The Week That Was: Torri Huske Agrees to NIL Deal with TYR; Maddie Groves Speaks Out

pac-12-Jul 24, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; Torri Huske (USA) after the women's 100m butterfly heats during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Network-pac-12

Torri Huske -- Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports

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This week in swimming, U.S. Olympian Torri Huske and TYR Sport announced a partnership as Huske takes advantage of a new NCAA rule allowing college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness. Meanwhile, 2016 Australian Olympian Maddie Groves spoke out about the reasons she skipped Australia’s Olympic Trials, and four-time U.S. Olympian Ryan Lochte underwent surgery.

Read the five biggest stories of the week in The Week That Was sponsored by Suitmate.

The Week That Was #1: Torri Huske Becomes First College Swimmer to Sign with TYR

Jul 26, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; Torri Huske (USA) in the women's 100m butterfly final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Torri Huske — Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports

By David Rieder

In one of the most impressive performances of this year’s U.S. Olympic Trials, 18-year-old Torri Huske dominated the women’s 100 butterfly, going out under world-record pace and setting an American record as she qualified for her first Olympic team. Six week later, Huske was in the hunt for gold in the event at the Tokyo Olympics up until the bitter end, only to finish fourth, one hundredth away from the bronze medal and just 0.14 away from gold. Later in the week, she would earn her first Olympic medal as she provided the butterfly leg on the U.S. women’s 400 medley relay, which captured a silver medal.

And now, Huske is making more history as one of the first swimmers to sign a sponsorship deal while maintaining her NCAA eligibility. Huske will begin her college career at Stanford University next month, but taking advantage of new NCAA rules that allow student-athletes to monetize on their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights, Huske has signed a deal with swimwear company TYR. Huske wore a TYR suit in her races at the Olympics.

“I’m really excited, and I could not be more thankful for this opportunity and for TYR’s support as I pursue my goals in my passion, and I look forward to a long relationship with TYR in the future. It’s very exciting that I get this opportunity,” Huske said. “I’ve worn other suits before, but at training camp in Hawaii, we suited up at practice one day, and in the middle of practice, I did a 100 fly, and I swam super-fast in the TYR suit. I wanted to try it out just to see. That’s partially the reason why I decided to swim in TYR, because I felt really good in their suit.”

#2: Maddie Groves Says Skipping the Olympics in Protest Was Worth It

mckeon-groves-throssell-australia-100-fly-sweep-2018-commonwealth-games

Maddie Groves (middle) at the 2018 Commonwealth Games — Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr/Swimming Australia Ltd.

By David Rieder

Just a day before Australia’s Olympic Trials were set to begin, 2016 Olympic medalist Maddie Groves announced on social media she was withdrawing from the meet but not retiring. The runnerup in the 200 butterfly from the Rio Olympics later wrote in a tweet that she was taking a stand against misogyny and harrassment she had faced in the sport.

Now, with the Tokyo Olympics complete, Groves said she has no regrets for her actions and for skipping the biggest meet on swimming’s calendar. Groves spoke with The Sydney Morning Herald to explain why she is glad that she took a stand and why she went about her actions in the manner that she did.

“It was just great to get all that support to be honest, it was a nerve-racking thing to do. It was disappointing to miss out on an opportunity like that (Olympic Trials), but the potential rewards absolutely outweighs the risk,” Groves said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. “But it’s worth it. If this independent panel can have some meaningful outcomes that make the sport safer and more enjoyable for all stakeholders, not just women and girls, that is more valuable than an Olympic medal.”

The Week That Was #3:Ryan Lochte Undergoes Knee Surgery to Repair Torn Meniscus

Ryan Lochte — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By David Rieder

Ryan Lochte underwent surgery Friday to repair a torn meniscus, according to Instagram posts from both Lochte and his wife, Kayla Rae Reid. Lochte, who turned 37 earlier this month, hurt his knee while racing down an inflatable water slide, likely while playing with his two children, four-year-old son Caiden and two-year-old daughter Liv. Reid told the world the source of Lochte’s injury in an Instagram post, and she revealed the details in her Instagram story.

Lochte is less than two months away from coming up short in a bid to make his fifth Olympic team. After racing at the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Games and earning at least one relay gold medal on each occasion — along with two individual golds and six other medals — he ended up seventh in the 200 IM at the 2021 Trials and then reflected on his attempted comeback in an emotional press conference shortly after.

Lochte is no stranger to freak injuries, including to his knees. He has suffered from foot, shoulder, knee and groin injuries throughout his career. Before his impressive 2010 season, when he was named Male World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World for the first time, he barely competed in breaststroke IM events all year after injuring his knee breakdancing, and when his knee was finally returning to full strength, he suffered a groin pull days before the 2010 U.S. Nationals, but he quickly overcame that to win National titles and Pan Pacific Championships gold medals in both IM events shortly thereafter. Then, in 2013, Lochte tore his MCL and sprained his ACL when a female fan jumped into his arms and the two fell onto concrete.

#4: South African Sport Says Reports Tatjana Schoenmaker Will Not Receive Medal Bonus Money Are False

tatjana schoenmaker, olympics, Jul 30, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA) reacts after winning the women's 200m breaststroke final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Sports

Tatjana Schoenmaker — Photo Courtesy: Grace Hollars/USA Today Sports

By John Lohn

Following reports that Olympic medalists Tatjana Schoenmaker and Bianca Buitendag would not receive financial bonuses for their medal-winning efforts at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) disputed those claims on Tuesday. Barry Hendriks, the President of SASCOC, issued a statement that said the reports of non-payment were erroneous.

Schoenmaker was one of the stars of the swimming competition in Tokyo, as she set a world record en route to the gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke. She also won the silver medal in the 100 breaststroke, an event in which she set the Olympic record during rounds. Buitendag was the silver medalist in surfing.

“We have been consistent in saying that we are in negotiations with partners over the issue of financial rewards to medalists at both the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics,” Hendriks said. “It is true that the amounts have not been finalized given that the negotiations are ongoing. However, there has never been a point whereby a decision has been made to not offer medalists incentives.”

The Week That Was #5: Adam Peaty Swaps Poolside For The Paso Doble In TV Show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’

adam peaty, tokyo olympics, mixed 400 medley relay, mixed medley relay

Adam Peaty — Photo Courtesy: Robert Hanashiro/USA Today Sports

By Liz Byrnes

Olympic 100m breaststroke champion Adam Peaty is swapping the pool for the dancefloor after it was announced he would be starring in the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ show.

Peaty became the first Briton to defend an Olympic swimming title when he added gold in Tokyo to the one he claimed at Rio 2016. He also became only the second swimmer to win consecutive golds in the two-length event, 13 years after Kosuke Kitajima achieved the feat at Beijing 2008 to add to his gold from Athens.

Peaty announced that he would be taking some time away from poolside and now it appears it will be sequins and glitterballs rather than swimsuits and goggles. Not for a while any focus on his movement through the water and around the wall but instead the intricacies of his foxtrot and tango.

Peaty told the BBC: “I think this will come as a surprise to a lot of people, but I’m so excited to finally share the news that I’ll be joining Strictly this year. I’m really looking forward to doing something totally different and challenging myself away from the pool. I’m hoping my competitive nature is going to compensate for my dancing abilities!”

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