Just a little more than 30 days before the "Duel in the Pool". This is one of the most creative and exciting meet formats that USA Swimming has come up with yet. It's the US vs Australia. It's a duel meet format. The best men and women swimmers from each team compete in a limited number of events, head-to-head for bragging rights of the best swimming team in the world.
For more information check out: www.usaswimming.org/.../Duel.htm
If the teams are tied then the outcome is decided by a mixed 200 medley relay.
Predictions anyone?
Australia has Thorpe but we have Phelps and Coughlin. Australia has edge in men's freestyle events but we more depth in the strokes. I'm rooting for a close meet because it would be very exciting to see a tie-breaker medley relay BUT US should win it without the relay (why don't they swim it anyway?) .
Whole meet should take three hours or less, is scheduled for Sunday April 6th in Indy and will be broadcast the following week on network TV.
Got my tickets in the mail today and am psyched to cheer on the US in person!
Here's how I think things will shake out on Sunday April 6th
(5-3-2-1 individual; 7-0 relays No more than 3 entrants per event)
400 Free Relay
Men-Australia
Women-US
400 IM
Men-US
Women-Australia
100 BA
Men-Australia
Women-US
100 BR
Men-US
Women-US
100 FLY
Men-US
Women-US
200 BA
Men-US
Women-US
200 BR
Men-US
Women-US
(Now the US has a pretty good lead based on their depth in strokes. Hold on here come the Aussies and their awesome freestylers. Things get interesting)
50 FR
Men-Australia
Women-US
200 FR
Men-Australia
Women-US
(Australia picks up ground because of their depth on the men's side)
200 FL
Men-US
Women-Australia
800 FR Women-US
1500 FR Men-Australia
(Australia has picke up more ground based on their strength in men's distance)
400 Medlay Relay
Men-US
Women-US
(Both are close races but Team US triumphs as the hometown crowd cheers them on)
In the unlikely event of a tie:
200 Mixed Medley Relay
Coughlin, Moses, Phelps and Thompson can beat a relay composed of the best of the rest of the world in this event.
Check out the details at: www.usaswimming.org/.../Duel.htm
Got my tickets in the mail today and am psyched to cheer on the US in person!
Here's how I think things will shake out on Sunday April 6th
(5-3-2-1 individual; 7-0 relays No more than 3 entrants per event)
400 Free Relay
Men-Australia
Women-US
400 IM
Men-US
Women-Australia
100 BA
Men-Australia
Women-US
100 BR
Men-US
Women-US
100 FLY
Men-US
Women-US
200 BA
Men-US
Women-US
200 BR
Men-US
Women-US
(Now the US has a pretty good lead based on their depth in strokes. Hold on here come the Aussies and their awesome freestylers. Things get interesting)
50 FR
Men-Australia
Women-US
200 FR
Men-Australia
Women-US
(Australia picks up ground because of their depth on the men's side)
200 FL
Men-US
Women-Australia
800 FR Women-US
1500 FR Men-Australia
(Australia has picke up more ground based on their strength in men's distance)
400 Medlay Relay
Men-US
Women-US
(Both are close races but Team US triumphs as the hometown crowd cheers them on)
In the unlikely event of a tie:
200 Mixed Medley Relay
Coughlin, Moses, Phelps and Thompson can beat a relay composed of the best of the rest of the world in this event.
Check out the details at: www.usaswimming.org/.../Duel.htm
