The Week That Was, sponsored by Suitemate
The Week That Was featured a UVA American record, Lucy Bell taking down a Missy Franklin record, Emma McKeon is missing Worlds, and more.
The Week That Was #1:Kate Douglass Anchors Virginia to American and NCAA Record-Smashing 400 Medley Relay; Third Relay Record of Meet
Kate Douglass. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
For the third consecutive day, the University of Virginia women swam the fastest time in history in a relay, and this time, the Cavaliers annihilated the NCAA and U.S. Open records in the 400 medley relay by more than two seconds. They beat the American record by nearly three seconds. The team of Gretchen Walsh, Alexis Wenger, Alex Walsh and Kate Douglass, combined to swim a time of 3:22.34, compared to the previous NCAA and U.S. Open record of 3:24.59 set by NC State at last year’s NCAA Championships. The previous American record (3:25.09) had belonged to a Simone Manuel-led Stanford team since 2018.
The Week That Was #2: Lucy Bell Takes Down Missy Franklin’s 200 IM Colorado Record
Photo Courtesy: Lucy Bell
Stanford commit Lucy Bell finished her high school career in style, taking down the Colorado state record in the 200 individual medley that belonged to two-time Olympian Missy Franklin.
Bell, a senior at Fossil Ridge High School, won the event easily at the Colorado High School Activities Association (CSHAA) Class 5A Championships on Wednesday. Bell went 1:59.94 in prelims before blasting a 1:56.14 in the final.
The Week That Was #3: Australia’s Prolific Olympic Medallist Emma McKeon To Miss FINA World Championships In Budapest
Australia’s most prolific Olympic swimming medallist Emma McKeon, has Paris 2024 in her sights and will miss this year’s re-scheduled FINA World Championships in Budapest.
McKeon set the Tokyo Olympic pool alight last year, winning seven medals – four of them gold – including the 50 and 100m freestyle double – her first major individual gold medals.
The Week That Was #4: Olympic Golden Girl Kaylee McKeown Sizzles At Victorian Championships: Wins 200m Backstroke In Faster Time Than Tokyo
Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr/Swimming Australia
Olympic Golden Girl Kaylee McKeown Sizzles At Victorian Championships: Wins 200m Backstroke In Faster Time Than Tokyo
Australia’s triple Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown has stunned the swimming world again in Melbourne tonight winning the 200m backstroke on the opening night of the Victorian Championships in a faster time than it took her to win Tokyo gold.
The Week That Was #5: Alex Walsh Becomes Second-Fastest Swimmer Ever in 200 Breaststroke at ACC Championships
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Last season, Virginia’s Alex Walsh finished fifth in the 200 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships, but it appeared Walsh may change up her schedule of events for this season after strong performances in the 400 IM and 200 fly at the Cavaliers’ midseason invitational. However, for the ACC Championships, Walsh returned to an identical program to her freshman year, which included the 200 free and 200 breast. After she swam a time quicker than last year’s NCAA winning time in the 200 free Thursday, she did even better in the 200 breast.