There aren’t many athletes better suited for the format of the International Swimming League than American sensation Kelsi Dahlia.
Dahlia, an American who competes with the US-based Cali Condors, was a four-time individual NCAA champion in college with the Louisville Cardinals, and has continued to have success swimming short course since graduating in 2016.
“I do believe that my experience racing collegiately has given me an edge in competition,” said the 25-year-old, who also has 15 Short Course World Championship medals to her name. “I have been training for great underwaters and for quick turnarounds between races for years. The ISL is another chance to use that training.”
Dahlia was among the top-point scorers for Cali in their first two matches, proving to be a huge factor in the women’s butterfly events that included an upset victory over world record holder Sarah Sjostrom in the 100 fly in Naples.
“Racing Sarah always pushes me to be my best,” she said. “Although, it’s tough racing when we can’t see each other from opposite sides of the pool.”
Dahlia is also a very important asset to the Condors in the relay events, and is also a viable option in the sprint free events if she’s called upon.
In the past, a swimmer in Dahlia’s shoes might be considering retirement in less than a years' time (after the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo). But, with the implementation of the ISL, she along with many others are now considering extending their careers longer than they had initially thought.
“The timing of the launch of the league is definitely making me reconsider the longevity of my career,” she said. “I’m still praying about how long I should swim, but the ISL has been so fun and enjoyable that I’m not sure what the answer is quite yet.”
Through her first two matches with the Condors, Dahlia was blown away by how the events were run, and believes the league will drive the sport to become much more prominent outside of the swimming bubble.
“I have been very impressed with the first two ISL matches,” she said. “I didn’t have many expectations going into the season, so I was blown away by the meet set up and also encouraged about my personal performances.”
“I can’t wait to see how the ISL changes swimming worldwide. The league is already changing the swimming game internally, and ripples are already beginning to be seen outside the sport.”
As it stands right now, the Condors are favored to qualify for the League Final, which will take place in December at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. They’re currently the leading American club with six points, and the top-two from both Europe and the US will advance to Vegas.
While Cali fell to Euro-based Energy Standard in their first two matches, and the London Roar have proven to be an elite club in the other two matches, Dahlia is confident the Condors will be right in the thick of things come December.
“I believe the Condors have so much more in the tank for the last meet,” she said. “After a little rest, we will be a huge factor in the final.”
Moving into Dahlia’s next match, which will feature all four US-based clubs in College Park, Maryland, she has a few different athletes on her radar from Cali’s in-state rival, the LA Current.
“There is a lot of depth on the LA Current between Ella Eastin, Katie McLaughlin and Kendyl Stewart,” she said. “I’m looking forward to racing them in DC.”
About the ISL: The International Swimming League is a global professional swimming competition launching in 2019 with teams in both Europe (Italy-based Aqua Centurions, France-based Energy Standard, Hungary-based Iron, and London Roar) and the United States (Cali Condors, DC Trident, LA Current, NY Breakers). The inaugural season will include matches in Indianapolis IN, Naples ITA, Lewisville TX, Budapest HUN, College Park MD, London GBR, and the championship finale at the 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV. The ISL aims to create groundbreaking projects, in both form and content, exploring the full potential of competitive swimming while securing sustainable commercial growth in the sport.
Key Dates:
5-6 October 2019 – IU Natatorium, Indianapolis, USA
12-13 October 2019 – Aquatic Swimming Complex, Naples, Italy
19-20 October 2019 – The LISD Westside Aquatic Center, Lewisville, Texas, USA
26-27 October 2019 – Duna Area, Budapest, Hungary
16-17 November 2019 – Natatorium at the Eppley Recreation Center, Maryland, USA
23-24 November 2019 – London Aquatic Centre, Great Britain
20-21 December 2019 – Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, USA
ISL SOCIAL: Keep up with all the latest ISL news by following @iswimleague on Instagram and Twitter and @internationalswimmingleague on Facebook. Visit https://isl.global
Media Contact: James Mulligan (james.mulligan@isl.global)
International Swimming League Ltd
Alfred-Escher-Strasse 17, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland
7 November 2019
