Дуэль в бассейне: История противостояния США и мира плавания

Swimming event
The Duel in the Pool is a swimming event that took place bi annually from 2003 to 2015. In 2022, the event was reintroduced with an edition between the United States and Australia and co organized by Swimming Australia and USA Swimming. In 2017, swimming news website SwimSwam claimed the event could never be held again, as USA Swimming was unable to renew a television sponsorship deal after 2015. and NBC Sports compared the later USA vs Europe versions of the Duel in the Pool to golf's USA vs Europe Ryder Cup, it was noted that a number of stars were missing from both swim teams, unlike the participation of the most elite golfers in the Ryder Cup.

At the inaugural event Mutual of Omaha/Fujitsu Duel in the Pool in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 6, 2003, the Americans overwhelmed the Australians, 196–74, winning 21 of the 26 events. This result set the stage for Team USA's dominant performance at both the 2003 World Championships and later the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

On August 2, 2005, the United States captured victories in 18 of the 28 events in front of the sold out crowd of 2,600 in Irvine, California. The US won 190–102, although the Australians rode a wave of talent on the women's side, outscoring the American women 76–70. It would be another seven years before the mixed 4×100 metres freestyle relay, along with the mixed 4×100 metres medley relay, were added to the list of official FINA events.

The event took place December 19–20, 2009 between the US and a combined British, German and Italian team swimming under the team name E Stars in Manchester, England. The final score was a 185–78 victory for the US with eight world records set during the competition. This meet marked the last major competition where polyurethane suits were worn, with the required use of textile suits being reinstated January 1, 2010.

The 2011 Duel in the Pool was held December 16–17, 2011, in Atlanta, using venues from the 1996 Olympic Games. The Americans defeated a European All Star team from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, Belarus, Denmark, Austria, Ireland, Lithuania and Hungary, 181.5 80.5.

The 2013 Duel in the Pool was held December 20–21, 2013. Glasgow, Scotland served as host in advance of hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Like previous editions since 2009, the competition took place in a short course pool. The US team defeated the European All Stars in the closest meet of its history. Resulting in a tie between the two teams, they had to have a tie breaker mixed 200 medley relay. The team of Eugene Godsoe, Kevin Cordes, Claire Donahue, and Simone Manuel beat the Europeans in a time of 1:31.17. The final score was 132–131.

The 2015 Duel in the Pool was held December 12–13, 2015 at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis. The US defeated Europe for the fourth time in a row, with a score of 155–107.

+Duel in the Pool matchesYearWinnersScoreRunners upHost cityVenue2003196–74 IndianapolisIndiana University Natatorium2005190–102 IrvineWilliam Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center2007181.5–129.5 SydneySydney International Aquatic Centre2009185–78 ManchesterManchester Aquatics Centre2011181.5–80.5 AtlantaGeorgia Tech Aquatic Center2013132–131 GlasgowTollcross International Swimming Centre2015155–107 IndianapolisIndiana University Natatorium2022309–284 SydneySydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Bondi Beach