The Australians don't "talk trash" : They talk goals!

It is well known that Michael Phelps has a talent for turning negative emotions into productive results. Most notably taking "trash talk" statements and/or predictions quoted in a newspaper or a blog and using the negative feelings those words generated to inspire him rather than distract him.

At the 2011 Eric Namesnik Grand Prix held on 4/8/2011 to 4/10/2011, Michael Phelps won the 100m-fly by logging a time of 52.30 whereas last October at the Pan Pacific Championships Phelps clocked in at 50.65. Contrast that to the 2009 Fina World Championships when he swam a 49.82 motivated by the "trash talk" of Milord Cavic. (Milord Cavic also broke 50-seconds in that race.)

Digressing, Phelps didn't have such a great meet at the Namesnik Grand Prix and with the 2011 FINA World Championships justs a few months a way, is he beatable due to his lack of motivation? If so, look who is motivated: My favorite butterfly champ, Geoff Huegill and this guy named Ian Thorpe. With that in mind, who will it be more fun to watch come London, Phelps or the Australians?

Phelps should either go big or go home!

From the Herald Sun:

Geoff Huegill setting his sights on Michael Phelps:

Huegill finished last year ranked second in the world to Phelps in the event. His Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning time of 51.69sec shot him to No.2 in the world in October, with only Phelps (50.65sec) above him.

"I have a good opportunity to race Phelps this year," Huegill said.

"I definitely believe he is going to be the No.1 competitor. He's the one to beat. He's the man who's got the talent, the man who's got the form. He's the one that I am ultimately looking at chasing."

[...]

"I can't be thinking too far ahead. At the moment my No.1 focus is to secure my position on the team," Huegill said. "I am really looking forward to just racing again. We're at the fun end of the stick."

[Link]

If Michael Phelps felt the same way, he would be unbeatable but there is more evidence that he is not motivated rather than throughly inspired. The Australians, Thorpe and Huegill are very dedicated and the emotion is there.

Is Phelps merely swimming just to uphold the agreements in his various contracts or is he really in this to prove once again that he is still the best? I think it is the former rather than the latter. He spent last weekend opening a pool in Vegas, he posted an anemic performance at the Namesick Grand Prix; (anemic to the usual Phelps standard), and he is still forced to explain the reasons for his loses. one has to wonder does he look in the mirror and tell's himself, "I hate my job!"

The USMS is going to become more transparent with its elections!

The USMS or United States Masters Swimming is going to put candidates who are running for office on their website weeks before the election so as to allow more participation.

I like this - it will allow me to blog about it as well.

2011 House of Delegates Update

It is the practice of the Election Committee to not disclose nominee/candidate intentions prior to the close of the initial nomination period on April 30th.

However, as reported in the Board minutes of March 2, 2011, Jeff Moxie will not run for reelection as USMS President. Because of Jeff's decision, it may be assumed that other qualified members, one or more who may currently be other officers, will choose to run for president. In the event current officers run for president instead of running for reelection, there will be other open positions that may not be equally apparent to all interested individuals.

Therefore, in order to maintain a fair and transparent election process the Board approved (in their meeting on April 6th , 2011) a temporary adjustment to election policy (IV.B.5) to read: "The committee may extend the nomination period six weeks for any office which the current officer is not standing for reelection after the nomination period expires."

What this means is that soon after the initial nomination period closes, on April 30, the Election Committee will post the list of candidates on the web site and reporting all positions which have an extended nomination period. This list of positions will include any office in which the current officer is not running for reelection, regardless if other candidates are slated.In addition, the Election Committee will communicate with the House of Delegates, informing you of the positions which have an extended nomination period.

As always, we encourage you, our volunteer leadership, to consider running for higher office. And if you have any interest in running or any questions about the this adjustment or any aspect of our election process, please contact any member of our election committee.

Thank you.

Rob Copeland
USMS Election Committee Chair

Thorpe versus Phelps will be the highpoint of my Olympics if both attend!

Ian Thorpe: Working hard at a comeback.
Michael Phelps: Struggling to stay motivated.

One wears suits and ties by Armani in fancy restaurants world over, the other wears hoodies and beanies at a poker table. One of them keeps their private life as private as possible by training in seclusion and occasionally even living in seclusion, the other shows up in Vegas and is moderately accessible.

One will be attending a Royal wedding, the other opens pools and trade shows in Vegas, baby!

To see both struggling athletes go at it will be the highlight of the Olympics. If Thorpe races him in the 100-free or 200-free, I have to say the one with the most emotion will win.

You all ready know who my favorite is.

P.S. How about those fake...er...fake tans?

The watch worn by elite combat swimmers is...

