2009 Year in Review

Below is a recap of 2009 as seen through the eyes of USAS Media Officer, Greg Eggert, and inspired by and excerpt of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities.

2009: "It was the best of times" - - -

When the news was good, it was really good, especially significant were the last two items on our list:

Swimwear........our leaders and delegates at the FINA Technical and General Congresses persuaded the National Federations that something needed to be done immediately;

Swimming World Magazine celebrated its 50 year anniversary with the launch of Swimming World TV and The Morning Swim Show, a daily newscast featuring athletes, coaches and news makers across the aquatic disciplines;

In Rome five time US Olympian Dara Torres was recognized by the International Committee For Fair Play due to the sportsmanship she exhibited during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games;

US athlete Fran Crippen was initially disqualified in the 10K open water event at the World Championships, but thanks to a successful appeal he was awarded the bronze medal;

"Madame Butterfly", Mary "T" Meagher was inducted into the USOC's Olympic Hall of Fame;

The NCAA presented Water Polo legend Maureen O'Toole-Purcell with it's prestigious Silver Anniversary Award;

The AAU nominated the four men who bested an impressive French squad to earn the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal and a World Record in the 4 x 100 freestyle relay, for the Sullivan Award;

Carol Zaleski was honored by the USOC as the recipient of the George Steinbrenner Award;

Bartolo Consolo, the outgoing FINA Honorary Secretary and the former President of LEN was presented with the R. Max Ritter Award by USAS at a luncheon in Rome during the occasion of the FINA World Championships in hit native Italy;

Judy McGowan and Jenny Thompson were inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in recognition of a lifetime of accomplishments;

Julio Maglione, the FINA Treasurer, former UANA President and a member of the IOC was elected the new FINA President in July;

Our nominees for FINA Technical Committees and Commissions were appointed to 15 different positions including several leadership positions. No other nation rivals our placements and our influence within FINA, but with this we carry a tremendous responsibility to consistently work towards the improvement of all of the aquatic disciplines;

Mustapha Larfaoui, FINA President since 1988 chose not to run for a sixth term. Larfaoui is now the Honorary Life President of FINA and Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee;

UANA hosted all of the world's swimming federations at a reception in Rome on the eve of the FINA Congress as a gesture of goodwill and solidarity;

UANA President Eldon Godfrey host the first UANA Conference which brought together many of the continent's aquatic leaders across all disciplines;

The age limit for swimming officials and synchronized swimming and diving judges at the World Championships and the Olympic Games was once again raised to age 65 to allow the contributions of the world's most experienced officials at our sports most important events;

The order of events and the qualifying times for the 2011 Pan American Games were established two years in advance of the Guadalajara, Mexico competition. Toronto was awarded the right to host the 2015 Pan Am Games;

Another edition of the Duel in the Pool was recently held in Manchester, England and broadcast by NBC. The USA soundly defeated the combined team from the UK, Italy and Germany;

Our relationship with Aquatic Federation of Canada President Bill Hogan, UANA President Edlon Godfrey and new FINA Bureau member Dr. Margo Mountjoy grew closer and more collaborative;

The airplane carrying some members of the USA delegation returning from the Rome World Championships including our divers and synchronized swimmers makes an emergency landing in the UK followed by their safe return to the USA the following day;

USA's open water official Rick Walker, a veteran of 11 world championships made his most significant contribution when he rescued Kate Brookes-Peterson from drowning during the 25K Open Water event in Rome.

2009: "It was the worst of times" - - -

We were not spared disappointment and the passing of friends and heroes in 2009:

Swimwear.......need we say more?

It wasn't enough to earn 110 Olympic medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Despite earning 10 more than the host nation, USOC CEO Jim Scherr and the Chief of Sport Performance Steve Roush were ousted from their positions at the USOC;

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was selected to host the 2016 Olympic Games, after booting out a bid by Chicago in the first round of voting despite personal appeals from US President Obama and first lady;

SPEEDO, a long time advertiser in Swimming World Magazine dropped its advertising in the publication and now a different brand of swimwear graces the back cover;

The Women's 4 x 100 medley relay finished 10th in the prelims and for the first time in World Championship history failed to qualify for the championship final; The USA had never failed to earn a gold or a silver medal in all previous FINA World Championships;

USA Olympic Head Coach Richard Quick and NCAA President Myles Brand each lost courageous battles with cancer;

USOC Paralympic Swimming Head Coach and National Team Manager Jimi Flowers, died tragically during a climb on Capitol Peak near Aspen, Colorado;

On the final day of the FINA World Championships we awoke to the sad news that FINA Vice President Hironoshin Furuhashi (JPN), had passed away in his sleep in Rome. “Furu San" was known as Japan’s “Flying Fish” in the 1940s due to the many world records he set in the 1500m free and was a member of the FINA Bureau since 1968;

Wayne Burrow stepped away from his positions at the NCAA, FISU and on the boards of our aquatic national governing bodies, leaving big shoes to fill in all those places.