By Sharon Robb
BUDAPEST, Hungary, September 9, 2020—South Florida Aquatic Club’s Alia Atkinson will compete for the London Roar when the International Swimming League opens it second season next month.
The four-time Jamaican Olympian competed for Team Iron during the league’s inaugural season. Another breaststroker, Annie Lazor has also moved to the London Roar from the LA Current. Both are expected to be among the league’s top breaststrokers.
The 320-swimmer, 10-team professional league, sponsored by Ukrainian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin, will fund its contracted athletes with monthly payments of $1,500 from September through the July 23-August 8 Tokyo Olympics, the series announced on Wednesday.
“It’s an uncertain time for us all at the moment so this much welcomed financial grant will assist swimmers as everyone prepares for 2021,” said British world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Adam Peaty.
Japan has entered a team, Tokyo Frog Kings, coached by U.S. coach Dave Salo and led by four-time Olympic breaststroke gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima. The other new league team is the Toronto Titans.
Because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the ISL will hold five weeks of racing in a bubble in Budapest, Hungary, much like the NBA is currently playing under at Disney World, during October and November before a possible championship final in Tokyo in December.
Hungary closed its borders to foreigners since Sept. 1 to stop a rise in COVID-19 cases. ISL officials said a comprehensive medical protocol would allow the swimmers to enter the country.
ISL technical director Apostolos Tsagkarakis said everyone travelling to Budapest would have to undergo two COVID-19 tests prior to departure and another on arrival.
More tests would be done 48 hours later before training could start. There would then be tests every five days.
Swimmers will stay in single rooms at hotels exclusively reserved for them on Margaret Island in the Danube.
There will be five matches in October, starting on the 16th, and five in November before semi-finals from Nov. 19-22. Four teams will qualify for the final. The racing will be broadcast to more than 80 countries.
Hungarian Olympic champion Katinka Hosszu, who swam and and managed Team Iron in 2019 said the financial support is “hugely important” for the sport and has prevented several swimmers from retiring.
“It’s a difficult time for the swimmers and it’s important to not only have something to look forward to but also to have that security in their careers,” Hosszu said.
“Aside from the salary the training camp will cut down a lot of the travel that we had in 2019 and that will help, given the problems there are with movement around the world at the moment.”
Last season the London Roar, which returns most of its top scorers, came within ten points of knocking off champion Energy Standard, winning the ISL’s first title.
The ISL plans to return to multiple events and venues for a full program in late 2021/22. The London Roar returns Melanie Marshall as head coach.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
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