Apparently a lifeguard saw a swimmer begin to twitch and then violently seize in lane one. When the lifeguard responded, the swimmer attacked him with extraordinarily rage. The lifeguard was wounded in the attack and swat teams were called to contain the area, to aggressively sedate the victims, and allow the CDC to quarantine the subjects.
Phelps swam very well in the Long Beach Grand Prix but this will mark his second absence from the USA Swimming Grand Prix series. I hope we are not seeing an "Ian Thorpe" retirement "sequel" in the making? It's unlikely but missing two races he promised to attend is definitely a "red flag."From Wikipedia:
Thorpe returned to competition at the New South Wales Championships in December 2005. He raced in the 200 m and stated his intention to retire after the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Thorpe announced that due to a desire to concentrate on the 100 m freestyle, he had dropped his pet event, the 400 m. [...] In February, Thorpe qualified for the 2006 Commonwealth Games by winning the 100 m and 200 m freestyle in times of 49.24 s and 1 min 46.42 s respectively. He expressed disappointment with his performances; he speculated that he may have misjudged his new training schedule and anticipated further improvement.
Soon after, Thorpe announced his withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games due to a bout of bronchitis, which had stopped him from training. Thorpe's illness was later diagnosed as a strain of glandular fever, and after a further delay caused by a broken hand, he moved to the United States in July to work with Dave Salo. Further disruption followed when the Australian switched coaches, citing excessive and ongoing media attention. Thorpe's stay was constantly surrounded by rumours that he was suffering from ill discipline; this fueled speculation that his international career was on the decline.
Upon his return to Australia, Thorpe withdrew from the selection trials for the 2007 World Championships and announced his retirement on 21 November 2006. Thorpe said that he had been contemplating retirement for some time, but was afraid of the future because swimming had given him a "safety blanket". Thorpe stated that he retired despite reaching higher levels of fitness, noting "As I got fit, physically fit, my mind also got fit". He said a clear mind allowed him to reach his decision. He was close to tears when thanking the Australian public, but declared that his retirement was a "joyous" occasion of celebration. [...]
Photo credit: Creative Commons: Originally posted to Flickr as Michael Phelps wins 8th gold medal by Bryan Allison. Thank you Bryan!
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From Universal Sports:
Phelps had been entered in six events: 100m breaststroke [...]
The Columbus Grand Prix, a new meet on the USA Swimming schedule, can be seen live on Universal Sports TV and UniversalSports.com at 6 p.m. ET, Thursday-Saturday.
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I am going to post it in it's entirety because it's a nice letter - Arena also makes it clear that they are stoked that their brand was worn by 48% of those that won medals.Carlsbad, Calif., -March 30, 2010 – Arena, one of the world’s leading swimwear brands, would like to congratulate the University of California (Cal) Men’s swim program for its superb finish at the NCAA swim championships. Anchored by its performances in the relay events, the 100 butterfly, breastroke and freestyle, the Cal Bears finished second overall in the most completive events of the year.
Cal dominated the five relays spread over the three days and had three individual winners, ranking first in terms of gold medals.
"We were so happy to spend another day doing what we love to do," said Dave Durden, head coach of Cal swimming and Diving Team , who was named the 2010 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships Coach of the Meet. "We couldn't be happier with how the guys represented the program, their families and the University of California."
“Cal and Auburn are two of the premier swim programs in the United States, and each University serves as a training center for many of the world’s elite swimmers,” said Bryan Smeltzer, vice president of marketing, Arena USA. “We are very proud of the association with Auburn and Cal, and look forward to future success wearing Arena swimwear.”
The 2010 NCAA men’s finals were, overall, a great event for Arena to celebrate its coming back to the US market. On top of Cal Berkeley and Auburn, for which Arena is the official sponsor, two more teams among the first six in the general ranking wore Powerskin R-EVO racing suits, meaning a 48% of the total medals won by swimmers wearing Arena.
Arena, which returned to the United States in December, 2009, has an exclusive relationship with Auburn’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams and Cal’s Men’s swim team.
Arena is distributed in the United States by Arena USA, based in Carlsbad, California.
