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:When the Australian press ran a photo of an overweight, Geoff Huegill with this tacky headline: "From a six pack to six beers and a pizza!" I was astonished that they would treat one of their own Olympians that way: [Link]
I followed up the Google newswire periodically looking for any more mention of him and a year later there he was again as a news worthy story: Geoff courageously jumped back in the pool lost about 40-pounds. He set new goals to make it to the Commonwealth Games which in his event, the butterfly, has the same gravitas as Dara Torres coming back for the 50-free. [Link]
Then about 6-months later he lost all the weight he had put on; 66-pounds worth, and he looked great and was placing well in all the races he swam: [Link]
Now in March 2010 Geoff's goal was finally going to be realized, the right to swim as a Commonwealth athlete and he
These are the stories that make me want to blog: [Wo]man versus self, versus others, so as to be the definition of great! Stuff like this pushes humanity to the next level albeit art, technology, or sport.
Dara Torres filled up pools with that plot line and so did, Julie Moss, who put the Ironman on the map. As for me, Geoff Huegill, has now put the butterfly into my repertoire! Do I have the courage to do another 200-fly? Not yet!
From AAP:
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.
[Link]
15 comments:
Hey Tony, if you're not aware, the following Australian newspapers are Rupert Murdoch tabloids: Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph, Courier Mail, and The Advertiser.
They are similar in style and content to other Murdoch rags like the New York Post, The Sun, and The News of the World.
They are aimed exclusively at the uneducated lower classes, are sensationalist, trashy and often deliberately lie or mislead. I wouldn't pay too much attention to the stuff they print.
Tony --
The 34.02 that Huegill did was in the heats. As of this writing, he's still leading in the semis with a 23.60, but the finals, which will determine who gets to swim at the Commonwealth Games, have yet to be swum.
This is a wonderful story Tony!
I was not aware of that since I only look for swimming stories.
Than you , I will correct it this morning. :-)
I hope he places. :-)
Ian Thorpe had the same problem, didn't he.. Agree with Steve about the rags - it's a tabloid thing. Geoff doesn't look that bad in the photo to me but maybe there are worse photos out there.
That is really good info to know. I forgot that before Murdock bought the stock market, he owned Australia and half of London, England, first.
What papers get it right down there? Certainly not the one Nicole Jeffrey writes for. In my opinion she knew what Alan Thompson did that was "seemingly" inappropriate and never published.
What he did will come out some day.
Nicole Jeffrey writes for The Australian, another Murdoch paper. It's not as bad as the tabloids, but it's still typical Murdoch.
The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald are the reputable Australian newspapers.
I use to like Nicole Jeffrey, now I wish somebody would splash holy water on her to see if she would spontaneously combust.
Tony --
Now he's on his way to Delhi, with a 23.46 victory. Only .02 from his lifetime best.
Feel I've got to stick up for the NY Post: yes, it's a tabloid, and yes, it's gossipy (with Page Six), but they use a lot of very intelligent people in their editorial section (George Will, Rich Lowry, Jonah Goldberg, Ralph Peters) and I'd take their editorials over those of the NY Times any day (speaking as one who subscribes to the Times).
George Will, thumbs up. Jonah Goldberg, Thumbs way down!
John, thank you for the news. I am posting it this morning.
And now he's just won Commonwealth Gold in the 100m 'fly! What a legend :)
Thank you Andrew, what a story this has been.
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