Tokyo Takeaway: Reflecting on the 2018 Pan Pacs
For Team USA, their performance at the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo was cause for some concern. For Australia, it was reason to be excited. For both, it wasn’t the end game.
At this year’s Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo, the United States remained the premier team—43 total medals and 18 golds were by far the most of any country at the regional competition— but some magic was missing. American swimmers weren’t winning the close races. Veterans swam nowhere close to their lifetime bests.
And after winning seven of eight relays at the 2017 World Champs, the U.S. won just two at Pan Pacs. Both triumphs required come-from-behind splits on the anchor leg.
At Pan Pacs, Australia put forth an inspired performance with eight gold medals—six of them in events where American swimmers or relays had won World titles just the year before.
To learn more about some of the top takeaways from the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, check out the September 2018 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
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[PHOTO COURTESY: POLLY LINDEN]
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FEATURES
017 A YEAR TO REMEMBER
by David Rieder
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021 “…NEVER THIS GOOD!”
by Annie Grevers
Forty years since Harpeth Hall School (Tenn.) finished second in Swimming World’s National High School Championships, the Bearacuda girls finally made it to the top, outswimming Buchholz High School (Fla.), 170.5 to 135.5—and ending Carmel’s (Ind.) five-year reign as national champions
027 TOKYO TAKEAWAY
by David Rieder
For Team USA, their performance at the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo was cause for some concern. For Australia, it was reason to be excited. For both, it wasn’t the end game.
029 PROJECT 56
by David Rieder
At the European Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain’s Adam Peaty—the best sprint breaststroker in history—took aim at an unfathomable boundary: swimming the men’s 100 meter breast under 57 seconds.
030 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH ALLISON SCHMITT
by Annie Grevers
040 AROUND THE TABLE WITH MARIAH DENIGAN—A LOOK INTO TEENAGE NUTRITION
by Annie Grevers and Dawn Weatherwax
COACHING
010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: JOHN COLLINS
by Michael J. Stott
014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMAL MODEL FOR TECHNIQUE: PART 3—HEAD POSITION AND MOTION
by Rod Havriluk
This month’s article examines the effect of head position and motion on body rotation, and consequently, body size and shape. The head is critical because a slight variation in the non-breathing position or excess motion during breathing can impact resistance from the rest of the body.
032 SPECIAL SETS: EARLY FALL SEASON TRAINING
by Michael J. Stott
Coaches Ethan Hall (Crow Canyon Sharks) and Brian Elko (Egg Harbor Township) share some insights and actual sets that they offer athletes, ages 15-18, as they resume aquatic training.
034 PREHAB/REHAB VIA THE SWIM BENCH: STAYING FIT
by Michael J. Stott
This installment is the third in a multi-part series and explores the role of the swim bench in injury prevention and rehabilitation.
042 Q&A WITH COACH MIKE NOVELL
by Michael J. Stott
043 HOW THEY TRAIN DANNY KOVAC
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
026 DRYSIDE TRAINING: STROKE AND DISTANCE STRENGTH SERIES—INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
036 GOLDMINDS: SETTING GOALS…AND HOW TO ACHIEVE THEM!
by Wayne Goldsmith
Exchange your hopes for “actions,” trade in your wishes for “commitment” and swap your dreams for “goals”—and you’ll be on your way to realizing your full potential!
045 UP & COMERS: MAGGIE WANEZEK by Taylor Brien
COLUMNS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
013 BEYOND THE YARDS
016 THE OFFICIAL WORD
039 MOMS AT MEETS
046 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
047 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT
The anti-U.S. sentiment in Swimming World’s reporting on 2018 Pan Pacs needs to stop. Including open water, the U.S. won 20 gold medals to Australia’s 8, yet somehow Australia’s performance was “inspired”—probably because Cate Campbell patted herself on the back while the U.S. remained humble. Kalisz (2 indiv gold), Murphy (2 indiv gold), and Ledecky (3 indiv gold) alone almost matched Australia’s gold total. Yes, perhaps Dressel struggled but if you had been told prior to the start of the season that Haas, Grothe, Wilimovsky, Flickinger, Sumrall and others would step up to win individual gold in a 45-medal performance, wouldn’t you have been happy rather than “concerned”?