The 2014 edition of the BHP Aquatic Super Series begins Friday in Perth, Western Australia, with two days worth of swimming (plus a little water polo action thrown in for good measure) and boat-fulls of cash on the line. Swimming will run Friday and Saturday, and Australia will play Croatia in water polo on Saturday in this meet that is purely about a full fan experience.
The meet pits some of the best swimmers from Australia, China, Japan, Brazil, and South Africa against each other in a timed-finals shootout for cash and national glory.
The meet will be swum in a 10 lane pool, and each country gets two of those 10 lanes in each event.
There is roughly half-a-million dollars in prize money up for the swimmers, including awards to high finishers in individual and relay events, as well as a prize to be divided among the winning team.
The water polo match will hand out $100,000, and the SwimTheSwan event on February 2nd will also have a pile of cash prizes.
Full start lists and live results for the meet can be found here. Friday’s swimming will begin at 5:15 Perth time, which is around 4:15AM New York time, and Saturday will begin at 5:30 Perth time (4:30AM New York time).
Also, isn’t the crazy we could see a Chinese man under 48 this year? 2 years ago, no one had broken 49 (or barely).
Also I think the rankings missed the top times from the Chinese men from last year.
I’m a tad worried that Magnussen is resting too much to produce these 47’s in season. Even if he was going to pop a 46, this fast in season is unnatural because of the amount of strength and endurance work outs you need to endure. This is the mid year in the Olympic cycle Magnussen should be building the base for 2016, and if he’s too fast now, and now getting hammered enough, that base may no longer be there in Rio. WHat if he breaks the WR this year, and burns out because of it in Rio?
I truly think Magnussen is a unique specimen, and no rub for his coach but his relative inexperience and the athlete’s… Read more »
John 26,
I think you are right about Magnussen’s coach Brant Best not experienced enough, actually Magnussen has publicly admitted this and said that he and his coach tried this and that.
Fortunately for them, help is coming in the form of Jacco Verhaeren.
Magnussen seemed to swam more relaxed, although most likely this willl change and he gets all tightened up next time Adrian is in the next Lane.
My hope for WRs this year:
– w100 free by Campbell.. Although tough tough tough.. That rubbersuit wr is crazy. Maybe next year.
-m100 free by Magnussen. Almost as tough as the women’s counterpart… But Magnussen may do it in this year’s less pressure
– w 400 free by Ledecky to reunite all 400-800-1500 under one rule, the way Janet Evans, Tracey Wickham and Shane Gould did it.
The last time the men’s did that was keren Perkins, although Thorpe reunite 200-400-800 WRs. This should be doable.
–… Read more »
Im sure a few breaststroke WRs will go down due to European Championships MJ vs Gyurta vs Koch 200m BR
Who knows what Ruta is capable of doing this summer
I do wonder what Chad Le Clos’ strategy is. He seems to be racing quite a few events, which I guess is good. I hope he’s swimming tired, which if so would mean a very strong collection of performances given he’s swum a lot of events today (still some way to go before a Hosszu-ian performance though :D)
Chinese swimmers: 2 DQs! Not impressive from the women. Though Ning Zetao is swimming well. It will be interesting to see what he does tomorrow in the 50 and on the relays.
Campbell going strong, but most impressed by Emma Mckeon. Very strong relay swims today! As for Mack Horton, I hope he’s also swimming tired in preparation for something strong at… Read more »
Extremely impressed by the swims today. Magnussen’s 47.59 hopefully shows that his strategy of racing more is paying off and that he is managing to steel his nerves in competition. Granted he did not have the strongest competition in this field, but it still is a big statement to the rest of the world. How will Adrian/Morozov/Manaudou etc. respond?
Also, great swims by the Japanese. Daiya Seto showed that he’s definitely on the improvemen curve, and a fabulous swim by Kosuke Hagino. These two are going to be around on the medley scene for some time, and it’s even better that they get to domestically push each other. I’m going to be brave and call for a 1:55 low and… Read more »
Why is men 100 breast not started yet?
I am very impressed with Emma McKeon, swimming 1:56.6 after splitting 52.9 in the Medley relay. And she is still 19. Maybe will never scale the great Heights of Campbell in 100 free or Franklin in 200, but judging by her improvements in the past 2 years, she could be in the 100 and 200 free finals in Rio.
I am also impressed yet again with Hagino who swam 1:46. For someone who’s shorter than Campbell and Franklin, he is certainly making the most in the freestyle events. He must be the shortest among other freestylers lning up at the start of 200 and 400 finals at worlds.
Australia needs to get tough with their men’s middle distance freestylers… Read more »
Magnussen is a beast, wow.