A decade ago, on November 13, 2011, FINA rendered one of the most controversial verdicts in swimming history. Remember the out-cry from the masses after Southlake Carroll High School lost the State Championship after an automatic relay takeoff monitor appeared to malfunction? Well, take that and double it. Or maybe even triple it. That’s what happened in 2001.
That year’s World Championship meet in Fukuoka, Japan saw one of the more bizarre race finishes ever in the women’s 800 free. The Australians, who touched first, were disqualified after Petria Thomas jumped into the water in celebration before the Italian squad had finished the race. The Americans, who touched second, were disqualified on appearance that their second leg Cristina Teuscher left the block .06 seconds too early. This bumped the third-place-finishing British squad to the top of the podium.
The Americans protested the decision, pointing to the malfunctions in the Seiko timing system throughout the meet. On November 13th of that year, FINA rendered one of the more bewildering decisions in history. They awarded the Americans a duplicate set of gold medals, let the British retain theirs, and subsequently seemed to refuse to acknowledge the dual-champions in future press-releases and results. It’s as true in swimming as anywhere else that history is bound to repeat itself.
Swimming Birthdays
- Dana Vollmer, 24 – The former Cal Bear Vollmer is the defending World Champion, and American Record holder, in the women’s 100 fly.
- Samantha Riley, 39 – Riley took back-to-back bronzes in the 100 breast for Australia in 1992 and 1996. She’s also a former World Record holder in the event.
- Ben Michaelson, 30 – Former Division II Swimmer of the Year at Southern Connecticut State and finished 3rd behind Phelps and Crocker in the 100 fly at the 2004 Olympic Trials.
before i swim the pool i think im in the sea