Military watches are sort of trendy right now. Some sell for as much as $11,500 such as the U-Boat Men's 1858 Thousands of Feet watch or the Bell & Ross BR03-92 Automatic Military selling used for $4,000.

Now compare those dollar amounts to what the "real" Navy SEALs wear - It is claimed that the Navy SEALs wear a Luminox Black Out SEAL which retails for $295 or about 2.5% the cost of a U-Boat Men's 1858 Thousands of Feet watch. (What a name for a watch makes you think you can dive all the way down to the bottom of the ocean.)

From a Luminox press release:

"... The Navy SEALs are issued Luminox watches, designed to be used on missions when timing is extra critical. “I have always liked Luminox watches,” North said. “You can dive with them, you can read them at night, they are rugged and they are good looking watches that flat-out perform..."

[Link]

Keep in mind it is a press release. I saw a stern rebuttal to this idea and several photos of SEALs wearing different brands. Some were Casios, one was a British watch. Nonetheless, I see an opportunity here for our men in uniform

If I was a Navy SEAL, and I have no idea if this is legal or acceptable under military rules and practices, I would go to such manufacturers as: U-Boat, Bell & Ross, Lüm-Tec, Baume & Mercier and ask for a watch sponsorship. I would have my "agent" tell them I will wear your watch during deployment for a free watch and a "nominal fee" or I will wear it during my full tenure as a Navy SEAL for a bunch watches and a "huge" fee... but that is just me.

So, am I man enough to wear a Luminox Navy SEAL watch or any other military watch with jeans, to a board room, or a black tie event?The answer is no way but the "Watch Snob" explains why you're not able to either! [Ask Men - Link]

The FINA Task Force report! - It's the math, stupid!

Two readers have pointed me to the FINA Task Force report regarding the Fran Crippen death. (Thank you Rob and Mike).

I want to read it a couple more times to be sure that I have not missed anything. On a quick scan through I see that the task force offered no solutions or guidelines but rather outlined what topics need to be addressed.

To begin: The cause of death is clear: It was too damn hot, both the air and water.

So far USA Swimming is the only governing body to suggest clear rule changes such as specific water temps, GPS, and such but USA Swimming isn't the rule maker for FINA. These are just demands.

Now, here is where FINA, USA Swimming, and even event promoters are not getting the information they need most; (Warning here comes a technical sentence) - What is the coefficient of heat transfer between skin and salt water? Or, what air-to-water temp ratio is absolutely in the safe range to swim in. Engineers please?

That sentence is a mouthful but here is what it means: Mechanical engineers have lots of charts and books with exact formulas and answers in them. These formulas can tell engineers all sorts or mechanical details such as how long it takes for a ceramic cup to cool down after it has been in a pottery kiln? How long it takes for salt water to evaporate at specific air temps, even how long and how hot it has to be to make bread rise.

Now, somewhere in one of those arcane references is a water-to-air ratio that can simply state when a body overheats or goes hypothermic in either fresh water or saltwater. If none exist, which I sincerely doubt is the case, then one has to be researched.

Till then, I say pick a number that is so safe in regards to both hyperthermia and hypothermia standards that races can be conducted quite safely till a coefficient is produced.

More later.

Further update on the Mitch Ivey complaint

Susan Woessner, the Athlete Protection Officer at USA Swimming is taking the Mitch Ivey complaint very seriously and I can't emphasize that enough. I am actually impressed.

So far their preliminary investigation has found that, Noel Moran Quilici, who was Mitch Ivey's ex-wife and who was directly named in the Sports Illustrated and ESPN media passed away in 2009. It was her comments to ESPN that emphatically stated that Mitch Ivey's sex with a minor was the reason for their divorce. Though this setback has taken place, the investigation still moves forward and the results will be published once a National Board of Review completes it's business .

The fact that I have never had contact with Mitch Ivey, nor had anyone close to me in my immediate family or friends outside of it, USA Swimming is still taking this complaint seriously and I find this very refreshing.

When the results are posted after a National Bord of Review, I will post the results.

Red Bull diving in the Yucatan! - Insane diving takes place in a jungle paradise!

Red Bull does the best events:

"...The second stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Mexico's Cenote Ik Kil witnessed four rounds of aerial artistry from a platform 27.25 metres high. Standing tallest of all at the end of the competition was one Orlando Duque..."

[Here is a link to the video: Link]

More info:

TOUCHING THE VOID

Stop 2 of Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2011 goes to Orlando Duque (COL), Southampton's Gary Hunt finishes 2nd

In the green heart of the Yucatán jungle, Colombia’s Orlando Duque got a second victory under his belt. After winning the kick-off competition in Rapa Nui, the nine-time world champion once more performed outstandingly, receiving two 10s from the judges. The root-covered sacred well in the eco-archaeological park of Cenote Ik Kil, Mexico, was the stunning location for the second stop of the 2011 World Series on April 10, which inspired the world's high diving elite in a close fight for the podium. The World Series' most senior participant, Slava Polyeshchuk from Ukraine, took his first podium finish behind last year’s dominator Gary Hunt (GBR).

