Leon Marchand, Flanders Cup, Kosuke Kitajima Cup, South Aussie States

Louise Hansson on the pod! Robert Glinta retires. Peyton Hillis Update.

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SWIM NERD
January 23, 2023

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

  • 🏊‍♂️ Swim Guy of the Week

  • 📜 Set of the Week

  • 🤡 Swimming Meme of the Week

This Week in Swimming is brought to you by D-Band. Used by top swimming programs like Texas, UVA and Cal, D-Band is an essential part of any world class swimmers' training equipment. It develops upper body strength while improving technique, balance, and endurance. Team discounts available!

🏊‍♀️FAST SWIMS AROUND THE WORLD 🌎

There were a few international meets this weekend including Belgium's Flanders Cup, Japan's Kosuke Kitajima Cup, and South Australian States down under.

Flanders Cup

  • Dutch breaststroke ace Arno Kamminga nearly PB'ed in the 50 — 26.90 -- he also posted times of 59.77 and 2:11.3 in the 100 and 200.

  • 17 year old Carlos Garach, one of Spain's up and comers, ripped 8:00 and 15:11 in the two men's distance events.

  • Stan Franckx broke the Belgium record in the 100 Backstroke in 55.01

  • Tony Ervin stopped by sporting one helluva beard.

Kosuke Kitajima Cup

  • The never retiring Ryosuke Irie snuck under the 53 mark in the 100 Backstroke

  • Reona Aoki nearly broke 1:06 in the Women's 100 Breast and 2:23 in the 2 Breast

  • Tomoru Honda busted out a 1:53.6 in the 200 Fly

  • Fresh off winning two distance medals at SC Worlds, Miyu Namba won the 800 in 8:35

  • Ippei Watanabe and Shoma Sato both went 2:08.55 in the 2 Breast giving Japan the top 3 200 Breast time of the year (along with Yu Hanaguruma)

  • Hiroko Makino smashed the 100 Fly in 57.73 good for #2 in the world this year

South Australian State Championships

  • Kyle Chalmers went 8:22.9 in the 800 Freestyle, reminding us of what a bad ass he is. Sam Short won the thing in 8:00 -- just a tenth behind the aforementioned Carlos Garach's time.

  • Meg Harris won the 50/100/200 Freestyles clocking a 54.9 in the 100

  • Japanese teenager Tomoyuki Matsushita blasted a 4:12 400 IM.

Leon Marchand

We will leave most of the college swimming commentary for tomorrow when we release the, "College Swimming Roundup". But, we've gotta highlight Leon Marchand's monster weekend.

Friday vs. Stanford

#1 Arizona State took on #12 Stanford head-to-head and it was quite the show. 

Marchand swam three individual events and the breaststroke leg of the relay. In the relay, he split 23.10 (his fastest-ever breaststroke split - though he doesn't swim on that relay often). In the 100 Breaststroke, he went a personal best and NCAA top-time in 51.15.

Marchand then went on to dominate the 200 Breast in 1:49.16 -- the fastest dual meet time known and NCAA top-time of the year. Race video.

Finally, Marchand topped off the dual meet with the 200 IM, where he went the seventh fastest time ever in 1:38.89. Incredible. Race video.

Saturday vs. California

Saturday, the SunDevils went head-to-head with #2 Cal and Marchand was even more impressive. Swimming the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley relay once again, Marchand improved his split time to 22.99! For a guy known for ridiculous endurance and efficiency, he's got speed for days. Race video.

Marchand also improved his personal best in the 100 breast going 51.01 🔥Race Video. 

And in the 200 breast, he improved his season-best going 🔥1:48.82🔥 - .62 off his best from 2022's NCAA Championships where he was the winner. Race video.

Finally, and surely the highlight of the meet was the 400 IM. In a stunning conclusion to the weekend, Marchand broke the NCAA record (3:32.88) set by Hugo Gonzalez just last year (3:32.88). Marchand's time was 🔥🔥3:31.84🔥🔥. 

How much faster can Leon Marchand go?!?

📰 SWIMMING HEADLINES  

Robert Glinta Retirement

European Champion, Robert Glinta officially announced his retirement this week via Instagram. His final competition was SC World Champs in Melbourne last month. He finished 28th in the 100 Backstroke. 

Glinta finished 8th in the 100m Backstroke at the Tokyo Olympics and was the 2021 European Champion in the 100 Backstroke (LCM). Glinta was also a key player in the ISL and was one of Team Iron's highest scorers and multi-time skins participant. From our interviews with David Popovici, he was someone that the younger swimmers looked up to and could get advice from, having swum at every level. 

"The resources are exhausted and it is time to address and look after my own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, for I am just another human being after all."

Robert Glință on Instagram: "The time has come for me to take a step back from competitive swimming. Through highs and lows this sport has thaught me so much and truly made me grow into the more evolved human being I am today. Whether it is pain or glory, failure or success, suffering or bliss, the amount of responsibility, discipline, dedication, ambition through hard work to achieve a goal and overcome adversity and obstacles, grew deep roots within myself that will forever stay with me. None of it would have been possible without the people I worked with along the way. Each of them playing a huge role and leaving an important mark in my career and my life. For them, I cannot express my gratitude enough. All the lovely memories and dear friends that this path has brought me, soul connections that go beyond the swimming life, make me feel that I won so much more than just some medals and trophies along the way. To all the friends and fans I want to thank you for always showing your support and for believing in me no matter the situation. The resources are exhausted and it is time to address and look after my own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, for I am just another human being afterall. The time has come for me to take a step back from competitive swimming."

