Latest news with #WorldAquatics'
The Age
2 days ago
- Business
- The Age
‘I'm not going to slam swimmers': Chalmers' surprising response to Magnussen's Enhanced Games quest
World Aquatics has threatened to ban current athletes who associate with the Enhanced Games or try to compete at next year's event in Las Vegas, even if they don't take performance-enhancing drugs. Enhanced Games boss Aron D'Souza has offered to pay the legal fees of swimmers who want to challenge World Aquatics' ruling. World Aquatics will pay swimmers US $20,000 (AUD $30,000) for each gold medal at next month's world championships in Singapore. There is also a world record bonus of US $30,000 (AUD $46,200). The total swimming prize pool is $4.2 million. The Enhanced Games will pay US $250,000 for each gold medal, plus a US $1 million bonus for world records in either the 50m freestyle or 100m sprint. 'I think it'd be pretty enticing for quite a lot of athletes,' Chalmers said. 'I think that swimmers have been underpaid for a very long time at the big competitions. I've never thought about it a huge amount because you do it for the love of swimming … there's not a lot of money to be made in it. 'Look at the guy that did break the world record and his wife coming out and saying he's been to four Olympics, been in two Olympic finals, been in the world championship final consistently … [the fact] he goes from making $5000 a year to a million in one race is incredible. 'I really hope that there is a shift and that we are able to get a little bit more prize money for what we do. It's threatening World Aquatics a little bit. 'That's why they've come out and said that they're banning swimmers, which yeah, fair enough. But also, those swimmers have come out and announced their retirement.' Australian head coach Rohan Taylor added: 'I'm just focused on this team ... and providing the right environment for them; a safe, clean sport. That's what we're about. I'm not really paying attention [to it].' Chalmers has been in great form since taking 12 weeks off after the Olympics, clocking a 100m freestyle time of 47.27 seconds at the Bergen Swim Festival in Norway in April. It was faster than his silver medal-winning performance in Paris (47.48). The 26-year-old is eyeing off a fourth Olympics in LA in 2028 and preparing for the birth of his first child later this year. Loading 'It was a massive shock for me [the time of 47.27]. I'm pretty confident that I'm swimming fast,' said Chalmers, who won 100m freestyle gold at the 2023 world championships. 'This could be the year, which is really exciting. 'Our goal is to be at the Olympics in 2028 together and have our daughter in the stands watching us. 'I truly believe it's achievable. If I didn't believe it was possible, I would have retired. I'm at nine Olympic medals. It would be amazing to get to 10.' Taylor said of Chalmers' swim: 'It made my day when I saw that. I was very happy for him.'
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'm not going to slam swimmers': Chalmers' surprising response to Magnussen's Enhanced Games quest
World Aquatics has threatened to ban current athletes who associate with the Enhanced Games or try to compete at next year's event in Las Vegas, even if they don't take performance-enhancing drugs. Enhanced Games boss Aron D'Souza has offered to pay the legal fees of swimmers who want to challenge World Aquatics' ruling. World Aquatics will pay swimmers US $20,000 (AUD $30,000) for each gold medal at next month's world championships in Singapore. There is also a world record bonus of US $30,000 (AUD $46,200). The total swimming prize pool is $4.2 million. The Enhanced Games will pay US $250,000 for each gold medal, plus a US $1 million bonus for world records in either the 50m freestyle or 100m sprint. 'I think it'd be pretty enticing for quite a lot of athletes,' Chalmers said. 'I think that swimmers have been underpaid for a very long time at the big competitions. I've never thought about it a huge amount because you do it for the love of swimming … there's not a lot of money to be made in it. 'Look at the guy that did break the world record and his wife coming out and saying he's been to four Olympics, been in two Olympic finals, been in the world championship final consistently … [the fact] he goes from making $5000 a year to a million in one race is incredible. 'I really hope that there is a shift and that we are able to get a little bit more prize money for what we do. It's threatening World Aquatics a little bit. 'That's why they've come out and said that they're banning swimmers, which yeah, fair enough. But also, those swimmers have come out and announced their retirement.' Australian head coach Rohan Taylor added: 'I'm just focused on this team ... and providing the right environment for them; a safe, clean sport. That's what we're about. I'm not really paying attention [to it].' Chalmers has been in great form since taking 12 weeks off after the Olympics, clocking a 100m freestyle time of 47.27 seconds at the Bergen Swim Festival in Norway in April. It was faster than his silver medal-winning performance in Paris (47.48). The 26-year-old is eyeing off a fourth Olympics in LA in 2028 and preparing for the birth of his first child later this year. Loading 'It was a massive shock for me [the time of 47.27]. I'm pretty confident that I'm swimming fast,' said Chalmers, who won 100m freestyle gold at the 2023 world championships. 'This could be the year, which is really exciting. 'Our goal is to be at the Olympics in 2028 together and have our daughter in the stands watching us. 'I truly believe it's achievable. If I didn't believe it was possible, I would have retired. I'm at nine Olympic medals. It would be amazing to get to 10.' Taylor said of Chalmers' swim: 'It made my day when I saw that. I was very happy for him.'
