Russian swimmer, Anastasia Zueva, may lose another world record due to a technicality!

From Lane 9 News:

PHOENIX, Arizona, June 24. SOMETHING that was missed in the initial world record ratification report from FINA released earlier this week is that Russia's Anastasia Zueva could actually wind up losing a third potential world-record performance, according to various reports.

[Link]

In my opinion the Russian Swim Federation and her coaches failed her. They should have been right on top of this from the moment the horn went off to the moment she left the building.

The photos above come from i-swimmer in Russia and the whole page has many more photos of Anastasia and statistical info as well.

[Link]

Peter Marshall's things to do list: Thursday: Set world record - Friday: Set world record - Saturday: Set world record!

Originally spotted in an email alert from Lane 9 News, I zipped over to Universal Sports to go see Peter Marshall's WR; It is indeed a spectacular swim and worth a look. Then I noticed that they posted it on YouTube an hour ago and with permission I am able to post it here. Here is the YouTube description: "...2008, Berlin, Germany, FINA, Swimming World Cup, American Peter Marshall smashes his five day old record in the mens 100m backstroke, by .31 seconds. With a new time of 49.63 seconds, he chasing down Cameron Van Der Burgh for the world cup...." [Link]

So, where was this guy in Beijing? From AP News: "...Marshall, an Atlanta native who starred on the Stanford swim team, set a world record in the same event in 2004 but was denied a spot on the Athens Olympic team by a mere four-hundredths of a second ...

Believing that would be his final meet, Marshall didn't train at all for the next two months. He went camping at Yosemite National Park. He visited family in Georgia. He hung out with old friends and did a little surfing.

"I didn't even touch the water unless I was on a surfboard," he said.

After the layoff, Marshall made a slight revision in the rest-of-his-life schedule. He decided to swim a handful of World Cup events in the fall before retiring. [Link]

Peter Marshall swims for TYR.

Shout out to Tara Kirk: I support your continued ligitigation against USA Swimming!

Clay Evans wrote me an email today asking, "Why is the blog so grumpy lately?" He also spent a full paragraph defending Amanda Beard and telling me to lighten up, but enough about his problems. ;-)

Here is an article from Lane 9 News regarding the "kangaroo arbitration hearing" that Tara Kirk suffered through so as to get herself rightfully placed on the Olympic team after Jessica Hardy tested positive for a banned substance. This whole mess HAS made me grumpy.

If Tara Kirk does possess an email which she suggested clearly states USA swimming knew about the Jessica Hardy's positive test before the FINA deadline to declare a team, then Tara Kirk should litigate with USA Swimming and get her congressman involved as well.

Here is a link to the Lane 9 News article: [Link]

Steven Munatones is on the Sand in Sevilla and reporting for Swimming World!

Steven Munatones of 10kswim.com, a former open water champion himself whose site has been reference in the Wall Street Journal is on the beach in Sevilla, Spain covering the FINA World Open Water Championships for Swimming World.

Here are some of his articles:

On Grant Hackett:

"At the pool during practice, they were just swimming at the hip, practicing how to draft and helping each other," said a coach who observed Grant Hackett and Ky Hurst of Australia prepare for Sunday's 10K Olympic qualifying race. "They looked pretty smooth together." [Link]

FINA World Open Water Championships: Pre-Press Conference Coverage
FINA World Open Water Championships: Pre-Race Swimsuit Check
FINA World Open Water Championships: Starting Positions Drawn

Steve if you are out there reading, why is it that the men don't appear to "attack" one another during the races like the women do?

blueseventy may be the suit of choice for open water swimming!

This article is from Lane 9 News and I really appreciate articles like these. They obviously have somebody on the ground there taking notice of what's going on rather than making drama out of the results page." Here is a snippet: "... teams from Russia, Italy, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Brazil, France and Mexico donned blueseventy's new PointZero3 suit. ..."

The article discusses water temps and pratice conditions: [Link]

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]

Alain Bernard sets a new world record in the 50 LCM freestyle: Video is now being uploaded to "You Tube" - Will post shortly!

For now, a world record progression of the event at Swimming World: [Link]

Beijing 'Water Cube' images unveiled

It's ugly and I know I am a lone voice in the wilderness about that. Here is a link to more photos and an article regarding its unveiling: [Link]

Originally spotted at Swimming World's, Lane 9 News.

