Wednesday, July 13, 2022
2022 FINA World Championships – Donor Athlete Partnership Program Recap
Last month, the United States won 45 medals in the pool at the 2022 FINA World Championships – good for the most medals ever awarded at a world championship by any nation, surpassing the previous U.S. record of 38 in the pool competition. This medal total also surpasses the U.S. record of total medals won between pool and open water combined (41). With 45 medals total, the U.S. won more than Australia (17), Canada (11) and Italy (9) combined.
A portion of the 2022 FINA World Championships roster included athletes who had been selected to the Donor Athlete Partnership Program (DAPP). The program allows for U.S. National Team members to apply for a partnership with a donor. Not only does it lessen the financial burden of the athlete, but also allows for a beneficial relationship that can boost their success in and out of the pool.
The Donor Athlete Partnership Program members contributed to 32 of the medals collected by the U.S., and saw these athletes win at least one medal each day of the pool competition.
Donor Athlete Partnership Program Medal Count at the 2022 FINA World Championships
*Includes prelim swim in relay event
Three Donor Athlete Partnership Program recipients receive five medals each
The DAPP roster at the world championships contained 14 swimmers with 12 of them receiving at least one medal during the meet. Three of those world champions—Hunter Armstrong, Erika Brown and Michael Andrew—collected five medals each.
A strong performance by Armstrong
With two golds, two silvers and a bronze, it is no surprise that Armstrong had a successful meet. He began the first day with a prelim contribution to the third-consecutive world title for the U.S. in the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay. The following day, he experienced his first world championships final, and podium, in the men’s 100m backstroke. He received a bronze for his 51.98 performance and a new personal best.
Brown becomes a world champion
Brown received two golds and three bronze during the world championships. It was a particularly exciting moment for Brown when she tied for bronze in the women’s 50m freestyle. Her 24.38 performance not only became her new personal best and her first individual medal of her international career, but also boosted her to become the sixth-fastest American in the history of the event.
“It’s honestly hard to remember because it went by so fast,” she said after her sprint. “I was just trying to really stay focused on my own race and put my head down and get my hand on the wall. Finishing and seeing that is the best feeling ever. This is my first worlds and getting to be on the podium and win a medal for Team USA is an amazing feeling.”
Personal bests and lots of success for Andrew
It was a busy meet for Andrew, as he competed in five event finals. The swimmer came home with one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Notably, his 22.79 bronze-medal performance in the men’s 50m butterfly marked the first time two Americans have medaled together in the event in FINA World Championships history and set a new personal best. It also marked his first long course world championships medal. Andrew also claimed silver in the men’s 50m freestyle with his 21.41 swim to reach another new personal best. After already claiming bronze in the 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke, he becomes the first swimmer—male or female—to win individual medals in three different strokes at a single world championships, and the first person to win a medal in three 50-meter events in a single world championships.
Fink brings home four
With his first event, Fink found the podium with a bronze-medal winning, 58.65 finish in the men’s 100m breaststroke. The swim gave Fink his first FINA World Championships medal in four appearances at the competition. Fink’s gold performance in the men’s 50m breaststroke gave the U.S. its first win in this event and marked the first time two Americans have shared the podium in the 50m breaststroke at a FINA World Championships. His 26.45 swim also set an American record and tops his personal best.
For more on the Donor Athlete Partnership Program, head to
https://www.usaswimming.org/foundation#donor-athlete-partnership-program.
A portion of the 2022 FINA World Championships roster included athletes who had been selected to the Donor Athlete Partnership Program (DAPP). The program allows for U.S. National Team members to apply for a partnership with a donor. Not only does it lessen the financial burden of the athlete, but also allows for a beneficial relationship that can boost their success in and out of the pool.
The Donor Athlete Partnership Program members contributed to 32 of the medals collected by the U.S., and saw these athletes win at least one medal each day of the pool competition.
Donor Athlete Partnership Program Medal Count at the 2022 FINA World Championships
| Athlete | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Hunter Armstrong | 2* | 2* | 1 | 5 |
| Erika Brown | 2* | 3* | 5 | |
| Michael Andrew | 1* | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Nic Fink | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Leah Smith | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Hali Flickinger | 1* | 1 | 2 | |
| Natalie Hinds | 1* | 1* | 2 | |
| Drew Kibler | 1 | 1* | 2 | |
| Bobby Finke | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Kieran Smith | 1 | 1 | ||
| Shaine Casas | 1 | 1 | ||
| Mallory Comerford | 1* | 1 |
*Includes prelim swim in relay event
Three Donor Athlete Partnership Program recipients receive five medals each
The DAPP roster at the world championships contained 14 swimmers with 12 of them receiving at least one medal during the meet. Three of those world champions—Hunter Armstrong, Erika Brown and Michael Andrew—collected five medals each.
A strong performance by Armstrong
With two golds, two silvers and a bronze, it is no surprise that Armstrong had a successful meet. He began the first day with a prelim contribution to the third-consecutive world title for the U.S. in the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay. The following day, he experienced his first world championships final, and podium, in the men’s 100m backstroke. He received a bronze for his 51.98 performance and a new personal best.
Brown becomes a world champion
Brown received two golds and three bronze during the world championships. It was a particularly exciting moment for Brown when she tied for bronze in the women’s 50m freestyle. Her 24.38 performance not only became her new personal best and her first individual medal of her international career, but also boosted her to become the sixth-fastest American in the history of the event.
“It’s honestly hard to remember because it went by so fast,” she said after her sprint. “I was just trying to really stay focused on my own race and put my head down and get my hand on the wall. Finishing and seeing that is the best feeling ever. This is my first worlds and getting to be on the podium and win a medal for Team USA is an amazing feeling.”
Personal bests and lots of success for Andrew
It was a busy meet for Andrew, as he competed in five event finals. The swimmer came home with one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Notably, his 22.79 bronze-medal performance in the men’s 50m butterfly marked the first time two Americans have medaled together in the event in FINA World Championships history and set a new personal best. It also marked his first long course world championships medal. Andrew also claimed silver in the men’s 50m freestyle with his 21.41 swim to reach another new personal best. After already claiming bronze in the 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke, he becomes the first swimmer—male or female—to win individual medals in three different strokes at a single world championships, and the first person to win a medal in three 50-meter events in a single world championships.
Fink brings home four
With his first event, Fink found the podium with a bronze-medal winning, 58.65 finish in the men’s 100m breaststroke. The swim gave Fink his first FINA World Championships medal in four appearances at the competition. Fink’s gold performance in the men’s 50m breaststroke gave the U.S. its first win in this event and marked the first time two Americans have shared the podium in the 50m breaststroke at a FINA World Championships. His 26.45 swim also set an American record and tops his personal best.
For more on the Donor Athlete Partnership Program, head to
https://www.usaswimming.org/foundation#donor-athlete-partnership-program.