2009 Duel in the Pool

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

The E-Stars team was announced on 25 November following a delay in confirming availability of some of the originally selected swimmers.^[3] It was originally intended that the European team would include 12 swimmers from each of the three participating nations,^[4] 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.^[5] 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^[6] and was replaced by Marco Orsi of Italy.^{[citation needed]} Alessia Filippi (ITA) also withdrew due to illness on this date.^[6] 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.^{[citation needed]} The final team list consisted of 13 Italian, 7 German and 15 British members.

USA Swimming announced their team list on 28 October.^[7] Ryan Lochte pulled out of the team on 11 December due to injury.^[8]

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.^[9]

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.^[4]

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

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^{[citation needed]} positioned atop of the moveable floor sections of the diving pool and Oxford Road end of the main pool.

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.^[44]

NBC broadcast highlights of the event on 27 December in the United States.^[4]

^a On 24 July 2009, FINA (now World Aquatics) voted to ban high-technology swimwear from competition, effective 1 January 2010. However, USA Swimming enforced the policy from 1 October 2009 to align with the start of its subsequent competition season. Consequently, American swimmers wearing the suits during the period from 1 October to 31 December 2009 were eligible to break world records, as these were ratified by FINA, but not American records, which were ratified by USA Swimming.^[45]