Get your news fix on happenings outside the pool with the latest ‘Beyond the Lane Lines.’ With each edition, we collect personal stories, little-known facts, and general items of interest from around the world. Read on and learn something new this week.
#1 World University Games Celebrates 100-Yr Anniversary
The World University Games celebrated its 100-year anniversary on Wednesday, May 3rd. The day came exactly a venture after the first “Jeux Mondiaux Universitaires” took place in Paris, France.
The inaugural event, which was spearheaded by French sports leader Jean Petitjean, contained just two sporting events, track and fencing with 12 nations participating. Petitjean strongly believed that gathering students of the world around sports competitions would create a friendly atmosphere propitious for peace.
The next edition of the World University Games is set for Chengdu, China spanning July 28th through August 8th.
#2 Russian Contingent Projected at 180 for Paris, if Allowed to Compete
Russia’s Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said this week he expects 180 athletes to represent the nation at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France if Russia is indeed allowed to compete.
Said Matytsin, “If our athletes successfully pass the qualifying tournaments and the conditions are not significantly changed, then the maximum number of participants from the Russian side in the Olympic Games will be about 180 athletes. …
“In total, international federations in 12 Olympic and 13 non-Olympic sports supported the admission of Russian athletes to international competitions. But nine organizations have not yet given clear criteria for admission to competitions.”
A contingent of 180 would be historically low for Russia, which brought 435 athletes to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and 335 at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, for comparison. In fact, a total of 180 athletes would be the smallest number from a Russian team since 159 competed for the Russian Empire in 1912 in Stockholm.
#3 Shaughnessy Father-Daughter Duo Honored in Minnesota
At the recent Minnesota Swimming and Diving High School All-State banquet, a father-daughter duo was honored with prestigious awards.
Jenny (Shaughnessy) Ferris was inducted into the Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame while her father, Bill Shaughnessy, received the Jerry Simpson Distinguished Service Award.
Ferris was the Minnesota high school Swimmer of the Year as a senior. In 2005 she took both the 100 free and 200 Im state titles, repeating her feat from the previous year. She continued her career at the University of Minnesota under coach Kelly Kremer.
Kremer reminisced about recruiting Ferris, saying, “When I made calls about her, they didn’t talk about her swimming.
“Instead they kept talking about the type of person that Jenny was. They kept telling me that she was the hardest worker they’d seen, that you’d never find anyone more competitive and more committed. And then they’d say, ‘Really, you’ll never find another one like her.’ (Post Bulletin)
In addition to volunteering on numerous occasions, Shaughnessy helped spearhead the Rochester Recreation Center pool’s renovation. He also helped create the non-profit water safety organization called Rochester Swimming, Inc.
#4 Drew Kibler as Grand Marshal
U.S. Olympic swimmer Drew Kibler will serve as Grand Marshal for the 2023 GMR Grand Prix taking place Saturday, May 13th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Kibler, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and raised in Carmel will be giving the command for drivers to start their engines during pre-race ceremonies.
23-year-old Kibler, who completed in the NCAA at the University of Texas, said, “It’s an honor to be grand marshal for the NTT Indycar Series road course race.
“As someone who grew up just north of Indianapolis, I know exactly how special May is to this community and I’m excited to be part of an epic day at the racing capital of the world.”
IMS President J. Douglas Boles said of Kibler’s participation, “Drew Kibler has represented the USA and Indiana on some of the biggest stages in global sports, so it’s fitting for him to call drivers to their cars at the racing capital of the world.” (GMR)
Kibler represented the United States at the 2020 Olympic Games where he raced on the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.