Both Serbian swimmer Arkady Vyatchanin and British backstroker Elizabeth Simmonds have been added to the European Duel in the Pool roster just two days out from the competition.
While the two high-level competitors are in, Poland’s Radoslaw Kawecki and Jan Switkowski will both be absent from the competition.
Vyatchanin will add plenty of depth to the European team with his prowess in the backstroke events. He’s a two-time Olympic medallist in backstroke events, specializing in the 200.
Simmonds is the 2010 European Champion in the 200m backstroke and currently holds English records in all three backstroke disciplines in the short course pool. Simmonds boasts a 2:06.79 200m backstroke personal best and a 59.43 100 back best time.
This is the second major roster change on the European side as Scottish breaststroker Craig Benson was added to the roster on November 25th.
While the European roster has been changed, the American roster remains the same heading into the meet.
The last change for the Americans came about a week ago when both Natalie Coughlin and Nick Thoman chose to opt out of the competition in order to focus on winter nationals.
The Duel will run December 11th and 12th at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis.
Click here to see the current European roster.
Click here for the current American roster.
Without Coughlin who is still a beast in short course and Ledecky who is the best female swimmer in the world, the US girls will suffer a little bit.
Anyway I don’t care at all about the winner of that meet. It’s a meet for the fun and I just want to see fast swims from much rested swimmers.
I don’t want to argue with You but KL is one of the best female swimmer in the world, or the best female FS swimmer from 200m?(more precisely from 400).
I am very interested to see how the US men’s breastroke crew competes among themselves. If Cordes and Wilson have tapered for this, we might well get American records in both distances.
I predict (and I hope I’m wrong) that our women are gonna get smoked by Europe. Sure could have used Katie and Natalie. I think our men will fare a little better.
They should put an asterisk by those who are shaved so we know …….
Excited for the meet to begin
Liz Simmonds is a great addition – 56 & 2.02 at her only SC meet of the season, I expect faster at the Duel. Great SC swimmer.
Cool to see you back on the site. You always bring us your British swimming knowledges.