USA Swimming has finalized the stroke 50s for the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships. In short: the breaks fell right where they were projected to fall when we wrote about them in mid-May: two weeks before the USA Swimming mandated deadline for swimmers to put up qualifying swims in the events.
This means that the USA will only have 1 entry in both the women’s 50 fly and the women’s 50 breaststroke. Hands of coaches were a little tied in those events, as there were no other swimmers eligible by combination of USA Swimming and FINA guidelines: all other swimmers with A times (FINA’s requirement for entering 2 swimmers in an event) were not already on the roster (USA Swimming’s requirement for taking the 2nd spot in these events where available).
| NATIONAL CHAMPION | SECOND ENTRY | |
| Men’s 50 fly | Michael Andrew | Caeleb Dressel |
| Men’s 50 back | Ryan Murphy | Michael Andrew |
| Men’s 50 breast | Michael Andrew | Andrew Wilson |
| Women’s 50 fly | Kelsi Dahlia | No Swimmers Available |
| Women’s 50 back | Olivia Smoliga | Kathleen Baker |
| Women’s 50 breast | Lilly King | No Swimmers Available |
Rather than add new swimmers to the roster, USA Swimming will leave those spots vacant.
The Process for filling vacant spots in the 50 meter stroke events:
The vacant spot will be filled by the swimmer already on the roster with the fastest time in that event between March 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019.
The US went without medals in the women’s 50 breaststroke in 2015 and in 2003, but in every other edition, they’ve taken at least one medal. Their 3 golds, 3 silvers, and 4 bronze medals are a better record in that event than any country since it was first offered at the World Championships in 2001. Katie Meili, who took bronze in 2017, was qualified for the US roster, but declined her spot. Lilly King, the defending World Champion, will be the only American entrant.
The American women have had much less success in the 50 fly. In fact, Jenny Thompson’s silver medal in 2003 is the only American medal at the long course edition of the World Championships in this event. Kelsi Worrell, the only American entrant in 2019, was the #2 qualifier through to the final in the last edition of the meet in 2017, but finished 4th (albeit in a new American Record of 25.48).
On the men’s side, all spots will be filled. Michael Andrew has been officially awarded the 2nd spot in the men’s 50 backstroke, and Andrew Wilson has been awarded the 2nd spot in the men’s 50 breaststroke (the only swims up for grabs). For Andrew, the current World Leader in the 50 backstroke, he will now swim all 4 stroke 50s at the World Championships, in addition to the 100 breaststroke. He’ll also have a probable spot in the men’s 400 medley relay, and a possible spot in the mixed 400 medley relay, depending on how coaches decide to stack that event.
The 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships begin on July 12th in Gwangju, South Korea. The pool swimming portion begins on July 21st at the Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center.
I hope he ends up focusing on the 50 free, 100 breast, and 200 IM. The stroke 50s are fun to watch, and a blast to swim, but legacy wise MA ought to go after a true WR(one that has been around for decades) like the 200 IM, which would make comparing him to the greats, which is what he wants, a lot easier. I suspect MA drops the stroke 50s and focuses on those three events after this summer, which is what team USA really needs, and would officially give him the recognition he deserves. Because let’s face it, he’s one of the greatest talents of the generation, being mentioned with Olympic champions at 20 is amazing, and our… Read more »
He has been awesome in the 100 back. His 100 fly has been looking good too.
The back is locked up, and Luca will lock up the fly next year, lots of room in the IM world
Kalisz will be at his career peak in 2020, and Seliskar is no longer duty-bound to plug holes in the Cal swim lineup and can focus his versatility, so the 200 IM won’t be any easier than the 100 back or fly.
Don’t count out the old man Lochte!
He will become great if he commits to do the training necessary for the 200 IM. He could also pick a 100 stroke to focus on. Not sure which would be better. Probably breast or back.
Naw, we’re good, dawg….
Crazy idea here, bring some 50 only women to take up the vacant spot.
This is very impressive. To qualify on all four 50s and be in a position to final in all (medal in some/all) is incredible. I’m kinda old so I don’t really rate the stroke 50s that highly – they got popular after I was done swimming but it is a great achievement nonetheless. Manadou and Morozov have similar range in SCM but I don’t remember anyone at this level LCM.
At some point MAs 200 IM should be Olympic gold
I think it’s the master plan for 2024.
Wait is Meili not on the roster at all?
I think she declined her spot because she is in Law School.
They need to bring the other 50s to the Olympics
Can’t do it, need the medals for break dancing.
Yes! Take out the redundant 800 free and maybe the IMs and the mixed relays. It’s crazy that we don’t have all the stroke 50s when we have 100s and 200s for strokes, all because the US lobbied it that way to get more medals.
He’s swimming several events and he’s still new to a format like the World Championships with all the extra swims.
He’s going to have some races that are better than others. I think he’ll make the podium in 2 out of the 4 swims in the 50 events.
Since he focuses on the shorter races in his training, it’s cool that he’s going to be able to swim all 4 strokes in the WCs