Swimming Australia Pulls Out Of 2022 World Short Course Championships

by Retta Race 17

February 27th, 2022 Australia, International, News

Earlier today FINA announced the cancellation of the 2022 World Junior Swimming Championships that were scheduled to be held from August 23-28 in Kazan, Russia as a result of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

In response, Swimming Australia has released a statement in support of FINA’s decision to cancel the 2022 World Junior Championships.

Swimming Australia has taken things now one step further, also announcing its decision to withdraw from the 2022 FINA Short Course World Championships if they remain in Kazan. The nation joins 9 other Nordic federations and Ukraine in this decision.

“Swimming Australia strongly condemns the actions of the Russian Government and is appalled by the developments in Ukraine,” reads the organization’s statement.

Swimming Australia CEO, Eugenie Buckley, said, “The decision not to send our athletes to Russia is based on safety reasons first and foremost.

“We would also like to see FINA consider relocating these events to alternate locations so our swimmers have the opportunity to race in a safe environment.”

While at the last edition of the World Junior Championships in 2019, Australia placed 3rd overall in the swimming medal table, the nation did not send an official team to the 2021 Short Course World Championships. Just one swimmer, Holly Barratt, represented the green and gold in Abu Dhabi.

With the Commonwealth Games and Long Course Championships both on the docket for 2022, it was unclear what priority Swimming Australia set on the Short Course World Championships.

Swimming Australia states, ‘Given the importance of the pathway to Swimming Australia, an alternate international event is being planned for the Juniors swim team with our Pan Pacific partners.’

Additionally, ‘Swimming Australia will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the FINA World Championships in Budapest in June.’

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Rob
2 years ago

GB have pulled out of SC Worlds this year too and also 2024 European Championships

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

So what do U.S.-trained Russians like say, Vlad, have to say about all this?

Jack
2 years ago

Didn’t they already move sc from Russia ? Why did they withdraw ? Interesting they never went to the last one either

Admin
Reply to  Jack
2 years ago

No, they moved World Juniors, but not SC Worlds.

Jack
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

Makes sense

ISLnews
2 years ago

ISL sent out a mail today that they are not able to pay the solidarity of season 3 in the near future

Stewart 100 back gold in Fukuoka
Reply to  ISLnews
2 years ago

So will there be season 4 at all?

KatyJ
Reply to  Stewart 100 back gold in Fukuoka
2 years ago

Whilst there is a war in Ukraine it is understandable

Corn Pop
2 years ago

So one less Australian representation than 2021.

Joe
2 years ago

This seems like an easy decision for US to make too given they just had SC worlds and it’ll help save costs for the 4 consecutive LC worlds coming up

Negative Nora (they/them)
2 years ago

Fantastic decision. FINA should be swift about making the decision before countries should even have to pull out.

julie taylor
2 years ago

Are SC Worlds in Russia?

Taa
Reply to  julie taylor
2 years ago

1st paragraph Kazan Russia.

Hawaiian Reeves
Reply to  Taa
2 years ago

The first paragraph only mentions the Jr. World Championships. It doesn’t clearly state when/where the (Senior?) Short Course World Championships are you be held.

Admin
Reply to  Hawaiian Reeves
2 years ago

You’re right. You would have had to go to paragraph 3 to learn that information.

Meeeee
Reply to  julie taylor
2 years ago

weird. I read they changed the venue

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  julie taylor
2 years ago

“Swimming Australia has taken things now one step further, also announcing its decision to withdraw from the 2022 FINA Short Course World Championships bound for Kazan.”

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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