Americans Withdraw From 10k Open Water At WUGs Due To Conditions

29TH WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES (SUMMER UNIVERSIADE 2017)

USA Swimming has released a statement stating that they, along with the American coaches and the four swimmers slated to compete, have decided to withdraw their athletes from the 10k Open Water event at the World University Games being held in Taipei, Taiwan.

The statement cites high air and water temperatures as their reasoning. They go on to thank FISU and the local organizing committee for their planning of the event, and note that open water swimming has a number of variables and at the end of the day the safety of their swimmers is the #1 priority.

The swimmers slated to compete were Taylor AbbottDavid HeronKaty Campbell and Becca Mann.

Read the full statement below:

“Due to expected high air and water temperatures on race day, USA Swimming, the athletes and coaches came to a consensus that the four Americans scheduled to swim in the Aug. 2710-kilometer open water event at the 2017 World University Games in Taipei will not compete given the likely conditions.

 USA Swimming would like to thank FISU and the local organizing committee for their diligent work on developing an excellent course and safety plan for the event.

 As a sport, open water swimming presents a number of variables, including, in this instance, weather and water temperature. The safety of its athletes is USA Swimming’s No. 1 priority, and this decision was made after thorough examination of all available information.

 The four swimmers who qualified for the World University Games – Katy Campbell, Becca Mann, Taylor Abbott and David Heron – earned the right to represent Team USA on the international stage based on their performances at the 2017 Open Water National Championships, and USA Swimming will examine future international competitive opportunities for these athletes.”

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OWSWUG
7 years ago

There is no such a thing as perfect conditions in Open Water …so, get into the race or stay on the dock. Please don’t try to pull all this drama and let FINA cancel the race. Team USA is the only team that figured out the conditions? …fly home safe and watch the race on TV!

They call it a pattern for a reason.
7 years ago

FINA OW Technical committee, Athletes Committee, and Coaches committee should step in and cancel the race as soon as they get back from their spinal replacement surgeries.

Leo
7 years ago

It is August. Perhaps they should schedule open water separately

Tigerswim22
7 years ago

Better safe than sorry. BTW, I never saw an answer to the question that was posted asking what the water temperature is.

Pvdh
7 years ago

This isn’t a FINA event

fly
Reply to  Pvdh
7 years ago

Ultimately all events sanctioned by a member organization of FINA are FINA events. At least as far as the rule book goes.

Human Ambition
Reply to  Pvdh
7 years ago

They are using the sports bodies rule books in every event.

G.I.N.A
Reply to  Pvdh
7 years ago

Mike is our resident AntiFi

PerpetualAutumn
7 years ago

Do FINA rules govern an event planned by another governing body, in this case FISU? Does FISU have its own set of safety/technical rules, and if so, is there specifically an open water technical delegate involved or consulted in the planning for the combined sport of Swimming?

marklewis
7 years ago

That’s a long way to go to a competition to not swim.

But if it’s that dangerous, better to cancel the race.

Cameron Wallace
Reply to  marklewis
7 years ago

It’s a lot of money to send them, and a lot of time to have sacrificed…however excuse the morbidity: but imagine being 6K in..knowing your family, friends, coaches, etc are watching/expecting of you, and being EXTREMELY overheated. Would they stop? Most wouldn’t..thinking (wrongly, of course) that they would be failing everyone. It’s priceless to adhere to safety; especially when there is an awful example of what could happen in that exact circumstance that should never, ever happen again

Catherine
7 years ago

But will FINA cancel the 10K? I understand that FINA has an upper limit on water temperature of 31C but says nothing about the air temperature. I could see that even 29-30C temperatures combined with hot air temperatures could be just as bad as 31C combined with low air temperatures. For reference, my weather app says that air temperatures in Taipei have been 35-37C over the past few weeks. Not fun for open water.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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