China down the stretch.
Olympic Men’s Water Polo: Greece, Spain Win Groups; U.S. Tops Croatia for Third
Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
by Matthew De George – Senior Writer
06 August 2024
Olympic Men’s Water Polo: Greece, Spain Win Groups; U.S. Tops Croatia for Third
Greece and Spain wrapped up their groups in the final round-robin day of Olympic men’s water polo play Monday, while the U.S. scored a 14-11 win over Croatia to finish third in its group.
Quarterfinals are set for Wednesday, with Croatia taking on Spain and Greece taking on Serbia. The U.S. will battle with Australia – which lost a shocker, 14-13, to Japan to wrap up the group – and Ital will take on Hungary in the nightcap.
The U.S. roared out to a 10-5 lead at half to get the better of Croatia. It shot 14-for-24 (58 percent) from the field. Hannes Daube scored three goals to go with three assists. Max Irving had three goals and two helpers, and Ryder Dodd and Alex Bowen had two goals and one assist each. Adrian Weinberg had nine saves.
Croatia got as close as two goals in the final 90 seconds, but Bowen scored with 1:10 left to restore a three-goal lead and put the game away.
Konstantin Kharkov led Croatia with five goals. Loren Fatovic had three goals and one assist.
Paris Olympic Men’s Water Polo Hub
Paris Olympic Men’s Water Polo Day 1 Recap
Paris Olympic Men’s Water Polo Day 2 Recap
Paris Olympic Men’s Water Polo Day 3 Recap
Paris Olympic Men’s Water Polo Day 4 Recap
Spain ended France’s chances of a medal with a 10-8 win, Spain scoring the first three goals of the fourth quarter to break a 7-7 tie.
Bernat Sanahuja had one of those, part of a hat trick. Alberto Munarriz scored three times, and Alvaro Granados paired two goals with two assists. Unai Aguirre was sensational with 17 saves.
Ugo Crousillat tallied a hat trick for France. Thomas Vernoux paired a goal with four assists. Hugo Fontani stopped 11 shots. France was held to just 4-for-26 (15 percent) on action shots.
Hungary won a wild one with Serbia, 17-13, thanks to a 13-5 edge in the middle two quarters. Gergo Zalanki and Gergo Fekete scored four times each. Vince Vigvari paired a goal with three assists. Denes Varga had two and three. Fourteen of the 17 goals were assisted.
Dusan Mandic scored five times for Serbia. Milos Cuk paired three goals with two assists.
Vlado Popadic had six assists plus a goal to lead Serbia to a 10-7 win over Romania. Marko Mrsic scored three times. Tudor-Andrei Fulea had three goals for Romania.
A goal by Seiya Adachi with 11 seconds left gave Japan a consolation win over Australia despite missing the quarterfinals. Adachi scored three times. Yusuke Inaba dominated with six goals and three assists. Taiyo Watanabe had a goal and five assists. Kastuyuki Tanamura stopped nine shots.
Milos Maksimovic had a hat trick for the Aussies.
A power-play goal by Ioannis Fountoulis with 2:56 left was the difference in Greece’s 9-8 win over Italy in what could well be a medal preview. Fountoulis scored twice. Stylianos Argyropoulos led the way with four goals and two assists. Emmanouil Zerdevas tallied 12 saves.
Lorenzo Bruni and Francesco Condemi had three goals each for Italy.
Paris Olympics: China Finishes 1-2 in Dominating Women’s 10-Meter Diving
Hongchan Quan of China competes in the Diving Women’s 10m Platform Semifinal during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Aquatics Centre in Paris (France), August 05, 2024.
by Dan D’Addona — Swimming World Managing Editor
06 August 2024, 09:07am
Paris Olympics: China Finishes 1-2 in Dominating Women’s 10-Meter Diving
China continued its diving dominance at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 1-2 finish in the women’s 10-meter platform competition.
The gold medal went to Quan Hongchan, who finished with a score of 425.60, leading from start to finish in the competition.
Teammate Chen Yuxi took the silver medal with a score of 420.70. She was second behind Quan in the preliminaries and semifinals and was the only other diver within striking distance of the top spot.
