| The latest issue of Swimming World Biweekly
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In this issue of SW Biweekly, read about Melanie Margalis, an Olympic relay gold medalist and a three-time relay champion at Worlds, but a podium finish in an individual event has eluded her on the world’s biggest stage. After ranking No. 1 in the 400 IM and No. 3 in the shorter medley for 2020, her turn to win a medal for the United States could take place this year in Tokyo. Also featured is Hali Flickinger, aiming for Tokyo after a dominant, versatile season; USA Swimming announced the USA Olympic Trials to be split into two waves due to pandemic; What Bob Bowman said to Michael Phelps ahead of the 2008 Olympic final in 100 fly; Is 2:07 the new standard in the men’s 200 breast?; Amazon Prime to stream Australian Olympic Trials; How Tokyo plans a safe Olympic Games; Tokyo Olympic Officials maintain they will hold the games regardless of COVID-19 situation; Matt Biondi is putting the International Swimmers’ Alliance into action; Sarah Sjostrom’s surgery after a broken elbow; and much, much more!
FEATURES USA NEWS 008 USA OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS TO BE SPLIT INTO TWO WAVES
by Dan D’Addona
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, USA Swimming announced that the 2021 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials will be split into two events: Wave I from June 4-7 and Wave II from June 13-20. According to USA Swimming CEO Mike Unger, the No. 1 priority “was to find a way to host Trials in the safest possible environment while also giving the athletes the best opportunity to succeed.” 010 HALI FLICKINGER AIMS FOR TOKYO ON HEELS OF DOMINANT, VERSATILE ISL SEASON
by Dan D’Addona
Hali Flickinger, 200 fly silver medalist at the 2019 World Championships, has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in nine events! With a realistic shot of making finals in seven of the nine events, she now has to decide which events to swim. 012 MELANIE MARGALIS: READY FOR A BREAKTHROUGH
by Andy Ross
Melanie Margalis is an Olympic relay gold medalist and a three-time relay champion at Worlds, but a podium finish in an individual event has eluded her on the world’s biggest stage. After ranking No. 1 in the 400 IM and No. 3 in the shorter medley for 2020, her turn to win a medal for the United States could take place this year in Tokyo. 014 WHAT BOB BOWMAN SAID TO MICHAEL PHELPS AHEAD OF 2008 OLYMPIC FINAL IN 100 FLY
by John Lohn
In Michael Phelps’ march to eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the closest nail-biting finish came in the 100 fly, which Phelps won by 1-hundredth of a second over Serbia’s Milorad Cavic. What Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman told his star swimmer before that race was definitely motivational. WORLD NEWS 016 IS 2:07 THE NEW STANDARD IN THE MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE?
by Andy Ross
Five men have now broken 2:07 in the 200 meter breaststroke, and all of them are still active and look to be gold-medal contenders in Tokyo…with a world record potentially required to stand atop the podium. The question has to be asked: How did the bar in the 200 breast get set so high? 018 AMAZON PRIME TO STREAM AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS
by Ian Hanson
In a first for swimming, USA-based streaming giant, Amazon Prime Video, will broadcast the 2021 Australian Olympic Swimming Trials live. 020 HOW TOKYO PLANS TO RUN A SAFE OLYMPIC GAMES
by Liz Byrnes
Olympic organizers insist the emphasis is on safety as they unveiled new guidelines for international federation and technical officials who are expected to attend Tokyo 2020. 021 TOKYO OLYMPIC OFFICIAL MESSAGE: “WE WILL HOLD THE GAMES”
by Dan D’Addona
No matter what the situation is with the coronavirus, officials for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics are maintaining that the Games will happen, despite what Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party believes. “We should pass on the discussion of whether we hold the Games or not, but instead discuss how we should hold it,” says Yoshiro Mori, president of the Tokyo Olympics Committee. 022 MATT BIONDI PUTTING INTERNATIONAL SWIMMERS’ ALLIANCE INTO ACTION
by John Lohn
American legend Matt Biondi was recently named the director of the International Swimmers’ Alliance, a swimmer-dedicated organization charged with providing greater opportunities for the athletes. 024 SARAH SJOSTROM TO UNDERGO SURGERY AFTER BREAKING ELBOW
by Liz Byrnes
Sarah Sjostrom’s preparations for Tokyo have been dealt a huge blow after the triple Olympic medalist revealed she will have surgery for a broken elbow after slipping on ice in Stockholm. Although devastated, Sjostrom is inspired by athletes who have returned stronger following serious injury. COLLEGE NEWS 026 EVEN IN “REALLY AMAZING” VICTORY, DARTMOUTH SWIMMING SEES WORK STILL TO DO
by Andy Ross
The five sports—including women’s swimming—that were eliminated last July at Dartmouth College were recently reinstated and will run through at least the 2024-25 academic year. But the reprieve isn’t permanent…and the new timeline will help the Save Dartmouth Swim Dive group figure out what needs to be done next. 028 ELLA RISTIC EAGER TO PICK UP COMPETITIVE PACE AS INDIANA FRESHMAN
by Isabelle Odgers
With no idea what to expect due to the uncertain climate the COVID-19 pandemic had created, freshman swimmer Ella Ristic from Southern California quickly found stability and comfort in her new team at Indiana University. 029 VIA FUND-RAISING GOALS, LA SALLE OFFERS “PATHWAY TO RESTORE” MEN’S SWIMMING
by Matthew De George
The La Salle men’s swimming and diving team, which was slated to be discontinued at the end of this academic year, has been granted a pathway to restore the program, according to a letter sent to alumni. WATER POLO NEWS 030 BILL SMITH ELECTED AS NEW BOARD CHAIR FOR USA WATER POLO
by Michael Randazzo
Bill Smith, currently the United States Aquatic Sports president—the liaison for USA aquatic sports to FINA—has been involved in water polo for more than 25 years as an athlete, coach, club director and USA Water Polo board member. Effective June 1, he will begin his new role as chairman of the USAWP board, taking over for outgoing chairman, Michael Graff. FEATURES & COMMENTARY 032 IN YEAR SINCE KOBE BRYANT HELICOPTER CRASH, MATT MAUSER HAS TURNED TO POOL FOLLOWING DEATH OF WIFE
by Matthew De George
Jan. 26 marked one year since the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of NBA star, Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others, including Christina Mauser. This is the story of how Christina’s husband, Matt, has used swimming as an outlet in the wake of losing his wife. 036 HOW THEY TRAIN: ANDREW IVERSON
by Michael J. Stott 037 PARTING SHOT Swimming World is now partnered with the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
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