Energy Standard Captures Second International Swimming League Title

By Sharon Robb
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, December 4, 2021—Energy Standard knocked off defending champion Cali Condors to win its second International Swimming League title in three years Saturday at Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion.

Energy Standard, 19-point leaders after the opening day, clinched the title with 534 points. Cali Condors were runner-up with 522 followed by London Roar with 393.5 and LA Current with 305.5.

SOFLO five-time Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson of London Roar was second in the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:03.85. Cali Condors’ Lilly King won in 1:03.75. It was King’s 18th ISL win in her specialty event.

London teammate Dylan Carter, two-time Olympian for Trinidad & Tobago, was third in the 100-meter freestyle in 46.45. He split 23.89 on the back half. He was also third in the 50-meter butterfly in 22.36.

Sarah Sjostrom of Energy Standard was selected the ISL MVP for the second time in three years. She was also the championship finals MVP. The Swedish Olympian won $120,000 in MVP prize money ($100,000 for the season and $20,000 for the finals). She scored 61 points in the match and 511.5 points for the entire season.

Other winners were:
Siobhan Haughey of Energy Standard became the first woman to break 51 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle, winning in 50.79, an Asian and ISL record. Teammate Sarah Sjostrom was second in 51.26.

Kyle Chalmers of London Roar came from behind to win the men’s 100-meter freestyle in 45.73.

Hali Flickinger of Cali Condors won the 200-meter butterfly in 2:03.73. She also won the 400 individual medley in 4:29.92.

Teppei Morimoto of London Roar won the men’s 200-meter butterfly in 1:50.44 just ahead of Chad Le Clos of Energy Standard in 1:50.97.

Ingrid Wilm of LA Current won the 100-meter backstroke in 55.73.

Evgeny Rylov of Energy Standard won the 100-meter backstroke in 48.94.

Sarah Sjostrom of Energy Standard won the 100-meter individual medley in 57.46, fastest time of the season.

Caeleb Dressel of Cali Condors won the 100-meter individual medley in 50.74.

Cali Condors’ Nic Fink won the 100-meter breaststroke in 55.56 breaking his own American short course record by 6/10ths of a second.

Kelsi Dahlia of Cali Condors won the 50-meter butterfly in 24.86.

Ben Proud of Energy Standard won the 50-meter butterfly in 22.18 ahead of LA Current’s Tom Shields in 22.27.

Siobhan Haughey of Energy Standard won the 200-meter freestyle in 1:51.04.

Townley Haas of Cali Condors won the 200-meter freestyle in 1:42.18.

Energy Standard won the mixed 4×100-meter medley relay in an ISL record 3:30.94 with Evgeny Rylov, Ilya Shymanovich, Anastasiya Shkurdai and Sarah Sjostrom. It is an unofficial world record since FINA does not keep world records for short course mixed medley relays.

Duncan Scott of London Roar won the men’s 400 individual medley in 4:03.24.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Atkinson Wins; Energy Standard, Cali Condors Will Battle It Out For ISL Title

By Sharon Robb
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, December 3, 2021—Going into the final day of the International Swimming League championship finals, it looks like defending champion Cali Condors and 2019 champion Energy Standard will battle it out for the title.

After opening day competition on Friday at Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion, Energy Standard leads with 271 points followed by the Cali Condors with 250, London Roar with 206 and LA Current with 171.

SOFLO’s five-time Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson of London Roar won the 50-meter breaststroke in 29.15 ahead of Lilly King in 29.44. It tied the fastest swim (by King) this season.

London teammate Dylan Carter, two-time Olympian for Trinidad & Tobago, was sixth in the 50-meter freestyle in 21.15.

Adam Peaty (pay issues) and Kira Toussaint (health issues) not competing hurt London’s chance of being in the hunt for the title.

A costly mistake caused the Cali Condors to get disqualified in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay with the Energy Standard winning and picking up big points. The relay was disqualified after King had a one-hand touch during the third turn of her breaststroke leg.

The Cali Condors men’s 400-meter medley relay bounced back with a win in an American record of 3:19.64 with Coleman Stewart, Nic Fink, Caeleb Dressel and Justin Ress.

