Mack Horton will reprise his rivalry with Sun Yang at the world championships in South Korea.Credit:AAP
Mack Horton will get the chance to take on old rival Sun Yang after all, with the Rio 400m champion being named in the Dolphins FINA World Championship squad despite missing the qualifying marks during trials in Brisbane.
But Emily Seebohm will miss her first world titles since 2007 after missing the top two in both the 100m and 200m backstroke. She had been gunning for a hat-trick of world titles in the 200m back and would have been the first woman to achieve the feat.
A 27-strong team was announced on Friday night and Horton was on the list after finding his way into the green and gold as a relay swimmer for the 200m freestyle, where he finished fifth. It is understood he will now be entered into the 400m, even though he was short of the Swimming Australia qualifying time and was beaten into second by Jack McLoughlin.
Dolphins head coach Jacco Verhaeren said he expected Horton to rebound strongly in five weeks despite swimming below his best in Brisbane. His time was inside the FINA standard but he would need to shed seconds in a hurry to be competitive in a world championships final.
“He may not have been rested enough, I am guessing here… there is no clear answer,” Verhaeren said. “We will run a few tests after this week to go a bit more in depth. But there is no concern that he can’t return to his level.
“You have to look at why that didn’t happen and what did we miss here, we haven’t got that answer yet but I am confident we will find it. He is an Olympic champion, it’s not a panic situation… he could turn it around in weeks.”
There was no such reprieve for Seebohm, who has been a fixture on international teams for the Dolphins for more than a decade, a multiple world champion and has 53 international medals in her keeping.
Rising stars Minna Atherton, who trains alongside Seebohm at Brisbane Grammar, and Kaylee McKeown were too good in both events, meaning Seebohm must now regroup for the International Swimming League later in the year and next year’s Tokyo Games.
“It does surprise you… she’s been there for a decade, has swum 58s (100m) for a decade… I don’t anyone in the world of swimming has done that. So not qualifying and be able to break a minute is a surprise. I know her as being pretty resilient,” Verhaeren said.
“She’s racing two youngsters that are very strong. They are not average swimmers, they are previous junior world record holders.”
Kyle Chalmers, Cate Campbell, Emma McKeon, Ariarne Titmus and Mitch Larkin were all standouts during the trials, with Verhaeren praising the new high-pressure domestic environment that has created smaller teams with increased quality.
“We have strong qualification standards, some well under FINA A standards, but we select on purpose from top eight at the last worlds, which was a fast world championship,” Verhaeren said.
“We select based on entry times for finals there because that is what we require from our individuals. It’s a small team but very strong and in my opinion, it is not the size that decides the success of the team, it is the strength of the team.”
The shift of trials closer to major meets, which largely mirrors the American system, has proven to be a success so far and Verhaeren now wants the Dolphins to build on the strong returns of last year’s Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacs meet in Japan.
“Our goal is unchanged from last year and the year before. We put an emphasis at being better at the benchmark event that trials.
“We did well at that at Commonwealth Games and at Pan Pacs… the conversion rates [being faster at the event than the trials] there were 60 per cent. That’s double what we had for Rio. To win when it matters, to be at your best when it matters, is way more important.
“You want to see times close to world class and this is why our selection standards are so strong. They have achieved that … now it’s time to convert.”
Thomas Fraser-Holmes (Australian Swimming)
The Campbell sisters stood tall, Kyle Chalmers took out his third race of the meet, the next generation of female backstrokers made a statement and Thomas Fraser-Holmes had the crowd on its feet on the final night of the 2019 Hancock Prospecting World Swimming Trials.
Kicking off the first event of the evening, there was no room for error in the Men’s 50m Freestyle, with the battle of the sprint kings all over in less than 23 seconds. Marion’s Chalmers steamed home in lane two to take top spot in 22.09 – narrowly outside the world championship qualifying time of 21.77. His victory marked his third of the meet, after also taking out the 100m and 200m freestyle. TSS Aquatic’s Cameron McEvoy clocked 22.29 to place second, while 19-year-old Jonte Blake from UWA West Coast finished strongly in 22.31.
Just as they have done so many times before, the Campbell sisters placed first and second in the Women’s 50m Freestyle splash and dash. As the current Commonwealth and Australian record holder it was Cate in 24.05 who finished 0.12 seconds ahead of Bronte, who was pleased to record a personal best time of 24.17. Griffith University’s Emma McKeon, who had an exceptional meet, also recorded a personal best of 24.25 to place third and make her the fourth fastest Australian of all time. In a show of depth, the trio all achieved the world championship qualifying time of 24.59.
The Campbell sisters do it again in the Women’s 50m Freestyle. (Australian Swimming)
Speaking on pool deck post-race, Bronte said she was thrilled to get an individual swim in South Korea next month.
“I am so happy with that and I think it’s been shown what women’s freestyle is in this country, and it’s pretty incredible,” Campbell said.
