USA Swimming is extending is a moratorium on events to April 30, which includes the 2019-2020 Pro Swim Series Stop scheduled for April 16-19 in Mission Viejo, the organization announced in an email Monday. The Open Water National and Junior National Championships, which were scheduled for Fort Myers at the end of April, will be postponed.
“Throughout the entire country there is a very real and intense effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19),” the email said. “As responsible leaders, we need to continue to take appropriate steps and ensure that every decision we make is one with a focus on the health and safety of our athletes, members, staff and volunteers.”
USA Swimming also asked that clubs “limit practices and trainings as recommended by their local health organization and/or the CDC.” The White House requested Monday that the country limit social gatherings to a maximum of 10 people.
The move is the latest in a slew of cancellations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – last Thursday, USA Swimming “strongly recommended” that all meets under its jurisdiction be canceled for 30 days. The announcement pertains to “all events, camps, conferences, or any occasion that requires individuals to travel and gather.”
Mission Viejo was set to be the penultimate stop of the five-stop Pro Swim Series, which was last in Des Moines, Iowa. The event was going to feature morning finals at 10 a.m. and night prelims at 5 p.m. to mirror the Tokyo 2020 schedule.
The meet at the outdoor Marguerite Aquatic Center in Mission Viejo would have been the first-ever tour stop at the legendary pool and followed an $11 million renovation of the facility.
USA Swimming had already announced a number of big names expected at the event, including Ryan Lochte, Nathan Adrian, Allison Schmitt, David Heron, Katie McLaughlin and Ella Eastin.
The final stop of the 2019-20 series in Indianapolis is currently scheduled for a week after the latest suspension of activities ends.
Full 2020 Pro Swim Series Schedule:
DATES | CITY | POOL |
Nov. 6-9, 2019 | Greensboro, N.C. | Greensboro Aquatic Center |
Jan. 16-19, 2020 | Knoxville, Tenn. | Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center |
Mar. 4-7, 2020 | Des Moines, Iowa | MidAmerican Energy Aquatic Center at the Wellmark YMCA |
May 6-9, 2020 | Indianapolis, Indiana | IU Natatorium |
And just like that the government controls all sporting events, concerts, jobs, colleges, medical facilities, whether or not you can leave your house, has depleted resources such as toilet paper and food, controls all travel…And you guys wonder why they develop and use viruses to scare the public. They now control you and everything about your life. See how easy it was? Mass panic, hysteria, complete control. Of, literally, the world. Over a virus. One that the survival rates are extremely high….All freedom has been limited overnight. See how easy that was?
Hmm, wow you are right. Lockdowns have already happened in San Francisco. It’s coming to L.A. soon.
The idea is to prevent too many people from getting it at once, and overloading our healthcare system. And you either know that and are being intentionally obtuse, or you’ve been hiding under a rock.
RIP 2020 Olympic Trials.
Dow drooped 3k today. Never thought I’d even see 2k before last week. The panic is real
Trials is next. Either before or after USOPC says we aren’t going. And then IOC cancels or postpones when enough countries say that.
:((((((
Well let’s see if Indy happens
Nothing is going to happen except a financial collapse and soaring number of cases. I can[t believe anyone is still looking at this short term. And short term means months.
Nooooooooooooooooooo