Other winners were:
Former UM swimmer Kelsi Dahlia of Cali Condors won the 100-meter butterfly breaking the short course world record in 54.59. The previous record was 54.61 set by Sarah Sjostrom in 2014.

Tom Shields of LA Current won the 100-meter butterfly in 49.03, finishing ahead of well-rested Caeleb Dressel of Cali Condors in 49.23 and Chad Le Clos of Energy Standard in 49.54.

Beata Nelson of Cali Condors won the 200-meter backstroke in 2:00.33.

Evgeny Rylov of Energy Standard won the 200-meter backstroke in 1:47.88 ahead of Ryan Murphy in 1:48.12.

Lilly King of Cali Condors won the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:17.06.

Nic Fink of Cali Condors won the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:02.41. He also won the 50-meter breaststroke in an American record 25.72.

Ben Proud of Energy Standard won the 50-meter freestyle in 20.40 ahead of Kyle Chalmers of the London Roar in 20.96. It was the fastest 50 freestyle in British history.

Sarah Sjostrom of Energy Standard won the 50-meter freestyle in 23.27.

Duncan Scott of London Roar won the 200-meter individual medley in a British record 1:51.53.

Sydney Pickrem of London Roar won the 200-meter individual medley in 2:05.79.

Ingrid Wilm of LA Current won the 50-meter backstroke in 26.24.

Ryan Murphy of LA Current won the 50-meter backstroke in 22.56.

Siobhan Haughey of Energy Standard won the 400-meter freestyle in 3:58.80.

Tom Dean of London Roar won the 400-meter freestyle in 3:40.67.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson Wins, London Roar Advances Into ISL Final Four

By Sharon Robb
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, November 26, 2021–South Florida Aquatic Club’s Alia Atkinson won her final individual event of the ISL’s Match 5 playoff Friday at Pieter van den Hoogenband Zwemstadion.

The five-time Jamaican Olympian won the 100-meter breaststroke easily in 1:04.38 as the London Roar clinched a berth in the Final Four.

London teammate and two-time Olympian Dylan Carter of Trinidad & Tobago was second in the 100-meter freestyle in 46.47 just 24/100ths behind teammate Kyle Chalmers. He was also third in the 50-meter butterfly in 22.27. Carter led early but Tom Shields and Ben Proud reeled him in for the final meters.

Carter and Atkinson were relay members of the third place 4×100-meter medley relay that finished in 3:17.17 with Vini Lanza and Freya Anderson.

With a second-place finish in Match 5, London Roar clinched one of the four spots in the ISL championship.

Energy Standard won the four-team match with 561.5 points followed by the Roar with 498.5, LA Current with 415.5 and DC Trident with 289.5, ending its season.

Energy Standard’s Ilya Shymanovich of Belarus won the Match MVP honors with two jackpot wins for 30 points in the men’s 50- and 100-meter breaststroke. For the second time in two weeks, he broke his world short course record in the 100 breaststroke in 55.28.

Match 6, featuring Cali Condors, Toronto Titans, Aqua Centurions and Iron is Saturday and Sunday and will determine the final two teams.

Caleb Dressel will sit out the playoff match to rest for the final. The defending champion Cali Condors are heavy favorites to make the Final Four.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Atkinson Takes First, Second In London Roar’s Regular Season Finale; Next Up Eight-Team Playoffs

By Sharon Robb
NAPLES, Italy, September 24, 2021–SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson of the London Roar took first and second on Day Two of the ISL’s Match Nine Friday at Piscina Felice Scandone.

The five-time Jamaican Olympian and world record holder won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:04.09 in her team’s regular season finale.

Atkinson led the entire race, leading by 0.83 at the midway mark. It was her eighth win in the event. Evgenia Chikunova was second in 1:04.82.

Atkinson was also a member of the second-place 4×100-meter medley relay that won in 3:36.34 with teammates Luke Greenbank, Emma McKeon and Kyle Chambers.

London teammate Dylan Carter of Trinidad & Tobago was third in the 50-meter butterfly in a national record 22.36.

Energy Standard won with 568 points to finish the regular season undefeated. London Roar was second with 457.5 followed by the Toronto Titans, 380.5; and DC Trident, 357.

