2003 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool

The inaugural edition of the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool took place on April 6, 2003, at the Indiana University Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI in Indianapolis. The event pitted the United States' top swimmers against those of Australia.

The event featured 26 races — four relay events and 22 individual races — in an Olympic-sized pool. There were 270 total points up for grabs in the event, with the U.S. beating Australia in the end 196–74.

The event was broadcast in the United States by the NBC television network, who taped the event, then showed it over two days the next weekend on April 12 and April 13, 2003. Ted Robinson handled stroke-by-stroke duties, with Rowdy Gaines as the analyst. Craig Hummer was the poolside reporter and interviewer.

Event summary The Australian team had many noticeable absences: Ian Thorpe withdrew due to a serious illness; Jodie Henry withdrew due to terrorism fears, as this was one of the first major international sporting events held on the heels of the beginning of the war in Iraq; other notable missing Aussies were Michael Klim, Petria Thomas, Geoff Huegill, Giaan Rooney, Leisel Jones, and Ashley Callus.

Of the 26 events held, the U.S. won 21.

Results Events are listed in chronological order.

Event First place Pt Time Second place Pt Time Third place Pt Time Fourth place Pt TimeWomen's 4 × 100 m Free RelayLindsay BenkoNatalie CoughlinRhi JeffreyJenny Thompson USA 7 3:38.95 USORAlice MillsLibby LentonSarah RyanElka Graham Australia 0 3:39.13Men's 4 × 100 m Free RelayScott TuckerNate DusingJason LezakNeil Walker USA 7 3:14.20 USORCasey FlouchAntony MatkovichJason CramAdam Pine Australia 0 3:18.62Women's 400 m Individual MedleyKaitlin Sandeno USA 5 4:41.89Jennifer Reilly Australia 3 4:42.94Maggie Bowen USA 2 4:44.75Maddy Crippen USA 1 4:50.37Men's 400 m Individual MedleyMichael Phelps USA 5 4:10.73 WRTom Wilkens USA 3 4:16.75Erik Vendt USA 2 4:17.48Justin Norris Australia 1 4:19.05Women's 100 m BackNatalie Coughlin USA 5 1:00.74Haley Cope USA 3 1:01.65Margaret Hoelzer USA 2 1:02.53Giaan Rooney Australia 1 1:03.08Men's 100 m BackMatt Welsh Australia 5 53.89Lenny Krayzelburg USA 3 54.00Aaron Peirsol USA 2 54.09Randall Bal USA 1 55.02Women's 100 m BreastAmanda Beard USA 5 1:08.17Brooke Hanson Australia 3 1:08.62Tara Kirk USA 2 1:08.90Sarah Katsoulis Australia 1 1:08.91Men's 100 m BreastEd Moses USA 5 1:00.29Brendan Hansen USA 3 1:00.49Jim Piper Australia 2 1:01.97David Denniston USA 1 1:02.44Women's 100 m FreeLibby Lenton Australia 5 54.71Jenny Thompson USA 3 55.00Alice Mills Australia 2 55.53Kara Lynn Joyce USA 1 55.56Men's 100 m FreeNeil Walker USA 5 49.10Todd Pearson Australia 3 49.70Scott Tucker USA 2 49.71Ryan Wochomurka USA 1 50.26Women's 100 m FlyNatalie Coughlin USA 5 58.70Mary DeScenza USA 3 59.04Jessicah Schipper Australia 2 59.76Emily Goetsch USA 1 59.78Men's 100 m FlyMichael Phelps USA 5 51.84 USORIan Crocker USA 3 52.49Ben Michaelson USA 2 52.76Adam Pine Australia 1 53.47Women's 800 m FreeDiana Munz USA 5 8:34.45Hayley Peirsol USA 3 8:36.27Amanda Pascoe Australia 2 8:37.52Adrienne Binder USA 1 8:44.11Women's 200 m BackMargaret Hoelzer USA 5 2:10.88Melissa Morgan Australia 3 2:12.49Jamie Reid USA 2 2:13.55Carmen Retrum USA 1 2:15.02Men's 200 m BackAaron Peirsol USA 5 1:57.13Lenny Krayzelburg USA 3 1:58.46Matt Welsh Australia 2 1:58.96Bryce Hunt USA 1 1:59.61Women's 200 m BreastAmanda Beard USA 5 2:25.77Brooke Hanson Australia 3 2:30.44Kristy Kowal USA 2 2:30.98Sarah Kaslouis Australia 1 2:32.28Men's 200 m BreastEd Moses USA 5 2:10.49Jim Piper Australia 3 2:12.02Brendan Hansen USA 2 2:12.57Regan Harrison Australia 1 2:14.5Women's 50 m FreeKara Lynn Joyce USA 5 25.14Jenny Thompson USA 3 25.18Maritza Correia USA 2 25.36Alice Mills Australia 1 25.39Men's 50 m FreeJason Lezak USA 5 22.26Brett Hawke Australia 3 22.47Neil Walker USA 2 22.53Anthony Ervin USA 1 22.54Women's 200 m FreeLindsay Benko USA 5 1:59.17Elka Graham Australia 3 1:59.36Elizabeth Hill USA 2 2:00.54Rhi Jeffrey USA 1 2:01.94Men's 200 m FreeGrant Hackett Australia 5 1:46.64 ARKlete Keller USA 3 1:47.08 USORAntony Matkovich Australia 2 1:49.18Scott Goldblatt USA 1 1:49.38Women's 200 m FlyKaitlin Sandeno USA 5 2:10.69Mary DeScenza USA 3 2:10.77Emily Mason USA 2 2:11.67Felicity Galvez Australia 1 2:12.27Men's 200 m FlyMichael Phelps USA 5 1:55.17Tom Malchow USA 3 1:55.24Michael Raab USA 2 1:58.29Justin Norris Australia 1 1:58.50Men's 1500 m FreeGrant Hackett Australia 5 14:48.34 ARLarsen Jensen USA 3 15:00.81Craig Stevens Australia 2 15:19.19Chris Thompson USA 1 15:20.82Women's 4 × 100 m Medley RelayGiaan RooneyBrooke HansonJessicah SchipperLibby Lenton Australia 7 4:05.25Natalie CoughlinAmanda BeardMary DeScenzaLindsay Benko USA 0 DQMen's 4 × 100 m Medley RelayAaron PeirsolEd MosesMichael PhelpsNeil Walker USA 7 3:34.24 USORMatt WelshJim PiperAdam PineTodd Pearson Australia 0 DQ

WR=World Record; USOR=U.S. Open Record; AR=American Record

Phelps' world record in the 400 IM, the only one set that day, earned him a $25,000 bonus.

Reasons for DQs: Libby Lenton had originally placed first in the Women's 50 m Free, but was stripped of the win because the judges said she false-started. A videotape review of the start, though, appeared to show that she didn't false-start; however, because FINA does not allow tape reviews, the DQ stood, though a FINA Technical Committee member told Lenton her race time would stand as an Australian record.

References