Tied after round one and tied after round two – the World Series champions in 2009 and 2010, Orlando Duque and Gary Hunt, battled hard in the first two heats. It was the reverse double somersault with four twists, which made the Colombian take the decisive lead in the third round. With two 10s from the judges, the highest score for a single dive (156.60pts) was once again awarded to the 36-year-old, paving the way for the second win out of two. “Last season was tough. I’d learned a couple of new dives, I had to struggle with them a little bit to make them work and get on the right side of the fine between missing the dive and doing really well. In pre-season, I focused a lot on quality and it looks like it’s paying off. I’m feeling a lot, lot better than last year. I’m happy, man,” says the Colombian who now leads the overall standings, eleven points ahead of reigning World Series champion Gary Hunt (29). The Englishman appeared more confident here in Mexico than at the first stop and finished second ahead of 44-year-old Slava Polyeshchuk. The veteran diver from Kiev (UKR) made for a new face on the podium as he very proudly paraded his trophy at the prize-giving ceremony. He succeeded in a tight battle for third place over Cyrille Oumedjkane by only 2.3 points. The Frenchman from Strasbourg performed well and claimed his highest ever World Series finish.

Gary Hunt (GBR)

I’m happy to be on the podium again but second place is not as good as first place. I felt in better shape and better form than in Rapa Nui so it’s going in the right direction. I know I’m going to return home now and train even harder. We’ve got five more stops left and I’ll give it my best shot to come back. Orlando’s not put a foot wrong and is diving really consistently.

Due to last-minute flight complications, Artem Silchenko from Russia was absent from this weekend’s competition and lost his second place in the overall standings. His position has been taken by the Brit Hunt, with the 27-year-old Russian falling back to sixth. Slava Polyeshchuk is now in third (24), followed by Cyrille Oumedjkane and Michal Navratil, both tied in fourth place (18).

27.25m of free fall from bright sunlight into a dark cave – located in the northern Yucatán Peninsula, the well of sacrifice was attributed mystical powers by the Maya. Just ten minutes north of Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a place listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, this impressive fresh water sinkhole overwhelmed the world’s twelve best high divers on their return to Cenote Ik Kil. Rookie diver Steven Lobue (USA), who impressed with a top-six finish in only his second World Series competition, was awe-struck: “It really is something special here. It’s very natural. It’s much more than I could have even imagined. Just amazing.”

For the next stop on May 22, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2011 will touch down on European soil for the first time when it arrives in Athens, Greece.

'Daily Mail Online' fluff piece: Could man soon be able to breathe underwater?

The Mail Online has a mildly interesting article in regards to why salamanders can breathe underwater whereas a human being obviously cannot: apparently the answer is salamanders are part algae.

From the Mail Online:

In research on salamanders they found that oxygen-producing algae have bonded with their eggs so closely that the two are now inseparable.

By studying the mechanism further, they hope that the same process could be applied to humans one day too.

Read more: [Link]

The article goes deeper than I quoted above explaining how the process could be included into our own DNA. I suspect that turning a human being into a water-breathing "chimera" or sorts is highly doubtful but perhaps there is a medicine in there somewhere?

Nonetheless, it is fun to think how cool it would be to swim a 200-meter free while being able to breath anytime you wanted without losing two-tenths-of-a-second on every turn of the head to breathe.

I found this link on Elliot P.'s Facebook page.

Rayn Lochte for Gatorade, baby! - He's drinking 'Gatorade G Series FIT' product!'

Kara just sent this to me:

Ryan will be a part of a group of athlete ambassadors on the G Series FIT team, along with Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix, pro surfer Coco Ho and more. Gatorade has recognized athletes across a new variety of sports, including swimming, and developed the G Series FIT product to use before, during and after a workout.

As part of the announcement, we shot this video to give viewers an exclusive look at how Ryan stays fit and fueled in the pool...

Facebook link to come!

Mitch Ivey complaint update!

In a previous post I mentioned that I contacted USA Swimming regarding Mitch Ivey's infamous record of sexual harassment and/or sexual abuse if the press allegations I linked to are true. [See this post: Link]

I made no contact today with Ms Woessner. I called 2-or-3 times but she was away from her desk. This is the second day in a row I have missed her. We are emailing each other though and I requested to make an appointment as to when I should call but if that is not doable then we should work together by email.

I am getting discouraged.

Today I will be speaking with Susan Woessner, the Athlete Protection Officer for USA Swimming regarding Mitch Ivey!