Energy Standard, London and Toronto advanced into the playoffs and join defending champion Cali Condors and LA Current automatically qualified for the eight-team playoffs in Eindhoven.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com.

SOFLO’s Atkinson Wins On Opening Day Of ISL London Roar’s Match Nine

By Sharon Robb
NAPLES, Italy, September 23, 2021–London Roar’s Alia Atkinson of South Florida Aquatic Club won on opening day of the ISL’s Match Nine Thursday at Piscina Felice Scandone.

The five-time Jamaican Olympian won the 50-meter breaststroke in 29.48 and picked up 19 points for her team. Atkinson holds the world short course record in the event (28.56). Benedetta Pilato of Energy Standard was second in 30.13 among a lackluster field.

Atkinson was also a member of the winning 4×100-meter medley relay that won in 3:48.58 with teammates Kira Toussaint, Emma McKeon and Freya Anderson.

London won the 4×100-meter freestyle relay in 3:06.50 with American Heritage alum Dylan Carter of Trinidad & Tobago swimming second leg. He also anchored London’s second place men’s 4×100-meter medley relay (3:22.93).

During the match, Evgeniia Chikunova, 16, of Energy Standard set a world junior record in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:17.57. She bettered her old record of 2:17.71 set in 2019 by 0.14 seconds.

It is the second consecutive International Swimming League head-to-head match for Energy Standard and the London Roar, two of the top teams in the league since its inception.

After opening day action, Energy Standard leads with 300.5 points followed by London, 227, DC Trident, 193 and Toronto Titans, 185.5.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com.

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson Takes Third Win, Carter Wins First ISL Event For London Roar; Energy Standard Wins Match

By Sharon Robb
NAPLES, Italy, September 19, 2021—South Florida Aquatic Club’s Alia Atkinson walked away with three wins in two days after the ISL’s season three Match Eight Sunday at Piscina Felice Scandone.

Atkinson, 32, a five-time Jamaican Olympian, won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:03.93 ahead of Kanako Watanabe of Tokyo Frog Kings in 1:04.70 and a slow field. Atkinson had the only sub-1:04.

London teammate Dylan Carter, an American Heritage alum from Trinidad & Tobago, won the 50-meter butterfly in 22.40 and picked up 10 points.

Energy Standard’s team of Evgeny Rylov, Ilya Shymanovich, Anastasia Shkurdai and Sarah Sjostrom shattered the league record for the mixed 400-meter medley relay by nearly two seconds in 3:31.96 and picked up 38 points. The previous record was 3:33.81 by the LA Current earlier this season.

Atkinson was also a member of the runner-up 400-meter medley relay that finished in 3:34.53 with teammates Guilherme Guido, Emma McKeon and Kyle Chalmers.

The Energy Standard, leading after Day One, hung on to take the match with 507 points. London was second with 486.5, LA Current, 395.5 and Tokyo Frog Kings, 379.

The London Roar will next compete on Sept. 23-24 in Match 9 and 10 against Energy Standard, Toronto Titans and DC Trident.

In other ISL news, two-time Olympian Madi Wilson of LA Current dropped out of Match 8 after testing positive for COVID-19. She was vaccinated before the Tokyo Olympics. She made the announcement on social media from her Naples hospital bed.

Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel of the defending champions Cali Condors has decided to sit out the remainder of the ISL regular season. According to a team spokesperson, he has not been feeling well and has decided to rest for the playoffs. There are only two matches left in the regular season and play-in match. The Cali Condors and LA Current have already earned spots in the playoffs.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson Wins Twice For London Roar On Opening Day Of ISL Match Eight

By Sharon Robb
NAPLES, Italy, September 18, 2021–In the eighth match of the International Swimming League’s third season, SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson opened with a win in the 50-meter breaststroke Saturday at Piscina Felice Scandone.

Atkinson, 32, five-time Jamaican Olympian, won in 29.47 ahead of Benedetta Pilato of Energy Standard in 29.51. Atkinson is the world short course record holder in the event (28.56). It was her seventh 50 breaststroke win.

Atkinson was also a member of the winning 400-meter medley relay that won in 3:48.04, just 1/100th of a second ahead of LA Current in 3:48.05. She was joined by teammates Kira Toussaint, Emma McKeon and Marie Wattel out-touching Abbey Weitzeil on the final leg.