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Luka Mijatovic youngest U.S. man since Michael Phelps to make world swimming championships
Luke Mijatovic is set to become the youngest U.S. male swimmer to compete at a World Championships since Michael Phelps in 2001. Mijatovic, who turned 16 on April 22, made the world team as runner-up in the 400m freestyle at the Toyota U.S. Championships on Friday night. He had to wait until the last day of nationals on Saturday for his place to become official due to roster limit rules. Mijatovic broke national age group records for 15- and 16-year-olds in the 200m and 400m frees at nationals. In both events, he also swam faster than the national age group records for 17- and 18-year-olds, including Michael Phelps' time in the 200m free from 2003. SWIMMING: Results Mijatovic, a rising high school junior from Pleasanton, California, was the second-youngest U.S. male swimmer at the 2024 Olympic Trials. His best finish at trials was 12th in the 400m free. He currently holds 14 individual national age group records combining 25-yard pools and 50-meter pools and the 13-14 and 15-16 divisions. Globally, Mijatovic holds the fastest 200m free time ever for somebody as young as him, according to World Aquatics' database. Romanian David Popovici, the Paris Olympic gold medalist, swam a faster time at an older 16. In the 400m free, only Australian legend Ian Thorpe has been faster at Mijatovic's age, according to World Aquatics. Nick Zaccardi,
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gretchen Walsh continues American record run at swimming nationals
Gretchen Walsh broke an American swimming record for the fourth time over the last five weeks, winning the 50m butterfly at the Toyota U.S. Championships on Wednesday. Walsh clocked 24.66 seconds in Indianapolis, lowering her national record of 24.93 from May 2 and qualifying for the World Championships in Singapore in July and August. Advertisement Walsh is the second-fastest woman in history globally in the event behind Swede Sarah Sjöström, who owns the world record of 24.43. The 50m butterfly makes its Olympic debut in 2028 and has been on the World Championships program since 2001. SWIMMING: Broadcast Schedule | Results Walsh is also the fastest woman in history in the 100m butterfly, having lowered her own world and American records twice on May 3. She'll swim that at nationals on Thursday (finals at 7 p.m. ET, live on Peacock). Also Wednesday, Olympic bronze medalist Luke Hobson won the men's 200m freestyle in 1:43.73 and became the second-fastest American in history behind Michael Phelps and fifth fastest ever globally. It was also the fastest time ever in a U.S. pool, dipping under Phelps' time from the 2008 Olympic Trials. Advertisement In the prelims, 16-year-old Luka Mijatovic swam the fastest 200m free ever for somebody that young (1:45.92), according to World Aquatics' database. Olympic champion David Popovici of Romania went faster at an older 16. Mijatovic, the second-youngest man at the 2024 Olympic Trials, also went faster than Phelps' national age group record for 17- and 18-year-olds. Mijatovic ended up eighth in the final. Claire Weinstein swam the world's best time in 2025 in the women's 200m free — 1:55.92 — to edge Katie Ledecky by 34 hundredths. Weinstein, eighth at the Olympics, also came in ahead of Ledecky at the 2023 nationals as the pair have gone one-two at four consecutive trials meets. Ledecky said before these nationals that she doesn't plan to swim the 200m free at worlds. She also dropped it from her schedule in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but still plans to be part of the 4x200m free relay. Advertisement Claire Curzan swam a personal best to win the 200m backstroke by 75 hundredths over American record holder Regan Smith. Curzan swept the backstrokes at the February 2024 World Championships, then missed the Paris Olympic team by seven hundredths. Jack Aikins took the men's 200m back in a personal best 1:54.25, one year after missing the Olympic team by one spot in both backstroke events. His time would have won the 2024 Olympic gold by one hundredth. Olympic champ Kate Douglass took the 200m breaststroke by one second over former University of Virginia teammate Alex Walsh (Gretchen's older sister). Katie Ledecky undefinedundefinedundefined
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Enhanced Games' Aussie boss flags aquatics legal action
