@MiamiSwimming Sends Six to Russia for Worlds
KAZAN, Russia. — The University of Miami swimming & diving program will send six representatives to Russia for the 16th annual FINA World Championships beginning July 24.
More than 2,500 athletes from 186 countries are slated to compete at the World Championships, including 2015 NCAA national champion diver Sam Dorman (USA), recently graduated swimmer Heather Arseth (Mauritius), incoming Hurricanes diver David Dinsmore (USA) and incoming swimmer Roxanne Yu (Philippines).
Head swimming coach Andy Kershaw will serve as Team USA head manager for the second time in his career, while diving coach Randy Ableman will serve on the Team USA staff.
“I’m very excited for our representation there as a whole – Randy is one of our diving coaches and one of, if not the, top diving coach in the world, in my point of view. Personally, I’m super excited to be given this opportunity again, now as a Hurricane,” Kershaw said. “I got to serve as head manager for the 2011 World Championships, and the 2012 USA Olympic team, but this is going to be my first opportunity with the ‘U’ on my chest underneath the USA, which will be fun.”
Arseth is no stranger to the international scene, having competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London for Mauritius. A freestyle specialist, Heather served as one of Miami’s top point-getters during her two seasons with the Hurricanes.
“Heather will be traveling to Kazan on the second day, and then flies to Réunion Island right from Worlds to compete in the Indian Ocean Island Games,” Kershaw said. “I’m excited to get to watch her perform.”
Dorman, an Olympic hopeful who capped a stellar undergraduate career with a national championship in the 3-meter, will be making his second appearance in the Worlds; he finished fourth in synchro 3-meter and 10th in 1-meter at the 2013 World University Games, also held in Kazan.
He will team with Kristian Ipsen of Stanford in the synchro 3-meter.
“I’m changing to adapt to his style,” Dorman told The Arizona Republic. “We keep chipping away at everything we need to do.”
Dinsmore, a promising freshman with international experience who will help replace Dorman, will be making his Worlds debut in Kazan.
“For him to be competing at Worlds this summer means he’s one of the top two Americans in the platform at this point,” Ableman said. “He’s already accomplished quite a bit, and he has a lot of development ahead of him, as far as his springboard goes.
“He should be one of the best in college diving in the 10-meter as a freshman.”
Yu, who has taken part in several international competitions, will be competing on behalf of the Phillipines in her first long course World Championships.
“When you watch her swim, she’s one that just goes – from the first stroke she’s cranking, and she never lets up,” Kershaw said. “I’m excited to see her there and have her representing ‘The U’ on her way in.”
The FINA World Championships are comprised of six main events: swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, high diving, water polo and open water swimming. For more information on the World Championships, visit FINA.org.
