Thirty six individuals representing twenty six countries were chosen to officiate at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona. Spain, the host country, has the largest number of officials. They have eight judges and one starter. The United States and Japan both have two officials.
Eguchi Kazumi of Japan and Vincens Sole of Spain will be the two starters.
Michael Poropat of the United States will be the meet announcer. Poropat is the voice of USA Swimming and has been for several years. He was the announcer at the 2013 World Championship Trails in Indianapolis, IN.
The other American official is Jay Thomas. A recipient of the Glen S. Hummer award, Thomas has officiated at FINA World Swimming Championships, national open water championships, local open water, and local pool events. He has served on the USA Swimming Rules Committee and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Board as well as develops, trains and certifies open water swimming officials.
COUNTRY | NAME | POSITION |
Japan | Eguchi Kazumi | Starter |
Spain | Vincens Sole | Starter |
USA | Michael Poropat | Announcer |
Argentina | Patricio Ramallo | Judge |
Australia | Jann Fathers | Judge |
Belarus | Siarhei Hriharau | Judge |
Brazil | Marcelo Falcao | Judge |
Canada | Dave Shewfelt | Judge |
China | Yuan Haoran | Judge |
Denmark | Poul Stougaard | Judge |
France | Claude Pouliquen | Judge |
Hungary | Katalin Sass | Judge |
Honduras | Douglas Laitano | Judge |
India | Ramakrishna Mekala | Judge |
Isreal | Arie Silberman | Judge |
Japan | Katsuyoski Fujimori | Judge |
Nigeria | Martins Adeojo | Judge |
New Zealand | Matt Meehan | Judge |
Papau New Guinea | Pini Sarenah | Judge |
Portugal | Graca Fernandes | Judge |
Puerto Rico | José de Jesus | Judge |
South Africa | Brenda Smit | Judge |
Russia | Evgeny Sadovy | Judge |
Switzerland | Andreas Tschanz | Judge |
Sweden | Hakan Westrin | Judge |
Uganda | Peter S. Mugisha | Judge |
USA | Jay Thomas | Judge |
Uzbekistan | Natalya Obukhova | Judge |
Spain | Paz Belenguer | National Judge |
Spain | Rosario Lopez | National Judge |
Spain | Begona Villares | National Judge |
Spain | Marta Sole | National Judge |
Spain | Elena Sanchez | National Judge |
Spain | Alfonso Wucherpfennig | National Judge |
Spain | Marta Beneito | National Judge |
Spain | Manuel Real | National Judge |
Congratulations Jay.
Congrats to Jay and Michael. Always enjoy working with both of these true professionals! Well deserved.
So that’s what Evgeny Sadovy has been up to.
I didn’t realize there’s a sadovyi until you mentioned it.
So, more than 20 years later he’s returning to the place where he claimed his glory, and beating Perkins by a mere 0.16 secs in the 400 free, both under the old WR
Congrats to woth ! happy to hear that voice as announcer …..
wonder if Michael Poropat will have to motivate and get the crowd in Barcelona going like he tried so hard @ Indy lol
lol that was so painful.
I don’t think the crowd in Barcelona will need any more encouragement.
Yay for Poropat! Columbia swimming represent!
Congrats to Michael Poropat and Jay Thomas!!!!