Star Olympic swimmers are already back in the pool

But you won’t have to wait that long for a swim fix. Several Canadian athletes are currently competing in the International Swimming League, which is in the middle of its third season. If you are unfamiliar with twisted independent circuits, here are some things you should know:

Attitude is different. Instead of representing their countries at the World Championships, Olympic Games and other traditional events, swimmers compete in teams of multiple nationalities – as in any other sporting league. The ISL has one more thing in common with these leagues: teams compete against each other in a regular season, followed by a playoff and a final to determine the champion. The range of sports in ISL is also huge. There is a much more modern and glamorous show than what I saw at the Olympics. There is elaborate lighting, a live DJ and music continues during the race. There is silence only when swimmers settle into the starting blocks.

Races are also different. The ISL only uses a 25m pool – half the Olympic size. Each race consists of two swimmers from each of the four teams participating in that meeting – to fill all eight lanes. There are no prelims, so almost every race is a final. Timing doesn’t really matter: swimmers earn points for their teams (and win prize money for themselves) depending on where they finish. Distances are known: individual races are 50, 100, 200 or 400 meters and relays are 4 × 100. Perhaps the most unusual offering from the ISL is the “Leather Race”. These start with eight swimmers, then the field is reduced to four in the second round and then to two in the final round. See what the ISL races look and feel like Here.

Gender equality is a guiding principle. There are 12 men and 12 women in the starting grid for each game. Each sport has an equal number of men’s and women’s races and mixed relays. The prize money is the same for men and women.

Good swimmers make good money. accordingly swimwearAmerican superstar Caleb Dressel earned approximately $292,000 last season, including a bonus of $100,000 for winning Player of the Season and another $65,000 for winning MVP five (in both cases the MVP determined by the scoring system based on the goal). include being a swimmer in your race). Eight swimmers exceeded their $100,000 income. However, there are no wealthy Canadians. The highest-grossing Kylie Maas made just over $40,000.

Canada’s surveillance team is the Toronto Titans. It is the only club based in Canada and with the largest number of Canadian swimmers. Among them is Kylie Maas, two-time world champion in the 100m back, who won two individual silver and bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics. Kayla Sanchez, who won two relay medals in Tokyo; and Brent Hayden, 37-year-old former world champion, who has returned from retirement of seven years to qualify for this year’s Olympics. 15-year-old Summer McIntosh, who narrowly missed the podium in the women’s 400m freestyle, is also a member of the Titans. She won three races this season – the 200m butterfly and women’s 400m individual medley at the opener last month and broke Canada’s 400m freestyle last week’s record. But Mackintosh announced yesterday that she would leave the team for the rest of the season, starting school at home in Toronto. She is in class 10th. Canada’s two biggest swimming stars are not ISL customers. Seven-time Olympic medalist Penny Oleksiak started season one but skipped the last two seasons. Maggie McNeil, Olympic champion in the 100-meter butterfly, who also won three medals in Tokyo, swims for the University of Michigan.

You can see Mace, Sanchez and the rest of Toronto’s team competing this week. The Titans are one of four teams competing in Game 7 of the season, which takes place in Italy on both Thursdays and Fridays from 2 pm to 4 pm. Watch live on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.

View | Macintosh Win 400 Million Free In ISL Event:

Fast…

Simone Biles testified that the FBI and the US “failed” her and hundreds of other athletes by not stopping Larry Nassar from continuing to sexually assault. In a tearful testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, Biles and her Olympic gold medalists Makila Maroney and Aly Raisman criticized the two organizations for failing to properly prosecute their charges against Nassar, which ultimately harassed the gymnasts. was sentenced to life imprisonment. Take care of him The hearing came after a Justice Department report criticized the FBI for failing to investigate and allowing the abuse to go on for months. The director of the FBI apologized to the gymnasts who misbehaved today. “Not only did the FBI report my abuse, but when they documented my report 17 months later, they made completely false allegations about what I was saying,” Maroney said. “I really feel like the FBI has turned a blind eye,” Biles said. Read more about gymnastics certification here.

Andre de Gras won his last race of the year. The track and field season in the Diamond League ended last week when de Grasse finished second in both the 100 and 200 meters in the final in Zurich. But the Canadian superstar still had to go to a race before the year started – the 100 meters at a meet in Switzerland yesterday. The Olympic 100 m bronze medalist won in style by beating Americans Fred Curley (silver medalist in Tokyo) and Justin Gatlin (former Olympic and world champion) in 10.06 seconds. De Grasse’s final balance for 2021: six individual victories over the 100 or 200 meters – including his first Olympic gold over 200 – and his second Olympic bronze medal in a row in both the 100 and 4×100 in Tokyo , where he became a Canadian Man All Time Olympic Champion. Years of work actually. With all…

De Grasse can be upgraded. After anti-doping officials announced yesterday that a member of Britain’s runner-up team had tested positive for a banned substance, the bronze medal he and his Canadian teammates won in the 4×100 race in Tokyo was changed to silver. can be converted. This finding is being reviewed by the Sports Court, which will decide whether Great Britain will be disqualified and lose its medal. Read more about the case here.

They are up to date. I will talk to you tomorrow.