“You have the 200m which is absolutely world-class and the 100m where you have to go under 52.5 to get an individual spot on the team, and then again tonight Emma going faster than her PB again in the 50m.
“It is a huge honour, it has always been tough races to get into and that is why we are so good. It’s that we have always had two or three other girls pushing both of us along and each other.
“It means a lot, it has been a very disrupted prep and I was really proud of my time last night and really happy with that, it’s .05 off my best ever time so you can’t laugh at that.”
Our country’s next generation of female backstrokers made a statement in the Women’s 200m Backstroke on Friday evening, as 17-year-old Kaylee McKeown (USC Spartans) and 19-year-old Minna Atherton (Brisbane Grammar) snared first and second spot respectively. Fighting it out in lanes three and four, the duo both posted personal bests and earned a ranking in the Australian all-time top ten fastest times, with McKeown touching in 2:06.35 and Atherton 2:06.82. Emily Seebohm (Brisbane Grammar) clocked 2:08.58 to place third.
McKeown secures her spot on the team with another qualifying time in the 200m backstroke. (Australian Swimming)
A delighted McKeown couldn’t contain her excitement after the race, saying she “couldn’t be much happier”.
“I haven’t been under 2:07 in about two years since last world champs, so it’s good to be back at that speed and get a bit of confidence,” said McKeown.
“I think we’ve just changed it up a bit and our training environment up at the university is really good and I’m grateful for all the support staff and obviously my coaches, we just managed to put it together really well.”
Personal bests were flying thick and fast on the final night of trials, as Nunawading’s Matthew Temple and TSS Aquatic’s David Morgan went stroke for stroke in the Men’s 100m Butterfly. There was nothing separating the duo when they touched the wall, coming equal first in a nail-biting race. Recording 51.47 makes them the third fastest Australians of all time. UWA West Coast’s Grant Irvine pushed hard all the way home, finishing ever so slightly behind in 51.62 and placing him as the fourth fastest Aussie.
In the final race of the night, with the crowd on their feet, Thomas Fraser-Holmes (Griffith University) secured his spot on the world championship team after powering home in the Men’s 400m Individual Medley. Finishing in 4:14.68 – under the qualifying time of 4:15.69 – the 27-year-old was delighted after the race.
“It’s just a really good effort to be back here. I’ve done a lot of training on my own, I’ve done 40-50km weeks on my own and you sort of think, ‘is it worth it?’ and on night’s like this it’s definitely worth it, when you get a qualifying time and make the team,” Fraser-Holmes said.
“I get a chance to represent my country again and represent it the best I can – I’m just really stoked to be back here.”
Following the conclusion of the 2019 Hancock Prospecting World Swimming Trials, a team of 27 Dolphins have been assembled to take on their international counterparts at the FINA World Swimming Championships in South Korea next month.
The lowdown on who, what, when, and how to use sports drinks
Staying hydrated during a workout, swim meet, or open water race is essential to performing your best, but do you need a sports drink or water?
Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether you need a sports drink—which provides energy in the form of carbohydrates and replaces electrolytes lost in sweat—or just plain water the next time you’re getting into the water.
Sweating the Small Stuff
For extended (longer than one hour) or strenuous workouts, you should seriously consider consuming a sports drink, including premade ones such as Gatorade or ones you can easily mix such as INFINIT Nutrition’s U.S. Masters Swimming blends designed specifically for swimmers.
The average athlete can lose 1 to 3 liters of sweat an hour, a figure that depends on variables such as the temperature and elevation the exercise is performed, how fit the athlete is, the intensity of the workout, and how long the activity is. When you sweat, you lose fluid and electrolytes. Sports drinks help you hydrate better than water alone because they contain important electrolytes such as calcium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. These electrolytes can help maintain fluid balance, prevent cramping, regulate muscle contraction and relaxation, and regulate heart rhythm and blood pressure.
Another thing to consider is how salty of a sweater you are. If you tend to lose sodium at a high rate, a sports drink can help replace those losses.
Here’s how to determine if you’re a salty sweater.
- Does your sweat taste salty?
- Does sweat sting your eyes or burn in any open cuts?
- Do you have white lines on your face, skin, or clothes after a training session?
If you said “yes” to any of those questions, you’re probably a salty sweater.
When to Drink
Swimmers can consume sports drinks before, during, or after their activity.
If you consume a sports drink before exercising, you’ll top off your muscle’s glycogen stores. You can also try salted fruit or vegetables such as apples or tomatoes.
You should drink according to thirst or on a schedule, if necessary, during a workout or event. Consider starting with a 6 percent carbohydrate solution (approximately 14 grams of carbs per 8 fluid ounces) with 150 to 180 milligrams of sodium and 60 to 75 milligrams of potassium. Most major commercial sports drinks provide this.
To determine the carbohydrate concentration of a drink, divide the grams of carbs in one serving by the milliliters of fluid in one serving and multiply by 100. Using the example above: (14 grams carbohydrate/240 milliliters) x 100 = 5.83, or 6 percent.
