Caeleb Dressel was the top money-earner from the ISL meet in Naples and Sarah Sjostrom leads all earners for the series. Meanwhile, the disparity between winning teams and losing teams continues, as Energy Standard and the Cali Condors have each won more than the bottom two teams combined.
Dressel’s $13,500 haul was exactly what Sjostrom won in Indy to lead all earners. Sjostrom added another $12,900 and leads all series earners by almost ten thousand dollars. The skins race continues to be the key money event, as five of the top seven series earners have competed in the skins events at one or both meets.
The ISL money format clearly favors winning teams, and the degree of that divide is increasing. Both Energy Standard ($141,300 as a team in two meets) has earned far more than the Aqua Centurions ($47,400) and DC Trident ($47,850) combined. In fact, just their skins race aces (Sjostrom and Florent Manaudou) alone have earned nearly as much as either of the two bottom teams. The Cali Condors ($122,250) have also earned more than the bottom two teams combined.
ISL PRIZE MONEY FORMAT
Athletes and relays earn money for top-4 finishes under the following system:
Regular season:
| INDIVIDUAL EVENT | RELAY | SKINS | |
| 1st | $1,800 | $900 | $5,400 |
| 2nd | $1,200 | $600 | $3,600 |
| 3rd | $600 | $300 | $1,800 |
| 4th | $300 | $150 | $900 |
ISL Finals meet:
| INDIVIDUAL EVENT | RELAY | SKINS | |
| 1st | $6,000 | $3,000 | $18,000 |
| 2nd | $4,000 | $2,000 | $12,000 |
| 3rd | $2,000 | $1,000 | $6,000 |
| 4th | $1,000 | $500 | $3,000 |
Note: we’ve heard rumblings of a $5,000 bonus for meet MVPs, but there’s no rule on the books suggesting that. For now, we’re not including it in our calculations.
Naples Money-Earners:
| Rank | Last Name | First Name | Team | Prize Money Points | Prize Money |
| 1 | DRESSEL | Caeleb | CAC | 45 | $13,500 |
| 2 | SJOSTROM | Sarah | ENS | 43 | $12,900 |
| 3 | SMOLIGA | Olivia | CAC | 28 | $8,400 |
| 4 | LE CLOS | Chad | ENS | 25 | $7,500 |
| 5 | KING | Lilly | CAC | 21 | $6,300 |
| 5 | MANAUDOU | Florent | ENS | 21 | $6,300 |
| 6 | DAHLIA | Kelsi | CAC | 19 | $5,700 |
| 7 | HEEMSKERK | Femke | ENS | 18 | $5,400 |
| 8 | MARGALIS | Melanie | CAC | 16 | $4,800 |
| 8 | SANCHEZ | Kayla | ENS | 16 | $4,800 |
| 9 | RYLOV | Evgeny | ENS | 15.5 | $4,650 |
| 10 | SHYMANOVICH | Ilya | ENS | 15 | $4,500 |
| 11 | HAUGHEY | Siobhan | DCT | 14.5 | $4,350 |
| 11 | MASSE | Kylie | CAC | 14.5 | $4,350 |
| 12 | MARTINENGHI | Nicolo | AQC | 14 | $4,200 |
| 13 | GALAT | Bethany | DCT | 13 | $3,900 |
| 14 | LARKIN | Mitch | CAC | 12 | $3,600 |
| 15 | HANNIS | Molly | CAC | 10.5 | $3,150 |
| 16 | TITMUS | Ariarne | CAC | 10 | $3,000 |
| 17 | CORREIA | Breno | AQC | 9 | $2,700 |
| 17 | SABBIONI | Simone | AQC | 9 | $2,700 |
| 17 | VAZAIOS | Andreas | DCT | 9 | $2,700 |
| 18 | PROUD | Ben | ENS | 8.5 | $2,550 |
| 19 | FINK | Nic | CAC | 8 | $2,400 |
| 20 | STRAVIUS | Jeremy | DCT | 7.5 | $2,250 |
| 21 | HINDS | Natalie | CAC | 7 | $2,100 |
| 21 | SEEBOHM | Emily | ENS | 7 | $2,100 |
| 22 | GROTHE | Zane | DCT | 6.5 | $1,950 |
| 22 | KOLESNIKOV | Kliment | ENS | 6.5 | $1,950 |
| 23 | KINGSLEY | Megan | CAC | 6 | $1,800 |
