Suits worn in the women's 50-Free: Dara wears Jaked - Amanda wears the TYR - A7

Joan Rivers of Oscar night red carpet fame is at USA Swimming Nationals and she sent me this report form last nights woman's 50-free:

"...Dara Torres wins the 50-free in a time of 24:43 wearing a midnight black, Jaked 01, while incongruously accessorized with a Speedo cap and goggle set.

Amanda Weir placed second dressed elegantly in an A7 TYR accessorize by solely by TYR. Red carpet photographers were all over her.

(AP says Dara was wearing a Speedo LZR on Thursday but USA Today has a photo of her wearing a Jaked: [Link] )

Kidding aside, what does this tell us: TYR is quite "fluid" in bringing products to market whereas Speedo had to literally outsource their athletes to Jaked and Arena. This move by Speedo is a complete capitulation and explains the "burning bush" that both Alan Thompson and Mark Schubert saw when they decided to become "purists" rather than pro-LZR. Their conversion stinks of money if you ask me.

Amanda Weir, white courtesy telephone please: I'm sold, the TYR A7 is for sale now and I am buying one since Weir set a personal best, has now entered the top 20 of the fastest 50-free times ever and the A7 will match my SCAQ silicon black cap, or so says, Joan Rivers. ;-)

Amanda Wier takes all her meets seriously! - Sets meet record in the 100-meter free in Charlotte!

That pose and that face is what a sublime work ethic will give you. From Swimming World Magazine: "...Swim Atlanta's Amanda Weir emerged from a field of Olympians with a meet-record time of 54.06 in the womens sprint event. Weir's time whacked more than a second from her meet mark of 55.11 set in 2006. .."

[Link]

I was going to post a photo of Linda Hamilton from Terminator II and ask who would win in a fight but the juxtaposition was horribly ridiculous. Amanda Weir actually has a skin tone, hydrated musculature, and stands about about a foot taller. Hamilton looked anemic and practically feeble as a result of weight loss rather than exercise.

Did anybody see Amanda Weir's SCY workout over at 'Swim Network?'

I won't blow it and steal the thunder by pasting the exact workout but she held 1:05's on everything.

What would be a unique exercise is to take her personal best times in each of those events and average the percentage differences between her bests and the intervals she swam. Then take that percentage and apply it to one's own main set.

Beware, her quote upon finishing such a grueling set was: "...“I feel like I’m going to puke...”

Here is a link to the Amanda Weir's 4,000 main set: [Link]

'TYR' Swimmers have made a difinitive statement lately - 'TYR' is having a 'Tracer' equipment give-a-away drawing too!

TYR Swimmer, Mary DeScenza, has produced some totally inspired swims: DeScenza won the 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke at the US Grand Prix in Columbia, Missouri . She set a meet record there in the 100 back and I believe her "worst finish"; (that is called sarcasm), was a second place to Katie Hoff in the 200 IM.

Then there was Eric Shanteau, after battling cancer just 6-months ago, was barely edged out by Ryan Lochte in the 200 IM LCM placing second in a time of 2:00.88 to Lochte's 2:00.59 but Shanteau then went on to win the 200 breast in a 2:13.74.

There was Amanda Weir who won the 100 free swimming in a time of 55.13 at the same meet and of course there was Peter Marshall in Europe and many other meet records and WRs in Tracer equipment as well.

[Link]

So, with all this in mind, TYR is having a drawing where you can win a Tracer Light speedsuit, Tracer goggles, and TYR cap. I signed up and you can to right here:

[Link]

Even if you don't win, TYR will send you a 20%-off coupon just for signing up.

Dave Salo weighs in on why Jessica Hardy tested positive!

In my uninformed opinion Dave Salo should have said nothing but instead Coach Salo was quoted in the Orange County Register as saying this: "... Dave Salo, Hardy's coach at the Trojan Swim Club, told the Orange County Register on Thursday he thinks Hardy's positive drug test at the recent U.S. Olympic Trials for the banned stimulant clenbuterol was the result of "inadvertent consumption of a banned substance" possibly through supplements or vitamins. ..." [Link]

He also mentioned that he told Jessica Hardy to have whatever she is taking tested for purity. Though I understand his intention, that too is a bit ill advised for the product here is not regulated whatsoever and the quality and content can and will change from time to time.

These companies that make and distribute supplement products don't actually make these supplement products anyway. They are primarily distribution companies that buy product in bulk form from an original design manufacturers (ODM), slap on an expensive looking logo that says "Bicep-Blaster" or "Power-Butt-Desintegrator" and then they sell it.

They don't know what is in it especially if it is from overseas.

Jessica Hardy was part of that machine and she got hosed. If Dave Salo's speculation is correct, Tara Kirk, Lara Jackson and Amanda Weir belong on that Beijing squad and they were improperly denied.