After exercising, you’ll want to replace fluid losses and refill your glycogen stores. Sports drinks after exercise should be combined with foods or other fluids that provide adequate carbs, protein, and other nutrients. Beverages or foods with higher amounts of sodium might be helpful when aggressive rehydrating strategies are needed. Your urine should be relatively clear within two or three hours of exercising.
What’s Out There?
There are loads of sports drinks available. Although many sports drinks are similar in their nutrient content, they have their differences. Evaluate labels for nutrients and ingredients.
You might try making your own with a combination of sugar, salt, juice (orange, lemon, pineapple, etc.), and water. The U.S. Olympic Committee and many other organizations have examples listed on their websites. Some will taste better than others but don’t set your expectations too high. It’s doubtful that any will taste like the commercial drinks.
Often, you’ll see coconut water listed as an alternative to sports drinks. Although coconut water is high in potassium, it contains less sodium than most sports drinks. Athletes lose more sodium than potassium, and coconut water isn’t likely to meet the needs of an athlete who’s a salty sweater.
Other fruit juices will provide more carbs but will have a lower number of electrolytes than traditional sports drinks.
Salt or electrolyte packets or tablets that can be added to water may be used in place of a sports drink. If you need to replace carbs, then salt or electrolyte tablets will not be a good option.
Gels, chews, or bars can help to replenish carbs, but do not generally supply as much sodium as sports drinks and electrolyte mixes.
Energy drinks are not an alternative to sports drinks. While most contain sugar (carbs) that can help provide energy, the amount is usually in much higher concentrations than traditional sports drinks and may not be well tolerated. They do contain caffeine that may also be beneficial, but rarely contain the electrolytes needed. INFINIT Nutrition is one brand that offers caffeine along with electrolytes needed by swimmers.
For low intensity or exercise that is short in duration, plain water may be appropriate.
To maintain a balance, athletes should be drinking fluid and eating a wide variety of foods that will provide electrolytes throughout the day. Consider salted nuts, pretzels, crackers, and canned soup for sodium; bananas, citrus fruits, and potatoes for potassium; almonds, peanut butter, pumpkin seeds, beans, and spinach for magnesium; and milk, yogurt, almonds, and broccoli for calcium. If you’re a salty sweater, you should add more salt to your foods and beverages throughout the day, drink tomato or vegetable juice, consume packaged soups, or add a pickle or two to your meals or snacks during training.
To Drink or Not to Drink (a Sports Drink)?
Whether you need a sports drink will depend on the length and intensity of your training and whether you happen to be a salty sweater. If you need an easy way to replenish carbs, sports drinks are a great choice.
In general, when training or doing an event longer than 60 minutes, it’s advantageous to consume a sports drink. Athletes should evaluate their tolerance, tastes, nutrients, ingredients, and budget to suit individual needs and preferences. As an athlete, you should always practice with a sports drink of your choosing before an event to ensure you tolerate it without ill effects.
Leah Smith (USA Swimming)
Olympian and U.S. National Team member Leah Smith won her second event of the meet Thursday at the TYR Pro Swim Series at Clovis, taking the women’s 200m freestyle in 1:57.40.
“I was super excited about my race tonight,” Smith said. “I’m in pretty heavy training right now, but I just wanted one last tune-up before Worlds so I know what I need to improve on.”
Smith came out on top a tight field for the win, edging fellow National Teamer Mallory Comerford by about five-tenths of a second. Comerford finished the race in 1:57.93, followed by Emily Overholt of Canada in 1:57.97. It was Smith’s second win of the week after taking the 800m free on Wednesday.
Both Smith and Comerford will be competing next month at the FINA World Championships, July 21-28 in Gwangju, South Korea. They were just two of a handful of swimmers from the U.S. National Team to take the podium in Clovis Thursday.
National Team member Gianluca Urlando won the men’s 100m butterfly over Giles Smith, 52.20 to 52.63. Ryan Coetzee of South Africa was third in 53.57.
“I was really happy with it, especially the second 50,” Urlando said.
The men’s 100m fly was one of two podiums for Urlando Thursday. He also placed third in the men’s 200m free in 1:48.58, behind Trey Freeman of Utah Baylor Swim Club (1:47.86) and fellow National Team member and Olympian Townley Haas (1:48.02). Freeman will be competing in the 200m free next month at the World University Games in Naples, Italy.
Another National Teamer, Justin Ress, who will be competing in the 50m backstroke next month at the World University Games, won that event in 25.05, 16-hundredths ahead of Olympian and National Team member Matt Grevers. Grevers will be swimming the 100m back at Worlds.
“It’s definitely cool learning how to race out here,” Ress said. “It’s really windy, and I never train outside, and the starts are a little different. There’re so many excuses but I’m happy to win it. I just have to swim through this stuff because everyone had to deal with it. It’s something I have to learn to push through.”
