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Los Angeles. Sanity returned to swimming in 2010, and if that made for fewer fireworks, there was plenty of pop to be found in the pool from the likes of emerging US star Ryan Lochte and a resurgent China.

After the controversial polyurethane swimsuit era that was the sport’s biggest story last year, swimming returned to woven textile costumes. Not a single long course world record fell in 2010, after 2009 saw all but four of the current 32 established.

Lochte, who shone all season, was the only individual world record-setter of the year with his 200 and 400-meter short course medley world marks at the season-ending Short Course World Championships at Dubai.

“I was just happy to get a world record without those suits,” Lochte said.

Throughout a stellar season in the long course 50m pool, Lochte had said that the return to textile suits didn’t mean an end to world records.

“It’s only a matter of time,” Lochte said, as he nailed 200m medley and 200m backstroke triumphs over 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps at the US championships.

It was a quiet year for Phelps, who admitted he was paying the price for less than dedicated training. He skipped the short course worlds, but did enough at the US nationals to secure his place for the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.

The first world mark of the year to fall was to China, when its women lowered the short course 4x200 freestyle relay record in Dubai.

China’s 14 total short course medals included three golds and was its best showing at a world meet since 1994.

The strong showing at Dubai followed a dominant performance as hosts of the Asian Games, where Chinese swimmers grabbed 24 of the 38 gold medals to leave fierce rival Japan trailing in its wake on just nine, with South Korea on four.

Perennial powerhouse Australia dominated in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games where Alicia Coutts won five gold medals and Leisel Jones took the 10th of her near flawless Commonwealth career.

Australia finished the year with a whimper, however, nabbing just one gold medal at the short course worlds.

France topped the medals table at the European Championships, their 21 medals including eight gold.

The predominance of regional championships gave 2010 a fragmented feel, but next year’s long course World Championships will offer a clearer picture as the buildup begins in earnest for the 2012 Olympics.



Agence France-Presse