The 2019 Swimmers of the Year
by John Lohn, Dan D’Addona, Craig Lord and David Rieder
World & American: Regan Smith & Caeleb Dressel
European: Katinka Hosszu & Adam Peaty
Pacific Rim: Ariarne Titmus & Daiya Seto
African: Tatjana Schoenmaker & Chad le Clos
REGAN SMITH
Female World and American Swimmer of the Year
As the 2020 Olympics approach, Smith will be one of the most talked about athletes on the road to Tokyo. Not only is she the overwhelming favorite for gold in the backstroke events, a medal is not out of the question in the 200 butterfly, and Smith is expected to be the lynchpin on several American relays. Yes, she’s just getting started. “I want to stay hungry,” Smith said.
CAELEB DRESSEL
Male World and American Swimmer of the Year
“Part of me is very happy,” Dressel said of his performance at the World Champs. “Part of me wants to cry that I’m done with it. I’ve got pimples on my face from just the stress of the meet. I’m probably losing some hair. It was a very tough week. I knew I was going to have to come with fire, passion and pride in every single race.” As stressful as the week in Gwangju was, it will not measure up to the intense pressure that Dressel will face at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
KATINKA HOSSZU
Female European Swimmer of the Year
The “Iron Lady” of swimming became the first woman in history to win five World Championship titles in the same event, once again capturing the 400 meter individual medley at this summer’s championships in Gwangju, South Korea—a streak that dates back to 2009! “It has been a tough journey, especially coming off last year,” Hosszu said. “From the outside, it might seem like just another gold medal, but obviously for me, it is really special to be here and to be able to win this title. I am looking forward to a lot of work for next year.”
ADAM PEATY
Male European Swimmer of the Year
This year, Peaty, who in 2017 became the first man to claim the World 50 and 100 breaststroke double twice, penned the triple this year into the history books. Along the way, the world witnessed a phenomenal moment: “Project 56” was delivered with a sledgehammer 56.88. “Got the triple double, which is a massive thing for me. It’s what I came here to do. The 56 happened, so it’s just everything complete, really,” Peaty summed up. If the Olympic 100 meter breaststroke crown stays on Peaty’s head in Tokyo next July, he will become the first British swimmer ever to retain an Olympic swimming title four years apart since it all began in 1896.
ARIARNE TITMUS
Female Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year
When Titmus stunningly beat the American over eight laps of freestyle at Worlds, and blew past Ledecky down the final lap, blinks were the norm around the aquatic world. Eventually, the enormity of the moment set in, and all anyone could do was tip their cap to the Australian. Still, it is her rematch with Ledecky that will attract the most attention. “This doesn’t really change anything,” Titmus said of her World title and defeat of Ledecky. “It was about swimming as fast as I could. The Olympics are next year. Katie’s a true champion, and through something like this, I guess every girl that trains for middle distance has her as a target.”
DAIYA SETO
Male Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year
Seto captured his third World title in the 400 meter individual medley (2013-15-19), leading the race from start to finish to win in 4:08.95. He also won the 200 IM and placed second in the 200 butterfly. While the 400 IM may have been his best performance, Seto’s victory in the 200 IM was more historic, as he ended the American streak of eight straight titles in the event over the last 16 years. With the Olympics in his home country, Seto is looking for his biggest moment in 2020. “I had a good meet,” Seto admitted, “but I want to be the Olympic champion next year.”
TATJANA SCHOENMAKER
Female African Swimmer of the Year
As a virtually unknown 20-year-old with no major international racing experience, Tatjana Schoenmaker arrived at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and shocked the world with gold medal-winning performances in both the 100 and 200 meter breast. In 2019, she backed up those performances on the world stage in Gwangju. That silver made Schoenmaker the first South African woman ever to win a medal at the FINA World Championships.
CHAD LE CLOS
Male African Swimmer of the Year
For the eighth consecutive year, Chad le Clos tops this category as Swimming World’s Male African Swimmer of the Year. A busy 2019 of racing also saw le Clos compete at FINA Champions Series meets in Guangzhou, China, and in Budapest, where he captured first place in the 100 fly, and also as a part of Team Energy Standard in the inaugural International Swimming League. In addition to multiple ISL victories in the 100 and 200 fly and an MVP award at the very first ISL meet in Indianapolis, le Clos showed off his still-potent freestyle, particularly in relay performances that helped Energy Standard capture victories in the first two meets of the circuit.
To read more about each of the 2019 Swimmers of the Year,
check out the December issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
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Swimming World Magazine December 2019 Issue
FEATURES
016 THE TOP 10 PERFORMANCES OF 2019
by David Rieder
This year’s list of top performances in swimming comes exclusively from the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, where world records went down, the world’s best swimmers established themselves with signature performances, and teenagers took down legends in their best events. The list includes the top five performances for both female and male swimmers, with all swimmers eligible to appear only once.
020 2019 SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR
by John Lohn, Dan D’Addona, Craig Lord and David Rieder
World & American: Regan Smith & Caeleb Dressel, European: Katinka Hosszu & Adam Peaty, Pacific Rim: Ariarne Titmus & Daiya Seto, African: Tatjana Schoenmaker & Chad le Clos
026 TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: WHEN BACKSTROKE WENT ROGUE
by John Lohn
It’s been more than 30 years since the underwater dolphin kick altered the landscape of the backstroke event, and never more so than at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul did it play a greater role.
COACHING
010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: XU YIMING
by Michael J. Stott
014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: THE VERTICAL JUMP TEST FOR EVENT SELECTION
by Rod Havriluk
The vertical jump is a relatively simple test that reflects a swimmer’s muscle fiber composition, which, in turn, can help select a swimmer’s most competitive events. Using the VJ test to identify swimmers likely to excel in sprint or distance events may not only improve performance at an early age, but also avoid losing sprinters who are averse to distance training and distance swimmers who are discouraged by sprinting.
041 Q&A WITH COACH BYRON MacDONALD
by Michael J. Stott
042 HOW THEY TRAIN KYLIE MASSE
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: HOLIDAY TRAINING
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
038 GOLDMINDS: WHAT MAKES GOOD COACHES GREAT?
by Wayne Goldsmith
Coaches change lives. They can inspire ordinary people to achieve remarkable and extraordinary things.
045 UP & COMERS: RYAN HOGAN
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS& SPECIAL SECTIONS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
009 BEYOND THE YARDS
029 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
044 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
046 DADS ON DECK
047 GUTTERTALK
048 PARTING SHOT