Ali DeLoof won the women’s 50m back in 28.05, followed by Amy Bilquist in 28.44 and Isabelle Stadden in 28.64. Both DeLoof and Stadden will represent the U.S. at the Pan American Games in August in Peru – Deloof in the 100m back and Stadden in the 200m back.
“I really want to be 59 in my 100 back, “DeLoof said. “I think [tonight’s] 50 set me up really well, so I know I can take it out. Coming back is always a little tough. That’s my main thing, the last 15 meters, so I’ll definitely be thinking about that.”
Other first-place finishers in Clovis included Sydney Pickrem of Canada in the women’s 100m breaststroke (1:07.20); Brandon Fischer of the Livermore Aqua Cowboys in the men’s 100m breaststroke (59.86); Louise Hansson of Sweden in the women’s 100m butterfly (57.36); Pickrem in the women’s 400m IM (4:40.64); and Jarod Arroyo of Puerto Rico in the men’s 400m IM (4:21.65).
The four-day, long-course meters competition runs through Saturday with daily prelims at 9 a.m. PT and evening finals at 5 p.m. PT.
NBCSN will air live finals coverage from Clovis at 5 p.m. PT on Friday. The NBC Sports app, as well as usaswimming.org, will stream coverage of Saturday’s finals at 5 p.m. PT. A live webcast of prelims will stream online at usaswimming.org.
Across the 2019 TYR Pro Swim Series, swimmers may earn increased awards for top-three finishes in all individual Olympic events. At each meet, $1,500 will be provided for a first-place finish, $1,000 for second and $500 for third. In addition, one athlete per gender with the highest-scoring prelim swim in an individual Olympic event based on FINA power points will win $1,500.
Growing up in Baltimore, Giles Smith’s summers were spent swimming and following the Orioles. But as Smith began to develop into a top swimmer at McDonogh, he wondered whether he’d have the chance to extend his career professionally, like baseball, football and basketball players.
“I kind of was having success in swimming, and I kind of thought, ‘Wow, this would be cool to do this for a living,’ ” he recalled.
That opportunity has arrived for Smith, who is one of several dozens of swimmers who will compete in a new professional swimming league later this year with the chance to win prize money and attract sponsors.
The International Swimming League will feature eight teams from Europe and the United States with meets beginning in October in six American and European cities, leading to a championship final at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino’s 12,000-seat arena in Las Vegas in December. One of the matches will be hosted by the University of Maryland’s Natatorium at the Eppley Recreation Center in College Park in November.
The 27-year-old Smith — a butterfly specialist for the DC Trident, which will be headlined by five-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky — has high hopes for the new league.
“I think it is swimming’s version of the NFL or the NBA,” said Smith, who won the gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly at the 2015 Pan American Games and was the first high school swimmer from Baltimore to finish the 50 freestyle in less than 21 seconds. “It’s going to allow the best swimmers in the world to be on teams. It’s going to allow swimmers to swim for fans, and it’s going to be really exciting. There will be a lot of international travel. So fans from all over the world will be able to see their favorite swimmers compete and the best swimmers in the world compete.
“There’s never really been a true league to do this as a sport. Hopefully, it can make our sport — for all the work that we put in — more than just a four-year sport.”
The ISL is funded by Ukrainian energy entrepreneur Konstantin Grigorishin, who is an avid swimming fan. In 2017, he invited professional swimmers to take part in a competition to be held in Italy and came to a stunning realization, according to Dmytro Kachurovskyi, the ISL’s director of development and a former president of the Ukrainian Swimming Federation.
“Konstantin was shocked by how underpaid the world’s top athletes were and saw the need to create a concept where the best athletes, who dedicate their lives to swimming, will be able to make a decent living out of their hard work and exceptional talents,” Kachurovskyi said via email.
The ISL, however, ran into the International Swimming Federation — perhaps better known by its acronym, FINA — which refused to sanction an ISL meet scheduled for December 2018. A month and a few lawsuits later, FINA changed its stance and agreed that swimmers are permitted to compete in competitions arranged by independent organizers.
Before the ISL, there have been few professional options for swimming professionally — the TYR Pro Swim Series in the United States, as well as the FINA Swimming World Cup and FINA Champions Swim Series abroad. The Champions Swim Series was introduced this year.
The eight teams in the ISL will each field 24 swimmers — 12 men and 12 women — with several teams competing in each meet. Two swimmers from each team will be required to compete in a single race in short-course pools of 25 meters in length, and there will be no preliminary events.
The team format has been embraced by swimmers who competed at the NCAA level and have missed that type of camaraderie.
“Once I graduated, I think in my first year as a pro, I struggled a little bit with the feeling that I didn’t have a team,” said Bethesda resident Andrew Wilson, who will swim for the Cali Condors and won gold medals in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the 2017 World University Games. “It was now just me swimming. But with a team, you’re swimming for each other as much as you’re swimming for yourself. So having an ISL team is going to be a great thing because it’s going to get you back into the feeling of a college meet.”