Calls to capitulate on sports doping regulations

Blogger Joel from The 17th Man swim blog sent me this article from the L.A. Times which was written by a former Olympian who makes an anemic case for capitulation against sports doping. [Link]

It came out the day before Don Talbot made his statements regarding Marion Jones, and a day before this article by Lane 9 News which states that Jean-Francois Lamour, Vice President of WADA, will resign due to the fact that he "... didn't believe WADA was firmly behind the opposition of drug use in sports. ..."

I wish Mr. Lamour would have outed who these special interest groups are. Could they be drug companies such as Amgen or Merck? Perhaps commissioners of organized sports such as the NFL or MLB. Could they be team owners, players' unions, athletes like Floyd Landis, Barry Bonds or lawyers for Ian Thorpe? Who, Mr. Lamour? Hook us up!

Articles regarding his resignation: Here is a AFP news: [Link] Supersport article : [Link]

Email Alert from 'Swimming World': Kate Ziegler sets new WRs?

Kate Ziegler may have set a new world record in both the 800 and the 1500 SCM whose records were was previously held by Laure Manaudou if this news report is correct.

Here is a link to the news report at Lane 9 News: [Link]

I would have included a photo of Kate Ziegler but no photographer at Flickr.com will allow it, consequently, enjoy the loss of brand equity and facial recognition, Kate!

I have posted a photo of Laure Manaudou instead who is seen above smiling and wearing my favorite swim brand. This pleasant photo was taken from guyomedw's photostream at Flickr.com. Here is a direct link to the photo: [Link]

From Swimming World news alert:

Kate Ziegler Breaks 800, 1500 Free Short Course Meter World Records in Germany
ESSEN, Germany, October 12. ACCORDING to a post on the SG Essen web site, Kate Ziegler added to her world record total with a pair of short course meter global standards at the Alex Athletics Challenge in Essen, Germany.

Ziegler clocked a time of 8:09.68 in the 800 free to lower the previous standard of 8:11.25 set by Laure Manaudou of France in Trieste, Italy on Dec. 9, 2005.

Ziegler also captured the 1500 free world record with a time of 15:32.90 to demolish the previous record of 15:42.39 set by Manaudou in La Roche-sur-Yon, France on Nov. 20, 2004.

Roland Schoeman's nationality is "swimmer"

Roland Schoeman's nationality is "swimmer" for his "swimsuit" acknowledges no border when it comes to the art of sprinting.

His passport may say South Africa but his swimsuit says the University of Arizona, and speaking of Arizona, he also got a communications degree there too.

South Africa does not like that; they want him to train solely in SA. In fact, they have given this guy so much grief for training in America that I have sometimes wondered if he would eventually file for citizenship elsewhere just to end all the insults and the political nonsense he has to go through.

Governments are not obsolete but borders are blurring. South Africa should be content that he is an acknowledged South African and let him sort out which country can deliver the best resources needed for his craft.

Are the Olympics about the individual or are they morphing into which regime produces both the strongest and best looking athletes? I think it has become the latter for South Africa and that is so 20th century.

Lane 9 News has an article of just some of the stupidity and name calling that Schoeman has had to deal with" [Link]

Photo comes from umifoto's photostream at flickr.com. Here is a direct link to the photo: [Link]

This guy did a 5k open water race swimming the whole thing butterfly

I hear if he dies and goes to hell, Satan is going to make him a swim coach for lost souls such as Clay Evans, Dan Leonard and myself. Snippet:

"... You will enjoy swimming butterfly because you will be swimming it longer, stronger and faster. Get used to heading down to your favorite beach and swimming nothing but butterfly for at least an hour. I often swim more than 90 minutes at a time when training for Big Shoulders [race]. Lastly, leave the wetsuit at home!"

I would like to say that the above was the devil talking but it is Daniel Projansky the swimmer in question. [Link]

WCSN has been very good to swimming and swimmers at large

WCSN has cut a deal with FOX Sports to provide content for them through MSN. Business Wire [Link], Lane 9 News [Link]

Unlike the Wasserman Media Group that wants to tie up the video rights to such swim events as the ConocoPhillips 2007 Swim Nationals even going as far as sending out copyright notices to You Tube and Google to pull down fan videos from the stands, WCSN has been a very charitable neighbor posting swim videos as soon as 24-48 hours after a competition. This cable network along with Rowdy Gaines have done more for swimming than any for profit organization I know.

Here is a link to a about 100-million cubic feet of water and some great races swam therein. All posted by WCSN. I want this cable station; I may even get satellite dish to get it. [Link]

Now I know I we have made it! Swimming World link to us.

