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008 ISABELLE STADDEN POISED TO DEFEND PAC-12 TITLE, AIM FOR NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
by Dan D’Addona
After last year’s unusual college season that didn’t include dual meets or spectators at NCAAs, sophomore Isabelle Stadden is back with Cal, ready to see what a full season of training and racing can bring, starting with the Pac-12 Championships, where she won the 200 back last year while earning All-America honors in multiple events.
010 A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND TIMES: NO DENYING THE ADVANTAGES OF LIA THOMAS
by John Lohn
SW Biweekly takes a look at some of Lia Thomas’ performances this season and how they measure up in comparison to the biological females against whom she is competing.
012 NOW WHAT? ANALYZING THE QUESTIONS AHEAD IN THE LIA THOMAS CONTROVERSY
by John Lohn
A little more than two months ago, swimming was presented with a situation that revealed a massive divide, with one corner featuring those who couldn’t understand the presence of transgender woman Lia Thomas in women’s competition, and the other featuring those who believed she should have access to inclusion and racing as she identifies. With NCAAs approaching, the debate continues, and plenty of questions remain.
014 EMBRACING THE PRESSURE, KIERAN SMITH IS READY FOR LAST COLLEGE POSTSEASON
by Matthew De George
With his final postseason as a Florida Gator beckoning, Olympic bronze medalist Kieran Smith is ready to chase history, both on the clock and in solidifying his legacy within a generation-defining distance group.
016 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST TOWNLEY HAAS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
by Matthew De George
Olympic gold medalist Townley Haas recently announced his retirement from swimming on social media, thanking all of the people who helped him throughout a stellar career, which included an 800 freestyle relay gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he also finished fifth in the 200 freestyle. Haas also won multiple NCAA championships, contributing to three (2016-18) of Texas’ four straight team titles that started in 2015.
018 ANTHONY NESTY LEADING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM MARKS PROGRESS IN DIVERSITY FOR U.S. COACHING
by David Rieder
It’s quite a statement about swimming’s lack of diversity in the U.S. that Anthony Nesty—who was named as the head men’s coach for the U.S. World Championships team this summer—is the first black coach to helm a major championship squad. Just like Simone Manuel and other fellow black Olympians have paved the way for future generations of African-American swimmers, Nesty is doing the same for coaches.
020 MALLORY WEGGEMANN MEMOIR, LIMITLESS, OPTIONED FOR FILM
by Dan D’Addona
Morning Moon Productions has optioned the rights to Mallory Weggemann’s memoir, Limitless, and plans to adapt the book into a narrative film showcasing Weggemann’s extraordinary journey to becoming a three-time Paralympic gold medalist in swimming and a global champion of disability advocacy.
021 CLAIRE CURZAN BREAKS 100 BUTTERFLY AMERICAN RECORD AND 100 BACK HIGH SCHOOL RECORD AT NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL STATE MEET
by David Rieder
Competing in her final high school state championship, Claire Curzan lowered the American record in the women’s 100 yard butterfly to 49.24, becoming the second-fastest performer in history, behind only Maggie Mac Neil’s 48.89 from last year’s NCAAs. Curzan also became the third-fastest performer ever in the 100 backstroke, lowering the overall national high school record to 49.61.
022 ANTHONY NESTY AND TODD DeSORBO NAMED U.S. COACHES FOR 2022 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
by Ashleigh Shay
USA Swimming announced that Anthony Nesty and Todd DeSorbo will be the head coaches of the U.S. men’s and women’s swim teams, respectively, competing at the 2022 FINA World Championships, June 18-July 3, in Budapest, Hungary.
023 RUSSIAN FIGURE SKATER KAMILA VALIEVA TESTS POSITIVE FOR TRIMETAZIDINE; SAME DRUG INVOLVED IN SUN YANG, MADISYN COX BANS
by Dan D’Addona
024 KAITLIN SANDENO STEPS DOWN AS GM OF DC TRIDENT, ENDING GROUNDBREAKING ROLE
by Dan D’Addona
Kaitlin Sandeno, who was one of the original general managers in the International Swimming League—one of the few front-office females in professional sports—confirmed she is stepping down from her role as GM of the DC Trident. The team’s head coach is Cyndi Gallagher, making the Trident the only all-female-led team in the ISL.
026 KATIE LEDECKY SWIMS FASTER 800 FREESTYLE THAN GOLD TIME FROM TOKYO; DRESSEL BEATS ANDREW IN 50 FLY
by David Rieder
Swimming at a Sectionals meet in Orlando in February, Katie Ledecky’s first race saw her surpass her own winning time in the 800 freestyle from the Tokyo Olympics by 7-tenths. Her 8:11.83 ranks as the 15th-fastest performance of all-time, behind only 14 other performances that Ledecky recorded betwen 2014 and 2019. The time is exactly two seconds faster than any other swimmer in history: Ariarne Titmus’ 8:13.83 silver-medal performance at Tokyo.
027 IN FIRST GAME SINCE OLYMPICS, U.S. MEN’S WATER POLO FALLS TO GREECE
by Matthew De George
Competing in Valos, Greece, in February, the U.S. men’s water polo team suffered a 16-13 defeat to the host country in its first match since last summer’s Tokyo Olympics. Team USA had lost to Greece, 14-5, in group play at the Tokyo Olympics before exiting in the quarterfinals.
028 TRANSFERS ALVIN JIANG AND AMERON AUCHINACHIE UNEXPECTED STARS IN TEXAS DYNASTY
by David Rieder
A pair of fifth-year students who have transferred from other schools to Texas—Alvin Jiang (North Carolina) and Cameron Auchinachie (University of Denver)—are swimming alongside and, in fact, pacing the cream of the crop in college swimming, aiming to help the Longhorns add to a sterling legacy under Coach Eddie Reese.