World record holder Adam Peaty, five-time Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian, two-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Manuel, three-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy and Australian Olympic gold medalists Cate and Bronte Campbell and Kyle Chalmers have been reported as participants in the ISL.
But outside of Olympic champions Michael Phelps and Ledecky, swimmers are not usually household names in the United States. The ISL hopes to turn that thinking upside-down.
“The objective is to build commercial value for the league, the clubs and all the members involved, including the coaches and the athletes,” Kachurovskyi said. “Athletes like Adam Peaty and Katie Ledecky are equally talented to other professional athletes, but right now, their commercial value is unfortunately low, and the league aims to change that.”
Swimmers were recruited by teams, which then signed them to contracts. Grigorishin told Reuters that a leading swimmer on the winning club could earn about $120,000 a year in appearance and prize money.
DC Trident general manager Kaitlin Sandeno said the swimmers deserve the chance to try to gain some financial stability.
“Some of these athletes are the best athletes in the world, and they’re trying to represent their countries, and they have to find other opportunities to pick up some type of financial income to support their dreams just because the amount of money is just not really there,” said Sandeno, an Olympic gold medalist and world champion. “They get highlighted every four years and then they’re just forgotten.
“I think what’s great about this league’s timing is we’re helping them build their brand and their visibility into 2020, but on the athletic side, we’re giving them an opportunity to stay on that high and ride that emotional and physical high that they’re going to be at.”
Natalie Taylor, director of aquatics at Maryland’s University Recreation & Wellness, said the ISL reached out to the center in March about hosting the two-day meet Nov. 15-16. She said placing a competition just outside the nation’s capital made sense.
“The local swimming community of a couple counties in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia is one of the largest in the country,” Taylor said. “We’re the smallest in terms of geographic area, but the second largest in the country outside of California. We’ve produced the likes of Katie Ledecky, Michael Phelps and a number of other strong swimmers who have made several Olympic teams — not only for the U.S. but for other countries. So to have this type of competition in their backyard, several swimmers have already reached out to us and said they’re really excited to be here and witness this event.”
Baltimore’s Smith, who gave up swimming to sell tables for a nonprofit organization for two years after failing to make the U.S. national team in 2016, decided to return to the sport in March 2018 for a shot at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He said he views the ISL as another avenue to further enhance the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the Olympics.
“I’m really excited for this, especially because it’s a short-course format,” he said. “I think I’ll do extremely well at it because I’m pretty good underwater and that kind of favors me with the turns. I’m excited to travel. We have a meet in Naples, Italy, and I’ve never been to Italy. So that will be exciting. I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time in Asia and South America, but I really haven’t spent as much time in Europe. So this will kind of be a fun way to cross that off of the bucket list.”
What to know about the ISL
Schedule
Oct. 4-5 – IU Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI, Indianapolis
Oct. 12-13 – Piscina Felice Scandone, Naples, Italy
Oct. 18-19 – The LISD Westside Aquatic Center, Lewisville, Texas
Oct. 26-27 – Duna Aréna, Budapest, Hungary
Nov. 15-16 – Natatorium at the Eppley Recreation Center, College Park
Nov. 23-24 – London Aquatics Centre, London
Dec. 20-21 – Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas
Teams*
New York Breakers
Los Angeles Current
DC Trident
Cali Condors
Aqua Centurions
Energy Standard
* — Two European teams to be announced
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. 12 September 2016. Henri Herbst during the 50m freestyle of the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro today.
Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA
Funchal, Madeira Island, will host the 2020 World Para Swimming European Open Championships, the second time the Portuguese island stages the event.
The competition will take place from 17 to 23 May and will be open to athletes from other continents as one of the most important tests before the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in August.
Nearly 500 swimmers from more than 50 countries are set to compete at the Penteada Olympic Swimming Complex, located right in the centre of Funchal.
Built in 2004, the venue is the same used at the European Open Championships in 2016 which saw a total of 28 world records broken during seven days of competition
The Madeira 2020 Europeans will be jointly organised by the Portuguese Swimming Federation (FPN), the Madeira Swimming Association (AN Madeira), the Municipal Chamber of Funchal and the Government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
Tracy Glassford, World Para Swimming Manager, said:
“We are thrilled to return to Funchal and Madeira for the European Championships. We have fond memories of the 2016 Euros and look forward to an even more successful competition. Since this is an Open Championships, swimming fans from all over the continent will have the chance to watch the best athletes in the world in action ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“The Europeans are also a great opportunity for up and coming athletes who will experience a major international competition for the first time. I would like to thank the Government of Madeira, the City of Funchal, the Madeira Swimming Association and the Portuguese Swimming Federation for their commitment and support to stage such an important event.”
