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42-Year-Old Roland Schoeman Rips 19.2 50 Free, 20.4 50 Fly At KMSC Pro-Am

The King Marlin Swim Club Pro-Am Classic

A mix of Masters swimmers, age groupers and current pro Will Licon took to the LISD Westside Aquatic Center in Lewisville, Texas over the weekend for the annual KMSC Pro-Am Classic, hosted by the King Marlin Swim Club.

Stealing the show was decorated South African Olympian Roland Schoeman, who at 42, put up some times that would be competitive in the NCAA today.

Schoeman swam to times of 19.28 in the 50 free, 43.10 in the 100 free, 23.78 in the 50 breast and 20.47 in the 50 fly, all well under the existing U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) records in the men’s 40-44 age group.

Schoeman was representing the Phoenix Swim Club, and if registered with USMS, would take hold of the following four records:

Event (SCY) Men’s 40-44 age group record Schoeman at KMSC Pro-Am
50 free  20.67, Josh Davis (2014)  19.28
100 free  45.15, Josh Davis (2014)  43.10
50 breast  24.19, James Fike (2021)  23.78
50 fly  22.52, Daniel Lotano (2022)  20.47

Schoeman won three medals at the 2004 Olympic Games, including leading off the South African team to a defiant gold medal victory in the 400 free relay, breaking the world record in the process. He also won three individual long course world championship titles during his career, claiming back-to-back titles in the men’s 50 fly in 2005 and 2007 as well as winning the 50 free in 2005.

Schoeman wasn’t racing on his own, however, as he had some stiff competition in the form of former NC State swimmer Jacob Molacek and former Wisconsin Badger and LA Current member Brett Pinfold.

Molacek, 27, posted the top time in the 50 free (19.18) and 100 breast (51.99), the latter of which is a new personal best time, and also went 42.75 in the 100 free and 23.91 in the 50 breast.

A two-time NCAA champion with the Wolfpack, Molacek beat Licon head-to-head in the 100 breast, with the University of Texas grad clocking 52.09 to take a close second.

Licon, who recently competed at the FINA World Cup stop in Indianapolis, posted the top time in the men’s 200 breast (1:52.53), 200 IM (1:44.30) and 400 IM (3:45.38).

Pinfold, also 27, represented Swim Houston at the meet and posted some blistering times, including the top time in the 100 free (42.43), 200 free (1:34.57) and 50 back (21.74)—all near-identical to what he produced at this meet last year.

A pair of official U.S. Masters Records fell on the women’s side, as Heidi George set a new standard in the women’s 45-49 age group in the 1000 freestyle, clocking 10:13.82. The 46-year-old’s time improved her previous record of 10:18.26 set last year.

In the 200 fly, current Boston University associate head coach Hannah Saiz swam to a time of 1:59.15, shattering the women’s 30-34 record of 2:03.46 set by Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen in 1996. Saiz, 31, also put up solid times in the 50 fly (24.58) and 100 fly (53.91).

Another notable performer at the competition was former Indiana and Michigan NCAA star Miranda Tucker, who clocked times of 59.17 in the 100 breast, 2:11.84 in the 200 breast and 52.71 in the 100 fly to lead the field.

Like Molacek, Tucker represented Texas Ford Aquatics at the competition and recently competed at the U.S. Open.

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Sports Nutritionist
1 year ago

To all the people who are saying Roland is on PEDs, first of all, just because one test came back positive does not mean “doping” was intentional. He never had a history of testing positive for PEDs until that one test. Test him now and I guarantee it will be negative for PEDs. Second, tainted supplements are an issue in the US, “Poor manufacturing processes and intentional contamination with many banned substances continue to occur in dietary supplements sold in the United States.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5753965/
“The supplement manufacturer may not declare a banned substance in its ingredient list. In some cases the ingredient may be included but deliberately not listed, or the banned substance… Read more »

GoBlue
Reply to  Sports Nutritionist
1 year ago

Yes yes, this is an opinion that Roland STRONGLY adopted……….

but not until after HE was the one with the tainted supplement.

I have no sympathy for a guy who dumped these same eyerolling “yeah okay, tainted supplements” on the rest of the world, generously, until it happened to him. I believe that it was a tainted supplement and he didn’t use it on purpose, but that doesn’t mean I have to have sympathy for a guy who was not very kind to his peers when the same thing happened to them. I think he has to eat that legacy that he helped create.

Bill P
1 year ago

I’m Sure Wada test quite regularly so if their not concerned why are you. Because people like you cry cheat for al great foreign performance! I think being a masters swimmer for years is USM was concerned they would test like all other great athletic performances. So unless you know something I think they might want prove it or stop crying Cheat BP

Swim For Fun
Reply to  Bill P
1 year ago

This is silly. Schoeman tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. It is back and white. The public “cries cheat” because Roland CHEATED. He made a public apology and sympathy campaign.

Google “Roland Schoeman” and the first page of links will outline exactly what he did.

I will “cry cheat” to identified cheaters all day long. Whether American or foreign, I don’t care. I just want a clean sport for all.