London came up with 30 points winning the 400-meter freestyle relay in 3:05.84 including a second leg split of 45.91 by Dylan Carter of Trinidad & Tobago. Carter was also sixth in the 50-meter backstroke in 23.81.

After opening day action, ISL season one league champion Energy Standard leads with 282 points followed by the London Roar, 260, Tokyo Frog Kings, 182 and LA Current, 180. After three matches, Energy Standard is the only undefeated team in the league.

Second day action continues Sunday at noon-2 p.m. EST.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Dressel Breaks Two World Records In Forty Minutes; SOFLO’s Atkinson Swims Fastest Time Of Year At ISL Finals

By Sharon Robb
BUDAPEST, Hungary, November 21, 2020—The International Swimming League championship final lived up to expectations Saturday on opening day at Duna Arena.

The Cali Condors, led by Caeleb Dressel’s back-to-back short course would records within 40 minutes, are sitting pretty heading into Sunday’s second day of competition.

The Cali Condors lead defending ISL champion Energy Standard, 267-239.5 points. The London Roar is third with 199.5 and LA Current is fourth with 177.

With the London Roar unable to grab a skins choice in either event, they are technically out of the race for the title. LA Current also appears to not have enough to challenge on the final day.

South Florida Aquatic Club’s Alia Atkinson turned in her fastest performance of the year in the 50-meter breaststroke in 28.88, swimming in Lane 7, to take the bronze. Lilly King of the Cali Condors won in 28.77 and teenager Benedetta Pilato of Energy Standard was second in 28.81. Her reaction time was 0.63 off the block, fastest among the field.

Atkinson, 31, a four-time Jamaican Olympian, has four of the fastest performances of all time in the 50 breaststroke short course meters event, including the top two (28.56 and 28.64).

An ISL meet record of four world records were shattered, including two by Dressel, a Clay High School and Bolles Club alum.

Dressel was in beast mode as he broke the 100-meter butterfly in 47.78 (he went out in 22.44 pushed by Tom Shields’ 22.38 split) and then lowered his own 50-meter freestyle in 20.16 with an 0.64 reaction time off the block. He also lowered his American record in the 100-meter freestyle in 45.18 on the 4×100 relay leadoff leg.

Energy Standard broke the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay in 3:25.37, but it will be recorded as a world best since all four relay members are from different countries.

Later in the meet the Cali Condors’ women’s 400-meter medley relay broke the world record (3:44.52) that will count since all four swimmers are Americans (Olivia Smoliga, Lilly King, Kelsi Worrell Dahlia and Erika Brown).

Energy Standard’s Kliment Kolesnikov set a world record in the 100-meter backstroke in 48.58, leadoff leg on the 400 medley relay.

King set an American record in the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:15.56 and 50-meter breaststroke to become the second fastest all-time behind Atkinson.

In other events:
Beryl Gastaldello of LA Current won the 100-meter butterfy in 55.34 and handed Sarah Sjostrom of Energy Standard her first loss of the season, who finished second in 55.37. Sjostrom came back to win the 50 freestyle in 23.55.

Beata Nelson of Cali Condors led from start to finish to win the 200-meter backstroke in 2:00.27.

Evgeny Rylov of Energy Standard won the 200-meter backstroke in 1:46.37 ahead of Bolles alum Ryan Murphy of LA Current in 1:47.41.

Kirill Prigoda of London Roar won the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:01.71.

Andrew Seliskar of LA Current won the 200-meter individual medley in 1:51.53.

Sydney Pickrem of London Roar won the 200-meter individual medley in 2:04.00.

Ilya Shymanovich of Energy Standard won the 50-meter breaststroke in 25.48 out-touching Adam Peaty of London Roar in 25.50.

Olivia Smoliga of Cali Condors won the 50-meter backstroke in 25.83.

Ryan Murphy came back to win the 50-meter backstroke in 22.54. American Heritage alum and Trinidad and Tobago’s Dylan Carter of LA Current was seventh in 23.95.

Hali Flickinger of Cali Condors won the 400-meter freestyle in 3:58.77.

