Video edit – Coleman Hodges
Women’s 50 freestyle – Final – 2014 Arena Grand Prix
After missing her heat this morning and qualifying from the B-flight during prelims, Ariana Vanderpool-Wallace won the 50 freestyle with the eighth fastest time in the world this year at 24.65. Her SwimMAC teammate, Madison Kennedy finished second at 24.78. Jessica Hardy was third at 25.46, and Ivy Martin, the swimmer from Wisconsin, finished fourth at 25.53. Faith Johnson and Amanda Weir finsihed 5th and 6th, both touching the wall under the 26 second mark.
Katie Meili dropped .63 seconds to win the B-final of the women’s 50 freestyle.
I’m sure that Graham Hill would welcome any Olympian who wanted to train with Chad Le Clos in South Africa. Coaching fees would be the last thing on his mind given the benefits that a world class training partner would bring to his squad. Bob Bowman and other US coaches are at the top of their game and therefore have the pick of the international field.
The comment regarding USAS coaches and teams training foreign Olympic competitors is an interesting one and I sure one that has been the subject of much debate. It is an extension of the foreign swimmers depriving home grown athletes from competing at the collegiate level. While at first glance there may appear to be some merits to this argument, I don’t think those who make it think much beyond the “Us vs Them” mentality that pervades the Olympics, and which reached it’s zenith during the Cold War.
There is no government funding for US Olympic teams, and funding from USA swimming to clubs must surely be limited, given the number of fund-raisers clubs hold on an annual basis. Training foreign… Read more »
I thought these foreign pro swimmers are paying for the opportunities to be trained to by US coaches, or am I mistaken? Because some of these posts here implied that these foreign swimmers receive their training for free.
Does this mean swimmers like Agnel is not paying Bowman any money?
Mr. Nolan, Millions…really how many in swimming really make Millions? 2?
From what I klnow, at SwimMAC, training, travel and all meet fees are paid by USAS SwimMAC team members.
If they paid their own way, or it was paid by their country, I may have a differant perspective.
If your test of right or wrong is determined by a dollar amount, I’ll admit I am only a little right….but still right.
I don’t understand the point about SwimMac…
They have a setup for elite professionals to be a part of the club. Everyone who’s on SwimMac knows what their money pays for (and I’m not privy to any sort of inside info and am not even sure your statement that the age grouper dues pay for these athletes travel and meet fees, but I’ll play along.)… If people on SwimMac have an issue with that, they can spend their money elsewhere. Keep in mind that they and their age groupers also get access to these athletes that they wouldn’t otherwise get, which has value.
But most clubs do this- some teams offset travel costs for senior athletes. Any team with… Read more »
There is National pride in my comment, not distain for the Athlete. They come to the USA for a better opportunity, college and post grad. My issue is that our USAS funded resourses are used to train our competition.
If Mike Bottom (or any other college coach) as a College coach chooses to use athletes from other nations to assure his NCAA conference/championship position, I really don’t care, that is their job and their job security.
USAS club teams are given funds and resources for training elite athletes. Those funds are raised on the backs of the age group kids that compete and cheer on the USA. Those coaches that are using these USAS funds to support their non… Read more »
How much money do these international swimmers get from USAS?
For some reason I’m assuming it’s very little…so it seems like your comment’s some jingoistic garbage. (But hey, maybe these guys are getting millions and I’m wrong! Just seems unlikely.)
Many us athletes said they learned a lot with foreign guys on their team the is holder of long distance on track and field at university trained with a guy who was much better and that improved him a lot
American:
Why do you assume the previous poster was basing his comments on national (ie American) pride? Top swimmers from other countries improve the training environment in the US and therefore improve US swimming. I think it equally likely that the previous poster seeks to see their foreign nation improve and beat the US in Olympic swimming.
Still don’t like USAS teams and coaches training our Olympic competitors! I thought the goal was to increase the medal count for the USA, not the coach.
How insulting. Your opinion is noted, but think for a moment beyond just national pride. These are all athletes with a few things in common: they are dedicated to the sport they love and thrive in, and they all have zero control over the nation they were born in.
To me, there’s not much more exciting than having more than two swimmers in an olympic final from the same coach. Like when Mike Bottom had like half the 2004 final in the 50 free. How cool was that!?!