Who is Susan Woessner? She could be our "Sharon Stone" from the movie The Quick and the Dead in regards to "gunning down" inappropriate coaches so to speak. See this blog post I wrote in October 2010 : [Link]

The crux of the conversation will be to request that Mitch Ivey be put on the banned coaches list. I suspect the problematic part of this conversation will be twofold in that Mitch Ivey was never, charged, incarcerated, or found guilty of any sexual abuse crimes that I know of. Next up is that I was never a victim nor was a family member of mine a victim, hence all we can do is ask USA Swimming to review the evidence and make a judgement.

It does not appear in the press that an actual swimmer ever complained to USA Swimming despite a preponderance of accusations, one of which includes a statement to ESPN by Noel Moran Quilici, who was Mitch Ivey's ex-wife, who emphatically states he had sex with a minor. [Link - See Poison Ivey section]

I am hoping that USA Swimming will provide insight as to why he is not on the list or to investigate and subsequently put him on the list if all the press reports are true.

As for ASCA, it is hard for me to believe that they do not know about any of these allegations nor press reports. Hence, why would they showcase his image in a "family album" of ASCA coaches so to speak?

Gel seal goggles - I love this concept!

The gel seal presumably conforms to your face rather than compressing against it like a "kraken's tentacle." (A "kraken" is a sea monster of gargantuan size that swallows ships and the like. If this was April Fools I would suggest that we lose 10,000 container ships to krakens yearly.)

Has anyone tried this goggle out? I would love a review - I currently use TYR's metalized Velocity goggle and this concept has never been done before: [Link]

I have just made a "Formal Complaint" against Mitch Ivey at the USA Swimming website...

I have just made a "Formal Complaint" against Mitch Ivey at the USA Swimming website. I mention a preponderance of evidence in such publications as Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, ESPN, The Colorado Springs Gazette and even a divorce court preceding, that Mitch Ivey has engaged in sexual harassment and/or abuse that is summarily against USA Swimming rules and standards.

He should be a banned coach and his photo should be removed from the ASCA photo gallery.

Tony

The 'American Swimming Coaches Association' (ASCA) features banned coach Mitch Ivey in their photo album of ASCA Coaches.

This article has been updated at the bottom! Thank you, Caren, for the update!

Chris D. sent me this and I had to jump on it! The American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) features banned coach, Mitch Ivey, in its photo album of ASCA Coaches. It's the one just below a young Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman!

Link to Mitch Ivey featured in the ASCA Coaches photo album.

WOW! Obviously an oversight but what a scary one at that. If they can't effectively ban a coach from their very own website how can one trust that they can responsibly maintain a banned list of coaches in a database?

UPDATE: Caren mentioned that Ivey may have been removed from the banned list and Mike suggests he was never on it; here is what I know about the guy:

"... Mitch Ivey, the former University of Florida women’s coach who was fired in 1993 on the heels of an investigation into sexual harassment allegations and his relationships with his swimmers, one of whom, then 18, he married as a 30-year-old in 1979. ..." [Link] - The Gazette in Colorado Springs

"... The University of Florida fired its women's coach, MITCH IVEY, after a university investigation of his relationships with his swimmers. The investigation began after ESPN reporters showed up on campus three weeks ago to work on a story about Ivey's interaction with athletes..." [Link] -The New York Times

'... A recent ESPN report painted an unflattering portrait of Ivey as a world-class swim coach who got sexually involved with his athletes, some under the legal age for consent, and verbally abused others to the point of constituting sexual harassment.

ESPN's investigation prompted an internal review of Ivey's job performance by the school's legal counsel that was limited to Ivey's behavior at Florida. That investigation led to Ivey's dismissal. ..." [Link] - The Chicago Tribune

"Noel Moran Quilici, who, at 18, married Ivey, then 30, in 1979. Quilici told ESPN that she "rebuffed his sexual advances" when she was 15 but began a sexual relationship with him at age 17. At the time, she was swimming for Ivey at the Santa Clara Swim Club. Six months after their marriage she discovered his involvement with a 17-year-old swimmer and filed for divorce" [Link] - Sports Illustrated Vault

[ My apologies to Tony Young who appeared on a banned list that was featured above. He was never on a banned list and it is obvious now that the 'Swimmer's Circle," the site I reprinted the list from was in error. My apologies for blindly reprinting the list. Please see the USA Swimming banned list instead.

Here is a list on the USA Swimming site naming 46-coaches who are banned. Ivey's name is not on it: [Link]

Swim stars versus tennis stars!

Sony Ericsson ATP Tennis: I was enthralled over the weekend at the quality of both the players and how much tennis has changed. Maria Sharapova is definitely not hard to look at, Rafael Nadall is amazingly dexterous, good looking and "ripped" and he even played in the semifinal sets against Roger Federer wearing a Richard Mille timepiece valued at $525,000.