World Aquatics' ban on anyone involved in Enhanced Games is "downright disgusting behaviour" and likely illegal, the Australian founder of the drug-friendly games says. Melbourne-born entrepreneur Aron D'Souza is flagging legal action against swimming's global governing body and its new by-law. "We are assessing our legal options and look forward to pursuing all remedies that are available to us," D'Souza told AAP. "It is clearly restraint of trade." World Aquatics enacted a fresh by-law on Wednesday giving it powers to ban anyone involved in Enhanced Games, a multi-sports event with no drug testing. The by-law covers "any individual who supports, endorses or participates in sporting events that embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices that may include prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods". "(They) will not be eligible to hold positions with World Aquatics or to participate in any World Aquatics competitions, events or other activities," World Aquatics said. The move didn't surprise D'Souza, a lawyer who is president of Enhanced Games. "I always expected that the governing bodies or the International Olympic Committee would take such a step," he said. "The legal case law is not supportive of their position. "This is exactly what they did against the International Swimming League and this is what the PGA Tour did against LIV Golf. "And European courts, American courts, have routinely ruled that this is an abuse of monopoly power. "World Aquatics' move is designed to impoverish the greatest athletes in the world and that is such inappropriate and downright disgusting behaviour." The aquatics governing body stated in its fresh by-law that any appeal against a ban could only be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). "Let's be clear, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is not a court," D'Souza said. "And the use of the term court, I have always felt, is an abuse of that term and certainly possibly unconstitutional in the United States. "That tribunal is an internal organisation of the International Olympic Committee, it hasn't been constituted by statute in any country nor has it been constituted by a treaty. "And so it's legal standing to be the ultimate arbitration body for sport is only on a contractual level between parties. "If they think that matters related to the Enhanced Games can somehow be decided in CAS, it's a farce because we're not a participant in that system nor do they have any legal authority." World Aquatics' ban on anyone involved in Enhanced Games is "downright disgusting behaviour" and likely illegal, the Australian founder of the drug-friendly games says. Melbourne-born entrepreneur Aron D'Souza is flagging legal action against swimming's global governing body and its new by-law. "We are assessing our legal options and look forward to pursuing all remedies that are available to us," D'Souza told AAP. "It is clearly restraint of trade." World Aquatics enacted a fresh by-law on Wednesday giving it powers to ban anyone involved in Enhanced Games, a multi-sports event with no drug testing. The by-law covers "any individual who supports, endorses or participates in sporting events that embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices that may include prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods". "(They) will not be eligible to hold positions with World Aquatics or to participate in any World Aquatics competitions, events or other activities," World Aquatics said. The move didn't surprise D'Souza, a lawyer who is president of Enhanced Games. "I always expected that the governing bodies or the International Olympic Committee would take such a step," he said. "The legal case law is not supportive of their position. "This is exactly what they did against the International Swimming League and this is what the PGA Tour did against LIV Golf. "And European courts, American courts, have routinely ruled that this is an abuse of monopoly power. "World Aquatics' move is designed to impoverish the greatest athletes in the world and that is such inappropriate and downright disgusting behaviour." The aquatics governing body stated in its fresh by-law that any appeal against a ban could only be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). "Let's be clear, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is not a court," D'Souza said. "And the use of the term court, I have always felt, is an abuse of that term and certainly possibly unconstitutional in the United States. "That tribunal is an internal organisation of the International Olympic Committee, it hasn't been constituted by statute in any country nor has it been constituted by a treaty. "And so it's legal standing to be the ultimate arbitration body for sport is only on a contractual level between parties. "If they think that matters related to the Enhanced Games can somehow be decided in CAS, it's a farce because we're not a participant in that system nor do they have any legal authority." World Aquatics' ban on anyone involved in Enhanced Games is "downright disgusting behaviour" and likely illegal, the Australian founder of the drug-friendly games says. Melbourne-born entrepreneur