| 23 | LITHERLAND | Jay | DCT | 6 | $1,800 |
| 23 | MAJCHRZAK | Kacper | CAC | 6 | $1,800 |
| 23 | OLEKSIAK | Penny | ENS | 6 | $1,800 |
| 23 | RIVOLTA | Matteo | AQC | 6 | $1,800 |
| 23 | SCOZZOLI | Fabio | AQC | 6 | $1,800 |
| 23 | SHEVTSOV | Sergey | ENS | 6 | $1,800 |
| 24 | GIREV | Ivan | ENS | 5.5 | $1,650 |
| 25 | BILIS | Simonas | ENS | 5 | $1,500 |
| 25 | GKOLOMEEV | Kristian | AQC | 5 | $1,500 |
| 25 | LESAFFRE | Fantine | ENS | 5 | $1,500 |
| 25 | MIRESSI | Alessandro | AQC | 5 | $1,500 |
| 25 | THROSSELL | Brianna | DCT | 5 | $1,500 |
| 26 | COMERFORD | Mallory | CAC | 4.5 | $1,350 |
| 27 | BRATTON | Lisa | DCT | 4 | $1,200 |
| 27 | ROMANCHUK | Mykhaylo | ENS | 4 | $1,200 |
| 27 | SHKURDAI | Anastasia | ENS | 4 | $1,200 |
| 27 | SZARANEK | Mark | CAC | 4 | $1,200 |
| 28 | BECKER | Bowe | CAC | 3 | $900 |
| 28 | CLARK | Imogen | ENS | 3 | $900 |
| 28 | KAWECKI | Radoslaw | CAC | 3 | $900 |
| 28 | RESS | Justin | CAC | 3 | $900 |
| 28 | SHEBAT | John | CAC | 3 | $900 |
| 29 | PELLEGRINI | Federica | AQC | 2.5 | $750 |
| 30 | BIANCHI | Ilaria | AQC | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | CARRARO | Martina | AQC | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | CSEH | Laszlo | AQC | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | DI LIDDO | Elena | AQC | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | HARVEY | Mary-Sophie | ENS | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | HEINTZ | Philip | AQC | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | IPSON | Anton | CAC | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | KOHLER | Sarah | AQC | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | MILLER | Cody | DCT | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | STUPIN | Max | ENS | 2 | $600 |
| 30 | ZELLMANN | Poul | AQC | 2 | $600 |
| 31 | APOSTALON | Anika | DCT | 1.5 | $450 |
| 31 | OLIVEIRA | Larissa | AQC | 1.5 | $450 |
| 31 | WASICK | Kasia | CAC | 1.5 | $450 |
| 32 | APPLE | Zach | DCT | 1 | $300 |
| 32 | BRUHN | Annika | DCT | 1 | $300 |
| 32 | CONDORELLI | Santo | AQC | 1 | $300 |
| 32 | DAVIES | Georgia | ENS | 1 | $300 |
| 32 | HOLLARD | Tristan | DCT | 1 | $300 |
| 32 | KENNEDY | Madison | DCT | 1 | $300 |
| 32 | KUBOVA | Simona | DCT | 1 | $300 |
| 32 | NEALE | Leah | DCT | 1 | $300 |
| 32 | SMITH | Kierra | ENS | 1 | $300 |
| 32 | ZIRK | Kregor | ENS | 1 | $300 |
| 33 | CORDES | Kevin | DCT | 0.5 | $150 |
| 33 | DI PIETRO | Silvia | AQC | 0.5 | $150 |
| 33 | MUNOZ DEL CAMPO | Lidon | AQC | 0.5 | $150 |
| 33 | SMITH | Giles | DCT | 0.5 | $150 |
Running Series Money-Earners
| Last Name | First Name | Team | Total Prize Money | Indy | Naples |
| SJOSTROM | Sarah | Energy Standard | $26,400 | $13,500 | $12,900 |
| SMOLIGA | Olivia | Cali Condors | $16,500 | $8,100 | $8,400 |
| MANAUDOU | Florent | Energy Standard | $16,500 | $10,200 | $6,300 |
| LE CLOS | Chad | Energy Standard | $15,900 | $8,400 | $7,500 |
| DRESSEL | Caeleb | Cali Condors | $13,500 | $13,500 | |
| KING | Lilly | Cali Condors | $12,600 | $6,300 | $6,300 |
| HEEMSKERK | Femke | Energy Standard | $10,800 | $5,400 | $5,400 |
| DAHLIA | Kelsi | Cali Condors | $10,200 | $4,500 | $5,700 |