4,120 Likes, 221 Comments - Robert Glință (@robglinta) on Instagram: "The time has come for me to take a step back from competitive swimming. Through highs and lows this sport has thaught me so much and truly made me grow into the more evolved human being I am today. Whether it is pain or glory, failure or success, suffering or bliss, the amount of responsibility, discipline, dedication, ambition through hard work to achieve a goal and overcome adversity and obstacles, grew deep roots within myself that will forever stay with me. None of it would have been possible without the people I worked with along the way. Each of them playing a huge role and leaving an important mark in my career and my life. For them, I cannot express my gratitude enough. All the lovely memories and dear friends that this path has brought me, soul connections that go beyond the swimming life, make me feel that I won so much more than just some medals and trophies along the way. To all the friends and fans I want to thank you for always showing your support and for believing in me no matter the situation. The resources are exhausted and it is time to address and look after my own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, for I am just another human being afterall. The time has come for me to take a step back from competitive swimming."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnhG8Bwt_i-/?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=

Carol Capitani & Bob Bowman to Lead Team USA

Long Course World Champs are in Fukuoka, Japan this summer. Team USA has tapped Texas Head Coach Carol Capitani and Arizona State Head Coach Bob Bowman to head up the coaching staff. 

2023 WUG's in China

The postponed 2021 World University Games, beginning at the end of July this summer, won't feature teams backed by USA Swimming, Swimming Australia, Swimming Canada, or British Swimming. 

🏊‍♂️ SWIM GUY OF THE WEEK🙏

Peyton Hillis Update

As of Friday, January 20, former NFL running back, hero, and last week's swim guy of the week, Peyton Hillis has been discharged from the hospital according to his girlfriend, Angela Cole.

Hillis was in critical condition after rescuing his children in a drowning accident last week. He was in intensive care and relying on a ventilator. He's now been released with zero brain damage. 

Drowning on vacation is a serious risk that is constantly overlooked and under discussed. 

Angela Cole on Instagram: "God is so good! 🙏🏻❤️ Peyton has been discharged from the hospital. The amount of love and gratitude I have for the incredible team that took care of Peyton is indescribable. This picture does not have anywhere near the amount of people who took such great care of him. To Baptist Hospital in Pensacola: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know I told you this probably 20 times a day, but you are so incredible. You all worked like a perfected machine with each and every one of you so kind, attentive, calming and caring... You not only saved Peyton's life, you made it a priority to make sure that his family and I were okay amidst your busy schedules. You all were so calming, answered every question numerous times kindly… and heck, even took care of me and made sure I was okay every night: got me hot tea for my throat, made sure I was sleeping and eating, gave me a friend to confide in... I mean, I am just in AWE. You have all became a huge family to me and I know have meant so much to all of us. I can't express this enough when I say this, thank you for making all the difference in our lives. I'll never be able to thank you enough! And a huge thank you again for all of your prayers, love and support… God heard. And He answered ❤️🙏🏻"

Angela Cole (@angelacoleofficial) on Instagram: "God is so good! 🙏🏻❤️ Peyton has been discharged from the hospital. The amount of love and gratitude I have for the incredible team that took care of Peyton is indescribable. This picture does not have anywhere near the amount of people who took such great care of him. To Baptist Hospital in Pensacola: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know I told you this probably 20 times a day, but you are so incredible. You all worked like a perfected machine with each and every one of you so kind, attentive, calming and caring... You not only saved Peyton's life, you made it a priority to make sure that his family and I were okay amidst your busy schedules. You all were so calming, answered every question numerous times kindly… and heck, even took care of me and made sure I was okay every night: got me hot tea for my throat, made sure I was sleeping and eating, gave me a friend to confide in... I mean, I am just in AWE. You have all became a huge family to me and I know have meant so much to all of us. I can't express this enough when I say this, thank you for making all the difference in our lives. I'll never be able to thank you enough! And a huge thank you again for all of your prayers, love and support… God heard. And He answered ❤️🙏🏻"

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnqD_a1Lzrm/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D

inside with brett hawke banner logo transparent

BRETT HAWKE CLIPS OF THE WEEK

This week on INSIDE with BRETT HAWKE...

2x Swedish Olympian. NCAA Champion. European Champion. World Champion.

Louise Hansson!

Brett & Louise discuss...

  • Swedish Coach’s Take On National Swimmers Training Elsewhere

  • What Does An Olympian Do With Their Free Time? 

  • Louise Hansson Not A Backstroker?

  • What To Work On For Paris

  • Owning Femininity, Strength, And A Positive Self-Image

  • Prioritizing Recovery As A Post-College Athlete

  • Getting Ready For A Race Day

  • Sarah Sjostrom's Influence

  • Front End Speed

  • Swedish Relays

📝 SWIM SET OF THE WEEK

5x Finnish Olympic Coach, Marko Malvela's Favorite Sprint Set

4 Rounds:

4x25 100 Pace @ :45

50 going 25 kick 25 build to 100 Pace @ 1:15

3x25 100 Pace @ :45

50 going 25 kick 25 build to 100 Pace @ 1:15

2x25 100 Pace @ :45

50 going 25 kick 25 build to 100 Pace @ 1:15

1x25 100 Pace @ :45

5 Minutes Extra Rest Between Rounds!

We interviewed him last year. Check out the full interview here.

🤡 SWIMMING MEME OF THE WEEK

Saturday night in Tempe, Arizona with Leon Marchand.

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