USA Swimming had a two day window after Hardy tested positive to include Kirk, Weir and Jackson to the US Olympic Swim team!

Swimming World editor, Jason Marstellar, actually took the time to read the FINA rules to find out when the deadline was to declare our US Olympic swim team. The deadline was actually July 23 not the 21st. USA Swimming at the very latest received news of Hardy's positive test on June 21st; (If you believe that this was the date they found out), and USA Swimming consequently had a 48 hour window to select alternates in her place.

From Swimming World: "... However, the drop-dead deadline from FINA to receive entry forms from National Olympic Committees, available on its website here, was July 23 - in Switzerland.

Now, at first blush, someone might say that USA Swimming had plenty of time to pull the trigger and replace Hardy with Tara Kirk in the 100 breast, Lara Jackson in the 50 free, and Amanda Weir in the 400 freestyle relay. Knowing something on July 21, regardless of a self-imposed deadline, should allow someone to make a last-ditch effort before the true final deadline of July 23 in the final stages of the process, wouldn't you think?

There are so many levels involved in this conversation, that I don't believe it can be simplified that much ...." [Link]

Well, I think it can be simplified, boolean and positioned black-and-white terms: Jessica Hardy tested positive so you select the alternates! Period. :-P

If the time frame does not allow for Hardy to make the case that she is innocent, then USA Swimming has to take responsibility for this and fix both the process and the screw-ups.

Here are some simple suggestions:

1. Acknowledge you played havoc with the FINA rules by making up your own silly deadline and state you want to fix it.

2. Move Olympic Trials to sometime in April or May rather than early July thus allowing a 12-week window or more for testing to be completed, appeals to be made, and for USA Swimming's to get their bloody "ducks in a row." Apparently they need that much time.

3. Make good with all those swimmers that were effected by the poor execution and the sloppy handling of the FINA rules by either placing them on the team; (if FINA will allow it now that it is past the deadline), or by compensating them economically for the time, effort and training costs for following the rules and then being denied a legitimate spot that they honestly earned.

Above is a photo of Amanda Weir.

Live Results from The April 4-6 Grand Prix Meets

I found the live result link at About.com, so far all the meets have been pretty underwhelming. I was hoping for a riposte from Katie Hoff over Stephanie Rices's obliteration of her world record; instead our swimmers are swimming this meet like it was a lactic acid workout with all their attention apparently focused on US Nationals in July. Live Results for the Grand Prix meets: [Link]

I saw at Lane 9 News that Natalie Coughlin didn't make the A-final due to being a bit groggy and by subsequently placing 9th in a time of 57.14. Tyr swimmer, Amanda Weir, swam a 55.33 to win "A" final but in the "B" final Natalie swam a 53.40 to break the pool record. This "B" swim has been the most impressive swim of the weekend for me. A break down of all the swims at Lane 9 News but you probably all ready knew that: [Link]

Toyota Grand Prix of Swimming: Erik Vendt set a new American record in the 1000 yard free! - TYR Tracer Light makes its Southern California debut!

Swimming World is all over this - A new American record in the 100 free! His splits are included too which is a whole post unto itself: [Link] Split times for everybody here (How cool is that?) [Link]

Note Amanda on the left, she is wearing the new TYR Tracer Light. Vendt is too but look a DeScenza, she is wearing an TYR Aquashift but the photo could be old.

Kaitlin Sandeno took first; I knew she would, she loves the pool. I love the pool! They had the SPMA SCM Championships.

The 'TYR Tracer Light' speed-suit is quasi-water proof?

At the TYR site is a short flash movie of the new TYR Tracer Light. According to the athletes on the video;Larsen Jensen, Amanda Weir, they hint that it is water proof since it dries so fast [Link]

All of the above pimp it quite solidly with comments about how light, how smooth, how water repellent it is and fast. I am not paid to pimp TYR but the athletes on their payroll are. I wear TYR because their suits have proven demonstrably faster than Speedo for me. In fact, I am giving my Speedo leggings away after setting three personal bests in a TYR at the SPMA Bellmont SCM Championship meet this past weekend.

Let's talk about Dara Torres with Scott of 'Canuckswimmer'

On Timed Finals early this year I saw an anonymous post someone made accusing Dara Torres of taking performance enhancing drugs. (I won't link to it since I am mad at Timed Finals.) I subsequently wrote to the editor that he should close the thread because it was getting ugly, but the thread remained opened.

Dara Torres, as you may not know, is a 40-year-old mom making an Olympic comeback. Just yesterday she beat Amanda Weir in the 100 free which I thought could not be possible. Dara has been posting some incredible times lately, times faster than she did when she was in college. She ultimately credits it to modern training techniques which I have to agree is factual because I personally have experience with better coaching and better training techniques as well.