The bronze medal at the Paris Olympics went to Korea’s Mi Rae Kim, who used a late rise to earn the third spot. After preliminaries, she was 10th only to rise to fourth after semifinals and finish third with a score of 372.10.
Canada’s Caeli McKey just missed out on the podium with a fourth-place finish of 364.50.
Mexico’s Gabriella Agundez took fifth with a score or 350.40 and teammate Alejandra Orozco Loza took eighth with a 320.60, giving Mexico two in the top eight.
Great Britain’s Andrea Spendolini Sirieix took sixth with a score of 345.50 and Australia’s Ellie Cole was seventh with a 333.30.
There were 29 divers in the field at the Olympics, which was narrowed to 18 for the semifinals, then 12 in the finals.
USA’s Delaney Schnell finished 15th (270.95) and teammate Daryn Wright took 19th, just missing the semis.
Silent Auction items needed! ISHOF asking for your help!
It is that time of the year~the ISHOF 59th Annual Honoree Induction Ceremony is around the corner! We have a GREAT class of Honorees this year, as well as a Masters Class (MISHOF) of Inductees as well. This year’s event will be October 4-5, 2024 at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach ~ the old Yankee Trader.
As it is the biggest fund raiser of the year for ISHOF, we are looking for SILENT AUCTION ITEMS from any and all friends and fans of ISHOF, swimming, aquatics, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming, etc. Having just watched the Olympic Games, you know what great sports we have! Help us preserve the history and celebrate the stories of these incredible athletes!!! Without your support it is just not possible! Our Hall of Fame would just not survive.
I am looking for any type of items for our silent auction, hotel stays, restaurant gift cards, trips, sporting events, airline tickets, sporting memorabilia, you name it…if you would like to bid on it, so would someone else!
Contact me at: meg@ishof.org or call me at 570.594.4367
If you do not have an item, but would like to help, consider a donation, click here:https://ishof.org/donate/
#ISHOF #CityofFortLauderdale #WorldAquatics #USASwimming #SwimmingWorld #USMS #AquaCal
Paris Olympics: World Aquatics Cancel Marathon Swimming Training Due To Poor Water Quality
Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / NOC San Marino / Deepbluemedia
by LIZ BYRNES – EUROPE CORRESPONDENT
06 August 2024, 06:07am
Paris Olympics: World Aquatics Cancel Marathon Swimming Training Due To Poor Water Quality
Open water swimming at Paris 2024 is coming under ever-increasing scrutiny after World Aquatics cancelled a training session in the River Seine due to water quality concerns.
While, E. coli levels were acceptable, the levels of the Enterrococci bacteria exceeded World Aquatics’ maximum thresholds.
The women’s and men’s 10k races are scheduled to take place on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 August races at Pont Alexandre III but preparations have been beset with difficulties ever since the test event was cancelled on this day last year because of the water quality in the River Seine.
Belgium’s squad for the triathlon mixed relay was forced to withdraw from Monday’s competition after team member Claire Michel became sick after swimming in the river during the women’s triathlon competition. Belgian media have reported that Michel was hospitalized and diagnosed with E. coli after competing in the Seine, which has come under scrutiny for its poor conditions.
World Aquatics said in a statemtent:
“PARIS—Earlier today, World Aquatics made the decision to cancel the 6 August Marathon Swimming familiarisation due to water quality concerns. The athlete training session was due to take place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., but following a 4:00 a.m. coordination meeting, the decision was taken by the governing body in collaboration with Paris 2024.
“The water quality review showed E. coli levels ranged from 326 to 517 (considered “very good” to “good”) at the four collection points taken on 5 August between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m.
“However, Enterococci levels exceeded World Aquatics maximum thresholds during the morning review. The latest Enterococci samples (taken between 12:30 and 13:20 on 4 August) showed levels exceeding the maximum acceptable World Aquatics thresholds.
“Laboratory analysis of the Seine’s Enterococci levels for 5 August was available at 11:00 a.m. today. These most recent Enterococci results demonstrate an improvement in the Seine’s water quality, but one of the four tests still did not meet acceptable World Aquatics water quality standards.
