This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss the top stories from the 2023 US World Champ Trials, including selection priority, DQs, and the very young men’s and women’s teams. See full list of topics below:
- 0:00 SwimSwam Breakdown Introduction (New Jersey)
- 2:56 Should USA Swimming Prioritize Stroke 50s or Relay Only Swimmers?
- 16:47 Caeleb Dressel speaks to the press for the first time since 2022
- 22:20 Thoughts on Breaststroke DQs Using Video Review to Initiate Calls at Trials
- 31:27 Regan Smith Asserts Herself at First Trials Under Bob Bowman
- 37:49 Discussing the Coaching Selection for Major International Teams
SINK or SWIM
- 45:09 Will the USA women win at least 2 relays in Fukuoka?
- 48:29 Will the American men top the medal table (win the most gold medals) in Fukuoka?
Gold Medal Minute recommendations:
Katie Ledecky – breaking the record for most individual gold medals (15) at the World Aquatics Championships. Will she, won’t she, what do you think?
Lilly King – winning the double in the women’s breaststroke (100/200 LCM), the first female swimmer since Rebecca Soni at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships. Will she, won’t she, what do you think?
That’s just a few.
Who will have the hot hand in the M 100 FR vis-a-vis the anchor leg of the men’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay? The men do not want to get mowed down on anchor leg as was the case at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.
I think Emma Weyant’s sponsors should pay to send her to WUGs. Her Olympic experience would be invaluable as a leader on the team and since many countries take WUGs more seriously, she would get another chance at that 400 IM against top-level international competition.
2023 World Aquatics Championships
USA Swimming – Men’s Team
Potential Individual Gold Medals
800 FR
50 BK, 100 BK, 200 BK
50 BR, 100 BR
Max – 6
Avg – 3
Min – 0
5 gold medals in 2022 down to 3 gold medals in 2023.
Braden smoking something. Italy will not beat the US men in the medal table outside of Europe. US wins two relays, 50/100/200 backs, 100 breast, 100 fly, 800 free.
Big call guaranteeing a US win in the 100 back over the man from Italy who won and broke the World Record at last year’s meet…
Who has posted a faster in-season time for calendar year 2023?
When you say “in-season” do you mean “non-national championship” or “during the season”?
If the former, Ceccon’s Sette Colli 52.86 tops Murphy’s 52.90 from PSS Westmont. If the latter, then Murphy’s 52.39 from Nationals tops Ceccon’s 52.86 from Sette Colli.
If you do mean the latter, though, I think it’s worth pointing out that last year, Murphy was 52.46 at US Nationals and Ceccon’s pre-Worlds best was 52.99, so I don’t know that the history shows this as an indicator of an advantage.
Speedo World Swimming Rankings
2022-2023 LCM
https://swimswam.com/ranking/2022-2023-lcm-men-100-back/
The M 100 FL, huh?
Does the name Josh Liendo ring a bell?
One potential benefit of the number of “rookies” on the men’s side (I’m thinking mostly of the 100 free for example) is that it gives the USA a great base of swimmers with international experience while also motivating those who were near misses. Creates a deep pool of swimmers with international experience who are either (1) motivated by not making the team this year or (2) motivated by making the team and wanting to stay there for the 2024 Olympic team. I think this will result in very competitive 100/200 frees next year!
2023 World Aquatics Championships
USA Swimming
Men’s Relays
M 4 x 100 FR-R: Toss-up
M 4 x 200 FR-R: GBR has to be the favorite
M 4 x 100 M-R: Toss-up
By the way, what is SwimSwam’s approved abbreviation for medley relay? For future reference.
As for the M 4 x 100 FR-R, USA could finish off the medal podium altogether.
Honestly Ryosuke Irie is as good a pick for a minor medal in the 200back as anyone else in the world right now