| The latest issue of Swimming World Biweekly
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 [PHOTO CREDIT: PETER H. BICK]
In this issue of SW Biweekly, read about Shaine Casas. Just last season, he was the talk of college swimming. He won three individual events at NCAAs to go along with his U.S. national title from 2019. But as the eyes of the swimming world turned toward the Olympics, Casas was out of the picture. After turning pro in September, things have changed, and he is now a world champion. Also featured is Ryan Held, who broke a streak of bad timing with an individual World Championships medal and a relay gold; The Texas Longhorns are looking unstoppable in the upcoming 16th Men’s National Title; Klete Keller could testify against fellow coup plotters from the Jan. 6 insurrection; Villanova’s Milly Routledge keeps “proving them wrong”; Commentary piece on why allowing Lia Thomas to compete at NCAA Championships would establish an unfair setting; Taylor Bruck details struggle with an eating disorder; Adam Peaty reflects on beginning and ending a chapter in his life; The 2021 Holiday Gift Guide; and more!
FEATURES 008 RYAN HELD BREAKS STREAK OF BAD TIMING WITH INDIVIDUAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDAL AND RELAY GOLD
by David Rieder
Ever since the moment when Ryan Held won Olympic gold as part of the U.S. men’s 400 freestyle relay at the 2016 Olympics, his career has suffered from off swims at the worst possible moments. That all changed at the recent Short Course World Championships in Abu Dhabi. 012 IN CHASE FOR 16th MEN’S NATIONAL TITLE, TEXAS LOOKS UNSTOPPABLE
by David Rieder
The University of Texas Longhorns are the defending national champions in men’s swimming and diving, and they have won five of the last six national titles. Based on their recent performances at the Minnesota Invitational, it’s a good bet that Coach Eddie Reese’s Longhorns will be adding their 16th national team trophy in 2022. 014 FINA ANNOUNCES REFORMS THAT WILL “SIGNIFICANTLY MODERNIZE THE FEDERATION”
by David Rieder
During meetings around the Short Course World Championships and Aquatics Festival in Abu Dhabi, FINA announced a set of reforms that, according to a press release, “will significantly modernize the Federation, helping it better serve aquatics athletes.” 016 KLETE KELLER COULD TESTIFY AGAINST FELLOW COUP PLOTTERS FROM THE JAN. 6 INSURRECTION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL
by Matthew De George
As part of his plea deal for taking part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol, Olympic medalist Klete Keller is cooperating with authorities, which has further delayed his sentencing. The next status conference in his case is set for March. 018 IN FIFTH YEAR, VILLANOVA’S MILLY ROUTLEDGE KEEPS PROVING THEM WRONG
by Matthew De Goerge
Milly Routledge has a tattoo on her right biceps that reads, “Prove them wrong.” Says the Villanova grad student, “It’s a reminder that I can achieve anything that I put my mind to, and as long as I commit to it and give it my best effort, I know that I can be successful in whatever I do.” 020 FOR SHAINE CASAS, SHORT COURSE WORLDS GOLD IN 100 BACK COULD BE ONLY THE BEGINNING
by David Rieder
Just last season, Shaine Casas was the talk of college swimming. He won three individual events at NCAAs to go along with his U.S. national title from 2019. But as the eyes of the swimming world turned toward the Olympics, Casas was out of the picture. After turning pro in September, things have changed, and he is now a world champion. 022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 026 COMMENTARY: ALLOWING LIA THOMAS TO COMPETE AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS WOULD ESTABLISH UNFAIR SETTING
by John Lohn
Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete at the University of Pennsylvania, has been firing off a multitude of top “women’s” times, her performances generating passionate debate, with the anti-angle the consensus. For the protection of cisgender female athletes and the sport, Lia Thomas should not be allowed to influence what unfolds at next year’s NCAAs. 028 COMMENTARY: WITHOUT NCAA ACTION, THE EFFECTS OF LIA THOMAS SITUATION ARE AKIN TO DOPING
by John Lohn
Swimming World Biweekly looks at transgender Lia Thomas’ athletic skill set in comparison to the advantages that doping has provided certain athletes at various points in history. 030 “IT STEALS EVERYTHING FROM YOU”: TAYLOR RUCK DETAILS STRUGGLE WITH EATING DISORDER
by John Lohn
Taylor Ruck, a two-time Canadian Olympian, recently revealed she has struggled with an eating disorder in the years since her Olympic debut in Rio in 2016. Part of her desire to share her story is hopeful, for her and for others, that things can improve with more informed attention on the problem. 032 ADAM PEATY ON LOVING THE CHALLENGE, WATER BABY GEORGE AND ENDING A CHAPTER IN HIS LIFE
by Liz Byrnes
Adam Peaty says 2021 signals the end of a period in his own history that has brought Olympic titles in the pool and fatherhood, which has transformed his life beyond the water. The 26-year-old announced his intention to take some time out of the water in light of the fact he intends to continue competing until Los Angeles 2028. 034 PARTING SHOT
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