Fast swims from around the world

Goooood morning, Nerd.

Welcome to the new and improved Swimnerd Newsletter: the most interesting stuff going on in swimming.

Let's get you all caught up from this weekend's racing...

FAST SWIMS RESULT FROM AROUND THE WORLD

• Josh Liendo (21.63) is now Canada's fastest swimmer ever breaking recently re-retired Brent Hayden's all-time 50 Free record. The 19 year old teenager also won the 100 Free (48.3) and set another Canadian record in the 100 Fly (50.8) for one heckuva weekend. He is undoubtedly Canada's best male swimmer.

• German Lukas Märtens went OFF again (he crushed the mile in 14:40.2 last month). This weekend he went 3:41.6 in the 400 -- which was 5 seconds faster than what he went in Tokyo and would have easily won him a gold medal. Now, only a handful of greats have ever gone faster and nobody has been close to that so far this year. Plus, he dropped a 1:45.4 for the world leading time over 200 meters. DYK he's also got a nasty 2 Back?

• At British Trials, Lewis Burras (pictured above) won the 50 and 100 Free in 21.7/47.8. Afterwards, he thanked everyone that has helped him including his new coach, Zoe Baker, for saving his life.

• Sarah Sjostrom (56.7) & Louise Hansson (56.8) both dipped under 57 in the 100 Fly at the Stockholm Open.

• Youngins David Popovici 48.1/1:46.2 and Matt Sates 48.9/1:46.1 both hammered the 100 & 200 Freestyles in Slovenia & South Africa, respectively.

• Lara van Niekerk 1:05.6 100 Breast beat out Olympic gold medalist Tatjana Schoenmaker in a bit of a shock at SA Trials. At the same meet, Chad Le Clos won his 13th consecutive South African 200 Fly title (1:55.7). Follow Chad's training here with Sonny Trigg.

• Rafael Miroslaw broke the German record in the 100 Free (47.9) becoming the first ever under 48. He also went 1:46.0 in the 200 Free. Fantastic swims from the IU frosh.

• Duncan Scott went 4:09.1 (would have won Gold in Tokyo) and 1:56.0 in the IM's to break both British records. "...he’s like a Michael Phelps but a skinnier version." - James Guy

• Duncan Scott (1:45.5), Tom Dean (1:45.7), and James Guy (1:46.4) went 1-2-3 at British Trials in the 200 Free.

• 15 year old Lorenzo Galossi blasted a 3:45.9 400 Freestyle at Italian Champs. That's a new European Jr Record.

• UVA had a LCM time trial meet. Kate Douglass put up a 2:24.0 200 Breast and 54.5 100 Free. Gretchen Walsh with a snappy 24.7 50 Free.

• Texas had one, too. Carson Foster went a PB in the 200 Free (1:46.3) and put together a 4:11 400 IM.

• Zac Stubblety-Cook posted a 2:08.2 over 200 meters breaststroke with a +1.5 differential between 100's. Kaylee McKeown threw down a 4:34 400 IM.

CAN KAMMINGA, MARTINENGHI TAKE DOWN PEATY?

58.5. 58.5. 58.5. 

Adam Peaty won the 50 (26.9) and 100 Breaststrokes (58.5) at British Trials again but he didn't swim near his best times. The last time someone other than Adam Peaty won a long course World Championship in the 100 Breast was Christian Sprenger in 2013.

Peaty, after the Tokyo Olympics, was the most active swimmer in the world. Swim clinics, book tours, photo shoots, dancing with the stars, being a Dad. He was doing it all.  

Dutch stud Arno Kamminga and Italian stallion Nic Martinenghi also went 58.5 this weekend. These are just two of the competitors looking to take down the GOAT in June. 

We are just 9 weeks out (67 days) from World Championships in Budapest. For someone who ranks breaststroke as his 4th favorite stroke, this is high on my list of must watch races.

PARA WORLD RECORD GOES DOWN

Leanne Smith broke the World Record in the 150 IM for the S3 classification at US Para World Trials. She was diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological muscle disease in 2012 and began swimming as part of her rehab. A decade later, Leanne is the fastest ever!

2024 PARIS OLYMPICS SCHEDULE WILL BE 9 DAYS

The Olympic swimming schedule is continuing to evolve. Back in the day it was a 6 day competition. In 2024, it'll be 9 days. This will certainly help the swimmer's with big lineups and a lot of relay swims. We don't know the exact schedule yet so more to come on this...

SAVE ~30% ON VASA TRAINERS & SWIM ERGS!

Vasa Trainer is having a factory seconds sale. There's a limited number of Vasa Trainer Pros and SwimErgs available marked down by about 20%, so they will sell fast.

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Use the Inside with Brett Hawke code: BRETT

Honestly, if you are ever buying anything swimming related and don't have a coupon code just enter: BRETT and see what happens. You might save some money. 

Vasa Trainers are the best way to gain swimming specific strength outside of the pool. Go to https://vasatrainer.com/shop/ to level up your drylands today.

US OPEN WATER CHAMPS

American open water swimming doesn't get much love - and it shows on the international stage. Thank goodness Ron Aitken and the Sandpipers of Nevada are up to the challenge.

At US Open Water Nationals last week, Katie Grimes crushed the field by over a minute in the 10k while Claire Weinstein did the same in the 5k. 

Coach John Dussliere (2008 Beijing Olympics Head USA Men's Open Water 10k Coach) provided play-by-play live on Twitter. If you don't follow him, he is a must follow on Twitter. He's knowledgeable, funny, and isn't afraid to say what is on his mind.

For the next big open water race, USA Swimming should get him on site and behind a microphone cuz I'm ready to learn more about open water swimming.

South African Sprinter Brad Tandy Retires

Known for arguably the sickest start in swimming, Brad Tandy has announced his retirement.

Want to improve your start? Check out Gary Hall Sr. as he breaks down Brad's start with Brad.

That's one gnarly heel kick.

BRETT HAWKE CLIPS OF THE WEEK

• Want more on starts? Check out this clip with Björn Seeliger, the 2nd fastest 50 SCY Freestyler in history

• The 3 Pillars of Culture with Alabama Head Coach, Margo Geer

• How Cameron van der Burgh and Adam Peaty changed breaststroke

• All about the backstroke catch with double Olympic backstroke champion, Kaylee McKeown

SET OF THE WEEK

Breaststroke Lactate Sets w/Olympic Champion Cameron van der Burgh

You might want to adjust your goal times & intervals accordingly. Marco Koch used to eat Cameron's lunch when doing this set together.

Marco would hold 1:04's on the easy 100.

3 Rounds of...

5x200's broken down into...

1x100 easy lactate threshold (holding 1:08 - 1:10) @ 1:50

1x50 managing swimming with lactate (holding :32) @ 1:00

1x50 2nd 50 of the 100 (holding :30) @ 1:30 - 1:45

SWIMMING MEME OF THE WEEK