Today on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we review the Pro Swim Series in Austin, USA Swimming’s financial situation, and the future of the Enhanced Games.
- 0:00 SwimSwam Breakdown Introduction
- 1:40 Semi-Finals at Pro Swims
- 10:40 Standout Swims in Austin
- 21:12 USA Swimming Financials
- 33:00 Future of Enhanced Games
SINK or SWIM
- 47:04 Will Katie Ledecky Break a World Record before Pan Pacs?
- 50:51 Will Caeleb Dressel Swim Multiple Times that are faster than Pan Pac gold times at US Nats?
- 53:42 Will Leon Marchand win 4 individual golds in Paris at 2026 European Championships?
- 56:50 OVER/UNDER – Regan Smith wins 1.5 individual gold medals at Pan Pacs
Re the discussion of Regan 1.5 golds:
Mel, you said Australia might have a long camp before but Comm Games swimming finishes on the evening of 29 July and Pan Pacs starts exactly 14 days later. So at absolute most they’ll have 12 days in LA before Pan Pacs.
Considering that, I’m thinking Kaylee maybe only wins the 200 back. Regan wins the 100, Berkoff the 50 and Summer the 200 fly.
Kaylee will peak for PPs.
I need to listen to Mahmud for his predictions
Incoming triple world record prediction.
From what I’ve heard, there is likely to be a Team B going to Comm Games only and Team A going to Pan Pacs only, with a select few going to both.
That’s bizarre. Basically anyone who qualifies for Pan Pacs must have also qualified for Comm Games because the times are much tougher. I can’t imagine many swimmers giving up a guaranteed medal at Comm Games unless they’re forced to.
I think it’s great that they want the best for Regan, but given the circumstances and past events, I think a gold in the 100-meter backstroke would be wonderful, and aiming for more is sometimes ambitious. I get the feeling, especially from Mel, that she’s not satisfied with that. Seriously, after all these years?
It still seems to me that they don’t believe Kaylee is good enough and are waiting for Regan to dominate (I’m sorry to tell you that’s already difficult; of course, Regan can win, but it’s unlikely she’ll dominate all the distances because she’s competing against Kaylee).
I also think they’re not even that happy for Berkoff, who also has a great chance of winning… Read more »
Doesn’t Kaylee almost always beat Regan whenever they’re head to head in individual backstroke finals?
So until Regan starts beating her, it’s only fair to go with Kaylee.
…we respect Kaylee, and we’re well award she’s been dominate on world-stage events. And we love the drama of sport. We know Regan wins that leadoff on the relay as well, and Regan will be in a U.S. timezone. So, we’re stretching, saying this summer will be an opportunity to flip-the-script.
Did I misinterpret something? We’re going to be able to watch Euros through Swimswam?
Yes! You interpreted correctly 😃
Wow!
It will be geo-blocked for certain European nations that must watch directly on Eurosport, but we will stream Eurosport events in the U.S..
That’s gonna be so cool!
Here’s a fun question for next week:
If you compare winning times side by side, how many events will be “won” by Euros vs CGs vs Pan Pacs vs Asian Games?
Based purely on Singapore results, and counting multiple wins for crossover countries (eg An AUS win counts as a win for CGs and PPs, except Summer is PP only) it would be:
Pan PACs – 22
Euros – 18
CGs – 11
AS – 2
If Summer attended CGs instead of PPs it would be 18,18,15 across the top 3!
thx for the data!!!
Why no sponsor for Pro Series? When was the last time there wasn’t a sponsor?
TYR has been the sponsor for a long time. It make sense that USAs would have a rethink on that domestic pro series on the run-up to LA2028.
2027 SwimSwam Pro Swim Series!
47:04 Will Katie Ledecky Break a World Record before Pan Pacs? Yes in April
50:51 Will Caeleb Dressel Swim Multiple Times that are faster than Pan Pac gold times at US Nats? No
53:42 Will Leon Marchand win 4 individual golds in Paris at 2026 European Championships? Yes if he swims his best events not sure if he moves into off events like the 400 free where he’ll have the world record holder in his way.
56:50 OVER/UNDER – Regan Smith wins 1.5 individual gold medals at Pan Pacs. Under
solid…..
I think overall the PSS should be reworked to be more of a made for TV product of professional swimming that has the potential to engage with more casual viewers. I’d say the biggest hurdle it faces in that regard is the overall pacing in each session. B finals being broadcast already hurt this and adding semifinals doesn’t help. I think the World Cup has done a VERY good job with its broadcast pacing and it doesn’t include either of those things.
..we have no control over what USAs does, but we “think” they will develop the series more as we move through this quad.
To give any credence to the Enhanced Games is a complete joke. Meanwhile, the 2026 NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships commences in less than two months. Wake up and smell the coffee, college swimming trumps the Enhanced Games any day of the week.
…we will cover as news. We do want a detailed understanding of their business model because of so must investment on the front end. We do think NGBs will watch the EG production. Even if you hate the idea of the event, the presentation/media could be opportunity to learn something. EG has contracted the super bowl producer for their event.