I was watching all of this on the Tennis Channel and during the interstitials they would feature brief segments called "bag check with [insert tennis star name goes here.]" These athletes would pull out sunglasses, rackets, sunscreen, all the stuff they are paid to pimp and talk about what they liked about them and how and when they are used.

When the commercials came on, they had one featuring Roger Federer confronted by two female TSA Airport Security officials who find a bag full of Lindt Chocolate truffles surrounded in what appears to be ice. Of course after sampling one, the two women nearly "climax" right there on the spot and then they instruct Federer that he will have to be stripped searched! Consequently I am sold and will sample some of these truffles this week.

After I saw Rafael Nadal destroy Roger Federer I went over to Maria Sharapova's website to see when she was playing next. Therein I learned that she has set up scholarships for kids in or around Chernobyl, she works extensively with a UN Charity, and that Nike takes very good care of her by flying her around in private jets. She is also sponsored by Tag Heuer; a timepiece manufacturer who also "sponsors" Leonardo DeCaprio.

These tennis athletes live amazingly fruitful lives. They spend more money and burn more carbon during a fast weekend than a swimmer can earn in several years time. Why is that? Swimmers can sell sunscreen, sunglasses, suits, goggles, yoga, apparel and even chocolate truffles but they don't. Why?

The worlds most popular sports feature trajectory physics as their premise: Baseball, basketball, football soccer, golf, tennis, etc, etc. Each sport takes an object, usually a ball of sorts, hurls it through space and time by hand or stick and ultimately has a target as the final goal. However, there are some amazingly successful sports that do not rely on the trajectory physics model such as yacht racing, formula one, skiing, skateboarding, snowboarding, cycling, and more. The key component that makes theses concept sports so enticing and ultimately successful generally involves "UFO grade" equipment or equipment the public can own and go out and have some fun with. The fact that athletes therein make a lot of money inspires both kids and parents as well.

As it stands now swimming governing bodies at large will not allow swimmers to wear tech suits. Pools are far and few between and mens college swim programs are evaporating with absolutely no support whatsoever from FINA or USA Swimming. Governing bodies only care about the Olympics, they only care that they can provide a team that wins. They do not want swimming to be a professional sport. They do not want governing body competition.

Tennis gets it, swimming doesn't. When your sport starts to fade you change it. You don't wait for a "Phelps" or a "Spitz" to show up to buoy it. If wearing techsuits would get more people swimming; like it did in 2008, you do what is necessary to grow the sport. Note: have any swimmers been featured in the Huffington Post in 2010 or 2011 besides Michael Phelps? 2008 featured many swimmers especially their suit failures like Ricky Berens and Alessia Filippi. High end equipment also allowed swimmers to sell expensive suits to affluent adults. When that was taken away, so were sponsorships.

The only way for swimmers to be treated and paid as well as tennis stars is to redefine the game in a professional setting that features promoters rather than governing bodies. Promoters will change the sport not governing bodies! Clay Evans once said to me they should hold a race in the Ballagio Fountain in Las Vegas and let people bet on the racers, Make swimming a spectacle rather a boring serious of heats. He is a smart guy!

I fear that swimming will always remain an amatuer sport - governing body execs make to much money and do to little for the sport to try and make it a viable one. For instance, take a look at the college swim programs that are evaporating. What are the governing bodies doing to prevent this decay? Look at the USA Swimming Foundation which suddenly disappeared when donors immediately pulled out. Why did the donors exit so suddenly? Has that ever been explained? What about that post grad FAST program in Fullerton? Why is that suddenly being left to die on the vine? I don't know the answers but a lot of you do.

Japan Tsunami: Lost dog at sea for three weeks found atop flotsam!

From the Mail Online:

It appears almost too good to be true, but this little dog has been found alive and well adrift at sea, an astonishing three weeks after the tsunami that devastated Japan.

Members of the Japan Coast Guard came across the dog on Friday as they were conducting an aerial search of the area.

Against all the odds, the dog appears to have survived by living in a partially submerged house that had been swept out to sea.

[Link]

Blueseventy enters the Formula1 circuit! - I spoke with their driver!

I spoke with their team driver, Dean Jackson, and he mentioned that it never occurred to him how efficient neoprene would be as a tire material for Formula 1 racing. He said the material stays warm, fast, and is the preferred gear for racers.

Here is the press release:

After 1 year of extensive research, blueseventy have partnered with high Profile Derby (UK) based Formula 0.5 Racing outfit, Diamond Racing.

It’s not typical to see a swimming company and motor racing outfit partner, but the relationship came after blueseventy stated looking for ways to use their world champion swim-skins, made illegal in the wake of FINA rule changes in late 2009.