Antonio Jose Silva, President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation, said:
“By granting the European Open Championships to Madeira, World Para Swimming acknowledges the capacity of the Portuguese Swimming Federation and its partners to organise major swimming events. It is also a statement of the work done by FPN to promote inclusion through sport which was later followed by other sport federations in Portugal.
“Last but not least, this is also a testimony to the results achieved by Portuguese swimmers in different classes. My sincere thank you to World Para Swimming, the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth, the AN Madeira, the Regional Government of Madeira and the Municipal Chamber of Funchal for their unconditional support.”
The first World Para Swimming European Championships took place in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2009. Dublin, Ireland, hosted the last edition in 2018.
While tampon ads showing women wearing white frolicking in a field can be a little silly, they do have one thing right: you don’t have to change any of your day-to-day activities when you have your period, and that includes swimming. Swimming can be one of the best parts of summer, after all. You don’t have to let your period prevent you from learning how to surf or showing off your cute bikini.
According to the CDC, about 91 million people over 16 swim in oceans, lakes, or rivers each year in the United States. In fact, swimming is the fourth most popular recreational sport in the U.S., following walking, exercising with equipment, and camping. You can bet that a lot of those 91 million people were on their periods.
No matter if you’re swimming in an ocean or a pool, swimming on your period is normal, hygienic, and totally safe — including from sharks. So take some inspiration from this synchronized team that choreographed a water ballet inspired by periods and get in the water. Tampon-shaped pool float not required.
Will My Period Stop In The Water?
You might have heard that your period will stop in the water. There is some truth to this. It’s not magic, but physics. The water pressure will work against the force of gravity, counteracting your blood flow. But if you sneeze, cough, laugh, or even move around in certain ways, blood could still leak out — though it will be diluted by the water and won’t leave a bloody trail behind you. The second you get out of the water, your blood flow will go back to normal. This means you will likely want to wear some sort of menstrual product, unless you’re near the end of your period and your flow is very light.
Can I Swim With A Pad?
Menstrual pads are designed to absorb your period blood. But they also absorb water. So wearing one while swimming won’t be comfortable. It might even feel like wearing a diaper. Luckily, you have other options.
Can I Swim With A Tampon?
Tampons are a great period product to wear while swimming. Simply insert one like you usually would, put on your swimsuit, and hop in the water. You can wear a tampon for four to eight hours, so if you’re spending all day at the beach, you might want to change your tampon once or twice. Just bring a few tampons with you and note where the bathrooms are when you arrive.
If you’ve never worn a tampon before, take a look at the instructions on the box, or look up a tutorial. If it’s difficult, try a few different positions, like putting one leg up on the edge of the bathtub or toilet, or sitting down with your knees apart.
What Are Good Tampons For Swimming On Your Period?
Any brand of tampons works just fine for swimming. Some people find that tampons with plastic applicators are easier to insert. So if you’re new to tampons, you may want to try a brand with a plastic applicator. But really, any kind of tampon works well for swimming.
Can I Swim With A Menstrual Cup?
Another easy way to deal with your period while swimming is to wear a menstrual cup. If you haven’t used one before, a menstrual cup is a small, silicone cup that you can wear inside your vagina to collect period blood. When you remove your cup, you empty the blood into the toilet, wash your cup in the sink, and re-insert it. Menstrual cups can be worn for up to twelve hours — longer than a tampon — and they can be reused, so they’re environmentally-friendly.
Is It Unhygienic To Swim On My Period?
If you use a tampon or cup, it’s unlikely that any blood will touch the water. But even if you don’t use any period products at all, not much blood will leave your body during the time you’re in the water. Most people lose between 4 and 12 teaspoons of blood during their entire period — and you’ll probably only be in the water for a few hours at most. The pool or ocean will dilute any blood that does leak, and swimming pools contain chlorine to prevent the spread of disease.
Can I Swim With Period Cramps?
Good news: research has shown that swimming can actually help reduce period cramps! During aerobic exercises like swimming, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins act as natural painkillers and can help reduce your cramps.
Will My Period Bring Sharks?
Although this would make a great scary movie, there is zero evidence to suggest that sharks are particularly drawn to people who are menstruating. According to Popular Science, sharks can smell period blood, but they can also smell regular blood (think a kid with a scarped knee), urine, sweat, mucus, and any other bodily fluid that contains amino acids. And despite what Jaws would have you think, sharks don’t generally snack on humans — they prefer tastier treats like fish.
Cate Campbell (Australian Swimming)
A fierce dual in the Women’s 100m Freestyle between Knox Pymble’s Cate Campbell and Griffith University’s Emma McKeon kicked off the fifth night of the Hancock Prospecting World Swimming Trials at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.
Going head-to-head in lanes four and five for the majority of the race, it was Campbell – as the Commonwealth and Australia record holder – who managed to power home to the wall first in a qualifying time of 52.12.
McKeon, who is having a stellar meet, also recorded a sub 53-second swim, touching under the qualifying time in a personal best of 52.41 and making her the third fastest Australian of all time.
