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.’
GB have pulled out of SC Worlds this year too and also 2024 European Championships
So what do U.S.-trained Russians like say, Vlad, have to say about all this?
Didn’t they already move sc from Russia ? Why did they withdraw ? Interesting they never went to the last one either
No, they moved World Juniors, but not SC Worlds.
Makes sense
ISL sent out a mail today that they are not able to pay the solidarity of season 3 in the near future
So will there be season 4 at all?
Whilst there is a war in Ukraine it is understandable
So one less Australian representation than 2021.
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
Fantastic decision. FINA should be swift about making the decision before countries should even have to pull out.
Are SC Worlds in Russia?
1st paragraph Kazan Russia.
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.
You’re right. You would have had to go to paragraph 3 to learn that information.
weird. I read they changed the venue
“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.”