Luca Urlando Has To Be Helped Out of the Pool After Stopping During 100 IM

2022 FINA WORLD CUP – INDIANAPOLIS

NCAA star Luca Urlando had to be helped out of the pool during the first preliminary session of the 2022 FINA World Cup stop in Indianapolis, appearing to injure his shoulder early in the breaststroke leg of the men’s 100 IM.

Urlando led his heat through the first 50 with a quick split of 23.48, and then executed a crossover turn using his right arm as he switched over to breast. After about a half stroke, he abruptly stopped swimming and made his way to the end of the pool where he was attended to by lifeguards.

Clips Courtesy: USA Swimming

Although Urlando used his right arm to execute the back-to-breast turn, it was the left shoulder that he appeared to be favoring as he was helped out of the pool, possibly having dislocated it.

Urlando dislocated his shoulder in January 2020 during practice, and the recovery took a few months, getting back into full butterfly training by the beginning of May.

If the injury sustained on Thursday morning is anywhere near as serious as it was two and a half years ago, Urlando will be questionable to return to full health by the time the NCAA postseason rolls around.

Currently a junior at the University of Georgia, the Bulldogs rely heavily on Urlando’s individual scoring and relay abilities. Last season he was named Men’s Swimmer of the Meet at the SEC Championships, sweeping the 100 fly, 200 fly and 200 IM to help propel Georgia to fourth in the team standings.

The following month at NCAAs, Urlando once again led the Bulldogs with 50 individual points, placing second in the 100 fly (43.80) and 200 fly (1:38.82) and taking third in the 200 IM (1:39.22). His best swim, however, came in the 100 back, as he led off the UGA 400 medley relay in 43.35, the fastest in history as he broke the NCAA, American and U.S. Open Records.

Urlando has had a strong start to the 2022-23 college season, currently ranking fourth in the NCAA in the 100 fly (46.19) and fifth in the 200 fly (1:44.40).

Following his standout NCAA campaign last season, the 20-year-old broke out on the global stage by qualifying for his first senior international team for the U.S., representing the Stars & Stripes at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest where he finished fifth in the 200 fly.

In Indianapolis, the 100 IM was Urlando’s second swim of the session, having qualified third into the final of the men’s 100 fly in a time of 50.10. Assuming he is forced to scratch, another NCAA swimmer, Virginia Tech’s Youssef Ramadan (50.93), will get bumped up into the final.

SwimSwam has reached out to the University of Georgia to get an update on Urlando’s status.

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So confused
1 year ago

I hate this for Luca but compare this injury to a TBI suffered in many sports and I’m so glad my kids swim and not play football/hockey/soccer.

I hope he get the rehab he needs and comes back. He is so great to watch swim.

Boxall's Railing
1 year ago

This comment section was a salient realization for me that people will argue about anything and everything.

And the true spirit of the internet would give this comment 80+% dislikes.

Owlmando
1 year ago

Dang and he was really popping off too. Hope its nothing serious

Caeleb's Dressing
1 year ago

It brings me so much pain to see an elite swimmer like Luca having to be dragged out of the pool like that.
This guy really can’t ever catch a break. I wish you the best of luck, Luca. Stay strong.
#KingOfButterBack

Joel Lin
1 year ago

I really really hope & pray this is not a serious matter. Just wrecks me to see that image of him being helped out of the pool. He’s a shining bright star in the sport. It’s impossible not to always root for him.

Caeleb's Dressing
Reply to  Joel Lin
1 year ago

Same man. Luca is such an inspirational swimmer.

Gooooob
1 year ago

After seeing the large amount of college swimmers in the last two stops of the World Cup, I have been wondering about this. Is it a good idea for these coaches to let their swimmers compete in these SCM meets in the middle of the NCAA season? It seems to me like this makes it harder to focus and taper correctly for NCAAs in March when they are traveling around and competing in SCM meets in the middle of the season.

I thought last year that some the NCAA swimmers who went to SCM worlds struggled to hit their bests at NCAAs, and I’m surprised coaches allow this at all.

Maybe this incident will make some coaches reconsider. It would… Read more »

Walter
Reply to  Gooooob
1 year ago

For Pete’s sake, competition is competition. Freak accidents happen. He can’t remain swaddled in bunting to avoid injury for the rest of his life. Could have happened in a college meet too.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Walter
1 year ago

Legit could’ve happened at practice, too.

chazoozle
Reply to  Gooooob
1 year ago

It is swimming not a football game

Andrew
Reply to  Gooooob
1 year ago

“are swim meets hurting swimmers? this new study will shock you!”

Unknown Swammer
Reply to  Gooooob
1 year ago

A ton of swimmers, I believe a majority, don’t hit best times at NCAA’s.

The Original Tim
1 year ago

I’ve dislocated my sternum several times and left knee once as separate incidents in practice as a masters swimmer. I had a freak accident while in college which made my sternum prone to randomly getting dislocated, but the knee was a new one.

While they sucked and were quite painful at the time, the sternum dislocations were a very quick fix and just needed to be popped back into place before I could get back in the water. The knee took me out of the water for several weeks and I couldn’t do fly or breast kick for several months once I got back in.

Never had a shoulder dislocation, but hopefully it’ll be a quick recovery for him!

Becky D
Reply to  The Original Tim
1 year ago

This is making me hyperventilate.

Eli
1 year ago

It’s giving Erica Sullivan vibes.

Lbswim
Reply to  Eli
1 year ago

What does this mean?

Eli
Reply to  Lbswim
1 year ago

It means that it’s a very similar situation. Hope he recovers healthy

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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