10 years in the past this week, SwimSwam was launched in earnest. As we strategy our tenth* spherical of NCAA Championship meets (not together with the canceled 2020 championships), I began reflecting on the largest tales that SwimSwam has ever performed.
As I began going by means of them, what I discovered was that not solely did they inform the story of swimming during the last decade, however even moreso, they instructed the story of SwimSwam during the last decade.
There have been 10 recaps within the prime 50. However I believe that makes for a boring listing, so I’ve clipped them out.
I just about spilled my guts in November after we revealed our 100,000th put up on SwimSwam.
The Listing:
#1-#3: It’s All About Phelps
SwimSwam wasn’t launched till 4 years after peak-Phelps-hysteria in 2008, however we had been there for what I might say had been probably the most fascinating a part of his profession: his all-time low 2014 DUI arrest and suspension, adopted by a type of rebirth of Phelps in Arizona as a household man. Phelps’ Below Armour adverts I believe had been type of a brief however poignant homage to what he’s meant to this sport – a sport the place he nonetheless attracts a lot consideration even 6 years after his retirement.
That article was clicked over 5 million occasions.
#3 was an April Fools joke. They positively didn’t have quadruplets (although they do now have 3 sons, so that they’re virtually to a relay anyway). I virtually swore off April Fools after that one – Individuals Journal picked it up and ran with it as actual information. I hate April Fools. We’re by no means doing that once more.
#4: 10 Telltale Indicators You Have a Swimmer’s Physique
Like everybody, typically swimmers are proud of how their our bodies look, and typically they’re not. However a part of what we wished to create with SwimSwam was a group. It’s not an ideal group, there’s loads of combating and bickering (some productive and for good purpose, some petty), however finally, we’re one huge swimming household, the place we are able to really feel, a minimum of, that we’re ranging from some comparable background and start line.
#5: Was There a Drawback With the Rio Pool?
Information. We love information. You’re keen on information. We’ve received the most effective information guys within the sport. Barry Revzin, Daniel Takata, Andrew Mering, Stefano Nurra, and Kevin Hallman are absolute swim nerds in the easiest way. Barry Revzin made worldwide headlines for first noticing what we wish to name “Revzin currents,” that are currents in swimming pools that we imagine are normally attributable to the filtration techniques. He’s recognized this impact just a few extra occasions since, and whereas the pool producers proceed to publicly deny them, we’ve seen the mathematical proof stop (most likely after filters are turned off) as soon as articles are revealed. You be the choose.
#6: Sharks and Minnows
The unique swimming meme.
#7: Tokyo 2020’s First Doping Violations Reported, 4 Monitor & Area Athletes Named
Typically, when it contributes to narratives which can be additionally related to swimming, we attain past the borders of the swimming pools for tales. That was the case right here.
#8: US Olympic Roster for Rio 2016
I don’t actually know why this one did a lot extra site visitors than the rosters for Tokyo 2020 or London 2012, the opposite two Summer season Olympics that SwimSwam has been round for. Perhaps the final Phelps staff did it.
#9: 12 Issues You Shouldn’t Say to a Aggressive Swimmer
Extra Listicles. We do it for the tradition.
#10: Pictures of Nathan Adrian‘s Swimsuit Rip (NSFW)
Essentially the most chaotic 48 hours of my life: this story was on the entrance web page of Yahoo for a day, as a result of “The Berkeley Dream Boat” ripped his swimsuit and beat Phelps anyway. This was our first huge break in swimming, it was large, it destroyed our website for two days, it made us re-evaluate our priorities as an organization (from a technological perspective), and actually it modified numerous guidelines in swimming. That is why photographers aren’t allowed behind the blocks any extra. 🤣
#11: 9 Indicators You Have a Swimmer’s Physique
Completely different, however the identical
#12-#13: Extra Listicles
As a result of different folks won’t ever perceive us the best way we perceive one another.
#14: Klete Keller within the Capitol
Not a proud second in swimming. This story was first picked up by the New York Instances, after which the remainder of the world, and Keller’s prominence as an athlete, whereas carrying his Crew USA jacket, was a little bit of a watershed second in one of the vital important moments of any variety (not simply swimming) in America within the final decade.
#15: Swimming Phrases
As a result of different folks won’t ever perceive us the best way we perceive one another.
#16: Poland Sends Six Swimmers House from the Tokyo Olympic Video games
This one actually isn’t chattered about as a lot because it feels prefer it must be, a minimum of in English language swimming circles. Poland made an error with their Olympic picks and needed to take away 6 swimmers from their Olympic Crew. However, during the last decade, we’ve performed our greatest to function a test on governing our bodies and their basic competence (see: most of Mexico’s entries on the
#17: 10 Issues Each Swimmer Does (However Would By no means Admit to Doing)
Coach is all the time watching 🙁
#18: Occasion Schedules for Each Waves of the 2021 US Olympic Trials
Swimming has been remarkably dangerous as a sport at offering organized and direct data (exceptional as a result of our sport is so information-driven). We hope that we’ve made it simpler to be a fan of the game.
#19: Mark Spitz
Earlier than Michael, there was Mark the Moustache. He nonetheless has bounce even 50 years later.
#20: Extra like annoying issues non swimmers say to swimmers
Sure, I received the meet. Sure, I do know Michael Phelps. No we don’t have an low season. Can I’m going to mattress now?
