5 Shocking Swimming Headlines On The Week That Was

Two athletes made shocking announcements that they will join a list of elite swimmers not attending the world championships, and they highlight the top five swimming headlines on The Week That Was.

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The Week That Was #5: Rio 2016 Olympic torch design unveiled

We’re about 13 months away from the start of the Rio Olympics, and the organizers have given us a view of the design of the torch that will carry the Olympic flame from Greece to Brazil. The torch will expand when the flame is being passed, showing off three colorful sections in the torch that encompass Brazil’s mountains, waterways and earth. The torch relay participants have not yet been announced, but the flame will be rekindled in Greece, the site of the first modern Olympics, next March.

The Week That Was #4: Jack Fabian takes position as U.S. Paralympic swimming head coach

The U.S. Paralympic team has a new coach to help lead it to the 2016 Games, as Jack Fabian announced his resignation as coach at Keene State College for the prestigious position. Fabian’s biggest claim to fame at this point was guiding his daughter Eva to international success on the open water swimming circuit. Dave Dennistion had served as the Paralympic swim team coach for about five years after the untimely death of Jimi Flowers.

The Week That Was #3: World University Games featuring plenty of rising talent

The United States is cleaning up on the medal podium in swimming at the World University Games, which began Saturday in Gwangju, South Korea. As of today, Team USA has won seven gold medals in 15 events, including a tie in the men’s 200 IM. Defending champion Justin James of Australia and American Josh Prenot hit the wall with matching times of 1:58.38. The United States went 1-2 in two events so far. Reed Malone and Clay Youngquist took gold and silver in the men’s 200 free, while Shannon Vreeland and Abbey Weitzeil took the top spots in the women’s 100 free. The meet runs through Saturday, with some of the athletes moving on to the world championships a few weeks later.

The Week That Was #2: Therese Alshammar out of world championships with herniated disc

Sweden’s Therese Alshammar was aiming to compete in her seventh world championships at age 37, but she has withdrawn from the meet to treat a herniated disc in her back. That would cause issues with the start, a crucial part of a race for the sprinter. Alshammar was on the comeback trail after giving birth in 2013, and we’ll see if she’ll give it a go for the Olympics next year.

The Week That Was #1: Kosuke Hagino breaks elbow, out of worlds

Perhaps the most shocking withdrawal from the world championships this year has to be Kosuke Hagino, who was in line to win multiple medals for Japan. Hagino fell from his bike while at a training camp in France, and was immediately flown back to Japan for analysis. A couple of days later, Hagino held a press conference, where he detailed that the fracture in his right elbow was going to end his season early. This also means Hagino will not be able to defend his title as Swimming World Magazine Male World Swimmer of the Year, as results from worlds largely determine the winner of that honor this year.