American star Lilly King has said the International Swimming League (ISL) will help athletes prolong their careers at the top level ahead of the competition’s inaugural event this weekend.
Some of the best swimming talent in the world will compete in Indianapolis when the maiden edition of the ISL gets underway, and King, 22—who left university in March to turn professional—told BBC Sport she expects it to keep athletes in the sport longer:
“There is now a designated path for professionals that wasn’t really established even last year. It’s going to encourage more swimmers to stay in the sport after college.”
Teams from the United States and Europe will compete to be crowned the inaugural ISL champions, with six events scheduled before the finalists are decided prior to the December climax.
Swimmers who have tested positive for banned substances in the past are not eligible to participate in the ISL, which also features equal pay between its male and female athletes.
