Articles by Sam Blacker

Cal Reloads Its Butterfly Ranks With British Trials Sensation Jack Brown

Jack Brown will become the latest GB star to join the US College system, and will head out west to bolster Cal’s fly group

  24 Comments

Abi Liu, Peter Verhoef Selected As U.S. Head Swim Coaches For 2025 World Junior Championships

Abi Liu returns to lead the Girl’s team at World Juniors after doing so in 2023, whilst Peter Verhoef will be part of Team USA for the first time.

  4 Comments

2025 U.S. World Trials Previews: The 200 Free is Hobson’s World, We’re Just Living In It

Luke Hobson is the red-hot favourite after a fantastic last 12 months, but Shaine Casas, Rex Maurer and Carson Foster may look to shake things up behind him.

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2025 Mare Nostrum – Monaco: Day 1 Prelims Recap – Pilato Makes Some Noise In 50 Breast

The 2025 Mare Nostrum tour kicked off in Monaco this morning with some big names in attendance, although most kept their powder dry for this evening.

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Anointed From Birth? When Do The Top Men’s 400 Freestylers Emerge

Lukas Martens’ World Record may mark a turning point in an event that had seemed stuck – are we also witnessing a change in when swimmers break out?

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How Many? Taking a Look at Virginia’s Recent American Record Blitz

The Virginia Women have shattered record after record in their five-year reign over the NCAA. How many, who for, in what and when?

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A Record-Breaking Journey Of Record Breaking: A Timeline Of Gretchen Walsh’s World Records

The last 12 months have seen Gretchen Walsh reset records at a faster rate than anyone has ever managed before. Here’s how.

  43 Comments

Multiple NZ Records Bite the Dust At Apollo Projects Age Group Championships

Grayson Coulter and Ariel Muchirahondo led a rewrite of the record books in Hawke’s bay back in April, with over a dozen records going down.

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Ariel Muchirahondo Makes Waves At NZ Age Group Championships

Ariel Muchirahondo, a 16-year-old from Rotorua, was the outstanding swimmer at the Apollo Projects Age Group Championships with a trio of National Records

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Stepping Into The Future: A New Path To NCAA Qualification?

One idea from the CSCAA meetings was a system where conference champions would have a chance of automatic qualification: what would that look like?

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Swims You Might Have Missed on the Final Day of the 2025 Ft. Lauderdale Pro Swim Series

Leah Hayes showed off her breaststroke chops to take third in the 200 with a new best time, as Virginia went 1-2-3 in the event

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Ilya Kharun Sets Second Pro Swim Series Record In Two Days With 50.42 100 Fly

Ilya Kharun dominated the 100 fly to round out his Pro Swim Series, shaving 0.03 off his best time and showcasing his front-end speed

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Regan Smith Takes Over 100 Back World Lead from McKeown with a 57.46 Pro Swim Series Record

Regan Smith swam her fastest-ever time outside of either Trials or the Olympics to blow away the field on the final night in Fort Lauderdale.

  13 Comments

Andrej Barna Sets New Serbian Record of 21.77 to Lead PSS Prelims in 50 Free

Andrej Barna broke his own 50 free Serbian record for the second time in two months, with his time of 21.77 ranking seventh in the world so far this year.

  4 Comments

2025 PSS – Ft. Lauderdale: Day 4 Prelims Scratches – No Dressel in the 100 Fly

World Record Holder Caeleb Dressel is out of the 100 Fly , as is #2 seed Torri Huske in the 200 IM on the final day at Fort Lauderdale

  7 Comments