This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss the ISL playoffs so far, what demographics of athletes are getting NIL deals and how much they’re worth, and how swimming bumped Jim Rome’s talk show. For full list of topics, see below:
- The team battle between Cali and Energy Standard was the main storyline for the opening match of the 2021 ISL Playoffs, but Iron’s Thom de Boer left his mark on the meet by roaring to a decisive victory in the men’s freestyle skins—his fourth such win this season and third in a row.
- By making it to the final round of the men’s butterfly skins race on Sunday, Tom Shields locked in the win and four playoff points for the LA Current in Match 2 of the 2021 International Swimming League playoffs. The LA also squad got a huge boost this weekend from Ryan Murphy, who took home match MVP honors in his post-Olympics debut.
- Short-staffed International Swimming League playoff teams have seemingly realized that swimming a random athlete in an off event — and potentially letting them coast through it — can save the team a few points over leaving an empty lane.
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We sat down with 2x Olympian, 14x world champ Olivia Smoliga, who is currently in Eindhoven for the ISL season 3 playoffs. Just before arriving in Eindhoven, however, Smoliga made the move from Athens, Georgia to Tempe, Arizona, where she is training with Bob Bowman at Arizona State.
- Opendorse, a digital platform for connecting athletes and brands, provided data about its first three months in the collegiate NIL business (this data, of course, applies only to deals booked through Opendorse and may not exactly reflect the industry at large).
- USA Swimming High Performance Manager Russell Mark is leaving the organization after 19 years, a source confirmed to SwimSwam on Friday.
SINK or SWIM
- Dean Farris swam his first official NCAA race since March of 2019 this past weekend, winning the 100 fly. Will he win an NCAA title this year?
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Was ISL an Upgrade from Jim Rome on CBS?
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Is this it for Toronto making the final (without Blake Pieroni)
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Was going on Strictly Come Dancing a good move financially for Adam Peaty?
Peaty definitely makes more money from Dancing than ISL.
Assuming Peaty won every 50 and 100 breast, and came third in every 200 breast (definitely not guarantees) he only makes $7200 from prize money in the regular season. If he takes one match MVP this goes up to $15200, but he’s never been an MVP before so this seems unlikely.
I don’t have a problem with Peaty skipping the regular season altogether but would be nice to see him make a much needed contribution at the playoffs and final.
Toronto makes the final if:
a) Roar loses all 3 matches to LA and Toronto gets 2nd to Energy and Cali in the next two matches; or
b) Roar loses 2 matches to LA and Toronto upsets Energy or Cali.
Seems unlikely that either will happen. Roar really just didn’t fire at all in the last match, and if they actually swim to their potential they should comfortably beat LA in both (but really at least one) of the remaining matches. I can’t see Toronto beating Cali or Energy, even if one of those teams falls apart, they have enough depth to beat Toronto.
I’m still holding out hope that Roar makes the final, Peaty and Prigoda come back… Read more »
Prigoda seems unlikely aftering withdrawing from the Russian SC Champs.
Dean practice and pancakes! Better interview him
Russell Mark departure-I highly doubt that it has anything to do with USA performance in Tokyo. As far as replacements, I would guess the top 15 countries have a “Russell” on their staff and money talks so recruit one of them. By the same argument, maybe he brings his expertise to another country? Not sure what will happen but it probably depends on why he left or was asked to leave!
Jim Rome is worth $85 million which is probably more than all swimmers put together! I am not a fan but again numbers and money talks.
No way Dean Farris swims 200 free. You have Kieran and Sates. To me it seemed Farris had gotten away from 200… Read more »