SwimSwam Commenter
Reply to  Bill P
1 year ago

Was there ever an investigation about Schoeman roiding out before he got busted? Know all those cyclists got away with it for decades before getting caught!!!

Bill P
1 year ago

Why do non Wada people always scream the athlete is dirty because they have a great performance? Swim swam is the best up to date information to all so why be negative and assume cheat? You must live in negativity and that should be your sick First opinion of good performances of foreign athletes. Not representative of Wada or the rest of non Wada people. BP

Swim For Fun
Reply to  Bill P
1 year ago

Well, Schoeman tested positive for steriods in a very public way. Destroyed his reputation. Just my personal view, but once a cheater, probably was a cheater for years before. And also more likely to cheat in the future.

If Schoeman is so adamant he’s clean, take a drug test and show the public the results. But then again, Schoeman’s reputation is long gone. Makes me question his entire swimming career in the past.

Let’s celebrate the phenomenal swimmers we have had that we know were clean.

Facts matter
Reply to  Swim For Fun
1 year ago

You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Have you read the FINA or CAS arbitration decisions. He had several negative tests in a row after the positive.

A SARM is also not a steroid. So he was never tested positive for steroids as you suggest.

Please educate yourself on a matter before deciding to waste everyones time with inaccurate information.

Just my personal view. You’ve got absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Chances are you’ve never achieved much in your life and resort to trolling on websites like this.

VAKiwi
Reply to  Facts matter
1 year ago

Calm down Schoemen

lol
Reply to  Swim For Fun
1 year ago

“Swim For Fun” what’s your problem? Seems like you got a lot of hate towards Schoeman. You keep calling him a cheat and saying he’s on steroids and stuff. He would never purposely use banned substances. Come test him right now.

Also, how could he have cheated before that incident? He was obviously being tested regularly for banned substances prior to that one incident because of his elite athletic abilities. You’re just jealous cause you will NEVER be as great of a swimmer as Schoeman.

Pete
1 year ago

As a masters swimmer and a huge swim fan, one of my wishes is to see what retired elite swimmers can do in their 40s, 50s, and beyond. For example, I have no doubt that Dressel will be able to go sub-19 for years (decades?) to come, if he remains interested (he mentioned this once in an interview). The concern that PEDs may taint certain swims is valid but I don’t think it is unrealistic for former international stars to continue to swim jaw-dropping times. This article is really cool and I hope it sparks other older elite swimmers to race again (it doesn’t take much training to race 50s!). The chance to swim against the best will make everyone… Read more »

xXConcerned Swim FanXx
1 year ago

Roland Schoeman more Roland Schmoeman

Beat the allegations son 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Seth
1 year ago

I went to this meet in 2018, Cody Miller, Giles Smith, and Madisyn Cox showed up.
I was one heat behind Cody Miller!

The Pro Am is a well run meet and Dallas was a fun town to visit, maybe I will return next year with the Pros showing up!

Thorpedo
1 year ago

So ur saying he’s on ped’s but Santos isn’t? Just wanted to get that straight

Swim For Fun
Reply to  Thorpedo
1 year ago

Well, Roland did test positive for steroids and got banned for several years, right? No idea if Santos is dirty, but we know for a fact that Roland was dirty (maybe still is).

Marmot
Reply to  Thorpedo
1 year ago

Well, Santos hasn’t popped. Brazil as a country is notoriously more difficult for WADA/USADA to test athletes in, for what it’s worth. Same with Thailand. But he definitely doesn’t pass the eye test with those traps and deltoids.

Schoeman popped for PED’s recently, and they even tried to ban him for longer than his initial ban.

Still, you can’t give Santos the same treatment. To my knowledge he hasn’t tested positive for anything and in my opinion he should be given the benefit of the doubt.

Thorpedo
Reply to  Marmot
1 year ago

At his age it’s simply not possible, testosterone starts to decrease from around age 30 – he’s in his 40s still going strong. There’s only so far hard work and determination gets you at that age. There’s no way he’s not at least in TRT

Thorpedo
Reply to  Thorpedo
1 year ago

Sorry also my point wasn’t to say Schoemen is or isn’t. It was to point out that for Schoemen it’s apparently peds but for santos it’s just hard work and determination. I don’t know Santos history and whether he was fast in his 20s but it’s simply against biology for him to be faster at 40s than 20s. I don’t see how eyebrows done raise at Santos swimming so fast at that age.

Six Kick Schoeman
1 year ago

The guy did SIX dolphin kicks on that 50 breast. Probably also a record.

Facts matter
Reply to  Six Kick Schoeman
1 year ago

Please provide a video to back this up or otherwise you’re just dumb

VAKiwi
Reply to  Facts matter
1 year ago

Calm down Schoemen

steve madden
Reply to  Facts matter
1 year ago
VAKiwi
Reply to  steve madden
1 year ago

Thanks Steve! The video says it all….

SwimSwam Commenter
Reply to  VAKiwi
1 year ago

Holy cow! That’s blatant cheating by Schoeman! How did the officials not call that!?!?

steve madden
Reply to  Six Kick Schoeman
1 year ago

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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