“A second familiarisation swimming session at the Pont Alexandre III competition venue is scheduled for 7 August from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. A water quality review session will be held at 4:00 a.m. on 7 August, where World Aquatics will decide whether the familiarisation session for 7 August can be held.
“With a favourable weather forecast and forward-looking analysis, World Aquatics and Paris 2024 remain confident that the Marathon Swimming competitions on 8 and 9 August will proceed as planned.
“World Aquatics decisions on water quality for the Marathon Swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are made in consultation with World Aquatics Technical Delegates, World Aquatics Medical Delegates, Paris 2024 Organising Committee, Météo France, DRIEAT, the City of Paris, and the Prefecture of the Île-de-France Region which carried out the water quality tests.”
ISHOF inducts it’s first ever Relay Team: Women’s 1976 USA Gold Medal winning 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay ~ Sterkel, Boglioli, Peyton & Babashoff
The 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal featured a pair of dominant team performances. There was the excellence of the American men, who claimed victory in 12 of the 13 events. There was also the dominance of the women from the German Democratic Republic, who won 11 of the 13 events.
There was a distinct difference in how the U.S. men and East German women arrived at their success, however. While the American onslaught was fueled by hard work and pure talent, East Germany benefited – as official records eventually revealed – from a systematic-doping program.
Despite the illicit approach by the GDR, one U.S. women’s relay was not going to be denied.
When the 400-meter freestyle relay rolled around as the final women’s event of the Olympic program, few individuals believed Team USA had a chance at the gold medal. After all, East Germany had routed the competition for days, and boasted the gold and silver medalists from the 100 freestyle.
How could the United States possibly contend? It came down to a matter of belief.
Yet, the quartet of Kim Peyton, Wendy Boglioli, Jill Sterkel and Shirley Babashoff convinced itself that a magical moment was possible. The athletes were determined to end the competition on a high note.
The story ends with the United States beating East Germany by .68 and establishing a world record of 3:44.82, breaking the former mark by four seconds. One of the biggest upsets in Olympic history had been registered, and four women demonstrated what belief and teamwork can do.
Come join the 1976 Women’s Gold Medal Relay and find out just how “The Last Gold” actually happened! And share the stories of the rest of this year’s Class of 2024 in Fort Lauderdale.
If you cannot join us, please consider making a donation.
To make a donation, click here: https://www.ishof.org/donate/
This year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees include:
Honor Swimmers:
Lars Frölander (SWE)
Daniel Gyurta (HUN)
Dana Vollmer (USA)
1976 Women’s 4×100 Freestyle Gold Medal Relay Team (USA)
(Includes Shirley Babashoff, Wendy Boglioli, Kim Peyton*, Jill Sterkel)
Honor Divers:
Alexandre Despatie (CAN)
Yulia Pakhalina (RUS)
Wu Minxia (CHN) 2023
Honor Artistic Swimmer:
Virginie Dedieu (FRA)
Honor Water Polo Players:
Carmela “Lilli” Allucci (ITA)
Vladimir Akimov* (USSR)
Honor Coach:
Dennis Pursley (USA)
Honor Contributor:
Dale Neuburger (USA)
ISHOF 59th Annual Honoree Induction weekend
~ HOTEL INFORMATION ~
Host Hotel: Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort & Spa
To make reservations click here: https://book.passkey.com/e/50757008
321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 467-1111. Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $229 per night,
Additional Hotel Option:
Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach
Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony
440 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 524-8733
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $169 – $199 per night
~ TICKET INFORMATION ~
Friday, October 4, 2024: Includes:
The Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) Induction Ceremony
The ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal and
The ISHOF Specialty Awards
Click here to purchase tickets: MISHOF/AWARDS
Saturday, October 5, 2024: Includes
The 59th Annual International Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree Induction Ceremony
The Al Schoenfield Media Award and
The 2024 ISHOF Gold Medallion Award
Click here to purchase tickets: INDUCTION
#ISHOF #WorldAquatics #CityofFortLauderdale #USASwimming #AquaCal #Olympics #SwimmingHallofFame #SwimmingWorld #2024Paris
FLASH! Bobby Finke Crushes 1500 Free World Record In 14:30.67; WJR For Kuzey Tuncelli
Bobby Finke: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia
by Liz Byrnes – Europe Correspondent
04 August 2024, 10:02am
FLASH! Bobby Finke Crushes 1500 Free World Record In 14:30.67; WJR For Kuzey Tuncelli
Bobby Finke set a new 1500 free world record of 14:30.67, 12 years to the day since Sun Yang set the previous mark at London 2012.