“I am really pleased that I held my nerve and swam my own race,” Campbell said post-race.
“Traditionally I usually like to be out quickest and then just hold on but I have been really working on cruising on the way out and using all the training that I have been doing – cause I have been doing a lot of it – to help me get home.
“It is a tenth off my personal best so I am really pleased with that and I will now go back and do a ten day training block and then taper again for worlds, that worked really well in the lead up to Pan Pacs so we are hoping to emulate that again.”
The calibre of talent in the women’s 100m freestyle was evident, as Knox Pymble’s Bronte Campbell (52.84) and St Peters Western’s Shayna Jack (53.18 PB) also achieved the world championship qualifying time of 53.20.
“To have three girls to go under the 53 second barrier and Shayna go 53.1, we are going to be a tough relay team to beat and it is really exciting to be a part of it,” Campbell added.
After claiming top spot in the 100m backstroke on night two and the 200m individual medley on night four, Mitch Larkin (St Peters Western) has added yet another victory to his meet – this time claiming the spoils in the Men’s 200m Backstroke. Posting a qualifying time of 1:55.03, the Commonwealth record holder finished ahead of Mingara Aquatic’s Bradley Woodward (1:57.66) and Melbourne Vicentre’s Jorden Merrilees (1:58.11) who both were unable to make the world championship qualifying time of 1:56.11.
With the crowd on their feet, SOPAC’s Matthew Wilson made a blistering start in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke. After breaking the Commonwealth and Australian record at the Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships in April, the 20-year-old was under world record pace for 175m of the race. Hitting the wall in 2:07.79, Wilson had West Brisbane’s Zac Stubblety-Cook nipping at his heels all the way to the end, with Stubblety-Cook (2:08.54) also touching under the world championship qualifying time of 2:08.80. Melbourne Vicentre’s Daniel Cave finished third in 2:10.17.
Speaking post-race, Wilson said he was encouraged by his results.
“In April I was on track for 150m now it is 175m, so with five more weeks of preparation ahead of world champs I reckon I can get myself a stronger finish there, if I can crack the world record it would be unbelievable,” Wilson said.
“It is so close to worlds, so to go that time is a good sign and I can probably go a bit faster. I am probably not fully fit or rested here, but give me five more weeks with proper training and rest and I reckon I can crack a pretty fast time.
“It’s going to be a tight field but if I can crack a podium, I will be stoked with that.”
Taylor McKeon (Griffith University), Tessa Wallace (Pelican Waters) and Jenna Strauch (Bond) left nothing in the tank as they battled it out in the Women’s 200m Breaststroke – aiming to achieve the qualifying time of 2:23.81. Recording sub 2:25 for the second time this meet, it was McKeown who ultimately took the top honour in 2:24.95, with Wallace and Strauch finishing second and third in 2:25.15 and 2:26.34, respectively.
Showing his class yet again, Jack McLoughlin (Chandler) took out his third event of the meet, this time in the men’s gruelling 1500m freestyle. The 2018 Comm Games gold medallist charged through the water to post a qualifying time of 14:52.83. Competing from lane six, Noosa’s Nick Sloman finished strongly in 15:11.12, while Ben Roberts (Breakers) clocked 15.22.72, however both were not able to post a qualifying time of 14:59.32.
Meanwhile, after completing their first heat session for the Para GP this morning, our country’s elite para swimmers jumped back in the pool on Thursday afternoon to battle it out in the finals.
Running concurrently with the Hancock Prospecting World Swimming Trials, the Para GP provides vital race practice and simulation ahead of September’s World Para Swimming Championships in London.
Improving on her swim from earlier in the day, Rio Paralympian Lakeisha Patterson (S9) from Lawnton pulled away from the pack in the Women’s 400m Freestyle Multi-Class to claim the spoils in 4:41.96 and 819 points. Auburn’s 18-year-old Jenna Jones (S13) finished in second place after hitting the wall in 4:58.80 and collecting 656 points, while Springwood’s Ella Jones (S8) touched in 5:22.98 which equated to 654 points.
Kawana Waters’ Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Liam Schluter (S14), knocked nearly six seconds off his time from this morning to clock 1:57.78 in the Men’s 200m Freestyle Multi-Class. Earning a huge point score of 948, the 20-year-old finished ahead of Uni Of Queensland’s Jack Ireland (S14) who posted 2:00.58 and 884 points and TSS Aquatics’ Daniel Fox (S14) who came third (2:03.10) with 830 points.
The experienced Ellie Cole (S9) from Knox Pymble was too strong for the rest of the field in the Women’s 100m Backstroke, securing victory in 1:10.63 (879 points), while Fraser Coast’s Kiera Stephens (SB9) narrowly took first place in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke ahead of Monte’s Tiffany Thomas Kane (SB7) – 1:20.56 and 726 points to 1:38.17 and 723 points.