Since 1973, Arena creates and markets waterwear products for competitive swimmers and swim-fans and it is recognised as one of the premium brands for high quality swimwear and equipment. Over the last 36 years, the Company has developed a strong expertise in developing best in class products with particular focus on the Pool segment, while also gradually expanding into the Leisure/Beach segment.
Prior to the “suit wars” in early 2008 when tech suits were summarily endorsed by athletes, coaches and the national governing bodies, were you an early adopter of this new technology?
"Some bloggers don't even have me finishing in the top three (in the 50 free)," he said. "But it's in my hands. I just need to get my mind right and get into a zone. There's more pressure this time. That's going to be the biggest task to overcome."
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"... TYR's dispute with Erik Vendt has always been about Mr. Vendt's demand to be paid for wearing a competitor's suit. TYR has always been willing to drop its claims against Mr. Vendt, and has made several offers--both before and after the lawsuit was filed--to settle on that basis. Mr. Vendt has declined to accept TYR's offers and continues to demand to be paid for wearing a competitive product. Judge Selna's ruling does not address or affect Mr. Vendt's monetary demand. TYR continues to believe in the merits of its position on that issue. ..."Hence, the case moves forward with TYR defending the idea that they should not have to pay an athlete who wears a direct competitor swimsuit while under contract.
The lawsuit, filed by San Jose attorney B. Robert Allard, accuses at least 32 Swim USA coaches at swim clubs across the United States of abusing their young swimmers since 1993. Allard specifically represents a 15-year-old San Jose girl who was repeatedly abused by King over a ten-month period. Furthermore, the suit specifies that the list of the 32 accused coaches is not “all-inclusive” and seeks unspecified damages against King, San Jose Aquatics, Pacific Swimming (the West Coast branch of USA Swimming), and USA Swimming. Allard is asking all swimmers that have been abused by their swim coaches to contact him. He also asked that individuals with information about abuse to come forward with the information.
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I change out the SCAQ Blog masthead every time I run across a really fun photo. This week Trevor flies off the blocks at the Santa Clarita Short Course Yards Meet.
I got four ribbons, set one personal best, and I even got sunburn at the Santa Clarita Short Course Yards Swim Meet. Obviously the meet was held in Santa Clarita which is a couple miles east of Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Associated Press is running a story regarding the 15-year-old, Jane Doe, versus USA Swimming, Pacific Swimming and San Jose Aquatics.The amended suit, filed Thursday, alleges more than 30 coaches nationwide have engaged in sexual misconduct. It includes allegations by Deardurff Schmidt that she was molested by her coach. He is not named in the suit.
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Olympic gold medal winner Deena Deardurff Schmidt [4x00 Gold in the 1972 Olympics - Tony] claims that starting at age 11 and continuing for four years, she was repeatedly molested by her former swimming coach, now in the Hall of Fame. Deardurff-Schmidt claims that she reported this abuse to US Swimming management on two occasions and both times no action was taken. The complaint alleges that King and other coaches are part of a culture in youth swimming throughout the nation that ignores the swimmers' cries for help.
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People need to believe and what better belief is there than believing you can do something impossible and then actually doing it!From the Daily Telegraph:
"Without a doubt it's better than making my first ever team," Huegill said. "The emotions I feel today are definitely on par to when I stood up on the blocks here at the Sydney Olympics. It's just been a dream come true." --Geoff Huegill
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THE biggest loser last night became the biggest winner, when Geoff Huegill, 45 kilograms lighter than he used to be, won selection on his first Australian team since the 2004 Athens Olympics.Please go read the article for details.
Huegill, who got back into the sport 16 months ago, won the 50-metre butterfly to qualify for the Australian team, 13 years after he made his first national team.
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I have been following Geoff Huegill for a few years now. When he was ridiculed and degraded in the press for being overweight. I felt he needed help not ridicule:Geoff Huegill (24.02) earlier revealed he had unintentionally dropped some weight courtesy of a bout of food poisoning last weekend.
