Morning, Nerd.

Welcome to the Swimnerd Newsletter where each week we highlight the most interesting stuff going on in swimming. This week...

• 🌎Fast Swims Around the World

• 📰 Swimming Headlines

• 📜 Set of the Week

• 🤡 Swimming Meme of the Week

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🏊‍♀️FAST SWIMS AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

• Apostolos Siskos, not to be confused with Apostolos Christos, blasted a 1:56.79 long course 200 backstroke. Christos retains his Greek record. But for how much longer? The 17 year old Siskos is improving rapidly. He's down another 2 seconds since Euros last year.

• Adam Peaty, the double Olympic champion, kicked off his season with 27.10 in the 50m breaststroke and 59.57 in the 100m breaststroke at the 2023 Southport Olympic Preparation Meet in Australia. A few Brits have been training in Australia, avoiding the rain and 38 degree weather back home.

• The 200 Free Olympic Champ, Tom Dean, went a spicy 1:46.33.

• There was a two day meet in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Logan Fontaine went 15:10 in the 1500. Maxime Grousset went 22.3/49.1 in the Frees and 23.3/52.0 in the Flies.

• French backstroker and European Champion, Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, fractured his elbow on December 27th while skiing. He has been out of the water for 6 weeks.

• Leon Marchand continues to change how we think about short course yards swimming. Over the weekend he went 4:07 in the 500 Free in a dual meet. He also dropped a 44.7 100 Back — also good for the #1 time this year. Leon is now the fastest swimmer in the NCAA in 7 different events. Also, check out this awesome picture he took of the moon.

BTW, in front of a full crowd, Arizona didn't win a single swimming event vs. Arizona State.

OuChhhhhh.

Last but not least, Kate Douglass of UVA broke her own NCAA record in the 200 Breast during a time trial that the NCAA won't recognize. But, 2:01.43 is still ridiculous and the new American Record.

📰 SWIMMING HEADLINES

Cal Fires Teri McKeever

After months and months of investigating allegations of bullying by longtime Team USA and Cal Berkley Head Swim Coach, Teri McKeever, the final report by the independent law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson released their heavily redacted 1092-page report this week.

The evidence and findings of the investigation led to the University of California announcing that they have officially parted ways with their head coach of the last 29 years. As has been for the 2022-2023 season thus far, the program has been combined and led by Cal Head Coach, Dave Durden.

Doesn't look like this will be the end of the this story - Teri is prepared to sue UC Berkely.

New World Aquatics Centre of Excellence

According to the revealed designs, the centre of excellence will facilitate both a local talent initiative and a regional development centre project.

World Aquatics already has centres of excellence in the Thai city of Thanyapura, the Senegalese capital of Dakar, the South African city of Cape Town, and the American city of Davie, Florida.

CEO of Swim England Retiring

"Swim England CEO Jane Nickerson to retire as review demands urgent reform of safeguarding and disciplinary procedures," writes Swimming World Magazine's European correspondent, Liz Byrne.

Canadian Markus Thormeyer gets Popped for PED's

Markus Thormeyer, who swam for Canada's fourth-place 4x100 freestyle relay at the Tokyo Olympics, was suspended for a year starting in January 2022 after an unexpected test showed he had Ligandrol in his system.

One of the most powerful SARMs available today is LGD 4033, also known as ligandrol or ligandrol enanthate (LGD). While it was originally designed to treat hip fractures, its use to enhance one's physical appearance has made it a hit among bodybuilders.

This is the same thing Shayna Jack failed her drug test for. She was given a four-year suspension that was later reduced to two.

Howard University Swimming on the Daily Cover of SI

This article explores the unique and innovative atmosphere of Howard University's all-Black swim team, and the impact it is having on the sport of swimming. Remember the Battle of the Burg from back in October?

Key Takeaways:

Howard University's all-Black swim team is creating an electric atmosphere in college swimming led by its Head Coach, Nic Askew.

The team is on the cusp of winning its first conference title in over 30 years.

The team is becoming a beacon for Black athletes in a sport that has traditionally failed to reach them.

"Nobody in America can offer what we have." - Nic Askew, Head Coach, Howard University

BRETT HAWKE CLIPS OF THE WEEK

• Michael Andrew: 200 IM or 50 Free? OT Schedule Conflicts

• Rotating in backstroke with FASTEST MAN EVER Hunter Armstrong

• The Zen Story of Nan-in

• Guess the swimmer!

• We need “Break Point” for swimming

• Cesar Cielo in his Prime

• Simplifying Physiology for Faster Swimming with Gary Hall Sr.

• Cam McEvoy talks about Flynn Southam, Australia's teenage phenom (who also owns a mentoring business!)

• 100K training weeks with Michael Klim

• Rowdy Gaines' Mount Rushmore of American Swim Coaches

This week on INSIDE with BRETT HAWKE...

This morning at 8AM EST...Dive Inside LIVE!

Brett and Sonny discuss what's been going on in the world of swimming. Join us live every Monday to catch up with the top swimming stories across the globe.

On Tuesday...Episode #300...Matt Eversmann!

First Sergeant Matt Eversmann, an American hero, shows how dedication, courage, and selflessness can overcome enormous hurdles.

Matt led an Army Rangers afternoon raid against an enthusiastic hostile militia on October 3, 1993. Matt and his fellow soldiers were stuck in a hostile Mogadishu neighbourhood and slated for death by an enraged mob. The famous film Black Hawk Down depicted his horrific survival story. He received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for his battlefield actions.

Matt returned from Somalia determined to train soldiers. He taught at Johns Hopkins University, worked at the Army War College, and spent 15 months with the Iraqi Army during The Surge. After 20 years of active duty, he retired in May 2008.

Matt uses his military experiences to emphasise leadership, followership, courage, and accountability in teams and businesses.

He co-wrote The Battle of Mogadishu with James Patterson.

📝 SWIM SET OF THE WEEK

Roland Schoeman's Favorite Threshold Set

3 Rounds

15x50 Freestyle

1st Round Naked (as Caeleb Dressel calls it)

5 @ :55

4 @ :50

3 @ :45

2 @ :40

1 @ :35

2nd Round with Fins or Paddles

5 @ :50

4 @ :45

3 @ :40

2 @ :35

1 @ :30

3rd Round with Fins & Paddles

5 @ :45

4 @ :40

3 @ :35

2 @ :30

1 @ :25

🤡 SWIMMING MEME OF THE WEEK

This one is especially for my friend, breaststroker Glenn Mills.

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