2009 Duel in the Pool

The 2009 Duel in the Pool was a swimming competition between a team from the United States and a combined British, German and Italian "E-Stars" team held on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December 2009 at the Manchester Aquatics Centre, United Kingdom. The naming rights are held by Mutual of Omaha and British Gas in the United States and Europe respectively – the event was therefore promoted as the 2009 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool and 2009 British Gas Duel in the Pool.

The duel was won by the United States with a final score of 185–78, with eight short course world records broken – all by the USA team.

Background In March 2009 it was announced that British Swimming were looking at proposals to host a Duel in the Pool style meet between the US and a combined European team in Manchester, dubbed the Ryder Cup of swimming. On 21 October 2009, it was announced that a Duel in the Pool will take place between a "European select team" and the US in Manchester on 18 and 19 December 2009. This event will include the first competitive performance by Michael Phelps in Britain.

Teams E-Stars

The E-Stars team was announced on 25 November following a delay in confirming availability of some of the originally selected swimmers. It was originally intended that the European team would include 12 swimmers from each of the three participating nations, however the team list included fourteen each from Great Britain and Italy, with just eight from Germany.

Middle-distance freestyle swimmers Joanne Jackson (GBR) and Federica Pellegrini (ITA) were originally included on the team list, however their withdrawals were announced on 4 December – Jackson due to recovering from a lung infection, and Pellegrini due to a clash with an awards dinner in Italy. Jackson's position in the team was filled by Jazmin Carlin (GBR). German Steffen Deibler was present on the original team list, however he withdrew from the event due to illness on 14 December and was replaced by Marco Orsi of Italy. Alessia Filippi (ITA) also withdrew due to illness on this date. Keri-Anne Payne (GBR) was drafted into the team as a replacement for Filippi just a few days prior to the start of the competition. The final team list consisted of 13 Italian, 7 German and 15 British members.

Men Federico Colbertaldo (ITA) David Davies (GBR) Hendrik Feldwehr (GER) Christian Galenda (ITA) Edoardo Giorgetti (ITA) James Goddard (GBR) Thomas Haffield (GBR) Marco Koch (GER) Filippo Magnini (ITA) Luca Marin (ITA) Joseph Davide Natullo (ITA) Marco Orsi (ITA) Robbie Renwick (GBR) Michael Rock (GBR) Fabio Scozzoli (ITA) Benjamin Starke (GER) Liam Tancock (GBR) Christopher Walker-Hebborn (GBR)

Women Rebecca Adlington (GBR) Ilaria Bianchi (ITA) Chiara Boggiatto (ITA) Jazmin Carlin (GBR) Caterina Giacchetti (ITA) Francesca Halsall (GBR) Caitlin McClatchey (GBR) Annika Mehlhorn (GER) Hannah Miley (GBR) Keri-Anne Payne (GBR) Caroline Ruhnau (GER) Daniela Samulski (GER) Ilaria Scarcella (ITA) Daniela Schreiber (GER) Francesca Segat (ITA) Elizabeth Simmonds (GBR) Gemma Spofforth (GBR)

United States

USA Swimming announced their team list on 28 October. Ryan Lochte pulled out of the team on 11 December due to injury.

Men Nathan Adrian Mike Alexandrov Jack Brown Tyler Clary Mark Gangloff Matt Grevers Michael Klueh Chad LaTourette Sean Mahoney Tyler McGill Aaron Peirsol Michael Phelps Kevin Swander Nick Thoman Alex Vanderkaay Peter Vanderkaay Garrett Weber-Gale

Women Elizabeth Beisel Missy Franklin Katy Freeman Jessica Hardy Margaret Hoelzer Katie Hoff Dagny Knutson Ariana Kukors Christine Magnuson Amber McDermott Hayley McGregory Mary Mohler Elizabeth Pelton Allison Schmitt Julia Smit Rebecca Soni Dana Vollmer Amanda Weir

Format The competition followed the format of previous Duel in the Pool events, and were held in a short course (25 m) pool. Up to three swimmers from each team competed in each of the twenty-six individual events – thirteen each for men and women. Points were awarded to the top 3 finishers in each individual event – five points for the gold medal finisher, three for silver and one for bronze. Swimmers in fourth to sixth position were awarded no points. The winning team in each of the relay events were awarded seven points, with none for the losing team. In the event of a tie, a mixed 4×50 m medley relay would have been held with a single decisive point to the winner.

Gold medallists in each event received a prize of 1,000 US Dollars, with world record swims receiving a bonus of 15,000 US Dollars.

Events were swum in the following order, with women followed by men in each event.

Day 1 (18 December) 400 m medley relay 400 m individual medley 100 m freestyle 200 m backstroke 200 m breaststroke 100 m butterfly 400 m freestyle

Day 2 (19 December) 800 m freestyle 200 m freestyle 100 m backstroke 100 m breaststroke 200 m butterfly 50 m freestyle 200 m individual medley 400 m freestyle relay

Venue

Following Manchester's successful hosting of the 2008 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) at the Manchester Evening News Arena, the Manchester Aquatics Centre (which was the training and warm up venue for the 2008 championships) was chosen to host the 2009 Duel in the Pool. The venue was also that used for the aquatic sports at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The main pool was used for the 2009 Duel in the Pool – it was converted to the short course (25 m) format with temporary seating for 3000 positioned atop of the moveable floor sections of the diving pool and Oxford Road end of the main pool.

