Wednesday, April 20, 2022
United States, Australia to Square Off at 2022 Duel in the Pool
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Swimming, the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, and Swimming Australia, the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in Australia, today announced the date for the reintroduced Duel in the Pool competition, which will feature teams from the two countries competing August 19-21, 2022 in Sydney, Australia.
The new format will see each country select a team of 30 Olympic, Paralympic and National Team athletes to contest pool events at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC), and an open water component at one of the world’s most renowned beaches, Bondi.
“The world’s best thrive when competing against one another, and our teams have established an exciting history of record-setting competition and thrilling rivalries, which will no doubt be showcased in Sydney,” USA Swimming President and CEO Tim Hinchey III said. “We’re proud to partner with Swimming Australia to provide our athletes with another world-class competitive meet and an incredibly unique and exciting event for the fans.”
"We are excited for the historic opportunity to partner with Swimming Australia and USA Swimming to include Para athletes in the Duel in the Pool for the first time,” U.S. Paralympics Swimming Director Erin Popovich said. “By bringing together many of the world's top Olympic and Paralympic swimmers to race alongside one another at such a prestigious event, we are writing another chapter in the longstanding rivalry and camaraderie between two powerhouse swimming nations. It will show the world the fierce drive that athletes of all abilities bring to the pool."
“Reigniting the Duel in the Pool will enable us to showcase the best athletes in the world through a format that will bring fans closer to the action and engage the viewing audience like never before, all while adding to the great legacy between our two countries in the pool,” Swimming Australia CEO Eugénie Buckley added.
The United States and Australia combined for 46% of the total medals at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and have finished first and second in total medal count at every Olympic Games competition since 1996. The countries were also two of only six nations to post at least 30 swimming medals at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games.
The Duel in the Pool competition was established in 2003 as the United States against Australia before broadening to the United States versus Europe in 2009. This year’s event will be the first rendition of the competition since 2015.
The new format will see each country select a team of 30 Olympic, Paralympic and National Team athletes to contest pool events at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC), and an open water component at one of the world’s most renowned beaches, Bondi.
“The world’s best thrive when competing against one another, and our teams have established an exciting history of record-setting competition and thrilling rivalries, which will no doubt be showcased in Sydney,” USA Swimming President and CEO Tim Hinchey III said. “We’re proud to partner with Swimming Australia to provide our athletes with another world-class competitive meet and an incredibly unique and exciting event for the fans.”
"We are excited for the historic opportunity to partner with Swimming Australia and USA Swimming to include Para athletes in the Duel in the Pool for the first time,” U.S. Paralympics Swimming Director Erin Popovich said. “By bringing together many of the world's top Olympic and Paralympic swimmers to race alongside one another at such a prestigious event, we are writing another chapter in the longstanding rivalry and camaraderie between two powerhouse swimming nations. It will show the world the fierce drive that athletes of all abilities bring to the pool."
“Reigniting the Duel in the Pool will enable us to showcase the best athletes in the world through a format that will bring fans closer to the action and engage the viewing audience like never before, all while adding to the great legacy between our two countries in the pool,” Swimming Australia CEO Eugénie Buckley added.
The United States and Australia combined for 46% of the total medals at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and have finished first and second in total medal count at every Olympic Games competition since 1996. The countries were also two of only six nations to post at least 30 swimming medals at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games.
The Duel in the Pool competition was established in 2003 as the United States against Australia before broadening to the United States versus Europe in 2009. This year’s event will be the first rendition of the competition since 2015.