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In this issue of SW Biweekly, Swimming World has compiled a list of the top 25 women’s swimmers and top 25 men’s swimmers in the world, leading into 2021 as the Tokyo Olympics loom ahead. Also featured in top swimming news is TYR reducing the TYR Pro Series to two sites due to COVID restrictions; Katie Ledecky reveals she’s excited about training and looking forward to representing Team USA for her third Olympic Games; Olympian Lilly King gives back to her home club in an announcement she’ll match all donations up $5,000 for the Newburgh Sea Creatures; USA Swimming finalized the Winter 18 & Under Championships men’s and women’s leaderboards; The Campbell sisters and Ellie Cole follow coach Simon Cusack back to Queensland to prepare for Tokyo; Pools in England close in third lockdown; Iowa blocked by injunction from dropping women’s swimming; USA Water Polo Racial Equity & Reform Task Force holds a town hall discussion on creating inclusion; and much more!
[PHOTO CREDIT: PETER H. BICK]
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FEATURES
USA NEWS
008 USA SWIMMING REDUCES TYR PRO SERIES TO TWO SITES DUE TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COVID RESTRICTIONS
by John Lohn
While the TYR Pro Series event, scheduled for Jan. 14-17, will still take place with fields in San Antonio and Richmond, USA Swimming was forced to cancel the Irvine location due to the extension of the Southern California Regional Stay-at-Home Order in place to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
009 “EXCITED” ABOUT TRAINING, KATIE LEDECKY READY FOR WHAT 2021 WILL BRING
by Matthew De George
In a recent interview with the “Today Show,” Katie Ledecky, six-time Olympic medalist and holder of three world records, said she is training hard and looking forward to hopefully representing Team USA for her third Olympic Games.
011 LILLY KING GIVING BACK TO HER HOME CLUB
by Dan D’Addona
As the Newburgh Sea Creatures (Newburgh, Ind.) raise money for its 2021 season, Olympic gold medalist Lilly King announced on social media that she will match all donations up to $5,000.
012 FINALIZED USA SWIMMING’S WINTER 18 & UNDER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S LEADERBOARD
by Andy Ross
USA Swimming has finalized the Winter 18 & Under National Championships men’s leaderboard to see where swimmers stack up against each other when the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented them from competing in a normal Juniors environment. The list, which shows the top eight for each men’s event, was updated Dec. 14, 2020.
014 FINALIZED USA SWIMMING’S WINTER 18 & UNDER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN’S LEADERBOARD
by Andy Ross
USA Swimming has finalized the Winter 18 & Under National Championships women’s leaderboard to see where swimmers stack up against each other when the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented them from competing in a normal Juniors environment. The list, which shows the top eight for each women’s event, was updated Dec. 14, 2020.
WORLD NEWS
016 CAMPBELL SISTERS AND ELLIE COLE FOLLOW COACH SIMON CUSACK BACK TO QUEENSLAND TO PREPARE FOR TOKYO
by Ian Hanson
Australia’s Cate and Bronte Campbell confirmed they will leave the Australian Dolphins Swim Team in Sydney and return home to make Brisbane their training base to prepare for the Tokyo Olympic Trials after two successful years training in Harbour City. Joining them is their training partner, Paralympic golden girl Ellie Cole, with the trio all electing to follow Coach Simon Cusack back to Queensland.
019 RANKING THE BEST WOMEN’S SWIMMERS IN THE WORLD FROM 1-25 AS OLYMPIC YEAR ARRIVES
by Andy Ross
Looking ahead to another Olympic year and putting 2020 in the rearview mirror, Swimming World compiled a list of the 25 best women’s swimmers in the world leading into 2021.
023 RANKING THE BEST MEN’S SWIMMERS IN THE WORLD FROM 1-25 AS OLYMPIC YEAR ARRIVES
by Andy Ross
Looking ahead to another Olympic year and putting 2020 in the rearview mirror, Swimming World compiled a list of the 25 best men’s swimmers in the world leading into 2021.
027 “HAMMER BLOW” AS POOLS IN ENGLAND CLOSE IN THIRD LOCKDOWN
by Liz Byrnes
As England faces its third lockdown due to a new variant of coronavirus, indoor and outdoor swimming pools will have to close and all organized sporting activity and swimming lessons will come to a halt, although indoor elite sport will be able to continue. In response, Swim England’s chief executive Jane Nickerson has demanded that swimming pools be included in the list of facilities allowed to open at the earliest available opportunity.
COLLEGE NEWS
030 ALABAMA SHAKEUP: COLEY STICKELS RESIGNS AS COACH; MARGO GEER TO TAKE OVER POST-OLYMPICS
by Matthew De George
Alabama swimming head coach Coley Stickels, who joined the Crimson Tide in April 2019, has resigned his position to focus on preparing athletes for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Margo Geer, who is hoping to qualify for Team USA, will replace Stickels after the 2021 Olympic Games.
031 JUDGE GRANTS INJUNCTION BLOCKING IOWA FROM DROPPING WOMEN’S SWIMMING IN 2021-22
by Dan D’Addona
The University of Iowa women’s swim team might not be done after this season after all. In December, a federal judge announced the decision to grant an injunction that blocks the school from dropping women’s swimming for the 2021-22 school year. The university had previously announced it would cut the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, effective after the 2020-21 school year.
WATER POLO NEWS
032 USA WATER POLO RACIAL EQUITY & REFORM TASK FORCE HOSTS TOWN HALL DISCUSSION ON ZOOM
by Michael Randazzo
In December, USA Water Polo’s Racial Equity & Reform Task Force held the second of two virtual town hall discussions about the recently formed group’s mission to create more inclusion and equity in a sport that—by almost all appearances—is predominantly populated by white, and often affluent, participants.
034 SIGNS OF LIFE FOR NCAA MEN’S WATER POLO: CWPA TOP 20 PRESEASON POLL
by Michael Randazzo
In what is a very optimistic outlook for NCAA men’s water polo, the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) recently released a Top 20 Preseason Poll—albeit one with a number of caveats… the biggest being: Will anyone be playing?
FEATURES & COMMENTARY
036 FINAL BREATH: THE DANGERS OF HYPOXIC TRAINING AND RISKS OF SHALLOW-WATER BLACKOUT
by Kristy Kinzer
In this commentary, the author suggests that coaches and swimmers should take precautions to avoid shallow water blackouts when performing underwater driills. All training should be conducted by a certified and experienced coach.
039 HOW THEY TRAIN: MIRIAM GUEVARA
by Michael J. Stott
040 DEVELOPING RELIABLE HABITS CAN PROVIDE A MAJOR BOOST
by Brendan Farrar
With the new year upon us, many people take time to reflect on the past and look for ways to improve for the future. The key to improvement is to develop good habits. It’s not enough to say you will do something—it comes down to putting in the work and staying true to your intentions.
042 PARTING SHOT
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