While the press release for the Arena Pro Swim Series at Orlando teased that 4-time Olympic Champion Missy Franklin would be in attendance at the meet, the original version of the psych sheets did not show Franklin’s name.
In the latest version (seen here), however, Franklin had been added to the lineups for 5 events. Specifically, she will swim the 4 events that she entered at the 2012 Summer Olympics individually (100 free, 200 free, 100 back, 200 back), plus the 50 free.
Franklin is one of a handful of entries on the latest edition of the psych sheets that could impact the results. A group of elite Italian swimmers have also leapt into the fray, including 2011 World Championship 50 freestyle silver medalist Luca Dotto. His addition to the meet’s lineup makes a men’s sprint freestyle group that includes Nathan Adrian, Bruno Fratus, Cesar Cielo, and Caeleb Dressel, among others, even better.
His countrymates Arianna Castiglioni, the Italian National Record holder in the 50 breaststroke; and Silvia Scalia, who ranks in the top 25 in the world this season in the 100 back will join him.
One last major addition is Chilean swimmer Kristel Kobrich. She’s the South American Record holder in the 400, 800, and 1500 meter freestyles, and will race the 200, 400, and 800 in Orlando.
Wait, aren’t the pro swim series meets capped at a certain amount of swimmers? Meaning if you aren’t signed up right away you’re closed out of the meet? If this is the case why is Missy allowed in so late in the game, when there are other swimmers still trying to make cuts who were closed out, to me that doesn’t seem fair.
The rules have exception for certain swimmers ranked very highly in the world. Remember that as a PRO SWIM SERIES meet, first and foremost, the priority is PRO SWIMMERS and swimmers with a chance to make Olympic teams. That’s why those exceptions are in place, which makes sense. The list of cap-exempt American swimmers is here: http://www.usaswimming.org/_Rainbow/Documents/c6a360af-b978-463c-924a-028a569b82b9/2015-16%20PSS%20Cap%20Exceptions.pdf