Olympic medalist Pieter Timmers has signed a contract to compete in the Energy for Swim 2018 meet.
A rule interpretation by FINA has classified the event as an international competition that needs FINA approval, something the event doesn’t have and doesn’t have time to obtain. FINA rules say that athletes could face bans between one and two years for competing in an unauthorized competition.
Meet organizers say contracted athletes will still be paid 50% of their promised appearance money if the meet is cancelled.
A number of high-profile athletes have publicly signed on to compete at the meet even after FINA’s warning, though it’s still unclear if the meet will proceed (or if all contracted athletes will compete) if the meet remains outside of FINA authorization.
You can see the full list below:
SIGNED CONTRACTS
| ATHLETE | NATION | |
| 1 | Adam Peaty | GBR |
| 2 | Alessandro Miressi | ITA |
| 3 | Alexandr Krasnykh | RUS |
| 4 | Anastasia Fesikova | RUS |
| 5 | Andrew Minakov | RUS |
| 6 | Bethany Galat | USA |
| 7 | Cameron van der Burgh | RSA |
| 8 | Chad Le Clos | RSA |
| 9 | Chase Kalisz | USA |
| 10 | Danas Rapsys | LTU |
| 11 | David Verraszto | HUN |
| 12 | Duncan Scott | GBR |
| 13 | Emily Seebohm | AUS |
| 14 | Federica Pellegrini | ITA |
| 15 | Femke Heermskerk | NED |
| 16 | Gabriele Detti | ITA |
| 17 | Georgia Davies | GBR |
| 18 | Gregorio Paltrinieri | ITA |
| 19 | Gunnar Bentz | USA |
| 20 | Jacob Pebley | USA |
| 21 | Katie Meili | USA |
| 22 | Katinka Hosszu | HUN |
| 23 | Kendyl Stewart | USA |
| 24 | Kliment Kolesnikov | RUS |
| 25 | Kristian Gkolomeev | GRE |
| 26 | Laszlo Cseh | HUN |
| 27 | Lia Neal | USA |
| 28 | Lisa Bratton | USA |
| 29 | Luca Dotto | ITA |
| 30 | Margherita Panziera | ITA |
| 31 | Maria Ugolkova | RUS |
| 32 | Mark Szaranek | GBR |
| 33 | Max Litchfield | GBR |
| 34 | Mehdy Metella | FRA |
| 35 | Michael Andrew | USA |
| 36 | Michelle Coleman | SWE |
| 37 | Mikhail Romanchuk | UKR |
| 38 | Pieter Timmers | BEL |
| 39 | Ranomi Kromowidjojo | NED |
| 40 | Ryan Murphy | USA |
| 41 | Sarah Sjostrom | SWE |
| 42 | Sergey Fesikov | RUS |
| 43 | Sergii Shevtsov | UKR |
| 44 | Simona Quadarella | ITA |
| 45 | Siobhan O’Connor | GBR |
| 46 | Tom Shields | USA |
| 47 | Veronika Andrusenko | RUS |
SwimSwam is an Energy Standard Group partner.
This has turned into a flat-out rebellion. Let us see if FINA really has the guts to suspend all these swimmers!