clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Cal Bears in the FINA World Aquatic Championships Preview and Sunday Open Thread

Racing in Barcelona, the swimming World Championships once again has a strong Cal Bears flavor. The week long action starts today with NBC's (probably) live coverage this afternoon. GO BEARS!

By LEastCoastBears
Cal Bears Dana Vollmer, Natalie Coughlin, and Missy Franklin are ready for the swimming part of the 2013 World Championships to start today
Cal Bears Dana Vollmer, Natalie Coughlin, and Missy Franklin are ready for the swimming part of the 2013 World Championships to start today
Alexander Hassenstein

Since this is not an Olympic year, the highlight of the swimming season is this year's FINA World Championships (which occurs every other year), taking place in Barcelona, Spain. Once again, the Golden Bears past and current are a big part of Team USA.

The swimming part of the World Championships start today and last all week until next Sunday, August 4th.

Viewing Info for Sunday, July 28, 2013

TV: NBC

Results: OmegaTiming, FINA

Time: 11:30 - 1:30 PM PT

TV Reair: 7-9 PM PT on Universal Sports

Events for Sunday:

Women's 100 m butterfly semifinals
Men's 400 m freestyle final
Women's 200 m individual medley semifinals
Men's 50 m butterfly semifinals
Women's 400 m freestyle final
Men's 100 m breaststroke semifinals
Women's 4x100 m freestyle final
Men's 4x100 m freestyle final

Cal Bears likely in action on Day 1:

  • Dana Vollmer is a favorite for the Women's 100 Butterfly.
  • Swiss Calympian Dominik Meichtry (husband of Cal Bears Jessica Hardy, by the way) will compete in Men's 400 Free.
  • Caitlin Leverenz will compete in the women's 200 IM.
  • New Zealand Calympian Lauren Boyle will compete in Women's 400 Free.
  • Estonian Calympian Martin Liivamagi and Slovenian Calympian Damir Dugonjic will compete in Men's 100 Breast.
  • US Team Captain Natalie Coughlin, current Bears Elizabeth Pelton, and Missy Franklin may swim for the US in Women's 4x100 Free relay.
  • Both Anthony Ervin and Nathan Adrian may compete for the US in Men's 4x100 Free relay.

Quick Preview of the Action:


Just like last year's Olympics, the Bears are well represented in Barcelona this week. Among the US Women, rising sophomore Elizabeth Pelton, who narrowly missed making the Olympics team last year, join the 2012 Calympians in Natalie Coughlin, Dana Vollmer, Caitlin Leverenz, fellow rising sophomore Rachel Bootsma, and incoming freshman Missy Franklin.

The Baltimore Sun has a nice article on Liz Pelton, how she dealt with the disappointment of missing the Olympics and transitioning to collegiate swimming (she was pretty easily the MVP at the NCAA for the Bears this past season).

"Getting into this new routine took a lot of pressure off swimming and helped me be more relaxed in the pool, and I think that's helped me keep my nerves down," Pelton said. "Heading into world trials, it wasn't going to be the end of the world if I didn't make it. People say moving to California changes you. I think there's something to that."

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/olympics/bs-sp-liz-pelton-0727--20130726,0,2099339.story#ixzz2aKDCmlOG


On the men's side, both Nathan Adrian and Anthony Ervin are representing Team USA (and the Cal Bears) as well.

The following (fake movie) trailer was apparently made before the Olympics last year, but it might shed some light for why/how Ervin made it to Spain.


So NBC will have today's action (live), the coverage during the week moves over to Universal Sports. Check back to CGB daily to find out how the Cal Bears have fared and what is on deck for that day.

GO BEARS!

More From California Golden Blogs