International Swimming League's Second Season Making Waves

(ATR) The creation of "Super Hero" status and "Jackpot Times" are just a few of the innovations of the International Swimming League as it attracts a host of the world’s elite competitors with its creative team format and $6 million prize purse.

Divided into 10 teams across North America, Europe and Asia, more than 300 swimmers from approximately 50 countries are taking part in the five-week series held solely at the Duna Arena in Budapest, Hungary. Following its inaugural 2019 season, the ISL scurried to organize the 2020 edition amid the coronavirus pandemic, prioritizing athlete safety staging the short course competition in a secured bubble setting without spectators.

Olympic and 13-time world champion Caeleb Dressel, a member of the Cali Condors, says he likes the event’s bells and whistles.

"The lights, the show, the quickness of the event – two days, two hours, here’s your time to perform," Dressel tells Around the Rings, referring to the fast-paced, two-day matches, during an ISL virtual press conference. "I really like the pressure it puts on you, it’s a different pressure from Worlds and Olympics.

"Not everyone is on the same page, not everyone is fully tapered, some people are in the middle of training but no one really cares, it’s just about racing."

Dressel, 24, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and holds the current world record in the 100m butterfly. He wasn’t deterred by the long trip from California and being confined in a bubble for six weeks.

"I wouldn’t have gone to this if I didn’t see it as a supplementation and a positive implementation into my swim career moving forward towards an Olympic year.

"I’ve been craving competition and racing. It hit me really bad late August and early September, right when I would have been done with big meets this year," he said.

The ISL was created by Ukrainian energy tycoon Konstantin Grigorishin and officially launched in October 2019, at a reported cost of $20 million including more than $6 million in prize money. The league took the plunge in Indianapolis and concluded with the Grand Final in Las Vegas two months later.

This year, the league has provided swimmers the opportunity to stay in racing shape and compete, whereas numerous FINA World Cup events scheduled for October had to be canceled or postponed due to the pandemic.

Critics of the new league say the emphasis on team tactics and its scoring system detract from swimming’s more traditional focus on race times and records.

"I think Konstantin at one point didn’t even want to put times at all – he just wanted first, second and third," Dressel said. "At least the winner has a time on the board and I really like that element."

U.S. broadcaster CBS Sports signed a multi-year rights deal with the ISL and will show all 13 events of the 2020 season.

ISL and FINA Dispute

Grigorishin insists that the league’s intentions are not to directly challenge or impede FINA events.

"We are not in conflict with FINA, so maybe they have to accept this reality and it will take some time for them," the 54-year-old ISL boss tells ATR. "I think we are on the same page – we should not split the swimming community in these hard times.

"We should consolidate ourselves. We have to work together to split things like in other sports. This will be more valuable for swimming."

Despite a pending lawsuit between the ISL and FINA, Grigorishin is optimistic that the two organizers can collaborate to promote the sport. The two sides are reported to be in pre-trial mediation to resolve matters.

"We are still in a court hearing, so we don’t have straight connection with FINA, but my opinion is this is just temporary difficulties, so we will find some solutions," Grigorishin said. "This is my hope."

The ISL and three swimmers, including Hungary’s triple Olympic gold medalist Katinka Hosszu, took action to challenge FINA’s control of international competitions last December. Swimmers were concerned over FINA threats to ban athletes from the Olympic Games should they compete in non-sanctioned events.

Australians Stay Home

While Grigorishin’s swimming revolution is making a splash, elite swimmers from Australia declined to join the five-week competition over coronavirus concerns.

"It is a decision of swimmers – of course we understand now that the situation is quite tough and especially for Australians because it is such a long trip and we have to respect that decision," the ISL boss says.

"We will try to do our best to protect swimmers' health, in terms of organization of their logistics and in terms of our organizing with "bubble care" with the help of Budapest University.

"We do feel safe – we did two tests before we left and two tests since we’ve been here," said Ryan Murphy, the league’s leading points scorer after three matches, who competes for the L.A. Current. "I’m excited to hopefully be tested a little less often and racing a little bit more."

The L.A. Current swam to victory at the third preliminary match on Sunday and lead the current standings. The Cali Condors and London Roar are tied for second, while the defending champion Paris-based Energy Standard are fourth. The top two teams will compete head-to-head in the ISL Grand Final, Nov. 21-22.

Homepage photo: ISL

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

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