But that didn't stop him from producing a strong first swim in his bid to earn a place at Delhi as he finished fastest in qualifying for the 50m butterfly.
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The CLOUD proposes an entirely new form of observation deck, connecting visitors to both the whole of London and the whole of the world, immersing them in euphoric gusts of weather and digital data. Each individual footstep on the ascent to the CLOUD participates in a vast collective energy-harvesting effort. Everyone around the world can contribute to the Cloud - whether by visiting or by sponsoring an LED, helping to keep the London lamp aflame.
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Olympic & Expo structures with their mute mass, their ponderous monumentality, [Lovin' that word -Tony] and their conspicuous expenditure on immovable objects are outmoded. Our proposal is as light as air itself a tribute to a digital age of bits and atoms beyond the antiquity of steel and glass a structure which reveals the connected networks of a common humanity fueling the Olympics, their 2012 host city, and the world itself.
The Cloud proposes a new form of monument a new form of collective expression and experience, and an updated symbol of our dawning age.
It proposes an entirely new form of observation deck, high above the Olympics one from which one can not only see the whole of London, but the whole of the world, immersed in the euphoric gusts of weather and world data. It offers Londons highest park and an immersion within both our great clouded skies and the cosmos of our dataworlds as well as a live information system transmitting data and imagery from around the city and the world. It presents the perfect Olympic symbol a million unbounded particles contributing briefly towards a vast, beautiful, constantly-fluctuating whole. London, with its diversity, internationalism and tolerance, unites countries; the Cloud unites all people.
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USA Swimming take note. I understand you receive $30-million dollars-plus from the powers that be when the average pro-swimmer is making less than a waitress at Sushi Roku in Pasadena.
The names of a number of other former college athletes, some whom played as far back as the 1960s, will be revealed Wednesday, giving more substance to the charge that the NCAA has, for decades, withheld from athletes hundreds of millions, perhaps even billions, of dollars that it made by merchandising those athletes — not only in video games, but in DVDs, apparel, memorabilia and other profit realms.
But as Jon King, the lead lawyer for the players, says, "the case has much broader implications."
That is to say, while the train is leaving the station on the side track of video games, the end of the journey may well be the express end of amateurism — that vestige from the 19th century, which is almost unique to sport, postulating that athletes should happily work for free while everybody else in the game gets well compensated.
The NCAA, which is a nonprofit entity, must now open its books — the first time they've seen public scrutiny. That's just the start.
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From the Surf 4 Humanity Foundation:Swim 4 Humanity is a fundraising event benefiting SurfAid International. Hosted in eight cities on the west and east coasts from March to May 2010, monies raised will go towards SurfAid's humanitarian programs.I wish I knew about this sooner.
Prior to the event, participating teams and individuals get sponsored by friends and family for a 30-minute swim at one of the swimming pool venues. Competitive freestyle swims will be held each day, and fun team relay races will take place in the afternoon.
Awards and prizes are presented to participants based on their fundraising totals. Top fundraisers, top fundraising teams, relay race winners, and top competitive freestyle swimmers recieve premium prizes. This year's top fundraiser will receive a surf trip to Indonesia including round-trip airfare, courtesy of World Surfaris and Joyo's Camp!
The top 3 fundraisers will recieve:
1. Round trip Indo surf trip courtesy World Surfaris and Joyo's Camp
2. Fire Wire surfboard
3. Jay Alders twin fin board by 9:fish
All fundraisers will accumulate prizes as they pass higher donation levels:
$5000 - Go Pro digital camera
$4000 - Sector Nine skateboard
$3000 - Dragon sunglasses
$2000 - Fox backpack
$1000 - Reef shoes/sandals
$500 - SurfAid Towel
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Guillaume D., a trustworthy source in France, just sent me this:"... Just for info 21.95, Fred bousquet in the Nancy international meet in France; 3rd best time in history in a jammer or a brief. ... See ya!"
Results: [Link]
I work out 6 days a week, from Monday till Saturday with an average of 35km a week.Q: What percentage of your workouts are distance related, what percentage are conducted at a 90% effort or higher?
