This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss the 2023 Asian Games, if college hazing is a problem, and who will replace Eddie Reese after he retires in 2024.
See full list of topics below:
- 0:00 SwimSwam Breakdown Introduction
- 2:00 Will Wang Shun challenge Leon Marchand in Paris?
- 7:55 Who will win the Men’s 100 Free at the 2024 Olympics?
- 13:20 Can the ASU Freshman contribute to the teams first NCAA Title?
- 20:07 Is college hazing a problem?
SINK or SWIM
- 26:38 Will Siobhan Haughey win individual gold in Paris?
- 29:15 USA or China: Who’s your pick for the Men’s 400 Medley Relay next year?
- 34:55 Who will replace Eddie Reese when he retires next year?
Bowman is a player in Austin. Been trying to tell you. The perfect scenario that the people that want to write a huge check is getting Bowman and Wyatt staying on at associate head coach with a nice raise as well. CDC doesn’t know swimming but he knows the name Michael Phelps and the splash that brings. It is the one scenario that makes all stakeholders happy and they will pay a lot to make it happen. Whether he takes it or not is a different story
Bowman seems very happy at ASU and it seems like he is very close to Phelps and his family. Makes you wonder if he’d leave Phelps.
Definitely a consideration. Is there anything tying Phelps to Arizona? I know he loves coming to Austin for the Dell match play and loves that golf course. A membership to ACC wouldn’t be hard to swing for UT boosters. Another consideration is as you get older, how long to do you want to keep coaching outdoors in the sun? One of the interviews I saw in season with Bowman he looked super red and worn from the sun. Having an indoor pool with the option of an outdoor pool as well has got to be a big factor as you get older if you want to continue doing it for a long time.
Proven correct!
Haughey definitely in the conversation for gold but not the favourite. Assuming Sjostrom doesn’t swim the 100 individually, she would still need to set a new PB and hope MOC doesn’t improve and that whoever qualifies out of McKeon/Jack isn’t able to hit a 51.
In the 200 she’s a very outside shot. Her PB would not have medalled in Fukuoka and she was over a second off gold.
For the medley relay I’m going USA as the sage bet. China could win if every leg fires but USA will be in gold contention no matter what.
Sjostrom will 100% swim the 100 free at the Olympics if she’s healthy. I don’t think she’ll further pare down her program until 2028.
I also think she’s going to pop a 55 100 fly at a nothingburger meet and surprise herself into swimming it again at the Olympics.
Concur with your assessments but differ regarding Sjostrom. Think 100fly may be questionable but that 52.2 lead-off in 4X100 says she’s still very much pointy end of 100free.
M4XMED still tilts toward US but their MOE is minimal
Bearish on Haughey in 200 at this point. 100 very plausible but at this point, still lies par at best or behind at least 1 Australian and arguably Sjostrom
Love that you guys are back!!
My quick thoughts:
Wang Shun: Yes, he definitley can challenge Marchand. He should drop the 400 IM for sure, save his energy. Focus on the 200 IM and relays (4×200, possible prelim backstroke medley splits).
Men’s 100 Free: Disingenuous to say Pan doesn’t perform on the biggest stage. He swam best times in the 100 Free at LCM and SCM Worlds last year, and his focus meet of this year (Asian Games). His 200 Frees haven’t been great at these focus meets, though.
ASU Freshman: Kharun is a stud. It seems like a toss up between ASU or Cal being the favorite for Men’s NCAAs.
Haughey: She should go all-in for the 100 Free as I think she has a… Read more »
Wang Yichun is under Cui Dengrong as well. She swam a 58 100 FL when she was 12, so she is extremely talented. Maybe coach Cui can turn her into a star.
Speaking of the Asian Games and South Korea’s 800 free relay potential, one of the swims that went under the radar at World Juniors was the 1:48.2 swum by Junwoo Kim of South Korea, two days before he turned 16. He improved from a 1:51 earlier in the year, and also dropped 30 seconds in the 1500 to go 15:01 which would have won bronze at the Asian Games. He’s just barely 16 now. Imagine how much he could improve by Korea’s Olympic Trials. At the very least, he could allow one of the swimmers to sit out 800 free relay prelims, which could be huge.
Could we see Carson and the other few pro swimmers at Texas leaving after next year? Hw much better do you think Carson would get training with Marchand under Bowman?
Depends on who is the next head coach I think. If it’s not Wyatt, I bet Carson leaves but I think Casas stays in Texas no matter what, could see him go back to A&M or try to at least. Licon is likely done after this coming season, no matter if he makes the Olympic Team or not, which I really am crossing my fingers he does.
Women’s 2IM as exciting in Paris as men’s but no mention?!?
Keep track of improvement for Ilya in first dual vs NCAAs? Does he go 18 split, 43 low and 1:36?
Conference realignment: ASU will have very little competition in new Big 12, like Texas now. New Big 12 definitely weakest conference in realignment of the 4! Will that be an advantage or disadvantage? It didn’t seem to bother Texas all these years!
Addendum: Eddie replacement: I will throw in Durden only because Cal isn’t getting any ACC money for 7 years! Just a thought. Cal doesn’t pay their coaches well to begin with so is that a draw?
Women’s 200IM was massively hyped up this year but was a dud in the end.
Nothing has happened recently in the women’s 2IM so there’s nothing to mention.
Chinese girl went 2:07 this week?
Wang Shun has improved his 100m back PB twice as lead off swimmer in the relays heats. According to Xu he has given some tips to him on his stroke and praised Wang for being a fast learner.