#21: Why Michael Phelps‘ Silver Medal is the Good Option to Finish His Profession
We like to consider swimming. Typically we over-think it. However typically, I believe we give it some thought simply sufficient.
#22: TSC Mysteries: Why is a Swimming Mile solely 1650 Yards?
Right here I’ve to offer a shoutout to The Swimmers’ Circle: a website I owned earlier than SwimSwam with a companion Andy Scherer. After I left to affix SwimSwam, Andy was beneficiant sufficient to let me take my content material with me with no combat, and I can’t thank him sufficient. Our work at TSC was a basis and bedrock for what SwimSwam grew to become. Andy is now crushing it as an actual property agent, and I couldn’t be happier for him. We realized lots collectively, and I believe we each got here out higher for it.
#23: Listicle
Listicle
#24: FINA Broadcasts One other Guidelines Change to Breaststroke Pullouts
Everybody’s favourite stroke to hate: breaststroke. Pullout guidelines modifications make two appearances on this listing – and but all of us nonetheless hate them.
#25: 8 Dietary Suggestions for Swimmers
Not all the questions are complicated, deep, require many years of expertise to grasp. Typically, we attempt to reply questions for the novice swimmer or swim dad or mum too – and as we transfer into our subsequent decade, we plan to essentially concentrate on servicing this a part of the game as properly
#26: Energy Quotes for Swimmers
Not included was my coach’s favourite: “In the event you’re not drowning, you’re getting higher.”
#27: Mexican Swimming Federation Falsified Instances
One other darkish second for the game. The Mexican Swimming Federation falsified their entry occasions for the World Championships, and once they had been caught, their response was to put up a press launch that mainly mentioned, in Spanish, “FINA tells us that SwimSwam are simply trolls who wish to make us look dangerous, so don’t fear about it.”
This actually uncovered the seedy underbelly of the game, of governing our bodies. There have been no actual penalties both – the Mexican Federation was suspended a yr later, however not for making up entry occasions for a meet their swimmers weren’t eligible for, however relatively for bailing on World Championship internet hosting duties ($$$).
FINA didn’t face any actual penalties from their member federations both for mainly sweeping this dust from plain sight to below a really thick rug.
That, sadly, has been the story of swimming for many of its historical past: recall that Chuck Wielgus oversaw an atrocious period of coverups of abuse of athletes for years, and was by no means faraway from his place of USA Swimming till he died.
#28-29: Listicles
My subsequent article: 10 SwimSwam listicles that SwimSwammers cherished.
#30: Athletes Current as Night time Membership Ceiling Collapses in Gwangju
Throughout the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, a balcony inside a South Korean night time membership collapsed, killing two folks and injuring 16 – together with US water polo star Kaleigh Gilchrist. Within the aftermath, an athlete who was current on the membership filmed video that didn’t exist anyplace else on the earth of a narrative that reached far past swimming. On the time, we had been receiving messages from athletes who didn’t know the place their associates had been within the fog of the night time. In the end, no athletes had been among the many lifeless, and most, with Gilchrist being the exception, escaped severe damage. However for a lot of, this was one of many scariest moments of their lives.
#31: Pricey Swimming, the Finest Factor That’s Ever Occurred to Me
Has something extra relatable ever been written? Like, ever?
#32: What’s Recognized About Chlorine’s Affect on Coronavirus
Because the coronavirus pandemic gripped the world in 2020, swimmers had been determined to study whether or not they had been secure to return to the pool (and to persuade pool directors that there was a secure approach to reopen)
#33: 35 Ideas from 35 Swim Coaches
There are many nice swim coaches on this planet earth, and we wish to assist share all of their information. A rising tide lifts all groups.
#34: Phelps Hugs Schmitt for Causes Far Past Swimming
This sport is about relationships, the folks we meet, the individuals who impression us. For parts of our lives, we see our teammates extra typically than we see our personal households. These bonds can’t be underestimated.
#35: Age Groupers Want Love Too
Whereas all of us love following the collegiate and Olympic swimmers, age groupers are on the market grinding and dealing arduous too. Once they succeed, we expect it’s vital to acknowledge them
#36: ISL Releases Underwater Footage of Lilly King’s Disqualified Breaststroke Flip
Each time I push governing our bodies for extra transparency, this can be an indicator of these conversations. One among our most-read articles ever got here when the Worldwide Swimming League, for perhaps the primary time in its historical past, was clear by posting video of an incredibly-controversial DQ that finally price the Cali Condors the season 3 title.
Individuals in energy are afraid of controversy and transparency and the lack of management that may include it. However, if the aim is to develop the game, these items can truly be large.
#37: 2012 US Olympic Crew Name Me Perhaps Video
Ahh, the less complicated days, after we thought all of our favourite swimmers had been BFFs and received alongside on a regular basis. This was a heart-warming second.
#38: Santo Condorelli Throws Birds
Santo is a present to swimming that retains on giving.
#39: Lia Thomas’ First Video Interview
Each media outlet on earth requested us for this. We declined, as a result of we didn’t actually belief what lots of the requesting retailers would do with Lia’s phrases. Some (Laura Ingraham of Fox Information, for instance) stole it with out permission anyway. That is certainly one of a couple of dozen tales in SwimSwam’s historical past which have actually made a major splash outdoors of the bubble of swimming. With the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships arising, I think this one will climb the rankings in coming days.
#40: FINA Votes for Dramatic Put up Olympic Adjustments to Breaststroke Underwaters
Breaststroke pullout guidelines + April Fools = pure pandamonium.