| SHYMANOVICH | Ilya | Energy Standard | $9,000 | $4,500 | $4,500 |
| MARGALIS | Melanie | Cali Condors | $8,700 | $3,900 | $4,800 |
| MASSE | Kylie | Cali Condors | $8,250 | $3,900 | $4,350 |
| HAUGHEY | Siobhan | DC Trident | $8,100 | $3,750 | $4,350 |
| RYLOV | Evgeny | Energy Standard | $7,800 | $3,150 | $4,650 |
| LARKIN | Mitch | Cali Condors | $7,650 | $4,050 | $3,600 |
| PROUD | Ben | Energy Standard | $7,650 | $5,100 | $2,550 |
| SANCHEZ | Kayla | Energy Standard | $7,200 | $2,400 | $4,800 |
| MARTINENGHI | Nicolo | Aqua Centurions | $7,200 | $3,000 | $4,200 |
| KOLESNIKOV | Kliment | Energy Standard | $6,750 | $4,800 | $1,950 |
| CORREIA | Breno | Aqua Centurions | $6,600 | $3,900 | $2,700 |
| HANNIS | Molly | Cali Condors | $6,150 | $3,000 | $3,150 |
| VAZAIOS | Andreas | DC Trident | $5,850 | $3,150 | $2,700 |
| SABBIONI | Simone | Aqua Centurions | $5,400 | $2,700 | $2,700 |
| GALAT | Bethany | DC Trident | $5,250 | $1,350 | $3,900 |
| TITMUS | Ariarne | Cali Condors | $5,100 | $2,100 | $3,000 |
| BILIS | Simonas | Energy Standard | $4,800 | $3,300 | $1,500 |
| LEDECKY | Katie | DC Trident | $4,200 | $4,200 | |
| GROTHE | Zane | DC Trident | $4,050 | $2,100 | $1,950 |
| FINK | Nic | Cali Condors | $3,900 | $1,500 | $2,400 |
| OLEKSIAK | Penny | Energy Standard | $3,900 | $2,100 | $1,800 |
| CONDORELLI | Santo | Aqua Centurions | $3,900 | $3,600 | $300 |
| THROSSELL | Brianna | DC Trident | $3,750 | $2,250 | $1,500 |
| LITHERLAND | Jay | DC Trident | $3,600 | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| RIVOLTA | Matteo | Aqua Centurions | $3,600 | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| SCOZZOLI | Fabio | Aqua Centurions | $3,600 | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| HINDS | Natalie | Cali Condors | $3,300 | $1,200 | $2,100 |
| SEEBOHM | Emily | Energy Standard | $3,300 | $1,200 | $2,100 |
| SZARANEK | Mark | Cali Condors | $3,300 | $2,100 | $1,200 |
| WASICK | Kasia | Cali Condors | $3,300 | $2,850 | $450 |
| SHEVTSOV | Sergey | Energy Standard | $3,150 | $1,350 | $1,800 |
| GIREV | Ivan | Energy Standard | $2,850 | $1,200 | $1,650 |
| COMERFORD | Mallory | Cali Condors | $2,850 | $1,500 | $1,350 |
| MIRESSI | Alessandro | Aqua Centurions | $2,700 | $1,200 | $1,500 |
| FLICKINGER | Hali | Cali Condors | $2,700 | $2,700 | |
| CHUPKOV | Anton | Energy Standard | $2,550 | $2,550 | |
| STRAVIUS | Jeremy | DC Trident | $2,400 | $150 | $2,250 |
| MAJCHRZAK | Kacper | Cali Condors | $2,400 | $600 | $1,800 |
| BRATTON | Lisa | DC Trident | $2,400 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| ROMANCHUK | Mykhaylo | Energy Standard | $2,400 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| WOG | Kelsey | Cali Condors | $2,400 | $2,400 | |
| KINGSLEY | Megan | Cali Condors | $1,800 | $1,800 | |
| CLARK | Imogen | Energy Standard | $1,800 | $900 | $900 |
| HEINTZ | Philip | Aqua Centurions | $1,800 | $1,200 | $600 |
| ZELLMANN | Poul | Aqua Centurions | $1,800 | $1,200 | $600 |
| KUBOVA | Simona | DC Trident | $1,650 | $1,350 | $300 |
| GKOLOMEEV | Kristian | Aqua Centurions | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| LESAFFRE | Fantine | Energy Standard | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| SHKURDAI | Anastasia | Energy Standard | $1,500 | $300 | $1,200 |
