Austrian swimmer Markus Rogan could use some advice!"

From USA Today:

Rogan, 27, told the Austria Press Agency that four bouncers beat him up Saturday night as he attempted to re-enter a discotheque in Ostia, on the seaside near Rome, after being ordered to leave "for no apparent reason." The night club said that the swimmer was ordered to leave for security reasons that included dancing drunk with a broken bottle in his hands. The club said that Rogan also fell as he attempted to get back inside the club.

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From the Globe and Mail:

“When I stepped back inside again, four bouncers jumped me,” he said.

Fabio Balini, an executive with the Shilling club, said that the swimmer was with his teammates when he was asked to leave by the club's personnel as part of standard security procedures. Balini said Rogan could be a danger to himself or others because he was drunk.

Balini said he had interviewed witnesses and reviewed security tapes and that there was no evidence that the personnel had acted improperly.

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If he does have issues, then get the guy the help he needs.

Geoff "Rocky Balboa" Huegill swam a personal best in his comeback placing 5th in the final of the 50m 'fly!

The guy has only been back in the pool for 6 months; before that he was off in the wilderness gaining 90-pounds or so while searching for a new direction. This is not uncommon for Olympians who retire.

Now get this, he jumps into a Speedo LZR for the first time, and in a semi-final heat swims a 23.86 for a personal best. A personal best at 30-years-old after being out of competition for 5-years. That is "Rocky material" and it should become a movie becasue the adversity this guy has gone through is greater than the adversity the fictional Rocky Balboa dramatized.

Amazing right? However, that is not all. In January he suffered from an irregular heartbeat and was taken to the hospital for tests but luckily converted to sinus rhythm in time to train and do this well.

From Andrew Webster at The Daily Telegraph:

"...He had an irregular heartbeat. I know that plays on his mind. We had to get him to a doctor straight away. It was definitely a concern. He was concerned, for sure. As it turns out, it wasn't serious. But it was enough to make sure we had to be careful."

Huegill's transformation was there for all to see poolside at the Sydney Aquatic Centre yesterday as he attempted to earn a place on the team that will contest the world championships in Rome in July.

[...]

Yet here he was, emerging from his heat swim of 23.86sec to easily qualify for last night's semi-finals, showing off a 1000-watt smile and glistening abdominal muscles. A swimmer and man reborn

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Though he didn't make the Australian world championship team, a 23.86 after a health scare such as that while undergoing a massive weight reduction program is indeed inspiring. In 6-months time, he was probably dropping 3-pounds per week. Wow!

If Eric Shanteau is the "Lance Armstrong" of our sport, Geoff Huegill is our "Rocky!"

Geoff Huegill has shed over 90-pounds and has returned to elite swimming. His story is inspiring and his motives sincere rather than economic. From the Herald Sun:

He has entered the 50m and 100m butterfly, [to qualify for World Championships], but is keeping his expectations in check with next year's Commonwealth Games still his main goal.

"I definitely won't be disappointed if I don't make the world championship team," Huegill said. "Four months ago, I was still 120kg.

"To be able to turn my life around and to drop almost 40kg now . . . for me, just getting this far has been awesome.

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I am hoping he makes the team and finals at World Championships in Rome. That would be a de facto comeback on par with Dara Torres for he has only been in the pool for about 6-months or so and he has lost so much weight since his return.

To say that Jeff Huegill is the new "Rocky Balboa" is an under statement!

After not competing for three years, gaining 70-pounds-plus of weight, and confronting some personal issues, Geoff Huegill has made a complete "u-turn" and has erased all of the above in just three months time.

So far he has lost 30-kilos of fat, helped kick-off a campaign against binge drinking called DrinkWise, and made his debut with a third place spot on the podium in the 50-fly LCM at the 2009 New South Wales Championships in a time of 24.03. (I am currently hitting the refresh button often to see how he did in the 100-fly LCM.)

From the Herald Sun:

After making his first podium in three years with a third in the final of the 50m butterfly at the NSW Open, Huegill spoke of his dream to return to swimming's biggest stage at the 2012 London Olympics.

"It would mean more than any of the other Olympics (2000, 2004)," Huegill, 29, said.

"I am willing to block out three years of my life to go for another Olympics."

The former world record holder has stripped a staggering 30kg from his frame after blowing out to 130kg after his retirement in 2007.

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That is extraordinarily impressive to me. He lost the weight by doing double workouts, and a spin workout in the middle of day. Obviously he has kicked the habit of eating a whole pizza and downing six-pack on Friday night as well.

From The Australian:

"... Huegill has conquered his initial fear of the 100m by doing a series of 100m time trials at his squad's training camp in Thredbo over the past two weeks.

