Kate Douglass Becomes Second-Fastest Woman in 200 Breaststroke, Claire Curzan Takes Down a National Record, Lia Thomas Will Compete at Ivy Leagues, Scott Felix Relieved of Duties, and Winners and Losers of the New Budapest World Championships

Ivy League Confirms Lia Thomas Will Be Eligible To Compete At Conference Championships

Recent announcements of rule changes from the NCAA and from USA Swimming have thrown Lia Thomas’ eligibility for March’s NCAA Championships into doubt, but the NCAA will not make a final determination until late this month. However, Thomas will definitely be able to compete at her final Ivy League Championships. The NCAA announcement about new rules suggested any changes would not apply this season outside the NCAA Championships, and the Ivy League confirmed that policy to Swimming World on Monday evening.

Longtime Union College Coach Scott Felix Quietly Relieved of Duties

Scott Felix, who was in his 21st season as the men’s and women’s swimming coach at Union College, was dismissed on Wednesday.

The departure, from the Division III college in upstate New York, is the second coaching change in quick succession. The firing was not noted officially by the college, reported only by the Albany Times Union. Felix no longer is listed on the program’s list of coaches, with Dirk Francios tabbed as interim head.

Winners and Losers of the Newly Added Budapest World Championships

The start of 2022 has been a quiet period for elite swimming action outside of the NCAA season in the United States and a few small meets in Europe, but the new year has seen the sport’s international calendar become topsy turvy. In late January, rumors emerged that the World Championships scheduled for Fukuoka, Japan, in late May would be pushed back to 2023. FINA made the news official on February 1, but six days later, the governing body added a new Worlds for 2022, scheduled for Budapest in late June and early July.