Wednesday, May 18, 2022
One Month to #FINABudapest2022: Five Things to Watch For
One month from now, swimming's biggest stars will be diving in on the first night of the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Medals will be won, records will likely go down and legacies will be both cemented and created
With that, here are five things to look forward to at next month's big stage:
Keeping the Momentum
In the 18 editions of the FINA World Championships, only once has a country won at least 40 medals, and that came via the U.S.' performance in Budapest in 2017.
The meet was one of the best team showings in international swimming history as the American swimmers racked in a whopping 19 gold medals, seven American records and three world records.
The Budapest momentum did not stop there, as the U.S. topped the table at the 2019 FINA World Junior Championships with 37 medals — 15 more than the next-closest nation. The charge was led by Luca Urlando, Carson Foster, Claire Curzan and Torri Huske, all of whom will be in Budapest this time around.
All suffice to say, the Danube Arena in Budapest has treated the U.S. nicely.
A Historic Run of Form
The swimming community has watched Caeleb Dressel post unworldly performances in each of his last two major international competitions: He became the first swimmer in competition history to win eight medals at a single world championships in 2019, and followed that performance by becoming the fifth American to win five gold medals at a single Olympics with his performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Now, with current top times in the world in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly, Dressel looks to add another tremendous showing to his hot streak.
Curzan, Huske Look to Make Mark
Despite still being teenagers, the tandem of Claire Curzan and Torri Huske has been at the forefront of the sport for years now — combining for two Olympic medals, nine FINA World Championships (25m) medals and 10 FINA World Junior Championships medals. That being said, the display they put on at April's Phillips 66 International Team Trials was a sign that they are more than just emerging talents, they are current powerhouses.
They posted 1-2 finishes in the 100-meter freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly and both will be swimming four individual events in Budapest, a feat that no other American female on the roster will be taking on. With three events shared on the schedule, watching them compete together will be a joy for swimming fans worldwide.
New Era of Open Water?
For the first time since 2009, a U.S. world championships roster will not feature the name Haley Anderson or Ashley Twichell headlining its open water athletes.
The duo hung up their caps and goggles following their 10K performances at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, leaving behind two of the most decorated open-water careers that American swimming has ever seen. Now, it will be up to a new cohort of open-water athletes to make their mark.
The U.S. roster for the open water portion of the competition, which takes place June 26-30, will be finalized following the conclusion of the FINA Marathon Swim World Series on May 28.
Keeping the Streaks
Numerous event-streaks will be on the line and in reach of American swimmers next month:
With all that is at stake, the 2022 FINA World Championships are shaping up to be another exhilarating meet.
Medals will be won, records will likely go down and legacies will be both cemented and created
With that, here are five things to look forward to at next month's big stage:
Keeping the Momentum
In the 18 editions of the FINA World Championships, only once has a country won at least 40 medals, and that came via the U.S.' performance in Budapest in 2017.
The meet was one of the best team showings in international swimming history as the American swimmers racked in a whopping 19 gold medals, seven American records and three world records.
The Budapest momentum did not stop there, as the U.S. topped the table at the 2019 FINA World Junior Championships with 37 medals — 15 more than the next-closest nation. The charge was led by Luca Urlando, Carson Foster, Claire Curzan and Torri Huske, all of whom will be in Budapest this time around.
All suffice to say, the Danube Arena in Budapest has treated the U.S. nicely.
A Historic Run of Form
The swimming community has watched Caeleb Dressel post unworldly performances in each of his last two major international competitions: He became the first swimmer in competition history to win eight medals at a single world championships in 2019, and followed that performance by becoming the fifth American to win five gold medals at a single Olympics with his performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Now, with current top times in the world in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly, Dressel looks to add another tremendous showing to his hot streak.
Curzan, Huske Look to Make Mark
Despite still being teenagers, the tandem of Claire Curzan and Torri Huske has been at the forefront of the sport for years now — combining for two Olympic medals, nine FINA World Championships (25m) medals and 10 FINA World Junior Championships medals. That being said, the display they put on at April's Phillips 66 International Team Trials was a sign that they are more than just emerging talents, they are current powerhouses.
They posted 1-2 finishes in the 100-meter freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly and both will be swimming four individual events in Budapest, a feat that no other American female on the roster will be taking on. With three events shared on the schedule, watching them compete together will be a joy for swimming fans worldwide.
New Era of Open Water?
For the first time since 2009, a U.S. world championships roster will not feature the name Haley Anderson or Ashley Twichell headlining its open water athletes.
The duo hung up their caps and goggles following their 10K performances at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, leaving behind two of the most decorated open-water careers that American swimming has ever seen. Now, it will be up to a new cohort of open-water athletes to make their mark.
The U.S. roster for the open water portion of the competition, which takes place June 26-30, will be finalized following the conclusion of the FINA Marathon Swim World Series on May 28.
Keeping the Streaks
Numerous event-streaks will be on the line and in reach of American swimmers next month:
- U.S. has medaled in 13-consecutive 200m IM's at the competition
- U.S. has medaled in the women's 200m backstroke at every FINA World Championships since 2003
- Katie Ledecky has chance to win fifth-consecutive world title in the 800m freestyle
- Lilly King has chance to win third-consecutive world title in the 100m breaststroke
- Dressel has chance to win third-consecutive world title in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly
With all that is at stake, the 2022 FINA World Championships are shaping up to be another exhilarating meet.