The American was 0.94 inside Sun’s WR at 1450 and came home in 26.27 to take 0.35 off the Chinese athlete’s long-standing mark and defend the title he won in Tokyo three years ago.
Finke, coached by Anthony Nesty at the University of Florida, becomes the fourth man to win back-to-back titles in the longest race in the pool, joining fellow American Mike Burton (1968/1972) and Australian great Kieren Perkins (1992/1996) and Grant Hackett (2000/2004).
Vladimir Salnikov also won two titles but eight years apart in 1980 and 1988.
Gregorio Paltrinieri, Bobby Finke & Daniel Wiffen: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemeida
Gregorio Paltrinieri was second in 14:34.55, adding silver to his Rio 2016 gold, with Daniel Wiffen adding bronze to his 800 title in 14:39.63.
David Betlehem of Hungary was fourth in 14:40.91 while also of note was Kuzey Tuncelli who lowered his WJR to 14:41.22, as the 16-year-old finished fifth.
The Turkish teenager demolished the previous record last month when he went 14:41.89 at the European Junior Championships to take 4.2secs off the previous standard of 14:46.09 held by Croatian Franko Grgic since 2019.
Ahmed Jaouadi of Tunisia was sixth in 14:43.35 followed by French pair David Aubry (14:44.66) and Damien Joly (14:52.61)
World Record: Sun Yang, CHN – 14:31.02 (2012)
Olympic Record: Sun Yang, CHN – 14:31.02 (2012)
Tokyo Olympic Champion: Bobby Finke, USA – 14:39.65
One reason Sun’s record stood the test of time was the Chinese athlete’s final 100 where he split 27.81/25.68 for an eye-watering 53.49.
To put that into some kind of context, Paltrinieri was 2.81 inside the WR at 1400 at the Budapest worlds in 2022 but his final 100 was 4.59secs slower as he finished 2.78secs outside in 14:32.80, a European record.
No other man had broken 14:32 until Ahmed Hafnaoui touched out Finke for the 2023 world title in 14:31:54 to 14:31.59.
Finke is noted for her trademark late charge but the 24-year-old struck out from the first stroke and seemed to take the rest of the field by surprise, such was his scorching pace and subsequent clear water.
He reached 400 in 3:50.38 ahead of Paltrinieri (3:52.05) and Wiffen (3:53.30) before the Italian ate into the deficit to move within 0.69 at the 600m mark with the Irishman more than a further 2secs adrift.
Paltrinieri reduced the deficit to 0.6 at the halfway mark as Finke reached 750 in 7:15.88 to 7:16.48.
The American picked up the pace again however and at 1000m was 1.38 inside WR pace. Paltrinieri attacked again but Finke’s turns and underwaters gave him an advantage every time.
Come the 1400m mark and Finke turned in 13:35.33 – 1.16 ahead of Paltrinieri with Wiffen a further 4.68secs adrift – and 2.20secs inside the WR.
At 1450, that had been reduced to 0.94 and it appeared the record may elude Finke given Sun’s blistering final 50 of 25.68 in London all those years ago.
Finke, however, turned on the turbo to come home and consign Sun’s record to history.
Bobby Finke: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
As he broke the duck for the US male swimmers in Paris, they avoided the fate of being the first team to not have an individual male title since Athens 1896.
“I knew,” said Finke. “I was reading all the articles and all the comments and everything. I like reading that stuff. It kind of motivates me inside.