Development manager Steve Nicholls commented on the relationship “ Initially we were going to work with a bicycle brand supplying this unique material for them to put into tyres, but then we realised that bicycle tyres were way too skinny and we wouldn’t use anywhere near enough material up. Someone tabled the idea of monster trucks, but we settled on the idea of car tyres.

Working with Professor N Prene, the innovative swim company developed a new rubber composite is based on a high heat covalent created rubber, dubbed butylene VS. The material is made in a unique process involving chemically dissolving an existing suits, and then pouring the liquid mixture into a tyre mold.

Nicholls states “initially we had some issues with the tyres coming apart, but after we removed the zippers from the suit prior to putting them into the tyre compound, that sorted itself out.

The company is thinking of developing the idea further and has already started a new company branch, named green30, named after the fact that 30% of the world is covered in land.

The green30 company holds a lot of potential, but Marketing Manager Dean Jackson has assured loyal blueseventy customers that it won’t take away from the focus on traditional avenues in performance swim and triathlon. “After all, 70% is a lot larger than 30%” said Jackson.

The new tyre compound will be used in the yet to be announced Formula 0.5 series, a lighter faster series based on the Format of Formula 1.

Rob of 'Rob Aquatics' got a permit from the Dept of Fish and Game to sell both sell burgers and seal skin wetsuits!

I am actually kind of offended. Apparently since the shark population is dwindling to such alarming numbers, central California now has an over abundance of harbor seals and the locals are pissed. Fisherman are having to compete with them and surfers, who the seals accidentally think their feet are fish, are accidentally biting them.

Apparently the Dept. of Fish and Games agrees.

So, the opportunist that Rob...

"...I’ve been alluding to a new venture that I’ve been working on here at Rob Aquatics for a while, and I figured it was time to finally go public! I’m going to sell wetsuits and hamburgers at the beach! I know what you’re thinking, “But Rob you can’t cook and don’t wear wetsuits, how does this make any sense?” To which I would probably say “wow good point… I should have thought this through better.” Anyways, stop raining on my parade hypothetical jerks. These won’t be just any old wetsuits and hamburgers… these are going to be made out of local, freshly caught seals and sea lions! ..."

[Link]

"WD40-Time Off" - Spray on Sunscreen that reportedly repels chlorine and makes you swim faster with less drag!

A company called Swim Spray, has announced a licensing agreement with the WD-40 people for a spray-on sunscreen that, according to the literature, Reduces drag, repels chlorine, moisturizes skin, and provides SPF 80 protection and anti-fungal properties.

So I looked deeper into the ingredients making sure I wasn't actually spraying a "high rez" mineral oil on myself after getting the demo and let me say thank God for Wikipedia:

Partial list of the ingredients: "... Phenylephrine, pramoxine and hydrocortisone. Aloe vera, shark liver oil and yeast extract.

Apparently the first two ingredients are allergy related to contract the skin somewhat and the cortisone is probably uses to reduce inflammation from chlorine. the question s, would the cortisone make you test positive in a drug test?

BTW, in the top right photos of the website, what is that guy looking at? ;-)

Hideaki Akaiwa is the most "bad ass" open water swimmer of all!

Hideaki Akaiwa of Japan was at work on a lazy afternoon somewhere within the Miyagi Prefecture when both the earthquake and Tsunami struck. Hideaki terrified that his wife was in danger leaves work to go find her but as he exits the building, he finds the city quickly submerging into 10-feet of water while cars, benches, building fragments and anything else that is not tied down is floating by.

He calls home; no answer!

Rescue workers appear on the scene and they tell Hideaki nothing can be done! NOTHING CAN BE DONE! As badass of the week points out way more articulately than I can, most men would have crumpled and either given up or cried but Hideaki decided to get busy.

In what badass correctly calls his neighborhood a post Apocalyptic wasteland, Hideaki, in full "Road Warrior mode" somehow gets a hold of a wetsuit, a scuba rebreather system, fins, knife, (every hero needs a knife), and dumps them into his car and drives to his former neighborhood. Once there and with no scuba experience whatsoever, he summarily dives into ten-foot-deep polluted mess hoping to find both his house and wife intact.

From "bad ass of the week:

"... Hideaki maintained his composure and navigated his way through the submerged city, finally tracking down his old house. He quickly swam through to find his totally-freaked-out wife, alone and stranded on the upper level of their house, barely keeping her head above water. He grabbed her tight, and presumably sharing his rebreather with her, dragged her out of the wreckage to safety. She survived.

But Hideaki Akaiwa still wasn't done yet. ..."

[Link]

Hideaki Akaiwa is a "samurai!" Go to the link above and see what other heroics he accomplished that day.

