Energy Standard Wins Match 3, London and Iron Create Dramatic Battle for 2nd

2021 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – SEASON 3, MATCH 3

• Thursday, September 2 – Friday, September 3
• 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Local Time)
• Piscina Felice Scandone, Naples, Italy
• Short Course Meters (25m – SCM) Format
• ISL Season 3 Schedules, Start Times, and More
• Teams Competing: Energy Standard, London Roar, Iron, NY Breakers
• Omega Live Results
• Match 3 Preview
• Day 1 Recap
• Day 2 Preview
• Day 2 Start Lists

Final Team Standings

1. Energy Standard – 640.5
2. London Roar – 436.5
3. Team Iron – 405.5
4. New York Breakers – 278.5

In-Depth Score Breakdown

Match 3 of the 2021 ISL season gave viewers the opportunity to see two teams for the first time this season. The London Roar and Team Iron both made their season 3 debuts and gave viewers a lot to think about as the season moves forward. Though the final standings are what we expected, Team Iron kept it close with the London Roar until the very end, clearly distancing themselves from the New York Breakers.

Due to London’s schedule in season 3, they are likely to finish 2nd in every single match of the regular season, given that they will compete against either Energy Standard or the Cali Condors every time they swim. Even so, that will be enough to keep them out of the “Play-In” meet where the bottom four teams in the league will compete for the final two spots in the semi-finals in Eindhoven, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. (See the full season 3 schedule here.)

Team Iron scored a lot of points for a team that only won 4 races. By comparison, the New York Breakers won 5 races but finished with 127 fewer points than Iron did. Granted, Iron also had a handful of second-place finishers, and proved quite competitive in both the men’s and women’s skins. Iron also put together two strong mixed medley relays, as well as a 3rd-place finish in the women’s 4 x 100 medley relay. The men’s relays struggled quite a bit, however.

Iron will be especially interesting to watch in Match 5 when they face off against the Toronto Titans, the LA Current, and the DC Trident. It’s safe to assume that DC will take 4th in that match, but exactly how the others place will be very interesting to watch unfold.

The relays were a bit of a mixed bag for the London Roar. Though the Roar was capable of putting together one good relay per event they were unable to bring their second team up to scratch, which resulted in two penalties for failing to meet the minimum time standards. London has one of the best women’s backstroke crews in the league this year, thanks to the return of Minna Atherton. London and the Cali Condors will square off in Match 6, which will give us the opportunity to see some races between London’s Atherton and Kira Toussaint, and Cali’s Beata Nelson, Sherridon Dressel, and possibly Olivia Smoliga. London will later compete against the Toronto Titans in Match 9, putting Atherton and Toussaint up against Kylie Masse and Lisa Bratton, which will make for more exciting backstroke races.

London’s male backstroke squad was also excellent, especially Guilherme Guido, who broke his own South American Record in the 100 backstroke with a 48.95. If Guido keeps swimming like that, and if the Roar gets Adam Peaty back, they will be able to put together at least one very formidable men’s 4 x 100 medley relay. It’s hard to imagine the Roar getting past Energy Standard in the men’s medley relay, but they’d have a very real shot at taking down Cali, who also currently lack a breaststroker that can deliver a 55 or 56-second split.

London is definitely hurting without Adam Peaty and is not competitive in breaststroke on the men’s side without him. Alia Atkinson did great in her season 3 debut and is already looking like a threat to Lilly King and Molly Hannis on the Condors. Peaty or no, Energy Standard was too strong to lose this match. Energy Standard’s women were particularly impressive in Match 3–Siobhan Haughey beat Sarah Sjostrom for Match MVP, but only by half a point! Evgenia Chikunova and Mary-Sophie Harvey were also wonderful in their events. For the men of Energy Standard, the return of Ilya Shymanovich is huge.

In summary, though we are not surprised to see Energy Standard getting the victory, the hard-fought battle for 2nd was rather thrilling to see unfold and bodes well for the overall competitiveness of the league going forward. Teams like Energy Standard and the Cali Condors are so dominant that matches are almost less interesting when either of them is competing. That said, the “Play-In” match to determine the final two teams that will compete in the league semi-finals will be extremely interesting since fans will be able to see how races can play out when Chad le Clos, Sarah Sjostrom, Siobhan Haughey, Caeleb Dressel, and Lilly King are all absent.