Natalie Coughlin To Commentate Second Stop of FINA Champions Series

FINA Champions Swim Series 2019 #2 – Budapest

  • May 11-12, 2019
  • Budapest, Hungary
  • Duna Arena
  • Start Time: 8 pm Local / 2 pm ET
  • Entry List

Natalie Coughlin will be featured as a commentator for the second of three stops of the FINA Champions Swim Series, set to take place this weekend in Budapest, Hungary. The news was announced Wednesday in a press release from NBC Sports.

The 12-time Olympic medalist will work in the analyst position alongside Olympic Channel play-by-play announcer Patrick Kinas.

At the first stop in Guangzhou, China, Missy Franklin notably made her debut as a broadcaster in the same role.

Coughlin has had various broadcasting roles dating back to 2017 with NBC.

The event will be featured live on the Olympic Channel app and OlympicChannel.com, along with the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com, at 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The meet uniquely features four swimmers per event in a timed final format, with a large sum of prize money on the line.

In terms of Americans competing, Michael AndrewAnthony Ervin, Dana Vollmer and Molly Hannis all return after competing in Guangzhou, while Matt GreversJustin RessJacob PebleyKevin CordesJosh PrenotChase Kalisz and Katie Meili will contest the series for the first time.

Full entries for the meet are available here.

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Yozhik
5 years ago

Whoever is talking about “replacement” is missing the key word clearly stated in the article: “analyst position alongside announcer”. These women have just to say something when the leading broadcaster makes a pause to drink some water for example. It can be basically anybody. They can say whatever they want about swimming. From general knowledge or from personal experience. Doesn’t matter. The only requirement is to not comment on current race (that the leading announcer’s job) and to not say something obviously stupid.
Missy did this job well. But believe me she isn’t going to make broadcasting her way of making living.
“Analyst” sounds respectfully and is a good addition to her image. But money she will make… Read more »

Anonymoose
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

Lol that last sentence

Hswimmer
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

Omg dead 😂😂😂

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

If she can get the gig into her late 50’s/early 60’s like Rowdy has, pretty sure that’ll beat out, both in actual career interest, and money, the small amount of money she would make off a book and the mindnumbing boredom of working with an editor. A book in 2012 or even 2016 might have sold a bit, but not now.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

Just so you know how “analysts” are compensated in various sports in the U.S. compared to the “leading broadcaster,” look up Tony Romo. He “just has to say something when the leading broadcaster makes a pause.”

Awsi Dooger
5 years ago

Greatest development since chlorine. The over/under on mindless giggles just dropped from 1000.5 to .5

Missy did improve the second day. I’ll give her that. But it was the equivalent of Greg Louganis’ next dive after hitting his head

Superfan
5 years ago

So it looks like they are doing a test to see who is the best commentating?!?

Hswimmer
Reply to  Superfan
5 years ago

Hopefully looking for rowdy’s replacement maybe us swimming fans can vote for who’s best

Woke Stasi
Reply to  Hswimmer
5 years ago

: that would be so cool if SwimSwam’s poll question of the week were: Whom would you select to replace Rowdy Gaines on NBC’s swim coverage?
—FRANKLIN
—COUGHLIN
—BEISEL

Swimmer
Reply to  Woke Stasi
5 years ago

Beisel FTW

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Hswimmer
5 years ago

agreed !!!

Aquajosh
5 years ago

Maybe Beisel will commentate on the third stop.

swimcoach24
Reply to  Aquajosh
5 years ago

we could only be so lucky.

Yozhik
5 years ago

In Guangzhou we saw Chinese women in individual races 20 times
In Budapest we will see Hungarian women in the race 9 times.
In Indianapolis there will be 26 times American women racing for the money with the guaranteed prize of $5000.
What is it? A traveling issue or invitation issues that reflect the influence of particular national swimming association in FINA.
Is it a time already to change the name of this strange FINA’s activity of giving big money away to something more appropriate than “Champions Series”?

Octopus
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

The Hungarian contingent increased from 7 to 10 swimmers which is presumably due to cancellation. Boglarka Kapas takes the spot of Mireia Belmonte on 200 fly (where Kapas is reigning Eu Champ), while Dominik Kozma will swim 200 free and Peter Bernek 400 free. We’ll see how they do, they could not focus on this event well in advance.

Octopus
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

BTW with your sentence I fully agree

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

You’ve stated your objections so many times. Get over it. I suggest “Anything But Yozhik Series.”

Hswimmer
5 years ago

Yesssss Natalie is actually really good

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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