| RESS | Justin | Cali Condors | $1,500 | $600 | $900 |
| SHEBAT | John | Cali Condors | $1,500 | $600 | $900 |
| IPSEN | Anton | Cali Condors | $1,500 | $900 | $600 |
| PELLEGRINI | Federica | Aqua Centurions | $1,350 | $600 | $750 |
| KAWECKI | Radoslaw | Cali Condors | $1,200 | $300 | $900 |
| HARVEY | Mary-Sophie | Energy Standard | $1,200 | $600 | $600 |
| DAVIES | Georgia | Energy Standard | $1,200 | $900 | $300 |
| BECKER | Bowe | Cali Condors | $1,050 | $150 | $900 |
| HOWARD | Robert | DC Trident | $1,050 | $1,050 | |
| CARRARO | Martina | Aqua Centurions | $900 | $300 | $600 |
| CSEH | Laszlo | Aqua Centurions | $900 | $300 | $600 |
| DI LIDDO | Elena | Aqua Centurions | $900 | $300 | $600 |
| KOHLER | Sarah | Aqua Centurions | $900 | $300 | $600 |
| MILLER | Cody | DC Trident | $900 | $300 | $600 |
| SMITH | Kierra | Energy Standard | $900 | $600 | $300 |
| APOSTALON | Anika | DC Trident | $750 | $300 | $450 |
| HOLLARD | Tristan | DC Trident | $750 | $450 | $300 |
| ZIRK | Kregor | Energy Standard | $750 | $450 | $300 |
| MUNOZ DEL CAMPO | Lidon | Aqua Centurions | $750 | $600 | $150 |
| SMITH | Giles | DC Trident | $750 | $600 | $150 |
| HAAS | Townley | Cali Condors | $750 | $750 | |
| BIANCHI | Ilaria | Aqua Centurions | $600 | $600 | |
| STUPIN | Max | Energy Standard | $600 | $600 | |
| BRUHN | Annika | DC Trident | $600 | $300 | $300 |
| DOTTO | Luca | Aqua Centurions | $600 | $600 | |
| HENTKE | Franziska | Aqua Centurions | $600 | $600 | |
| MAHONEY | Travis | Aqua Centurions | $600 | $600 | |
| PANZIERA | Margheria | Aqua Centurions | $600 | $600 | |
| SMITH | Rebecca | Energy Standard | $600 | $600 | |
| OLIVEIRA | Larissa | Aqua Centurions | $450 | $450 | |
| APPLE | Zach | DC Trident | $450 | $150 | $300 |
| KENNEDY | Madison | DC Trident | $300 | $300 | |
| NEALE | Leah | DC Trident | $300 | $300 | |
| BONNET | Charlotte | Energy Standard | $300 | $300 | |
| PICKETT | Leiston | DC Trident | $300 | $300 | |
| STJEPANOVIC | Velimir | DC Trident | $300 | $300 | |
| CORDES | Kevin | DC Trident | $150 | $150 | |
| DI PIETRO | Silvia | Aqua Centurions | $150 | $150 | |
| BRO | Signe | Cali Condors | $150 | $150 |
Money By Team
Energy Standard
| Energy Standard | $141,300 | |
| SJOSTROM | Sarah | $26,400 |
| MANAUDOU | Florent | $16,500 |
| LE CLOS | Chad | $15,900 |
| HEEMSKERK | Femke | $10,800 |
| SHYMANOVICH | Ilya | $9,000 |
| RYLOV | Evgeny | $7,800 |
| PROUD | Ben | $7,650 |
| SANCHEZ | Kayla | $7,200 |
| KOLESNIKOV | Kliment | $6,750 |
| BILIS | Simonas | $4,800 |
| OLEKSIAK | Penny | $3,900 |
| SEEBOHM | Emily | $3,300 |
| SHEVTSOV | Sergey | $3,150 |
| GIREV | Ivan | $2,850 |
| CHUPKOV | Anton | $2,550 |
| ROMANCHUK | Mykhaylo | $2,400 |
| CLARK | Imogen | $1,800 |
| LESAFFRE | Fantine | $1,500 |
| SHKURDAI | Anastasia | $1,500 |
| HARVEY | Mary-Sophie | $1,200 |
| DAVIES | Georgia | $1,200 |
| SMITH | Kierra | $900 |
| ZIRK | Kregor | $750 |
| STUPIN | Max | $600 |
| SMITH | Rebecca | $600 |
| BONNET | Charlotte | $300 |
Cali Condors
| Cali Condors | $122,250 | |
| SMOLIGA | Olivia | $16,500 |
| DRESSEL | Caeleb | $13,500 |