His best time was a 55-second clocking which has reassured him that he won't be disgraced when he returns to the Sydney Olympic Park pool where he won a bronze medal in 2000.

I know I have the strength and the fitness to bring it home hard," he said.

However he is not yet ready to keep pace with Lauterstein, who has made astonishing progress after shoulder surgery late last year.

He has already clocked 51.73sec in Melbourne, outside his national record of 51.12sec, and is clearly thriving in the new squad.

"There's nowhere to hide for me," he said.

"If I go bad in 'fly, I get my arse kicked by Garth and if I switch to freestyle, I have to watch out for Eamon (Sullivan), and Libby (Trickett).

"Every day I'm trying to beat Garth and Skippy (Huegill) and Eamon - it's a perfect environment."

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I looked up to see what sort of diet he was on and I found this. From NineMSN:

"... To cut down on snacking between meals, Geoff will consume Xantrax dietary supplement shakes for breakfast and dinner.

Geoff's plan is to get back into the pool for five sessions a week and to also do weights and cardio workouts three times a week. ...

Monday: Two 'swim and spin' sessions.

Tuesday: Swim only

Wednesday: Like Monday, two swim and spin sessions.

Thursday: Swim only.

Friday: Two swim and spin sessions.

Saturday: Swim only.

Sunday: Day off.

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Geoff Huegill: From obeseness to sleekness and he is racing this Saturday!

I love comebacks, I hope he spanks both Phelps and Cavic at World Championships in Rome! From the Courier Mail:

The former Olympian, who has stripped 30kg from his giant frame, will on Saturday endeavour to once again make a splash in Australian swimming.

The 29-year-old has embraced his new healthy lifestyle with aplomb since announcing a comeback to competitive swimming on November 12.

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Geoff Huegill slams speedsuits but is definitely going to wear one!

I am really excited that Geoff Huegill is back in the water, I feel he is a source of inspiration for both overweight, ex-athletes, and obese individuals who don't think they could ever become healthy through exercise and diet. I must say that his transformation is quite a comeback for he has shed over 60-pounds of weight.

Though Huegill has been training hard, he has yet to try on a speedsuit let alone race in one. My suggestion to Huegill is that he start training in a speedsuit to make any modifications to his stroke before race day because this blog wants to see him win. (He is the ultimate masters swimmer so to speak.)

His opinions are couched quite strongly against suits, namely those that use Chloroprene, but I would suggest that he soften them till he wears one. This is what he was quoted as saying in the Canberra Times:

"... "I haven't tried on a suit as of yet but I have seen what all the hype is about. It's out of control," Huegill said yesterday. "My honest opinion is it definitely has to be stopped. There is no doubt about it. The fabrics they are using now are rubber-like fabrics, which make you float and and keep you on top of the water. ..."

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I have covered Heugill's weight issues and comeback in previous posts here:

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Australian butterfly champion, Geoff Huegill, is coming out of retirement and he has lost a lot of weight!

One year ago I did a post on Australian butterfly champion, Geoff Huegill, who was ridiculed in the swim press for gaining weight post his 2004 retirement. The Australian press posted a before/after photo of him seen here, and overall treated him severely.

Now he is back in the pool and he looks 5-years younger. From SMH.Com: "... Huegill won a 2000 Olympic bronze medal in the 100m butterfly and retired after a disappointing showing at the 2004 Games. However, he said his motivation was back and he will train alongside stars Eamon Sullivan, Libby Trickett and Andrew Lauterstein at the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in inner Sydney.

"I am excited to announce that after my move to Sydney to focus on my swimming and media career, and talking with my partner, my family and my close friends, I have decided to return to professional swimming - I have unfinished business in the pool," Huegill said. ..." [Link]

Photo by Andy Zakeli for the Sydney Morning Herald

What is it with elite swimmers and alcohol?

This article from News.com.au is about "... World butterfly champion, Geoff Huegill, who has put on 30kg in 12 months and is "happy" to have six beers at night with pizza since retiring..."

30-kilos of weight is 66 pounds and that translates to 5-and-a-half-pounds per month in weight gain. [Link]

The Australian press likes to exaggerate, use hyperbole, and ultimately be down right mean. So to be fair, let's start off with the good stuff about Geoff Huegill.

Geoff is a charitable man who donates his time and energy to encourage kids to swim. He was a world class butterfly champion who won both a bronze medal at the Sydney Olympic games in the 100 meter butterfly and a silver medal in the 4x100 medley relay. At the 2001 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, he scored double golds and a bronze in both butterfly and medley events. In other words he has represented his town and country quite well but now he is being held up for ridicule and laughter regarding his weight gain.

This guy needs help, not ridicule.