ISL: Cali Condors crowned champions, Siobhan Haughey’s Energy Standard second
- ‘This is the most fun time of my life,’ says Caeleb Dressel of five weeks in the International Swimming League’s Budapest bubble
- Haughey wins the 200m free and helps team to 4x100m mixed relay to end a strong debut campaign with runners-up
The Cali Condors have been crowned the International Swimming League 2020 season champions after another record breaking day in the pool at the Duna Arena in Budapest.
They had the lead going into the second and final day of the ISL Grand Final and refused to relinquish it despite a strong showing from the second placed Energy Standard.
Paris-based Energy Standard had won the ISL’s debut season last year and did not want to give up their title easily as was proved by Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey.
She followed disappointment in the 400m on Saturday with an upset in the 200m on Sunday, touching the tiles in 1:51.11 ahead of favourite Freya Anderson.
That was another Asian record for the Hong Kong swimmer, beating her own mark. It was also a ninth win from nine races in the 200m over the two ISL seasons.
“I am really hoping to keep going and keep getting faster,” she said post-race.
Cali Condors lead Haughey’s Energy Standard in ISL final
Haughey then helped her team to the mixed 4x100m free win, finishing in 3:14.21 with Evgeny Rylov, Florent Manaudou, and Sarah Sjostrom. Her two wins were among five for the team on day two.
Those wins were not enough as Cali Condors racked up 561.5 points to leave Energy Standard in the rear-view mirror on 464.5.
The Condors’ dominance was fuelled by another world record showing from Dressel, in the 100m IM, among three race wins. He topped the match and season MVP rankings.
Two wins and an Asian record for Haughey ahead of ISL Grand Final
“The energy this team brings … you really want to be a part of it and you can see every time we step up to race,” Dressel said.
“Feeding off the energy has been great. It has been such a fun time being in this bubble. I can’t thank the ISL enough. This is the most fun time of my life.”
The truncated 2020 season has taken place in Budapest with the races packed into five weeks to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
“We gave it our best and unfortunately that wasn’t good enough,” Energy Standard’s Emily Seebohm said. “The Condors did so amazing. World records were being broken over and over, it was insane. That’s sport, that’s what happens.
“For us it’s back to the drawing board and what can we do better. I can’t wait for another season of ISL because this is amazing.”
