Claire Russell - (Author)

By Claire Russell, a Swimming World Intern. Most swimmers know that rush of energy that exhilarates you upon hearing the words: “Heat sheets are out!” You have the urgent pounding need to know exactly which lane you’re in. This thrill of rushing over to the heat sheet to see which heat and lane you’...

By Claire Russell, A Swimming World College Intern. As an athlete, we have all had to make sacrifices. We have missed a high school dance for a swim meet and watched our friends eat pizza during taper. And yet we all somehow kept choosing the athlete lifestyle, and it all definitely seemed worth it....

By Claire Russell, Swimming World College Intern. Every four years, nations unite for the celebration of sports and achievements at the Olympic Games. It is the one magical time when each country seems to put aside differences and march together as one. We shake hands. We have one common goal. Despi...

The fourth and final day of the 2019 Speedo Sectionals in Minneapolis experienced the extremes and everything in between. This evening we saw the distance swimmers conquer the 1500, then the sprint swimmers power through the 50. The 200 Individual Medley put the all-around swimmers to the test, and ...

Day Three has matched the outside's temperature and brought the heat in today's races at the 2019 Speedo Sectionals in Minneapolis. The McHugh brothers stole the spectators hearts again and went 1-2 in the Mens 200 Breaststroke. University of Minnesota's Tevyn Waddell won both the 200m Backstroke an...

The energy and time drops have been cooking up on Day 2 here in Minneapolis. Highlights include a twist with an "outside smoke" win, a splash of nail-biting close finishes, and a stir of relay fun. Wisconsin Aquatics, Fox Valley Swim Team, and Hawkeye Swim Club continue to show dominance and depth a...

Day 1 of the 2019 Speedo Sectionals Minneapolis brewed up a competitive storm. The meet will take place at the University of Minnesota's Jean K. Freeman Aquatics Center on July 18th-21st. There was a dash of brotherly love, a spice of age-experience, and a whole batch of fast swims from Wisconsin Aq...

By Claire Russell, A Swimming World College Intern. Morgan's Wonderland and Inspiration Island has a heartfelt story that matches its purpose: to tear down barriers between children of all abilities. This story begins on an ordinary day with a typical family on summer vacation. However, the story en...

By Claire Russell, A Swimming World College Intern. Tokyo 2020 is right around the corner, and swim fans around the world are gearing up for thrilling races. Yet most people don't associate the Paralympic Games with the broadly televised Summer Olympic Games. After years of battling for recognition ...

By Claire Russell, A Swimming World College Intern. Behind every successful team, group or workplace is a combination of individual and unique personalities that work together to accomplish amazing things. Every team - regardless of the level - seems to have these four personalities: the loud leader...

By Claire Russell, a Swimming World College Intern. Two of the most competitive LSCs joined forces recently to host the first ever “Duel in the Pool”: a meet that brings together the top age group swimmers from two rival states to compete. The athletes can represent their home states rather than the...