My Email to USA Swimming Regarding Duel in the Pool

Originally, the Duel in the Pool in December was supposed to be swum in textile, knee-length suits which would be legal in 2010. Over the past few weeks, I have heard rumors, mainly from ReachForTheWall.com, that any suit legal in 2009 could be used at the Duel. This came from the replacement of France and Russia with Italy and Germany; Italy, whose sponsor Jaked, well-known for its full polyurethane Jaked 01 suit, had not come out with a 2010-legal suit, pressed for these rules. Without France and Russia's backing, USA Swimming could not hang onto its position of only 2010-legal suits.

Two main problems: 1) it was already enough of a mess this summer at Worlds! (I'm assuming you all know the story!) 2) Star American swimmers such as Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff (and possibly/hopefully others) will no longer wear polyurethane suits.

Imagine Phelps getting beat (while wearing his textile jammer) by Great Britain's Michael Rock (in a Jaked) in the 200 fly. With the way things are going, I'm scared to say it could happen.

I sent an email to USA Swimming today about the topic and my suggestions. This is the text of that email:

This email is directed towards Mike Unger and the organizers of this year's Duel in the Pool in Manchester in December.

While neither USA Swimming nor British Swimming has confirmed anything, ReachForTheWall.com's Amy Shipley has reported that nontextile bodysuits that caused so much controversy this summer over exaggerated fast times and world/national records, will be used the British Gas/Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool in December.

I know that USA Swimming and British Swimming had originally intended to use only knee-length textile suits that had been approved by FINA for use in 2010, but Shipley has reported that this changed when France and Russia withdrew from the meet and Italy entered.

I understand that USA Swimming has done its best to ensure fair play at the meet with the 2010 suits, but Italy has gotten its way, and 100% polyurethane suits will still be worn.

However, these suits have become more important than the swimmers themselves, and the Duel in the Pool, as stands, will only furthur that sad reality. Moreover, many of USA Swimming's top swimmers (including Michael Phelps, Katie Hoff, and possibly Ryan Lochte) plan on continuing to wear their 2010-FINA-approved suits for the Duel, risking prize money and valuable points. In addition, the Duel will not raise the profile of swimming in America is our top swimmers are losing races because of their choice of swimwear.

This must change immediately. If not, USA Swimming should immediately withdraw all swimmers from the Duel and cancel the meet.

It is sad that suits so detract from what is a great concept meet and what could be an amazing annual (or bi-annual) tradition.

I look forward to future Duels in 2010 or 2011 and beyond where swimwear is no longer an issue.

Thank you for considering my comments!

David Rieder
SwimDR549.blogspot.com

2009 World Cup Durban

Okay, I know I haven't been the most regular blogger. I've been really busy, but it won't get much better for a while. I've been planning a big coming-out party for a while, but the Viking beat me to it. Trust me, it's coming (eventually)!

For now, I wanted to give a few predictions for the Durban World Cup meet. Expect Jessica Hardy's comeback to the world stage, as well as the continued suit contraversy to highlight the meet.

Day 1:

Women's 800 Free
Gold: Kathryn Meaklim (RSA)
Silver: Jessica Pengelly (RSA)

Men's 100 Free
Gold: Stefan Nystrand (SWE)
Silver: Lyndon Ferns (RSA)
Bronze: Roland Schoeman (RSA)

Women's 200 Free
Gold: Felicity Galvez (AUS)

Men's 50 Breast
Gold: Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) 25.23 WR
Silver: Hendrik Feldwehr (GER)
Bronze: Gerhard Zandberg (RSA)

Women's 100 Breast
Gold: Jessica Hardy (USA) 1:03.71 WR
Silver: Nadja Higl (SRB)
Bronze: Joline Hostman (SWE)

Men's 400 IM
Gold: Riaan Schoeman (RSA)
Silver: Jay-Cee Thompson (RSA)

Women's 100 Fly
Gold: Sarah Sjostrum (SWE)
Silver: Felicity Galvez (AUS)
Bronze: Inge Dekker (NED)

Men's 100 Back
Gold: Peter Marshall (USA)
Silver: Stanislav Donets (RUS)
Bronze: Arkady Vyatchanin (RUS)
*Also watch Markus Rogan (AUT) and Ashley Delaney (AUS)

Women's 50 Back
Gold: Fabiola Molina (BRA)
Silver: Hinkelien Schreuder (NED)
Bronze: Marieke Guehrer (AUS)

