Mike McCann, the World Championships’ voice, looks back on his 20 years of play-by-play commentary
Mike McCann, the World Championships’ voice, looks back on his 20 years of play-by-play commentary. Since 2001, the FINA World Championships’ swimming commentary has been provided by Australian commentator Mike McCann. Along the way, he has seen some of the best swimmers in history dominate at the highest level of the sport, including Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Sarah Sjostrom, and Ian Thorpe. His eleventh FINA World Championships were held in Budapest this past week.
In his native Tanzania, McCann began his career as a newspaper journalist in the late 1970s. He then made the switch to the television side of the sports media, where he began his sports refereeing career with the Australian Broadcast Company (ABC) in 1981. When Brisbane hosted the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in 1987, McCann got his start covering swimming through ABC. McCann particularly recalls a 15-year-old Janet Evans beginning to reach the pinnacle of her career at that time.
Pic Source- https://www.fina.org/news/2664250/behind-the-mic-qa-with-fina-swimming-and-diving-commentator-mike-mccann
Despite not swimming outside of the 1987 Pan Pacifics, McCann had loved his time participating in the numerous sports to which he was allocated. He had a good working relationship with TV director Keith Thomas at the Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1998. Thomas helped McCann get a job doing commentary at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, where he called the action for swimming, artistic swimming, and the evening highlights.
McCann stated, ‘I don’t know how I consented to that, but that’s the way it was then. Since 2001, Thomas and McCann have collaborated on all but one of the FINA World Championships. The internet was brand-new from a technological standpoint 21 years ago, according to McCann. Twitter and other social media weren’t around. Because that was all we knew, we didn’t grumble about the lack of knowledge, but you were constantly seeking publications and physical copies to try and stay current with what people were doing.’
‘Though things are somewhat simpler now, the sheer volume of information available might be overwhelming. On occasion, while a race is taking place, I’ll use my mobile device to seek information from a historical perspective or track progress. Obtaining that information, much alone doing it immediately, was impossible 21 years ago.‘ Despite never having been an athlete, McCann has remained active for more than 20 years in the swimming community. For how long has he been in it?
‘It’s a fantastic sport and a healthy one. I definitely find it quite meaningful,’ McCann remarked.
Because it’s possible to observe what’s happening, some sports don’t need much commentary. With swimming, a lot occurs underwater and a lot is based on timing and statistics. However, some of those things would go unnoticed if you were viewing them at home. ‘I believe that one sport, swimming, depends on the commentary to explain to the audience the history of the swimmer, the significance of these moments, and the significance of each moment individually. It’s a role I’ve always considered to be significant.’
Since 2001, McCann’s voice has come to represent some of the most significant occasions in sports. The phrase ‘superman does it again!‘ from his infamous call of Michael Phelps’ seven gold medal victories in Melbourne in 2007 has endured for years. He has firsthand knowledge of Grant Hackett, Ryan Lochte, Katinka Hosszu, and Katie Ledecky’s dominance. The 2009 Worlds in Rome is the one meeting that stands out to him the most after so many meets, so many heats, and so many finals.
There were 43 world records during the superset period, according to McCann. Some world records lasted only one race. Some of those records still stand, and it was oh so amazing and exhilarating to be a part of them. ‘Really, it’s rather absurd. The weather was really oppressive when we were providing commentary outside. With one hand holding a shade umbrella and the other a microphone, we were attempting to commentate. We were entertained by the swimming despite the unusually warm weather. I can promise you that most of the world records I can think of occurred at the one championship, regardless of how many I can remember.’
Although McCann is located in Sydney, Australia, he has made an effort to stay impartial when covering so many outstanding swims, whether they are performed by Australian athletes or not.
‘When I think of all the swimmers and their accomplishments, I get really excited. I try to dispel the notion that I have an Australian accent by pointing out that we all have them. Being an Australian, I am very aware of trying to be impartial, especially when Australia is performing well, which isn’t always the case, but especially when (Ian) Thorpe and (Grant) Hackett were at the top of their game. I have an Australian accent, but as this is a worldwide broadcast, I try to express my joy for any victory, whether it be one for Italy, Germany, France, or the United States, in the same way that I would for Australia.’
‘I have made an effort to make that the case; I am fully aware of that. I suppose that occasionally I might provide more detail and sound like I’m Australianizing things, but I’m aware of that and do try to do a good job for the global commentary. I know more about Australian swimmers than I do about swimmers from the rest of the world.’
Regarding the Budapest crowd during Kristof Milak’s 200 butterfly world record, McCann will find it difficult to forget them. McCann praised the stadium’s atmosphere as being amazing. ‘The times that were swum in those records were incredible. We come here as neutrals, but wherever you go, you hope the host country succeeds because that fosters a fantastic atmosphere and great television enthusiasm, and to watch the world record from the Hungarian was pretty special.’