Swimmer, pop-star, local 'grrrl' from the OC donates $1-million to the victims of the Japan earthquake/tsunami!

From one of the CNN blogs:

"... Besides giving her own generous donation to Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake-Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund, Stefani is also letting fans get in on the act.

Next week, she'll announce a charity auction in which the public can bid on a chance to join her at an L.A. fundraiser, and she'll sell a limited-edition Harajuku Lovers T-shirt of her own design on NoDoubt.com. One hundred percent of the tee's proceeds will go toward helping Japan...."

[Link]

For more details regarding the auction and how you can participate online: [Link]

Oh... her name: Gwen Stefani!

The Splash of Truth website is down!

UPDATE: The Splash of Truth website is down. The site definitely looked like it was a work in progress when it was live and all the content they had up thus far proved none of the allegations in their two previous letters.

So what are we left with? My take is this: We must presume their allegations as untrue until documentation can support their original claims.

Tony

Coach Todd Sousa will be arraigned Friday in Newport Beach on 13-counts of lewd acts upon a child!

If this guy is guilty, he deserves a severe sentence. I hope the alleged victim can get through her teen years safely and constructively. As for the friend who confided in her parents that this occurred; (if indeed this event did occur), know that you did a huge favor to your community and swimming at large! Never feel any regret whatsoever. You rock!

From the Laguna Nigel patch:

"... On Feb. 18, Sousa is accused of picking up Jane Doe and her friend from the Irvine Spectrum and driving them to the Swim Ventures office. He is accused of providing alcohol to the young women before taking Jane Doe into another room to have sex with her while her friend waited outside.

Jane Doe's parents learned of Sousa's alleged sexual relationship with their daughter from the parents of one of her friends and contacted law enforcement, authorities said.

Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is asked to call investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794. ..."

[Link]

A 'Splash of Truth' has launched a website!

[ UPDATE: The Splash of Truth website is down. The site definitely looked like it was a work in progress when it was live and all the content they had up thus far proved none of the allegations in their two previous letters.

So what are we left with? My take is this: We must presume their allegations as untrue until documentation can support their original claims.

Tony ]

A Splash of Truth has a website! - "Put up or shut up," that is what we said! Well, we wanted the proof and now we can see if the Splash of Truth has delivered?

So, dig in and validate and/or verify before posting any comments. Also, it is VITAL that we validate, verify and spread the word if it is true or if it is false; especially if false: [Link]

That is a painting of Guy Fawkes to the left. He was a British conspirator in a Catholic plot to blow up the King of England at the House of Lords during the state opening of the English Parliament in 1605. He has become a pop-culture icon for all things anonymous. See the movie "V for Vendetta."

He was caught guarding 36-kegs of dynamite, then hanged, drawn and quartered!

The Guardian Blog perfectly encapsulates Michael Phelps' last 2-1/2 years in one paragraph!

The blog Post by Lawrence Donegan is entitled "Which Michael Phelps will turn up to the 2012 Olympics" succinctly states what has gone right for Michael Phelps and what went wrong in just a single paragraph. The blog post also covers where Michael Phelps might be swimming in London.

Snippet from The Guardian:

What does a man do after winning eight gold medals at one Olympic games? He parties, he turns up on the front page of the News of the World, he loses sponsorship, he rails against the "unfair" advances wrought by technology, he loses his form, he finds it again, he wins five world championship gold medals, he loses his form again, he turns in the worst performances of his career and, finally, he is apparently re-born as the untouchable athlete he was before all of the above took place.

[Link]

Heart wrenching story in the 'New York Times' about a complete swim team and their coach lost to the tsunami.

When you hear that 15,000 died in an earthquake/tsunami the gravity of that number simply reduces down to an incomprehensible statistic. When you dig down deeper into the "numbers" and view the names, photos or the circumstances of what befell these victims, the event becomes even more overwhelming.

The New York Times has chronicled some of the situations and the human faces of these individuals and one of them involves a complete swim team:

From the New York Times:

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan — On the afternoon of Friday, March 11, the Takata High School swim team walked a half-mile to practice at the city’s nearly new natatorium, overlooking the broad sand beach of Hirota Bay.

That was the last anyone saw of them. But that is not unusual: in this town of 23,000, more than one in 10 people is either dead or has not been seen since that afternoon, now 10 days ago, when a tsunami flattened three-quarters of the city in minutes. ..."

[Link]

Toki from northern California sent me this this story and this is what he had to say:

[... My name is Toki Burke. I'm a former competitive swimmer from Northern California and now I teach English at elementary and junior high school in Okinawa, Japan. I'm also a frequent reader of your blog; enjoy it a lot. Anyway you've posted some stuff on the tsunami waves hitting California and I was hoping you could post a link to this article from the New York Times about a group of swimmers and their coach who are missing and are presumably dead after the tsunami wiped out their town. I can't imagine what they went through, but I can't stop thinking about the all meets I went to at pools like Belmont Plaza and having something like that happen.

