Just a day after Michael Phelps’ press conference in Mesa, Arizona where confirmed he would not be competing at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia, the world’s swimming governing body inserts its own line of thinking on the greatest Olympian’s participation.
On Wednesday of this week, Phelps reiterated that he would not be competing in Kazan, Russia, avoiding the displacement of swimmers selected in his absence due to a USA Swimming-imposed competition suspension. However, FINA Executive Director, Cornel Marculescu, told the Associated Press today that “it would be no problem for us to offer Phelps an extra place [at worlds]”
And how exactly would this transpire? “We may give him another status because he’s the greatest athlete (in) history,” Marculescu said. “We can do whatever. He is the No. 1. He doesn’t need the accreditation.” (ABC News)
Marculescu indicated that FINA has not yet discussed the notion with USA Swimming and one would be hard-pressed to find precedent on a similar situation. Thus, it is yet to be seen if any action will indeed be taken by FINA to enable the greatest Olympian of all time magically eligible to swim at the event.
Even if the matter of adding Phelps is impractical and would take a very special case, these comments, rather, are more a referendum on the attitude of the FINA Executive Director and his opinions on the value of Phelps to the swimming brand as a whole.
Hilarious. I hope Phelps takes the offer. USA swimming does whatever they want – making up rules or ignoring established rules – whatever fits their agenda – not caring about the collateral damage they leave behind. They recently enacted their rule that world ranked athletes can swim any events at their meets (because many were falsifying entry times). Why shouldn’t FINA be able to do whatever they want. GO FINA!!! Don’t even bother discussing the issue with USA Swimming – put the corrupt, unethical organization in its place.
Michael Phelps should not be allowed to swim in Kazan. This is so sad. Money and viewers over what’s right. I’m the biggest Michael fan. But, this is just wrong. Hopefully Michael will do the right thing and decline if invited.
Same. I love Michael Phelps, but this isn’t going to help Fina’s credibility either.
I never worked out who this guy is & why he is there.
I thought about getting informed on the threatened usurpation of FINA by swimming’s Old Guard , but then I gave it a miss.
Instead , I am looking forward to the Nostradamis prophesy of some Horde coming in & wiping the Bankers away . I figure this will include FINA.
Something should be done to allow more top athletes into these meets (USA men’s backstroke, JPN men’s breaststroke, etc.). I like the idea of allowing the three medalists from the previous incarnation (so 2013 in this case) in… allowing their country to send two others alongside them. That could get you 3 or 4 entries in some deep events.
Sucks to be Eric Shanteau in the 200 IM From 2004ish-2007ish (Might have been the 3rd fasted 200 IMer in the world but couldn’t make the team behind Lochte and Phelps).
This should not apply to someone who vacated their spot which was subsequently filled. No take backs.
I WISH swimming could copy figure skating! The placements of the top 2 participants from each country in the individual men/women’s events are added together, and if they total less than/equal to a certain number (I think it’s 13), then that country can have 3 participants in the Worlds/Olympics the following year. That would be a fair way of allowing some countries to have additional entries in certain events!
At the World Championships for track and field (held in odd numbered years like swimming), the defending World Champion in an event is given an automatic berth even if that athlete didn’t qualify for that event in his/her own national trials. That means sometimes a nation might send four athletes to Worlds in a particular event (a country can send 3 athletes in track). I think the same is done in ice skating. Phelps isn’t a defending World Champion (from 2013), but he is Phelps.
And this IS part of his suspension. That is kind of the point. This guy is stepping into something that is none of his business.
Phelps DUI was none of USA Swimming’s business, yet they involved themselves! International competition is FINA’s business. At least FINA comes right out and states that they can do whatever they want, unlike USA Swimming who lie, discriminate, and cheat!
To improve media coverage of its World Aquatic Championships, FINA has decided to purchase a papal dispensation absolving Michael Phelps of all the sins he has committed in his lifetime. In this way FINA can bypass the penalty of USS by getting the permission for him to participate fom a HIGHER authority! 😉
LOL Best comment I have heard yet.