I am sublimely flattered; Swimming World linked to us regarding my questioning of the transparency of the WMG/USA Swimming marketing deal.

All WMG/USA Swimming press releases have been murky and full of marketing-speak. More summarily state that commercial interests will be created and placed along side USA Swimming's interests. These are WMG's words in a press release quoting another NGB partner:

“...This approach is a response to the ever changing marketplace of sports today. WMG’s technology, market savvy, and capital investment will help us build something new and provide a comprehensive platform to members, fans, and corporate partners. This combined effort will allow us to create resources that promote our brands, programs, athletes, and events, and serve the passions of those who care about these sports on a daily basis,” said Steve Penny, President, USA Gymnastics..."

This whole thing started when I couldn't post some You Tube and Google videos of various swims at 2007 US Nationals which were shot by fans in the stands. It stated that WMG had them removed since they owned the rights. I got pissed off and couldn't grasp how WMG could own the rights since they didn't even sponsor the meet. This led me to believe that WMG was given the rights by USA Swimming but how is USA Swimming allowed to profit from these rights since they are a non-profit?

FROM LANE 9 NEWS:

"In the coming months we will be launching a new commercially-oriented web site that will be designed to better market and promote our sport. This is going to be a very exciting development for swimming and this new site will hopefully create an extremely active 'social community' for not only our members, but for anyone interested in learning more about all aspects of swimming." [Link]

Ian Crocker false starts in the 100 fly, Some guy named Phelps wins

I was afraid something like this would happen. Ian is faster than Michael Phelps in the 100 fly; some internal "noise" is holding him back psychologically because the 100 fly WR is one record Phelps hasn't broken.

Ian Crocker said he mistook a strobe light in the audience for the start light.

To go into detail as to what happened truly hurts; so just read it here at Lane 9 News: [Link] or The Independent Ledger [Link]

'Lane 9 News' now allows comments on articles

Lane 9 News will now allow you to comment on each article after a painless registration. I commented on the 200 breaststroke prelim' whereas all the lights blew on the last 50m. That has got to suck! If it were butterfly imagine how sensory depriving that would have been. [Link]

Always, Always, Always credit your source. If you don't, then you stole it.

UPDATE: I got a report that Lane 9 News posted 30-45 minutes before Timed Finals.

I was plagiarize once and it hurt. The guy actually got my rhetoric about Ian Crocker's butterfly linked to by an Arizona newspaper as well. I nearly spit at my monitor when I saw it! Well, I am seeing it happen to someone else now.

Here is a writeup about a sectional in Oxford, Ohio

This quote from Lane 9 News: "...Colleen Schweitzer of Ohio State knocked off Sheila Carson of Club Wolverine ..." [Link]

This quote from Timed Finals: "...Colleen Schweitzer of Ohio State knocked off Sheila Carson of Club Wolverine ..." [Link]

Coincidence? Well, I think not!

The meet was held in Oxford, Ohio, not Dayton, Ohio, but both publications called it the Dayton Sections thereby making the same error on the same day. Timed Finals making the error in the headline and Lane 9 News in the body. (I think I know who published first.)

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark -- William Shakespeare's, Hamlet: [Link]

Something is fishy in Denmark -- Inspector Clouseau -- Some Pink Panther movie: [Link]

Amazing blog entry by Gary Hall regarding Jenny Thompson

Thomas Edison once said, "I failed my way to success." In other words he learned from each of his failures continuously streamlining his process till he had blasted through his problem. However, when human beings are involved as part of the problem, then the concept of failure is really only a personal concept rather than a factual one.

This blog entry by Gary Hall is about a presumed failure. A failure that never existed save for in the mind of 12-time, gold medalist, Jenny Thompson. She may have "failed" herself in her dream to grab an individual gold medal, but that failure was a self imposed sentence beyond her control and made her no less of a person or athlete otherwise. I guess in the Olympic moment, ego both trumps and punishes the self.

She is a doctor now, a far higher calling, and she still swims. :-)

I found this link at Lane 9 News: [Link]
The Gary Hall Blog: [Link]

Swimming World has entered the building!

Swimming World is my most linked to news source, hence, I have decided to add a news feed in the left-hand-side of this blog underneath the swim videos. They truly are the 'center of infinity' for all things swimming. They also have a swim shop there too.

(I get no gifts or compensation for saying this.)

Check out this 7 story Michael Phelps in New York!

Swimming World is so on it. This picture is brought to you by Lane 9 News. Read the details there: [Link]