Splashbacks: Yuliya Efimova, Ryan Lochte Headliners in May-June
PHOENIX – Yuliya Efimova and Ryan Lochte were the top two personalities in the headlines in May and June at Swimming World. During the next few days, we’ll take a look back in “Splashbacks”, the most read stories of 2014.
While our readers gobbled up several articles looking at the culture of swimming, Yuliya Efimova’s doping ban and Ryan Lochte’s knee injury drew plenty of attention in May and June.
1. 7 PERSONALITIES ON YOUR SWIM TEAM
Tiffany Elias looked at all the assorted types of personalities that will find themselves on a swim team.
2. 8 WAYS THE SPORT OF SWIMMING HAS TAKEN OVER YOUR IDENTITY
Tiffany Elias took another angle on the sport of swimming as she wrote about how the sport takes over who you are as a person.
3. 5 REASONS WHY MICHAEL PHELPS WILL BE FASTER
Steven Selthoffer wrote a passionate article on why he believed that Phelps would be faster even after his comeback.
4. YULIYA EFIMOVA BANNED FOR 16 MONTHS; STRIPPED OF WORLD RECORDS
FINA imposed a 16-month competition ban on Yuliya Efimova retroactive to Oct. 31, 2013 and concluding next year on Feb. 28. It also included a loss of all results since Oct. 31, 2013 that included four European short course titles and four world records.
5. REPORT: IOC LOOKING INTO BACKUP PLAN FOR 2016 OLYMPICS, POSSIBLY CONSIDERING LONDON
Preparations in Rio de Janeiro were so far behind schedule in May that the International Olympic Committee reportedly looked into a backup plan that included London.
6. 5 QUALITIES THAT DEFINE A COMPETITIVE SWIMMER
Jim Lutz wrote about five separate qualities that can truly define a competitive swimmer. All of the best have these qualities.
7. WHY CAN’T HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING GET ALONG WITH USA SWIMMING?
Inspired by the last-minute waiver of obstructionist rules in California that initially banned Connor and Cameron Hoppe from competing, Jeff Commings asked why high school associations continued to make it hard for club swimming and high school swimming to get along.
8. NCAA RUNNER-UP DAN WALLACE SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY BY FLORIDA
In May, Florida’s Dan Wallace was kicked off the team due to a violation of team rules.
9. NATIONAL RECORD ONSLAUGHT AT U.S. MASTERS SWIMMING NATIONALS
With the addition of double-digit Olympians at the meet, the U.S. Masters Swimming national record book took a hit.
10. RYAN LOCHTE OUT OF ARENA GRAND PRIX IN CHARLOTTE
After tweaking his knee injury at the Mesa stop of the Arena Grand Prix, Lochte chose to sit out the entire Charlotte stop.