2021 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Thursday, December 16th ā Tuesday, December 21st
- Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- SCM (25m)
- Prize Money
- Meet Site
- Psych Sheet
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- FINA Live Results
- Omega Live Results
- Day 3 Finals Start Lists
American teenagerĀ Katie Grimes has followed her Canadian peerĀ Summer McIntosh out of the finals of the women’s 800 free on Saturday evening in Abu Dhabi.
Olympic gold medalistĀ Lydia Jacoby has also been withdrawn from the meet for the Americans.
Grimes and Jacoby are both out while in the COVID-19 protocols, though USA Swimming declined to elaborate if that meant that they tested positive or were in close contact with an individual who tested positive. So far, she and Jacoby are the only Americans who have been obviously knocked out for COVID-19 protocols, though entire other federations have been removed and forced into quarantine by a single positive test.
USA Swimming says that they are testing at a higher level than required, with athletes undergoing scrutiny every 48 hours.
Per protocols, Grimes and Jacoby will now have to quarantine for 7 days before she is allowed to leave the country.
McIntosh, meanwhile, was withdrawn for “load management” purposes. She still has a swim remaining in the 400 free at this meet, as well as at least one relay, the 800 free relay, remaining.
Grimes, who was still entered in the event when prelims began on Saturday morning, was a fairly-late scratch from the event. She qualified 7th in prelims on Friday morning in 8:16.01. McIntosh was the 2nd seed in 8:13.37, which broke the Canadian Record by six seconds.
Grimes was a 2020 U.S. Olympian in the 800 free. She qualified by placing 2nd behind Katie Ledecky in the long course version of the event at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 8:20.36.
She dropped time in Tokyo, swimming 8:17.05 in prelims to qualify 2nd for the final, and ultimately finished 4th in the final in 8:19.38.
The 800 free was Grimes’ only individual event at the meet. Jacoby, meanwhile, was also withdrawn from the meet, with her signature event, the 100 breaststroke, remaining. She was the Olympic champion in the 100 breaststroke over the summer.
As a result of the scratches, another American,Ā Emma Weyant, and Hungary’sĀ Anja Kesely, move into the final.
Part of the issue is the PCR testing at the meet. No one knows if itās 48 or 72 hours from the actual test or 48/72 hours from the time the results of the test are received. Many coaches and swimmers are not being allowed in and no one seems to have answers. Swimmers are disappearing and people are leaving the meet to get home. Many are not willing to risk getting a positive test and being stuck in Abu Dhabi.
Berkoff now not listed among entries for 50 Back – is she out with Covid protocols too? Looks like we’re going to be kept on edge for the balance of the meet re further Covid issues
Get your darned vaccines! Why is this so freaking hard to get!
Where online is this USA swimming statement??
Literally everyone will get omicron and it doesnāt matter this is stupid.
Okay but if you can keep everyone from getting it during a *World Championship meet,* shouldn’t you?
It may have a lower hospitalization rate, but that doesn’t make it symptom free.
No. Kyrie being called up to play away games for the Nets and immediately being out on Covid protocols is stupid. That’s the stupid bar set for athletes.
Awful development, in and out of the pool. Grimes vs McIntosh was the matchup I was looking forward to most the entire meet. I didn’t expect either one to defeat Binjie. But it’s all about willingness to take risks at the front end. I wanted to see if either of them would go out with Binjie even if it meant a total collapse. Quadrella and Kirchnipova (sp?) have settled into this tentative pattern of managing their own race instead of pushing toward a win. Basically the entire 800 women’s field has done that for years other than Ledecky. I guarantee Dean Boxall views Tokyo 800 as a massive missed opportunity, even if he wouldn’t say it publicly and come across… Read more Ā»
Yes, was going to be an interesting matchup between the young stars but I am sure there will be plenty more opportunities into the future for both these young ladies.
As for Boxall, I think the Tokyo 800 would just be seen as another learning opportunity for himself rather than a “missed opportunity” for his athlete.
I guess Titmus ended in the naughty lane
Unfortunately, Omicron seems to be vastly more contagious that prior variants, as shown by the news and experience of may pro teams – and it probably will be having an impact all through the college season. Just hope all the cases are asymptomatic or mild as seems to be the case with Omicron. USA swimming will also probably have to leave 1-2 coaches or staff in Dubai too, giving that they shouldn’t leave two high school teens alone.
Being stuck in the UAE isn’t a bad deal – the 3 star hotels are far beyond a 5 star in America.
That being said this is a country where you must follow covid laws and all laws for that matter.
Irony is that because Michael Andrew isn’t vaccinated he isn’t allowed to mingle with other competitors and team mates. He isn’t even allowed to eat at the hotel dining room for breakfast. This is actually in his favor since he is reducing his exposure risk.
The most positive to come out of this meet for Michael Andrew š
Some of the fastest swimmers in the world are sitting out this meetā¦and Michael Andrew still canāt medal. š
He can avoid the awkward ācanāt mingleā rule then, just avoid the medal stand altogether.
Michael Andrew also isn’t allowed to mingle at medal ceremonies or finals
How do you know this?
i’m pretty sure it was meant to be ironic… since he hasn’t made finals
This isnāt true. Michael Andrew IS allowed to mingle and eat with every other country in the hotel dining room. Seen him hanging at team USAās massage area not wearing a mask, etc. doesnāt seem to be treated any differently than the vaccinated individuals, putting them at risk
Basing my info off his YouTube blog