FINA

Almost as quickly as he swam the 50m freestyle final during the World Swimming Championships (25m) in Melbourne, Jordan Crooksbecame an overnight sensation. Not only did Crooks take down established stars Florent Manaudouand Ben Proud, but he became the first swimmer from the Cayman Islands to win a gold medal at the World Championships. Crooks won the 50m freestyle gold medal at 20.46, and became the fourth fastest man in history with his time in the semifinals.

While establishing an ambitious Water Action Agenda and accelerating change to solve the world’s water and sanitation crisis, the UN is bringing together governments, business leaders, young people, scientists and a range of diverse stakeholders for the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York, from 22-24 March 2023. “Water is one of the world’s greatest assets and is vital for health, life and sport.

The changes, initiated by the Innovation Committee in 2017, have provided the Artistic Swimming community with a view into what the progression of the sport will look like. The final three sets of medals that were up for grabs on day three. Comparable to the first two days, results were unpredictable until the end, which added to the competition's intensity and suspense.

Probably the most exciting moment occurred during the Women's Duet Technical during the Israel routine. The pairing of Shelly Bobritsky and Ariel Nasseeexecuted with near flawlessness the highest degree of difficulty routine to score 27.4500 and win the event. Nassee on the historical implications of this gold medal: At the conclusion of the five events which were contested, Japan tops the medal table with the addition of two gold and one bronze to the gold and silver from the first day events.

The World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships – Otopeni/Bucharest 2023 will take place from 10-17 June 2023. With the updated Competition Regulations, the U20 Water Polo Championships now has an eight-day competition system instead of the previous nine competition days. The previously announced dates of the Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships – Otopeni/Bucharest 2023 were 10-18 June 2023.

Ukraine, Spain, and Japan each won one gold medal, but the buzz on pool deck was about the new scoring system and how the athletes prepared for this first competition. Usually drawing number 1 in an event is seen as a disadvantage. Today in the first event on the programme, Women Solo Technical, Aruba's Kyra Hoevertsz became the first athlete to be judged by the new scoring system.

This year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame honorees are: HONOR SWIMMERS: Michael Phelps (USA), Kosuke Kitajima (JPN), Cesar Cielo (BRA), Missy Franklin (USA) and Kristy Coventry (ZIM); HONOR DIVER: Wu Minxia (CHN) HONOR ARTISTIC SWIMMER: Natalia Ishchenko (RUS) HONOR WATER POLO: Heather Petri (USA) HONOR OPEN WATER SWIMMER: Stèphane LeCat (FRA) HONOR COACH: Bob Bowman (USA) and Chris Carver (USA) HONOR CONTRIBUTORS: Sam Ramsamy (RSA) HONOR PARALYMPIAN: Trischa Zorn (USA).

Five years ago, USA Water Polo’s Chief Sport Development Officer John Abdou, was interviewed about the precocious 12-year-old Emily Ausmus competing in the Pan Am junior championships in Florida (USA) against players up to seven years older. He explained that she had a high water polo IQ. That means that she processes situations faster than most athletes, virtually giving her an extra metre as she swiftly moves around the pool.

When you look back to the first time Fukuoka hosted the World Aquatics Championships in 2001, what are your memories? At that time, as I was in the fourth grade. I watched the World Championships on television. Ian Thorpe left the biggest impression on me. I think he won six gold medals. Secondly, since I was a freestyle swimmer from my early youth, I repeatedly watched Tomohiro Yamanoi taking third place in the 50m freestyle so many times I cannot remember.

The Competition Regulations now replace the old regulations of all of our aquatic disciplines, as well as the following former rules and policies: General Rules By-Laws Facilities Rules Medical Rules Swimwear and Equipment Rules Advertising and Signage World Aquatics took this step to deliver greater clarity and provide a more comprehensive rulebook across all our aquatic sports. To aid in this, the Competition Regulations text is searchable and hyperlinked throughout.