| KING | Lilly | $12,600 |
| DAHLIA | Kelsi | $10,200 |
| MARGALIS | Melanie | $8,700 |
| MASSE | Kylie | $8,250 |
| LARKIN | Mitch | $7,650 |
| HANNIS | Molly | $6,150 |
| TITMUS | Ariarne | $5,100 |
| FINK | Nic | $3,900 |
| HINDS | Natalie | $3,300 |
| SZARANEK | Mark | $3,300 |
| WASICK | Kasia | $3,300 |
| COMERFORD | Mallory | $2,850 |
| FLICKINGER | Hali | $2,700 |
| MAJCHRZAK | Kacper | $2,400 |
| WOG | Kelsey | $2,400 |
| KINGSLEY | Megan | $1,800 |
| RESS | Justin | $1,500 |
| SHEBAT | John | $1,500 |
| IPSEN | Anton | $1,500 |
| KAWECKI | Radoslaw | $1,200 |
| BECKER | Bowe | $1,050 |
| HAAS | Townley | $750 |
| BRO | Signe | $150 |
DC Trident
| DC Trident | $47,850 | |
| HAUGHEY | Siobhan | $8,100 |
| VAZAIOS | Andreas | $5,850 |
| GALAT | Bethany | $5,250 |
| LEDECKY | Katie | $4,200 |
| GROTHE | Zane | $4,050 |
| THROSSELL | Brianna | $3,750 |
| LITHERLAND | Jay | $3,600 |
| STRAVIUS | Jeremy | $2,400 |
| BRATTON | Lisa | $2,400 |
| KUBOVA | Simona | $1,650 |
| HOWARD | Robert | $1,050 |
| MILLER | Cody | $900 |
| APOSTALON | Anika | $750 |
| HOLLARD | Tristan | $750 |
| SMITH | Giles | $750 |
| BRUHN | Annika | $600 |
| APPLE | Zach | $450 |
| KENNEDY | Madison | $300 |
| NEALE | Leah | $300 |
| PICKETT | Leiston | $300 |
| STJEPANOVIC | Velimir | $300 |
| CORDES | Kevin | $150 |
Aqua Centurions
| Aqua Centurions | $47,400 | |
| MARTINENGHI | Nicolo | $7,200 |
| CORREIA | Breno | $6,600 |
| SABBIONI | Simone | $5,400 |
| CONDORELLI | Santo | $3,900 |
| RIVOLTA | Matteo | $3,600 |
| SCOZZOLI | Fabio | $3,600 |
| MIRESSI | Alessandro | $2,700 |
| HEINTZ | Philip | $1,800 |
| ZELLMANN | Poul | $1,800 |
| GKOLOMEEV | Kristian | $1,500 |
| PELLEGRINI | Federica | $1,350 |
| CARRARO | Martina | $900 |
| CSEH | Laszlo | $900 |
| DI LIDDO | Elena | $900 |
| KOHLER | Sarah | $900 |
| MUNOZ DEL CAMPO | Lidon | $750 |
| BIANCHI | Ilaria | $600 |
| DOTTO | Luca | $600 |
| HENTKE | Franziska | $600 |
| MAHONEY | Travis | $600 |
| PANZIERA | Margheria | $600 |
| OLIVEIRA | Larissa | $450 |
| DI PIETRO | Silvia | $150 |
And they end up at Mandalay Bay . .Its like some sort of Twilight Zone ..
Are the swimmers earning any money from their contracts with their teams, and if so, roughly how much? ISL is about making swimming professional and this doesn’t seem very viable for the guys earning <1000 from a meet.
I really don’t get why Sjostrom is so warm towards this except for swimming with friends like Le Clos. She is the top earner and would still make MUCH more money in the World Cup. ISL seems to reward mediocrity and participation more than anything. If someone really wants to spend that money on them, great, but the World Cup seems like a better financial deal for star swimmers. Cate Campbell can laugh all the way to the bank in Sarah’s absence. She just made about thrice as much in two weeks with a much lighter workload.
In event earnings yes…but what is her ISL contract worth? My guess is the superstars of the ISL are actually being compensated much better than they would with successful WC stops because the ISL need them to promote the league at this early stage. Maybe that won’t last, but for now, I bet it’s well worth her time.