An ecstatic Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson (SM3) from Central Cairns couldn’t contain his excitement after defeating good mate Ahmed Kelly (SM3) from Melbourne Vicentre in the Men’s 150m Individual Medley Multi-Class. Patterson touched just ahead of Kelly – 3:06.76 and 631 points to 3:07.14 and 627 points.
For the full list of results from tonight’s Para GP finals, click here.
Our para athletes will be back in action tomorrow morning for the final day of the Para GP, with heats beginning at 11am.
Note: All para events were swum as multi-class races, meaning athletes from all classifications competed in the same event, with the para-swimmer attaining the highest point score crowned the winner. The Multi-Class Point Score (MCPS) has been developed to provide a simplified way for swimmers and coaches to measure and compare performances. The MCPS is based on the World Record (WR) times for each classification, but also takes into account weightings for non-Paralympic events that are not raced by other countries around the world.
Jun 13 19
Cate Campbell bites lip on swim star Sun
Cate Campbell would not be drawn on controversial Chinese swimmer Sun Yang’s world titles clearance.Image: AP
Cate Campbell has bitten her tongue and refused to criticise Sun Yang after reports the controversial Chinese star will be free to swim at next month’s world titles in South Korea.
Three-time Olympic champion Sun will reportedly contest the world titles at Gwangju because of a delay in setting a date for his latest doping case.
Sun – who served a secret three month doping ban in 2014 – faces a lifetime ban after allegations a vial of his blood was smashed by a hammer during a clash with testers in China last year.
Reports claimed Sun objected to an out-of-competition test at his Zhejiang home last September and it was alleged his mother ordered security guards to destroy a vial of the swimmer’s blood that had been taken.
World body FINA decided not to reprimand Sun amid claims the testers had not shown adequate identification but World Anti-Doping Agency lodged an appeal.
However, Sun will reportedly still compete at the world titles starting on July 12 with his Court of Arbitration for Sport tribunal date yet to be finalised.
Campbell had been a vocal critic of Sun, angrily responding to news that the Chinese star was free to contest the lucrative FINA Champions Swim Series that concluded earlier this month.
“It raises some really serious questions that demand answers if WADA and FINA want to remain credible in the world of clean sport … especially where it pertains to Sun Yang,” Campbell told reporters at April’s national titles.
But she resisted taking aim at the Chinese star as she prepared for her own world titles campaign.
“It is what it is. For me it’s nothing but a distraction,” she said at the world titles trials in Brisbane.
“I have to focus on doing what I do within the system that is currently in place, it is too late to change anything now.”
Australia’s Jack McLoughlin – who will potentially line up against Sun in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle – didn’t seem fazed by the Chinese star’s world titles availability.
“I have got no say in it but I look forward to racing him. I want to race the best in the world and he is one of the best,” Pan Pacs 400m champion McLoughlin said.
“Whoever steps on the blocks, it is not going to affect me and the way I race.”
Laine Clark | AAP
Madibaz swimmer Alaric Basson will compete in his highest ranked event yet when he represents South Africa in the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, from July 12 to 28. Photo: Supplied
Madibaz swimmer Alaric Basson has taken another step forward in his career by being included in the South African squad to participate in the World Aquatics Championships in South Korea next month.
The 23-year-old Uitenhage-based star will make his first appearance for South Africa at this level and is relishing the opportunity to test himself against the best in the world.
The championships will take place in Gwangju from July 12 to 28, marking a busy time for the construction management post-graduate student.
Basson will first attend the World Student Games in Napoli, Italy, from July 3 to 14 before turning his attention to one of international swimming’s top-level events.
“It’s really an amazing feeling to have been considered and selected to take part in the Fina World Champs,” the ace breaststroker said.
“This will be my first time at an event of this standing and I feel that making the SA squad is one of my best achievements to date.”
He added that he would be swimming in his specialty 200m breaststroke event, but was not sure at this stage if he would be included in any other races.
“But either way, the goal for this year was to try to get as close as possible to the Olympics qualifying times and I feel the Fina Worlds will be a good platform to do that as I will be racing against the best in the sport.”
Qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is high on Basson’s priority list and he is hoping the experience he gains in Gwangju will put him on track for the next Olympic trials, which will be held next year.
Madibaz Sport aquatics manager Melinda Goosen said Basson was the first swimmer from Nelson Mandela University to reach this level and his success would be an inspiration to others.
“Alaric joined the Madibaz swimming family four years ago when he started his studies at Nelson Mandela University and he has been an absolute revelation,” she said.
“Every year he has gone from strength to strength and his selection for the national side to go to the World Championships is a major highlight for the club.
“We are so proud to have a swimmer reaching such heights and it’s recognition for the hard work he has put in, which is all starting to pay off.
“Alaric is a true ambassador for Madibaz Sport and we are looking forward to great things from him going forward, with a keen eye on the Olympic Games coming up in 2020.”
Elzaan van Eeden | Full Stop Communications