Tom Dean of London Roar won the 400-meter freestyle in 3:36.56.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson Ready For This Weekend’s ISL Championship Finals

By Sharon Robb
BUDAPEST, Hungary, November 19, 2020–South Florida Aquatic Club’s Alia Atkinson is more than ready to “battle and be better” for this weekend’s International Swimming League final at Duna Arena.

The four-time Jamaican Olympian will wind up her second pro season when she competes with the London Roar. The three other teams making it to the final are defending champion Energy Standard, Cali Condors and LA Current.

The Energy Standard leads in rating points with 2,291 followed by the Cali Condors, 2,222 and London Roar, 2,007.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Atkinson told Sports Max TV. “Right now, we’re third but we’re pretty close to second and first. I really think we can pull something out. I think we can surprise some people and just do our best.

“Six weeks is a long time. Everybody is excited to go home but as a team I think we’re focused and ready to go into the finals and produce the best times they can. I know we will give it 100 per cent effort.”

Clay High School and Bolles Club alum Caeleb Dressel of the Cali Condors is coming off last week’s world record performance in the 100-meter individual medley (49.88). In last year’s final, he broke the world record in the 50-meter freestyle in 20.24.

The London Roar’s Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands and Adam Peaty of Great Britain are also coming off world records. Toussaint, who swam for Florida Gulf Coast for two seasons before transferring to Tennessee for her final two seasons, broke the 50 backstroke mark in 25.60 and Peaty broke the 100 breaststroke in 55.49.

The pro season, held in a “bubble” under strict COVID-19 guidelines, started with 300 swimmers and 10 international teams. Competition was held over six weeks.

Atkinson, 31, is ranked first in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:02.66) and fourth in the 50-meter breaststroke (29.20). Atkinson has also lowered her Jamaican national record in the 100 butterfly twice (57.13 last weekend).

“The butterfly was fantastic, I wanted to go 56 but like the 100 breast you have to take it step by step,” Atkinson said. “I haven’t done that race in like six years, so considering that it is a pretty good time. Hopefully, as I swim it some more I will get faster and faster.”

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Peaty Breaks World Short Course Record; SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson Wins, Roar Advances To ISL Final

By Sharon Robb
BUDAPEST, Hungary, November 15, 2020—It was a good day for London Roar breaststrokers.

South Florida Aquatic Club’s Alia Atkinson, a four-time Jamaican Olympian and short course world record holder, owned the 100-meter breaststroke which she won in 1:02.66

Atkinson led the race from start to finish, opening in 29.62 and closing in 33.04 to finish with her fastest time of the season. The time is the only sub-1:03 of the season and is quicker Olympic champion Lilly King of Cali Condors has been, with the American holding the former best of the season in 1:03.16.

Atkinson’s fastest of the season entering this race was 1:03.53. On Sunday she was just .3 outside the world record. She picked up 15 jackpot points.

Italian teen Benedetta Pilato of Energy Standard was second, nearly a second back in 1:03.55 for seven points and national record for the Italian.

Reigning Olympic champion Adam Peaty of London Roar broke the world short course record in the 100-meter breaststroke in 55.49. He broke the 11-year-old record of South African Cameron van der Burgh, 55.61 set on Nov. 15 at the 2009 World Cup in Berlin.

Peaty also won the 50-meter breaststroke skins contest to pick up 14 points.

In other notable results:

Siobhan Haughey of Energy Standard won the 100-meter freestyle in a lifetime-best 51.12. She also won the 200 freestyle in 1:51.36.

Teammate Florent Manaudou won the men’s 100-meter freestyle in 45.92.

Chad le Clos, also of Energy Standard, won the 200-meter butterfly in 1:50.64.

London Roar’s Kira Toussaint won the 100-meter backstroke in 55.90.

Michael Andrew of New York Breakers won the 100-meter individual medley in 51.66 for his first win of the season.

After Day Two, Energy Standard was on top 580.0 followed by London Roar, 517.5, Tokyo Frog Kings, 380.5 and New York Breakers, 239.0.

The Match ended the season for first-year team Tokyo Frog Kings and New York Breakers while Energy Standard and London Roar advanced to the final. Two more finalists will be determined after Monday’s second semifinal.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com