I too am faster now than when I was in high school. My best time in high school was a 1:08+ for the 100 free but this year and last year I have gone under a minute twice in the 100 free thanks to the coaching of Erik Hochstein, Bonnie Adair, Clay Evans, and Dimitriy. She is swimming slightly faster, I am swimming much faster.

Scott of Canuckswimmer thinks otherwise about Dar Torres and he puts up some compelling circumstantial arguments as to why he is suspicious of her achievements.

Inge De Bruijn was subject to the same accusations and she never tested positive, Dara Torres has never tested positive either but Scott, who I respect because he can swim faster and write better than I can has written a three part series with references regarding his suspicions of Dara Torres. It is called:

"I came to praise Dara Torres but intend to leave her drowned"

Part 1: [Link]
Part 2: [Link]
Part 3: [Link]

This photo was taken by By cnjerez who hosts his photos at Flickr.com

I don't know what is more amazing, Michael Phelps, or that 40-year-old, Dara Torres, won the 100m free?

Here is a quote by Michael phelps on pacing his 200m back: “Going into the last 50 I actually knew what the pace was – I knew it was 1:25 flat,” Phelps said. “The thing I wanted to see was a 1:24, so when it said 1:25 I thought, ‘This isn’t good.’ The last 25 I started to tighten up so, I didn’t get [the world record]. ..."

Then there was 40-year-old mom, Dara Torres who beat "...Olympians Amanda Weir (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Dana Vollmer (Granbury, Tx.) finished second and third, respectively. Weir finished in 54.79 and Vollmer finished in 54.95. ..." An about.com wrap-up [Link]

I think she can win the 50m free this weekend.

The photo to the right is Dara Torres from a masters meet in San Francisco. The photo was taken by By cnjerez who hosts his photos at Flickr.com

Mare Nostrum Swim Tour: Dara Torres is swimming fast, Super Fast!

Dara Torres is 40-years-old and this weekend she swam a 100m free at the Mare Nostum tour in Canet, France in a time of 54.61 which is is .19 off her Olympic Bronze in Sydney at age 33.

Contrast this to Amanda Weir's 100m free winning time of 56.13 at the Charlotte Ultra Swim; (results), and the fact that Amanda Weir is little more than half-her-age makes the accomplishment even more extraordinary. Here is a Swim News article about the Mare Nostrum event: [Link]

Here is an Yahoo/Eurosport recap on the event that spends the first couple of paragraphs discussing Grant Hackett 400m win; (He is still off his best times), above: [Link]

Huge win for Cesar Cielo - Gary Hall beats Cullen Jones to finish third!

Her are the results for the 2007 Charlotte Ultra Swim Meet. Note the the 50 meter free; I am summarily stunned. Gary Hall beats Cullen Jones and therby places third whereas Cielo beats both of them to finish first. David Marsh of Auburn is making a heck of a swimmer out of the South American. Go Brazil!

Amanda weir had a good meet too placing first in in the 100 Free. [Link]

I will check for You Tubes and post them soon.

Amanda Weir's kick viewed from above

I was at WCSN.com watching the heart wrenching silver the US got in the women's 4x100 relay and they showed the race briefly from overhead. Amanda Weir's kick is so symmetrical that the wake behind her looked like a DNA helix.

Amanda Weir signs with my favorite swim company, TYR

I wear mostly TYR suits and equipment. I do have Speedo Fastskin II leggings which I am impressed with and raced in during Masters SCM Championships but I am more impressed with the quality of TYR products over Speedo. Consequently when you see me training you will see that most of my swim gear is TYR related. I am not paid or provided any material goods to make this statement. This is a blog not a "flog". (A flog is a phony blog set up for the sole purpose of covertly endorsing products or to create false buzz about a product or service.) I endorse TYR.

Weir's signing quote with TYR went as followed: "It didn't take me long to know TYR was the right fit for me," Weir said. "Their technology, fashion, and family atmosphere made my decision clear. With TYR's support, I will be able to achieve my swimming goals for the 2008 Olympic Games. I look forward to contributing to the innovation of the next great Olympic technology. I am thrilled!" [link]

Well, at Nationals last year, Amanda Weir, was wearing Speedo Fasatskin II gear and that is what she paid $400 bucks to win her races in. (See inset photo.) Has she seen the light regarding TYR's products or did George Washington give her a couple of hundred thousand reason to change her mind? Hopefully, like me, she now feels that Tyr is a better product but more likely, Jesse M. Unruh, said it best: "Everyman has a price and can be bought. For some it's wine, women, or money but in those rare individuals that can't be bought; they can be leased."