In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.
We sat down with 2 of SwimSwam’s Co-Founders, Braden Keith and Mel Stewart, to discuss the recent news that the 2021 US Olympic Trials will now be 2 meets. We discuss whether this was the right decision, what led to this choice behind the scenes, and if there may be a better solution out there. Braden and Mel also dive into what this means for Olympic Trials moving forward, with the potential for this “2-meet system” being a recurring theme for trial meets to come.
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Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
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Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.
While the odds are still low, you want motivation to train for the next five months…think about winning Wave I and then squeaking in to 16th place (sorry distance swimmers) at Wave II prelims. NBC loves nothing more than that underdog story. You’ll stink in semis because after your prelim swim you’ll be interviewed by NBC and local TV and (more importantly) Coleman Hodges, your coach will be interviewed by NBC, your mom will be interviewed by NBC, a teammate will be interviewed by NBC and they’ll air it all that night. Sounds pretty exciting.
Totally agree. That sounds more fun than swimming in a single-meet prelim and finishing 53rd or 37th or whatever, and you’re done.
You know why we should like this decision? It comes early in the year, long before the Trials, giving some much needed good news to our high school, club, and college swimmers. This helps with focus and both short and long term goals. Glad to see it.
Can’t wait to see Dressel obliterating Cielo’s super-extra-mega suited records.
Just listened to the podcast— great job and great insight. I did hear the discussion about tickets concerning credits/refunds/ Wave 1 or 2, etc. I sure hope USA Swimming takes care of all of us holding tickets. Here is a copy of what I sent to them, and I encourage you to do the same if you are in a similar situation.
I recently heard the news about the Trials being split into two waves. I have been involved with USA swimming since 2000, starting out as an official for State and National swim meets, starting when my oldest son started swimming at 8 years old. Later, my younger son started swimming and I have been coaching for club… Read more »
Even if you haven’t supported USA Swimming for as long as you, they should support refunds or exchanges. I am in the exact same boat. I sure hope they allow me to switch for wave I because I have no reason to go to wave II anymore… I wanted (and still just want) to see my daughter swim. I’m sure there are plenty of people who would want my wave II tickets.
I was on one of the info calls with Mike Unger. It sounds like it won’t be an issue for Wave II people to switch to Wave I tickets. They just don’t have the logistics in place to switch tickets yet, as they were focusing on the competitive part of what to do with Trials first.
I bet MP could swim a 54 low 100 fly within the next 4 months. Maybe he could mend some hurt feelings by showing up for wave 1
What about having an east and west trial or north and south – same week – two different locations? Use an existing facility for the second location. Easier on clubs and families- and if someone does spread the virus- at least you wouldn’t take out the whole team at once.
I think this is a much better idea than what has been thought of. Combine the results, and take the top 2 as normal. This would save a lot of money for teams like us, that have already been kicked around financially due to Covid. It may not be what everyone would ideally want, but these are not ideal times.
So you want Kathleen Baker and Regan Smith or Caeleb Dressel and Michael Andrews racing at different venues instead of head to head?
Yes- safer for the whole team with the goal of getting to the Olympics. Less chance of one hotel or vendor or swimmer or fan accidentally giving it to one or more and having it spread to the whole team. Also, save clubs and families money. Would provide the best experience for the majority. I am guessing Caleb, and Regan can get there no matter who they are racing.
What an awful idea lol.
I just wish they’d allow a wave 2 swimmer to swim wave 1 so he could be with the rest of his teammates. Especially when he has both wave 2 and wave 1 cuts, and all the rest of his team only have wave 1. It would definitely help with the cost for the team as well. And it’s all well and good to say those wave 1 swimmers can still get wave 2 cuts, but when? Where? With LCM meets very few and far between, and if they even happen, often just timed finals, it makes it pretty difficult to even get an opportunity.
That’s actually an interesting suggestion, to allow Wave 2 swimmers to opt for the Wave 1 meet instead, for the reasons you stated. Those are good points. I suppose the argument against it is that one of these Wave 2 swimmers, who is already qualified for the Wave 2 meet, could potentially take a top-2 qualifying spot away from a Wave 1 swimmer.
is the wave II swimmer now the one needs to go to both meet? and if this swimmer does not get top 2 in wave I, does this swimmer still get to go to Wave II after already swimming in wave I?
Asking because a lot of comments focus on “robbing” the wave II experience for wave I swimmers. In this example, this swimmer, who qualified for wave II, is being ask to give up that experience. Or still get to go but after having to compete in Wave I?
I think the point is that a Wave 2 swimmer that is, say, the #35 seed in one event, might prefer to swim at the Wave 1 meet, to be with his teammates and minimize the financial burden on his club. He’d essentially be giving up the Wave 2 experience by choice, in order to share the Wave 1 experience with his teammates. They ought to allow it, if the swimmer would be willing to give up the right to swim at the Wave 2 meet.
I think some of these complaints about Wave 1 swimmers missing out on the Wave 2 experience are overlooking what could be a really cool Wave 1 experience. Instead of going to a meet… Read more »
Make no mistake about it, this was all about money and keeping USA Swimming solvent. Without doing Olympic Trials, they would be able to pay someone like COO, Mike Unger, five times what he’s worth out in the real world on the open market. After all, USA Swimming can’t trim much more payroll because they’ve already basically eliminated the club development department and other individuals essential to club services. It just shows you how inept this organization is when they knew there was a possibility of this happening over six months ago and this was the only option they could come up with.
How can it be “all about money,” when they have to put on two big meets with zero spectators?
Right now, they’re planning on having spectators.
In theory, if they were told they won’t be allowed to have spectators, they might be able to make it into one meet again.
On the other hand, it’s hard to see why, if Omaha is allowing 75% capacity now, what would happen that would make them reduce that capacity into the summer with 4 more months of vaccines under their belts.
OK, I didn’t know that, but I still don’t get the “all about the money” argument. None of the people who say that seem to be suggesting holding one meet and excluding the Wave 1 swimmers altogether,
The presumption is that they’ll sell more tickets for Wave 1. The total attendance of a Wave 1 + Wave 2 meet will probably be less than just a smaller Wave 2 meet alone.
I also feel like the money topic is a little unclear… there is no refund for wave II tickets at this point, so spectators or not, the amount is locked in for USA Swimming… unless USA Swimming decides to refund wave II tickets (due to capacity) or allowing exchange tickets (or at discount) for people who want to trade Wave II tickets for Wave I.
So if trial is split in any shape or form and there are new ticket sales, the financial incentive will be to cover cost for the additional meet and then potentially profit?
For wave II, what spectator capacity (assuming still allow for refund) will means the meet is in red for USA Swimming?
We just moved to 100% capacity here in Omaha. Many hotels, restaurants, vendors, and area businesses would be thrilled to have spectators for both Trials and College World Series.
…and USOC just reduce capacity at the meet to 50%. Thought I would go back in time and once again show the power of lock-downs – even with herd immunity and open vaccines nationwide right arouhd the corner.
Because of lies that continue to be spread about vaccines, and people living in fear of the vaccines (see what I did there?), it seems increasingly-unlikely that we’ll ever reach herd immunity.
The virus is going to continue to replicate, and therefore mutate, among the 35-45% of the population that can’t or won’t get the vaccine, which means even those who get the vaccines will continue to be at risk.
The belligerent minority gets to make the decision to continue to put other peoples’ families at risk.
Se la vie. Eventually enough of them will have a close friend or family member die, and then maybe they’ll come around on it.