Going out in style seemed to be the trend during the first-ever International Swimming League (ISL) meet in Indianapolis. From graphics, sound effects and an overall technical production out of the future, to four teams stacked with superstar athletes, the energy of the meet was unique.
That energy, however, wouldn’t have been sustained without the fans — and teammates.
All four official team camps were on deck, not many of the athletes could be found there at times throughout the meet, since swimmers had to warm up. But when they were in the team box, they were loud.
The Energy Standard, Cali Condors, Aqua Centurions and DC Trident were stationed side-by-side in booths that digitally displayed both the team logos and other ISL graphics – much like a scoreboard.
Along with being quick paced and production driven, there were team-centered takeaways from this first ever session of an ISL meet:
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Energy Standard
Though every team entered the meet in matching grey jumpsuit parkas with their individual logos, the Energy Standard team quickly changed into their own red and blue uniforms, which display their logos in white. The swimmers sported blue caps and wore their own technical suits.
Though plenty of coaches cheered on their swimmers and gave them feedback, only a couple athletes at a time were there to high five their teammates on the way back from races – a trend among all the teams at the first session of the International Swimming League.
Led by captain Chad le Clos and vice captain Sarah Sjostrom, this international team congregated behind a booth that digitally displayed a beachy background spotlighted in red. They dominated much of the competition.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Cali Condors
Next to Energy Standard were the Cali Condors. Similar to the Standard, they switched into their own uniforms to wear during the meet. The team rocked a simple, royal blue on royal blue sweat jacket and pants, wearing blue caps for competition.
Mainly coaches congregated at the camp with a few athletes here and there coming out to watch after their swims or during breaks. They were stationed behind a jungle-like kingdom, which was digitally displayed on their booth. Breaking out in bird wings every time their team name is announced, the Cali Condors definitely had their own kind of vibe.
Leading the team for this International Swimming League meet is Lilly King. Caeleb Dressel is also on the roster, but is absent this weekend.
King says she’s enjoying herself as the setup reminds her of a “hyped up college duel meet.”
“I had a ton of fun, the lights are going, it’s all hyped up and we get to wear suits,” said King. “Luckily I had pretty decent schedule today so I got to sit in our little team box and cheer a little bit.”
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Aqua Centurions
Staying true to their water roots are the fittingly named Aqua Centurions. Changing into a lighter blue sweat jacket, sweat pants combo, the team rocks white caps during competition.
Just like their competition, mainly coaches, clutching their stopwatches, hung out at their team camp. Their digital booth displayed a simple, but effective underwater type-effect as the background with a warrior man above their team name.
The team is led by world-record holder Federica Pellegrini. She emphasized how much she loves the blue since that is the color the national team wears in swimming, soccer and plenty of other sports. It gave the team a national feel.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
DC Trident
Last, but certainly not least, is the safe-to-say fan favorite, DC Trident. The team received the loudest cheers from fans and for a good reason – they are led by Katie Ledecky and team captain Natalie Coughlin. The 12-time Olympian sported her famous dimples and smiles on deck, jamming to a DJ spinning turn tables before the meet and cheering for her teammates during. She is one of the only athletes who was consistently on deck at the team camp.
Like King, Coughlin appreciates the atmosphere of the meet.
“The team boxes are really cool, I like how we go out two by two, I like the fact that this is a team atmosphere,” said Coughlin. “It’s about racing, not necessarily times which, as someone who did four years of NCAA swimming, I understand that, and I haven’t done that in forever and that’s awesome.”
Joining mama-bear Coughlin is Cody Miller and 200-free champ Siobhan Haughey who also notably lead the tridents. The team wears all red uniforms and red caps and congregated behind a booth digitally displayed like a galaxy with a fierce shark as the focal point.
Overall, swimmers and fans can agree, the energy at the first ever International Swimming League meet was there. Though high production value and fast swimming brought the energy to the pool deck, the team and fans helped maintain it.
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