Jasmine Alkhaldi, a two-time Olympian and 29-time SEA Games medalist, shares her inspiring journey of resilience and dedication to swimming, highlighting her unwavering commitment to representing the Philippines and the strength she draws from overcoming setbacks.
Indian swimmers Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu have been selected to represent India at the upcoming Paris Olympics through the Universality Quota. This comes after veteran swimmer Sajan Prakash announced his failure to qualify for the Games.
Caeleb Dressel, the five-time Olympic gold medalist, showcased his return to form at the US Olympic Trials, securing his spot in the men’s 50-meter freestyle for the Paris Games. Meanwhile, Chris Guiliano solidified his place as a rising star with three individual event qualifications, including the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle. Regan Smith and Kate Douglass also dominated with multiple individual event wins, highlighting a thrilling US Olympic Trials.
Ryan Murphy secured his spot in the Paris Olympics with a dominant win in the 200m backstroke at the US Olympic trials. He joins Regan Smith and Kate Douglass, who also secured double events in Paris. Murphy, Smith, and Douglass all delivered impressive performances, showcasing their talent and determination for the upcoming Olympics.
Despite a major doping scandal involving 23 Chinese swimmers testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2020-2021, China has named 11 of them in its Olympic swimming squad for the upcoming Paris Games. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted China’s argument that the positive tests were due to food contamination and did not sanction the athletes. The decision has been met with criticism, particularly from the United States, and has raised concerns about fairness in international swimming competition.
In a heart-stopping video that has gone viral on social media, a man in Brazil can be seen swimming with a giant anaconda. The video, shared on Instagram by safari.travel.ideas, shows the man calmly floating alongside the massive reptile in the Pantanal Wetland in Brazil. While the sight of a human swimming with an anaconda may be terrifying to many, it’s important to note that the man in the video is an experienced wildlife handler who took all necessary precautions to ensure his safety. The caption of the video emphasizes that swimming with anacondas is not recommended for the general public, as these reptiles are capable of eating humans. However, the video serves as a testament to the incredible diversity and danger that exists in the Pantanal, which is home to some of the largest anacondas in the world.
11-year-old Yu Zidi, a Hong Kong native, has impressed the swimming world with her performance at the Chinese National Swimming Championships. Yu finished second in the women’s 400m individual medley, just two seconds shy of the qualifying time for the Paris Olympics. Her time would have also been sufficient to earn her a spot at the World Aquatic Championships in February. Despite her impressive performance, Yu will not compete at the Paris Games due to China having already reached its quota of female athletes. Her time in the 400m medley would make her the 11th fastest American in history, highlighting her immense potential in the sport.
The anti-doping authorities of Britain and Australia have joined the United States in calling for a review of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) handling of failed drug tests in Chinese swimming. The case involves 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine before the Tokyo Games but were cleared by China’s anti-doping agency. WADA confirmed the positive tests but accepted China’s explanation that the swimmers were exposed to the banned substance through contaminated food at a hotel. However, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) have expressed concern about WADA’s acceptance of China’s findings. Both organizations have called for an independent review of WADA’s processes to ensure trust and confidence in anti-doping.
An 11-year-old Chinese swimmer, Yu Zidi, has made waves at the country’s Olympic swimming trials, posting a time in the 400m individual medley that would have qualified her for the World Championships finals. Despite her impressive performance, Yu narrowly missed the Olympic qualifying mark and will not represent China in Tokyo. Nonetheless, her time, just 15 seconds shy of the world record, has sparked excitement in the swimming community and raised questions about her future potential. Yu’s achievement also highlights the strength of China’s swimming program, with several other swimmers recording impressive times at the trials.
Ace swimmers Zara Bakshi and Nimesh Muley dominated the final day of the Otters Club Open swimming championships, securing impressive medal tallies. Bakshi bagged five gold medals and a silver, while Muley won four gold medals, one silver, and two bronze. Both swimmers swept their respective women’s and men’s sections with notable performances.
