This week saw Olympian Ryan Lochte return to competition at the U.S. Masters Nationals despite his suspension from the USOC and USA Swimming, Yale combine their men and women’s programs, and Los Angeles reveal their proposed site plans for their 2024 Olympic bid. Read about those stories and more below in this edition of The Week That Was!
The Week That Was #5 – Australia Takes Down USA Men’s Water Polo at FINA Intercontinental
Photo Courtesy: USA Water Polo
The Australian men’s water polo team took down a strong U.S. team in the final of the FINA Intercontinental Water Polo tournament over the weekend. Competing on their home turf on the Gold Coast, the Aussies, led by Johnno Cotterill, defeated the U.S. 8-6 in the final. The Americans made it into the gold medal match a dominant 20-6 victory over New Zealand in the semi-final round. The U.S. men did take home some accolades from the tournament as Johnny Hooper was named the top scorer and Alex Wolf the top goalie from the week.
The Week That Was #4 – Olympians Dominant 2017 TYR Fran Crippen Meet of Champions
Photo Courtesy: Jeremy Brevard – USA TODAY Sports Images
Several Olympians were out in force at the 2017 TYR Fran Crippen Meet of Champions, with many using it as a training meet for the upcoming U.S. Nationals. Olympian Nathan Adrian was on hand before jumping over to U.S. Masters Nationals later in the week (see story below). While at the meet Adrian notched himself a victory in the 100 free with a 48.74, just about a half-second off his season best. That was the strongest swim of the meet. Other winners included Olympians Tom Shields in the 100 (52.57) and 200 fly (1:58.05) and Abbey Weitzeil in the 50 free (25.35). You can see a full recap of all three days of the meet here.
The Week That Was #3 – Jim Henry Named Head Coach of Combined Yale Programs
Following Tim Wise’s recent resignation as head coach of the Yale men’s swimming and diving program, it was announced this week that Jim Henry will take over as the head coach for both the men’s and the women’s programs at Yale. Henry has been the head coach of the Yale women’s program for the past five years, and most recently led the Bulldogs to their first Ivy League Championship title in 20 years. During his time at Yale the Bulldogs have amassed a 25-7 dual meets record and have been Ivy League Dual Meet Champions the past two seasons. Henry has 17 years of collegiate coaching experience, including five years as assistant coach and one year as an associate head coach with the University of Texas women’s program in addition to coaching stints at the University of Denver and Southern Methodist University. Henry graduated from the University of Texas in 1990 after winning three national championships with the Longhorns.
The Week That Was #2 – Lotte Friis Announces Retirement
Photo Courtesy: Robert Stanton/USA Today Sports Images
Danish Olympian Lotte Friis announced her retirement earlier this week through an Instagram post to her fans. Friis thanked the friends and supporters she had throughout her career, writing “without all of you I wouldn’t had gotten as far as I did.” Friis made her first Olympic team in 2008, when the 20-year-old won a bronze medal in the 800 freestyle. She continued to have international success in the leadup to the 2012 Olympics in London, winning World Championship titles in the 800 (2009) and 1500 (2011) in addition to setting a short course world record in the 1500. Friis appeared in two championship finals in London but failed to medal individually, but went on to win two silver medals at the 2013 World Championships behind Katie Ledecky, going under the former world record in the 1500 by four seconds but losing to Ledecky in the final stretches of the race. Friis moved to the North Baltimore Aquatics Club in the leadup to Rio, training under Bob Bowman and later Erik Posegay. Friis finished seventh in the 800 free final in Rio, the final international race of her career.
The Week That Was #1 – Lochte, Adrian Highlight U.S. Masters Nationals
Photo Courtesy: Laura Hamel/U.S. Masters Swimming
The United States Master Nationals saw some big names competing this week, as Olympians Nathan Adrian and Ryan Lochte both took the competition pool at the meet this week. Lochte is still serving his suspension from his post-Olympics incident in Rio de Janeiro, making this his first competition since last summer’s Games. The Olympian set a new USMS national record in the 100 IM in his return to the pool, touching in 47.71 to just sneak by Matt Grevers’ record of 47.78 for the 30-34 age group. Lochte won five events throughout the meet, including the 200 IM (1:44.21) and the 100 back (46.57). Adrian, for his part, won the 100 fly, 100 IM, and 50 free for the 25-29 age group. Dozens of masters records fell throughout the meet as well, including multiple from Olympian Rick Collela and Laura Val in the 65-69 age group. You can check out all the results from the meet over at our Event Landing Page.