February Swimmers of the Month

I'm introducing my own Swimmer of the Month awards. Similar to the Swimming World Swimmer of the Year awards, I will recognize the top swimmers from the Pacific Rim, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, and also the U.S. if the top swimmer from the Americas is not from the U.S. I will try to name all awards each month, though that could be difficult in down months like January and September.

Pacific Rim Women's: Emily Seebohm, Australia
Seebohm swam a 59.25 in the 100 back, the top time ever in textile, and also posted the top time in the world this year in the 50 back and 200 IM.

Pacific Rim Men's: Park Tae Hwan, Korea
Park posted times of 49.45, 1:46.98, and 3:45.03 in the 100, 200, and 400 free, the fastest times in the world in the latter two events.

African Women's: Wendy Trott, South Africa
Trott tore it up at the SEC championships, posting the top times in the NCAA in the 500 and 1,650.

African Men's Gideon Louw, South Africa
Louw defeated strong fields at SEC's to claim the 50 and 100 free with a stellar time of 19.18 in the 50.

European Women's: Elizabeth Simmonds, Great Britain
Simmonds recorded one of the fastest times ever in textile suits in the 200 back (2:06.90) and dominated the backstrokes at the Great Britain vs. Germany Duel in the Pool.

European Men's: Liam Tancock, Great Britain
Tancock recorded the world's fastest times in the 50 (24.92) and 100 back (53.86) this month, and delieved a 48.6 split on the 400 free relay at the Duel in the Pool to secure the win for Britain.

American Women's Julia Smit, United States
Smit obliterated her own American records in the 200 (1:52.31) and 400 IM (3:58.23) without the techsuits she wore to set the records last year; she also recorded the nation's top time in the 200 back (1:50.76).

American Men's Eric Shanteau, United States
Shanteau recorded the only time under 2:00 in the 200 IM in Missouri (1:59.75), then came back an hour later to set the world's top time in the 200 breast (2:11.17), with an awesome last 50 to out-touch Japan's Kosuke Kitajima.