Results Final points tally Rank Team Men Women Total 1 95 90 185 2 E-Stars 41 37 78

Men 50 m freestyle Nathan Adrian United States 20.71 Matt Grevers United States 20.93 Marco Orsi E-Stars 21.12100 m freestyle Nathan Adrian United States 45.42 Marco Orsi E-Stars 46.59 Michael Phelps United States 46.99200 m freestyle Peter Vanderkaay United States 1:42.17 Benjamin Starke E-Stars 1:42.86 Michael Phelps United States 1:43.08400 m freestyle Peter Vanderkaay United States 3:35.54 Federico Colbertaldo E-Stars 3:38.54 Michael Klueh United States 3:39.94800 m freestyle Federico Colbertaldo E-Stars 7:31.18ER Chad La Tourette United States 7:33.94 David Davies E-StarsMichael Klueh United States 7:36.47NR7:36.47100 m backstroke Matt Grevers United States 49.32 Aaron Peirsol United States 51.25 Liam Tancock E-Stars 51.40200 m backstroke Matt Grevers United States 1:48.74 Nick Thoman United States 1:50.05 Aaron Peirsol United States 1:51.08100 m breaststroke Mike Alexandrov United States 57.16 Fabio Scozzoli E-Stars 57.47 Kevin Swander United States 57.64200 m breaststroke Mike Alexandrov United States 2:03.72 Edoardo Giorgetti E-Stars 2:03.80NR Sean Mahoney United States 2:04.28100 m butterfly Michael Phelps United States 50.46 Benjamin Starke E-Stars 50.51 Michael Rock E-Stars 50.61200 m butterfly Michael Rock E-Stars 1:51.46 Michael Phelps United States 1:52.86 Tyler McGill United States 1:53.17200 m IM James Goddard E-Stars 1:52.62NR Jack Brown United States 1:54.43 Tyler Clary United States 1:54.82400 m IM Tyler Clary United States 4:02.02 Jack Brown United States 4:03.57 Alex Vanderkaay United States 4:05.224 × 100 m freestyle relay United StatesNathan Adrian (45.08) Matt Grevers (44.68)Garrett Weber-Gale (47.43)Michael Phelps (46.11) 3:03.30WR E-StarsChristian Galenda (46.67)Marco Orsi (45.95)Benjamin Starke (45.81)Filippo Magnini (46.52) 3:04.95 None awarded 4 × 100 m medley relay United StatesNick Thoman (48.94) WRMark Gangloff (57.03)Michael Phelps (49.93)Nathan Adrian (44.81) 3:20.71WR E-StarsLiam Tancock (51.46)Fabio Scozzoli (57.75)Michael Rock (49.33)Christian Galenda (46.13) 3:24.67 None awarded

Legend: WR – World record; ER – European record; NR – National record;

Women 50 m freestyle Fran Halsall E-Stars 23.44NR Jessica Hardy United States 24.04 Christine Magnuson United States 24.05100 m freestyle Fran Halsall E-Stars 51.54 Dana Vollmer United States 52.16 Daniela Schreiber E-Stars 52.73200 m freestyle Allison Schmitt United States 1:51.67 Dagny Knutson United States 1:53.59 Fran Halsall E-Stars 1:53.79NR400 m freestyle Allison Schmitt United States 3:55.89 Rebecca Adlington E-Stars 3:59.04 Dagny Knutson United States 4:01.21800 m freestyle Rebecca Adlington E-Stars 8:10.59 Keri-anne Payne E-Stars 8:17.61 Amber McDermott United States 8:21.82100 m backstroke Lizzie Simmonds E-Stars 56.59NR Margaret Hoelzer United States 57.35 Gemma Spofforth E-Stars 57.62200 m backstroke Lizzie Simmonds E-Stars 2:00.91ER Margaret Hoelzer United States 2:02.72 Elizabeth Pelton United States 2:02.78100 m breaststroke Rebecca Soni United States 1:02.70WR Jessica Hardy United States 1:04.71 Katy Freeman United States 1:05.13200 m breaststroke Rebecca Soni United States 2:14.57WR Katy Freeman United States 2:17.50 Ariana Kukors United States 2:23.03100 m butterfly Fran Halsall E-Stars 55.71NR Christine Magnuson United States 55.81 Dana Vollmer United States 56.00200 m butterfly Mary Mohler United States 2:04.78 Dana Vollmer United States 2:05.34 Francesca Segat E-Stars 2:05.53200 m IM Julia Smit United States 2:04.60WR Ariana Kukors United States 2:07.87 Katie Hoff United States 2:08.37400 m IM Julia Smit United States 4:21.04WR Dagny Knutson United States 4:24.31 Hannah Miley E-Stars 4:24.51ER4 × 100 m freestyle relay United StatesMissy Franklin (52.78)Christine Magnuson (51.82)Amanda Weir (53.31)Dana Vollmer (50.98) 3:28.89 E-StarsFran Halsall (51.58)Daniela Schreiber (52.24)Daniela Samulski (52.34)Lizzie Simmonds (53.74) 3:29.90 None awarded 4 × 100 m medley relay United StatesMargaret Hoelzer (57.47)Jessica Hardy (1:03.58)Dana Vollmer (54.37)Amanda Weir (52.55) 3:47.97WR E-StarsGemma Spofforth (57.17)Caroline Ruhnau (1:04.84)Ilaria Bianchi (57.72)Daniela Samulski DSQ None awarded

Legend: WR – World record; ER – European record; NR – National record;

Broadcast In the United Kingdom the event was broadcast live on the BBC's channels and via its website. Friday's session was on BBC Three, and Saturday's on BBC One.

NBC broadcast highlights of the event on 27 December in the United States.

See also 2009 in swimming

Notes

References

External links 2009 Duel in the Pool