Most of the main sets are fast, so from 85% or above, I would say something around 30% of my training is related to race speed.Q: What is your warm-up?
It varies, it depends on how I'm feeling. It could be a 200 easy to a 1500 kicking, sculling...Q: What percentage of your workout is out of the pool? i.e. Weights, surfing running or other?
Three-times a week I work out in the weight room, mainly for weight lifting but also some plyometric training. Bike rides sometimes but usually that is optional.
I'm not good at the plyometric work and [I like] really high intensity sets in the water, like holding some a certain time for the whole set.Q: Favorite venue: Short-course-meters, long-course-meters, or the good fashion American way: Short-course-yards?
I love the 15m pool we have here at Auburn, I have a good start so its pretty fun to see how fast you get just diving in and breaking out. Also the power rack work, swimming with weights is one of my specialties.
Short course yards is so much fun, because its so fast but I will choose the long-course-meters, because it is the Olympic pool.Q: How do you mentally prepare for a race? When you approach the blocks you seem to be a bundle of energy, what is going through your mind?
I tell my self: "You are going to win!!!" several times, but behind the blocks it is a big blank, I'm completely out of my mind during this period.Q: What is the most amazing pool you have swam in?
The WaterCube in Beijing was amazing, but the greatest memory I have is from Rome, the [FINA] World Championships were really special to me and my family.Q: Will you swim the 200-free or perhaps do butterfly?
I don't think so, it hurts way too much!!! I wouldn't say never, but it's not on my plans to race the 200 right now. I'm focused on my 50 speed and if I start to train for the 200 I think I will lose some of this speed but butterfly may be a option for the future.[Tony] Awesome!
Listen to the Brazilian anthem every meet I go to.
Disney's Oceans just makes you want to go open water swimming, huh? Can't wait for Alcatraz in June!Nearly three-quarters of the earth's surface is covered by oceans. [blueseventy premise] French co-directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud have set out to capture the full expanse of these waters that have played such a crucial and constant role in the history and sustenance of man. The deep and abundant oceans are places of great mysteries and dangers that this film will dare to explore.
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I was going to post this last Friday but I got stuck in the comments section of this blog educating a specific individual on the fine art of journalistic ethics and values. :-P
While exact design details of these new floating islands are still unavailable, we do know that Dutch Docklands knows a thing or two about creating water developments using methods and procedures that reduce impact on underwater life and minimize changes to coastal morphology. We also know that architect Koen Olthuis is a force to be reckoned with, so we can’t wait to see these creative designs come to fruition.
At the signing ceremony, Mahmood Razi, Chairman of the Privatisation Committee said the Maldives plans to seek the assistance of Dutch Docklands to develop floating housing units in the Maldives in the future.
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Michael Phelps is a proverbial, "Zen roshi," when it comes to channeling anger or disappointment in a productive way. Not only is it his best "weapon," it's a "tool" he should share with society. (A possible second act here after swimming?)BTW, nice suit, Michael!
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, March 7. SUPERSTAR Michael Phelps was on point at the Maryland State Championships held in Annapolis, as he clipped his American record in the men's 200-yard fly. [...]
[Go to the article to see his time.]
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Craig Lord said in the comments section of a previous article:Neither The Times nor The Times Online have touched this story. Nor have I been asked to file that story, nor have I offered it. It is an American story that holds no interest in Britain, nor indeed in Europe. Stop fibbing and repeating falsehoods Mr Austin
Link to Original Article - Please see comments section: [Link]
"They covered it Craig, in fact your name is on the byline, jackass!
In fact here is what you actually wrote for the TIMES Online"
"... The sound of empty cash registers rang out from rival manufacturers. Nike released its swimmers. Adidas stuck to its guns but had only one big success, Germany’s Britta Steffen winning the 50m and 100m freestyle. TYR, which spent three years and several million dollars developing its Tracer Rise suit, filed an antitrust lawsuit in California in May, accusing Speedo, USA Swimming and its national team head coach Mark Schubert (who said in support of the LZR that swimmers had a “black-and-white decision: the money or the medal”) of conspiring to block competition. ..."