Aron D'Souza is flagging legal action against swimming's global governing body and its new by-law. "We are assessing our legal options and look forward to pursuing all remedies that are available to us," D'Souza told AAP. "It is clearly restraint of trade." World Aquatics enacted a fresh by-law on Wednesday giving it powers to ban anyone involved in Enhanced Games, a multi-sports event with no drug testing. The by-law covers "any individual who supports, endorses or participates in sporting events that embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices that may include prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods". "(They) will not be eligible to hold positions with World Aquatics or to participate in any World Aquatics competitions, events or other activities," World Aquatics said. The move didn't surprise D'Souza, a lawyer who is president of Enhanced Games. "I always expected that the governing bodies or the International Olympic Committee would take such a step," he said. "The legal case law is not supportive of their position. "This is exactly what they did against the International Swimming League and this is what the PGA Tour did against LIV Golf. "And European courts, American courts, have routinely ruled that this is an abuse of monopoly power. "World Aquatics' move is designed to impoverish the greatest athletes in the world and that is such inappropriate and downright disgusting behaviour." The aquatics governing body stated in its fresh by-law that any appeal against a ban could only be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). "Let's be clear, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is not a court," D'Souza said. "And the use of the term court, I have always felt, is an abuse of that term and certainly possibly unconstitutional in the United States. "That tribunal is an internal organisation of the International Olympic Committee, it hasn't been constituted by statute in any country nor has it been constituted by a treaty. "And so it's legal standing to be the ultimate arbitration body for sport is only on a contractual level between parties. "If they think that matters related to the Enhanced Games can somehow be decided in CAS, it's a farce because we're not a participant in that system nor do they have any legal authority." World Aquatics' ban on anyone involved in Enhanced Games is "downright disgusting behaviour" and likely illegal, the Australian founder of the drug-friendly games says. Melbourne-born entrepreneur Aron D'Souza is flagging legal action against swimming's global governing body and its new by-law. "We are assessing our legal options and look forward to pursuing all remedies that are available to us," D'Souza told AAP. "It is clearly restraint of trade." World Aquatics enacted a fresh by-law on Wednesday giving it powers to ban anyone involved in Enhanced Games, a multi-sports event with no drug testing. The by-law covers "any individual who supports, endorses or participates in sporting events that embrace the use of scientific advancements or other practices that may include prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods". "(They) will not be eligible to hold positions with World Aquatics or to participate in any World Aquatics competitions, events or other activities," World Aquatics said. The move didn't surprise D'Souza, a lawyer who is president of Enhanced Games. "I always expected that the governing bodies or the International Olympic Committee would take such a step," he said. "The legal case law is not supportive of their position. "This is exactly what they did against the International Swimming League and this is what the PGA Tour did against LIV Golf. "And European courts, American courts, have routinely ruled that this is an abuse of monopoly power. "World Aquatics' move is designed to impoverish the greatest athletes in the world and that is such inappropriate and downright disgusting behaviour." The aquatics governing body stated in its fresh by-law that any appeal against a ban could only be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). "Let's be clear, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is not a court," D'Souza said. "And the use of the term court, I have always felt, is an abuse of that term and certainly possibly unconstitutional in the United States. "That tribunal is an internal organisation of the International Olympic Committee, it hasn't been constituted by statute in any country nor has it been constituted by a treaty. "And so it's legal standing to be the ultimate arbitration body for sport is only on a contractual level between parties. "If they think that matters related to the Enhanced Games can somehow be decided in CAS, it's a farce because we're not a participant in that system nor do they have any legal authority."