“The world’s getting faster, and I think it’s a really good thing. It’s a really healthy thing for the sport. If one country is always dominating, I can’t really sit there and say the sport is growing. As much as it sucks that we’re not dominating any more, I think it’s good for the sport, and it shows how far the sport has come. Like what Michael Phelps has been able to do for the sport and potentially what Leon Marchand’s going to be able to do for the sport.”
Going out fast, he said, enabled him to build up a lead that wasn’t threatened.
“That really was not my strategy to go into the race. I didn’t know how the race was going to play out, so I kind of saw I had a pretty decent lead at the 300 and I knew I kind of just had to keep going and hopefully try and make the guys hurt a little bit trying to catch up to me. They started catching up to me, and I was getting a little worried, but I knew I just had to keep pushing him. As long as I could keep a little bit of a distance, I knew I was in good shape.”
He added:” I could see the world-record line on the board a couple of times, it wasn’t like I was trying to see it, I just happened to see it.”
Paltrinieri now has five Olympic medals from the last three Games – one gold, two silvers and two bronzes including a third-placed finish in the 8 in Paris.
Paris 2024 was the Italian’s fourth Games, 12 years after making his Olympic debut at London 2012 where he finished fifth aged 17.
Up next is the open water in which he won bronze in Tokyo as well as world and European titles.
His is a career of longevity, but the hunger remains.
“It will be always there,” he said. “If I quit today, tomorrow I will miss it. I have always longed to compete. I started without feeling nervous. I feel the same every time I compete, for the European championships, the worlds, the Olympic Games.”
Neither is he looking too far ahead nor pondering retirement with the Italian turning 30 next month.
Gregorio Paltrinieri: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini/Deepbluemedia
“I tried not to think about it over the past months, because I was thinking about the present, the moment. These could have been my last events in the pool. The open water might allow me to keep going, but I am not getting my head around medals, I am thinking more about my desire. I might even carry on (swimming) in the pool.
“I could even try to get on other podiums, but I am thinking more about what I like doing. In this moment, the pool has become very tiring for me. Let’s see.”
Wiffen has had an astonishing 2024 so far with double gold at the Doha worlds followed by gold and bronze in the French capital.
The 23-year-old has almost single-handedly pulled Irish swimming out of the shadow that had been cast by Michelle Smith, who won triple gold at Atlanta 1996 only to be banned for tampering with a doping sample two years later.
Wiffen’s time was his fourth-fastest and matched the time that secured Ryan Cochrane silver behind Sun 12 years ago.
Wiffen, who is coached by Andi Manley at Loughborough Performance Centre, had mixed feelings, saying: “To get a bronze medal in this, I’m sure if I said it at the start of the week, people would be very happy with it. But obviously, becoming an Olympic champion on the third day then finishing it off on the ninth day, it’s a little bit sad.”
After qualifying first from the prelims, Wiffen set his sights on the WR although he ‘knew’ that Finke would change his tactics and instead it was the American who wrote a new line in the history books.
“I said to Gregorio before the race that I knew that was going to happen,” he said. “And the only problem was I didn’t see it. I was looking that way, but I got body-blocked by Greg. Maybe that was the same what happened to Bobby in the 800 but I didn’t see Bobby go and by the time I noticed, I saw this leg kick, and I was like, oh, okay, now with this it’s going to be a very painful 1,500 for me.”
He added: “I was trying to dig deep, trying to push it on. I was catching in the middle. And then, to be honest, I just got blew up because it was probably a bit too much today to catch.”
Wiffen had studied Sun’s 2012 race many times and in an interview with Swimming World last year, he identified Finke as the only swimmer who could possibly come back in a 53, adding somewhat prophetically: “I‘m not going to lie, I think you just have to hold a pace that’s way under the WR so you’ve got that leeway on the last 100 so you probably need to be three seconds faster than him going into the last 100.”
He said in Paris: “I’m happy for it to go. It was a record that needs to be off the books. And I’m very pleased with Bobby. He’s a great competitor, and everybody’s very friendly in the field, which maybe you don’t get in a lot of events. And I’m very happy that all three of us shared the podium again, maybe different order this time than the 800, but it’s going to be a long, long couple of years of battling it out for who gets the top spot.”