The Americans have made one more subtle change to their roster for the 2014 FINA Short Course World Championships, as Tom Shields has replaced Tyler Clary in the 100 meter IM event in Doha, Qatar. Shields will join three-time defending champion, and World Record holder, Ryan Lochte as the second American entry in the event.
See the full up-to-date roster here.
See the full start-lists here.
Both swimmers otherwise had full schedules: Shields was already entered in the 50, 100, and 200 meter flys, while Clary has the 200 back, 200 fly, 200 IM, and 400 IM to focus on during the five day meet.
Clary swam this race at the 2010 World Short Course Championships, but was last (16th) in the semi-finals, which means he failed to advance to finals. Conor Dwyer, also on this roster, was the other American in 2012 where he placed 6th. In 8 editions of the World Short Course Championships that have included this 100 IM, the Americans have won four times, but have never won a minor medal (in other words – 4 golds is it for the podium performances).
Shields will be seeded at the meet as the #6 seed in 52.14. That time, done in Dubai in August of this year, ranks him as the 18th-best in the history of the event and ranks him 4th in the world this year.
2014-2015 SCM Men 100 IM TYR World Ranking
DEIBLER
50.66*WR
| 2 | Vladimir MOROZOV | RUS | 50.81 | 12/07 |
| 3 | Ryan LOCHTE | USA | 51.24 | 12/07 |
| 4 | Kosuke HAGINO | JPN | 51.30 | 12/07 |
| 5 | Sergei FESIKOV | RUS | 51.35 | 12/07 |
Makes sense. I kind of wish the team could/would jiggle around the lineup for next summer, too. Clary with the 200 fly, 200 back, 200 IM, and 400 IM? I know he’s a beast, but part of me wouldn’t mind seeing him drop one of the events he’s less likely to medal in (200 fly, probably), and either have another team member swim it, or bring along the next highest ranked, as there is room on the roster.