This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss the men’s and women’s NCAA Championships, Summer McIntosh at the 2023 Canadian Trials, and the state of swimming right now. See full list of topics below:
- 0:00 SwimSwam Breakdown Introduction
- 1:03 Swim of the Month – Kate Douglass (200 IM, 1:48.3), Leon Marchand (400 IM, 3:28.8), or Summer McIntosh (400m Free, 3:56.0)
- 7:45 Women’s or Men’s NCAAs – Which meet was better?
- 18:58 How significant is Leon’s undefeated NCAA season?
- 22:52 Adam Peaty is out of 2023 British Trials – what are his chances of coming back to podium at the Paris 2024 Olympics? 30:48 Initial thoughts on 3-Stop all-Euro World Cup?
SINK or SWIM
- 36:00 Ruard van Renen lands in the Pac-12?
- 39:59 Leon goes 3:58 400 IM this summer?
- 43:37 Josh Liendo wins an Individual world title this summer?
- 46:12 Simone makes the world champ team this summer?
- 48:39 Timed Finals Relays at NCAA Championships?
KD and Leon’s meets and performances were historic. But they don’t match Summer in any way.
It’s a niche discipline – even within Americans. Phelps never competed seriously in yards, and even those who did, pay lip service at best once they graduate. It’s a niche within a niche.
Summer broke the WRs of two of the best swimmers of the last 15-20 years, in a format that every professional swimmer competes in for the duration of their career.
Leon and KD’s performances were – at BEST – Huske and Walsh to Summer’s KD in the 2IM.
If Popovici gets any stronger just by aging, he’s going to be able to get to the 50 of the 100 in 22.5, which would be equal anyone else besides Caeleb.
Not to mention Adam’s relationship breakdown and the speculation around it would have added to the difficult headspace.
I personally always saw AP as having a sizable ego, which makes it more admirable him being open about being mortal after all – there is great strength in vulnerability. Wishing him.all the best for the future – whether that includes swimming or not.
It’s strange that Kaylee’s WR wasn’t even mentioned when it was also last month, and it’s the only swim that came in a random meet instead of a meet where you’d expect big tapered times. Especially considering that “unexpected” appeared to be a key criteria.
Successfully blocked that out of my head until now 😕
Summer needs a nickname. I’m terrible with nicknames. Despite that I’m going to stick with mine: McSmash.
Records. Competition. Swim Swam staff fantasy teams. Doesn’t matter. Always smashed.
Oooooh I kinda like McSmash.
All I can think of when I read that is the episode of Family Guy where Miles Cyrus is a robot and she screams “MILEY SMASH” when she destroys stuff
Will only address the 2 non NCAA “sink or swims”
Liendo – individual Gold in Fukuoka. If the question was framed as “CAN Josh Liendo win individual Gold at Worlds this year ?”; I see it as a viable possibility in either the 100fly or 50free. However, the question was framed as a definitive “he wins” and on the score of probability; I have this as a <50% probability (particularly against Milak in 100fly).
Manuel makes this year’s Worlds team ? Given the question does not specify qualifying for an individual event rather than relay only; I’ll swim this. An individual 100 berth looks unlikely on her times to date but there is a possible opening for the 2nd… Read more »
I agree with both of these. Liendo is certainly a solid chance to win an event, but if I had to bet my life on a yes/no “will he win” then I would say no is more likely. Unless Milak has regressed, his best is still well ahead of Liendo’s.
Manuel will almost certainly make the team given the pretty low standards it’s taken recently. Last year a 54.09 was enough to make the team and in Tokyo it was a 54.12. If Manuel is in any kind of shape to compete she should easily beat those numbers. Does she make it in the 50 free? I doubt it. Weitzeil and Huske both appear to be ahead of her at… Read more »
Re Manuel; don’t see it as a done deal for her to make the 4X100 but once you look beyond Weitzel, Huske & Curzan; it starts to get a little speculative. The likes of Brown and Hinds haven’t fully “convinced” in international competition and G.Walsh hasn’t been in the “ballpark” LCM since 2019; therefore she has an opening although she does need to improve substantially from her current 54.55 SB
Weitzel’s form to date in the 50 has her favoured for one spot. Huske’s 2022 may have her at the front of the pack for the other spot but we don’t as yet have a read on her LCM form so I don’t have that one locked down. The NCAA… Read more »
I think you also forgot about Douglass in the sprint cause she’s also on the relay team last year.
She falls under “NCAA crew” and “NCAA swimmers”.
Yeah but after her last NCAA swims a few weeks ago, she’s gonna go pro and starts focusing this summer and next year and I can’t wait to see how she’s gonna do on long course after last year.
Smart move to only address the non-NCAA ones. If commonwombat acknowledged the NCAA, it would give it the legitimacy that it most certainly does not deserve.
Next thing you know it would be a plague. All of Australia would start racing SCY.
People already claim Australian pools are shorter. Imagine if we actually starting swimming in bathtub pools
Americans should come to Australia and take advantage of our short pools to set some records 👍
Well done summer McIntosh
Amazing swimming
God bless you
Ledecky’s 15:01 would’ve beaten Kensey McMahon by 4.7% and is 2.5% faster than Erica Sullivan’s PB. That is significantly faster than Marchand’s 400 IM, which is 1.9% faster than Gonzalez’ previous best and won NCAAs by about 2.8%