I am going to make this comment into a post since you accused me of being a liar.
[TIMES Online article link]
Local girl Chloe Sutton storms it. From Universal Sports. When I first saw the times, I thought these are really slow but then I remembered this is LCM not an SCY environment. The times in the 50-free were pretty fast.Women's 400 free
Mission Viejo's Chloe Sutton kept on marching towards the $20,000 overall Grand Prix prize with another gold medal, this time in the women's middle distance. Sutton checked in with a 4:07.41 for the win. Sutton went out fast, posting a 59.92 at the 100, and did not look back as she raced to victory. FAST's Katie Hoff earned second-place honors in 4:10.57, while Fort Lauderdale's Lauren Driscoll, 16, grabbed third overall in 4:13.66.
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"... Long course world records are, in my opinion, the more significant statistic, because based on my experience long-course events attract the very top-level athletes. ..."FINA is going to love that quote especially since Michael Phelps endorsed the FINA World Cup Series with his presence.
I have no link yet but this from a reader in the UK.'British Swimming has published the following announcement :
In addition to complying with FINA General Rule 5, the swimwear in these competitions must comply with By-Laws 8.2 and 8.3 concerning the style and material used. 'This does not prevent the use of a zip or other fastening as this is not mentioned in these provisions. British Records may be achieved.
However, if a World or European Record is to be claimed, then the swimwear must meet the requirements of the issuing authority. This is separate from the General Rules and By-Laws and is subject to change at any time.'
I spoke to a lady - I think her name was Anne Davies - at The British Swimming Org, who confirmed this to be the case. Also she said can be found on the British Swimming web site. I havn't actually looked for it yet but it must be there.
(IN CHAMBERS)
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendant Speedo USA’s Motion for Summary Judgment , or in the alternative, for Summary Adjudication of Claims (Fld 12-29-10) and Defendant United States Swimming and Mark Schubert’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Fld 1-20-10)
[Pages and pages omitted for brevity]
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the motions for summary judgment are GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Speedo is entitled to summary judgment with respect to TYR’s Fourth and Sixth Claims, and USA Swimming and Schubert are entitled to summary judgment on TYR’s Sixth Claim. Speedo, USA Swimming, and Schubert are entitled to summary adjudication on the remaining claims to the extent they rely on a coercion theory of antitrust liability.
As noted above, the Court concludes that the Defendants failed to carry their initial Celotex burden with respect to TYR’s theory of antitrust liability for disparagement. However, the case law imposes a high burden before speech in the marketplace becomes actionable antitrust conduct. Such statements “must have a significant and enduring adverse impact on competition itself in the relevant markets to rise to the level of an antitrust violation.” Harcourt Brace, 108 F.3d at 1052. In fact, the Ninth Circuit “insist[s] on a preliminary showing of significant and more-than-temporary harmful effects on competition (and not merely upon a competitor or customer).” Id. at 1151 (internal quotation marks omitted).
The Court believes that the issue of the requisite preliminary showing should be tested before the matter proceeds to trial. To that end, the Court is willing to entertain a further summary judgment motion, even if that requires a slightly collapsed motions schedule24 or a brief delay in the trial. The Court schedules a telephonic status conference for March 8, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the issue.
Michale Phelps dishes some training tips in Mens Fitness magazine; we know most of them but this one stood out:Tip Number 5:
Stay focused on your goals and confident in your ability. "In Beijing, when my goggles filled with water, I didn't panic," Phelps says. "I went back to all of my training. I knew how many strokes it takes me to get up and down the pool, so I started counting my strokes. I didn't reach the time I was aiming for, but I did win the race.
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SANTA ANA, California, March 1. WHILE the court case brought by TYR against Speedo, USA Swimming and Mark Schubert was to have been heard beginning next month, Judge James V. Selna tentatively decided to make his ruling a month early.
In a tentative ruling acquired by Swimming World heading into a hearing this afternoon, Judge Selna intends on ruling completely in favor of Speedo, USA Swimming and Schubert with summary judgments against TYR. A summary judgment means that a determination has been made by a judge that the case does not have merit to even reach a full trial.
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