I’d like to see a broken IM skin race. 50 fly, back, breast then free with 3 minutes in between for commercials.
Yes!! That is a great idea.
Idk who would win Andrew or Dressel
At 3 minutes rest: Dressel. Manadou and Morozov would also be amazing at it
free is manadou’s best 50 and he got smoked by dressel in the skins, I don’t think manadou would be as competitive as you think in this, not sure about vlad.
Where is this money coming from? Not trying to be pessimistic but I just don’t see this lasting more than a year or two. Someone please inform me.
Several federations have tried and failed with smaller-scale prize money meets. They all found it simply wasn’t sustainable without corporate support. In the case of ISL, I expected the billionaire to be more generous with his prize money and unfortunately the crowds in Indi were poor. At least it’s a start. I hope for the sake of the swimmers that the ISL momentum keeps growing.
My guess (and this is based on nothing but my own musings) is that they probably have about 3-4 years of investment in it to build it up. I would expect the first two years have a few primary goals – 1)iron out some of the initial kinks that are to be expected between television, commercials, sponsorship, etc… and with drafting/building teams while dabbling into other revenue production like merchandising. 2) Convince Asia to get on board 3) expand the league to 12ish? teams.
I think if they can smooth over the rougher edges of the format and create some equity in team recruitment while convincing Asian swimmers to buy in, then you’ll have a pretty strong model. TV… Read more »
I don’t get what they’re putting so much weight, money and points wise, on the skins?
Yeah, it *seems* like it should be awesome TV, but in reality, they haven’t been that exciting so far. At the championship, though, it could be a real slugfest…
Simone could get big bucks for the highest bidder!
I agree – maybe *more* points works, but having skins be double points seems like to much. Feel like it invalidates the efforts of the other swimmers a bit.
This is their first season, I assume there will be some tweaking should they continue. My daughter & I have enjoyed watching.
That’s might thought as well.
Smoliga 💪🏻 Love it
she is doing great
How about drawing a random race before the meet to be the skins race? 200 or 400 goes 2 rounds, 50 or 100 goes 3 rounds.
Wouldn’t be great for viewers to watch 3 rounds of a 400. Got to remember that for the entire ISL to be viable that they need to appeal to a larger audience outside of the standard swimming community. The skins race is great, but the sprint races draw the most eyeball attention in the USA.
That is the object….I doubt it is working….at least not in the USA! Showing meet vs football and no commercials…not sure they are getting the visibility they want or need.
That’s why I said two rounds and yeah some fans would like to see that.
Not sure about the longer distances, but I thought it would be neat if there were skins races for each of the 4 strokes
If we’re going to do fun things with a 400, it should be an elimination 400 (e.g. the last two after every 100m get eliminated). If you’ve never watched an elimination mile in track and field (roughly the same amount of time as a 400), they’re tons of fun to spectate.
Elimination 400 IM would be hilarious / torture.
Would be much harder than track to implement, how would you inform the eliminated swimmers after each distance?
I think this would be incredibly entertaining. How would people swim it? Fly and die? What kind of times would the top swimmers be able to post while making sure they’re positioned well enough to continue?
Unsure if 400 SCM would have counters, but either way you could just have them display the red if they have need to stop. Sure, they’d have to swim an extra 25 but w/e
For everything but back, maybe just a screen on the bottom of the pool with an x or check mark.
Could do a 200 free where someone gets eliminated each 50
Not sure if an elimination would work. It would be unfair to back half swimmers like Kalisz and Litherland. Especially IM where someone could be weak in fly but great in everything else but get eliminated because fly is first in IM. 400 free elimination would be a better choice but still have the back halvers problem. But it would be fun to watch. 🙂
track and field miles don’t have lanes that people have to stick in. I don’t think the last 100 where the only two swimmers left are swimming in lanes 3 and 7 would be very fun
I would stick to a single stroke for an elimination “last man swimming” type of an event. But I would say, don’t pick a standard distance, do something different like a 300m swim where elimination begins after the first 100. Eliminate the last two swimmers for every 50 after the first 100 and then you are down to two on the last 50! How awesome would that be!?!
Also, I liked the ideas on here for red lights or “x’s” to indicate to the swimmer that they are eliminated. They can probably make attachments for the lane ropes so they don’t have to wait until the next wall to find out if they are eliminated.
Can we make this happen!!?
The main problem would people would just flat out quit when they were out of the race. Dressel’s body length win over Flo in a 50 would turn into 25 yards or more in the longer events. No one wants to see that.