Men's 200 Fly
Gold: Maxim Ganikhin (RUS)

Women's 200 IM
Gold: Whitney Myers (USA)
Silver: Kathryn Meaklim (RSA)
Bronze: Jessica Pengelly (RSA)

Men's 400 Free
Gold: Jay-Cee Thompson (RSA)
Silver: Domink Meichtry (SUI)
Bronze: Heerden Herman (RSA)

Women's 50 Free
Gold: Therese Alshammar (SWE)
Silver: Hinkelien Schreuder (NED)
Bronze: Jessica Hardy (USA)

Men's 200 Breast
Gold: Neil Versfeld (RSA)
Silver: William Diering (RSA)
Bronze: Terence Parkin (RSA)
*Note: Parkin is a deaf swimmer who took the silver in this event in the 2000 Olympics.

Men's 100 IM
Gold: Darian Townsend (RSA)
Silver: Markus Rogan (AUT)
Bronze: Gerhard Zandberg (RSA)

Women's 200 Back
Gold: Amanda Loots (RSA)
Silver: Jessica Pengelly (RSA)
Bronze: Fabiola Molina (BRA)

Men's 50 Fly
Gold: Roland Schoeman (RSA)
Silver: Lyndon Ferns (RSA)
Bronze: Evgeny Korotyshkin (RUS)
*Watch Amaury Leveaux's world record of 22.18.
*Also in the field is 33-year old Sabir Muhammad of the USA

Day 2:

Men's 1,500 Free
Gold: Riaan Schoeman (RSA)
Silver: Heerden Herman (RSA)

Women's 100 Free
Gold: Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED)
Silver: Felicity Galvez (AUS)
Bronze: Marieke Guehrer (AUS)

Men's 200 Free
Gold: Dominik Meichtry (SUI)
Silver: Darian Townsend (RSA)
Bronze: Jan Venter (RSA)

Women's 50 Breast
Gold: Jessica Hardy (USA) 29.31 WR

Men's 100 Breast
Gold: Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) 55.86 WR
Silver: Hendrik Feldwehr (GER)
Bronze: Neil Versfeld (RSA)

Women's 400 IM
Gold: Kathryn Meaklim (RSA)
Silver: Jessica Pengelly (RSA)

Men's 100 Fly
Gold: Evgeny Korotyshkin (RUS)
Silver: Lyndon Ferns (RSA)

Women's 100 Back
Gold: Fabiola Molina (BRA)

Men's 50 Back
Gold: Peter Marshall (USA) 22.72 WR
Silver: Gerhard Zandberg (RSA)
Bronze: Stanislav Donets (RUS)

Women's 200 Fly
Gold: Felicity Galvez (AUS)
Silver: Amanda Loots (RSA)
Bronze: Kathryn Meaklim (RSA)

Men's 200 IM
Gold: Darian Townsend (RSA)
Silver: Riaan Schoeman (RSA)
Bronze: Markus Rogan (AUT)

Women's 400 Free
Gold: Jessica Pengelly (RSA)

Men's 50 Free
Gold: Roland Schoeman (RSA) 20.22 WR
Silver: Stefan Nystrand (SWE)
Bronze: Sabir Muhammad (USA)
*Note: Muhammad's entry time is 20.90, which is well under Nick Brunelli's current American record of 21.18. I assume it is either a converted time or not correct. Please let me know if I am wrong.

Women's 200 Breast
Gold: Nadja Higl (SRB)
Silver: Kathryn Meaklim (RSA)
Bronze: Jessica Pengelly (RSA)

Women's 100 IM
Gold: Hinkelien Schreuder (NED)
Silver: Fabiola Molina (BRA)
Bronze: Whitney Myers (USA)

Men's 200 Back
Gold: Stanislav Donets (RUS)
Silver: Arkady Vyatchanin (RUS)
Bronze: Ashley Delaney (AUS)

Women's 50 Fly
Gold: Therese Alshammar (SWE) 24.67 WR
Silver: Marieke Guehrer (AUS) 24.73
Bronze: Hinkelien Schreuder (NED)
*Note: The two rivals from last year's world cup continue their back-and-forth battle. Expect both to be under Guehrer's world record of 24.99.

Chicago 2016

I want a home Olympics. Desperately! Good luck to President Obama and all the U.S. delegation in Copenhagen tomorrow. For now...