[...]

Japan is a first world country and one of the biggest donors of foreign aid, but they really need help with the unimaginable consequences and devastation from an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. Yahoo has a great page up that offers some links to groups individuals can donate to. When you get a chance please take a moment to read the article. It'd mean a lot if you could re-post it on your site along with the page for ways people can donate to help Japan. [...]

The Belmont Plaza mentioned in the letter above is an indoor pool built right on ocean front property in Long Beach California; a complete soft target for a tsunami hence the emotion in Toki's last sentence.

A charity I donated $100 too is not listed in the links page but is run through the United Nations. It is called the World Food Program and their website is located here. Several Japanese friends of mine have endorsed it: [Link]

FINA & USA Swimming under seige!

Here is my uneducated assessment regarding the two governing body attacks:

USA Swimming, "wounded" from an antitrust lawsuit with TYR, pending sexual abuse lawsuits, two critical news documentaries, and a national coach dismissal is now having to defend itself from an anonymous group calling itself A Splash of Truth.

This anonymous individual or group who I believe posted to this blog first in the comments section of a blog post I wrote has allegedly disseminated two emails so far to thousand of parents, swimmers and coaches. These emails contain detailed accusations regarding USA Swimming management, unacceptable coaching incidents, deposition details, attorney malfeasance, and more with only a promise to back these accusations with absolute documentation once they release their website.

As for a Splash of Truth: I take this individual or group quite seriously. If their accusations are summarily lies then the integrity of the USA Swimming management will continue on and suffer little, or more likely, no consequence. However, if all of their accusations are true and the information can be double confirmed with police reports, depositions, court filings, specific rulings, then I presume there be more lawsuits, bad press and/or calls for audits, investigations and dismissals by both swimmers and parents.

Regarding the attack on FINA: Next up we have FINA who is going to have to confront a populist campaign to boycott all FINA events and in it's place establish a "new swimming world order." All of this suggested by an organization called the World Swimming Association (WSA). An open letter by a guy name George Block signed his named to poorly written manifesto which can be read over at Swim News.

Where George Block wants to replace a complete governing body, the "Splash of Truth seems more intent on replacing USA Swimming management. If USA Swimming is clean, they should do nothing. If they are dirty, start purging people now and augment or follow existing rules! - I took their emails seriously which leads me to George Block and the World Swimming Association...

My take on George Block's proposed WSA power grab is just that... A power grab! Instead of sending your money to FINA, send it to good ol' George and allow his organization to make up the rules and leverage our talent for both rule control and perhaps money. In his letter he offered nothing that is more, better, or different for the swimmers or swimming at large. I am so unimpressed.

FINA will immediately ban this guy and any swimmer who tries to swim for another organization if he dare calls it a governing body. I do not believe that Block or the WSA has the means to produce a international governing body for the only way it could happen is if he actually paid the swimmers to swim enough money to make it worth foregoing an Olympic career. That is going to take a lot of money - he may have to consider tech suits?

So, you have two battles: one to reform a governing body, the other to replace one. Maybe the swimming governing bodies at large should realize: SWIMMERS AND COACHES ARE PISSED!

UPDATE: I just found out from a reader who politely informed me that the World Swimming Association under George Block is connected to the World Swim Coaches Association (WSCA). Apparently, according to my reader, this organization is affiliated with the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) which run by John Leonard!

to wit: If this is true, we have a sanctioned USA Swimming certification body; (ASCA), connected to a coaching body calling for the replacement and/or destruction of FINA! Is anybody home at USA Swimming?

It is time for USA Swimming to turn to junior colleges, colleges and universities to create varying degree types to certify coaches rather than allowing a singular non-profit who may be affiliated with a group, the World Swimming Association, calling for a FINA "mutiny" to train USA Swimming coaches.

Mutinies should not be tolerated especially when coaches and swim teams are sending money directly to those suggesting a mutiny!

Ian Thorpe is the James Bond of Swimming!

Six reasons why Ian Thorpe is the James Bond of swimming:

1. Thorpe works undercover - he was forced to swim in eight undisclosed locations while pondering a comeback

2. Has an international coaching team - currently training in Switzerland with a Russian ninja

3. Is a snappy dresser and has worn a tuxedo more than any other swimmer

4. James Bond drove an Audi A6 in Quantum of Solace - Thorpe drives a kick ass Audi RS4

5. Like his Bond counterpart he is a confirmed bachelor

6. Like his Bond counterpart he wears an Omega Seamaster timepiece.

7. His "bucket list" even contains a goal in it whereas he would like to portray to play James Bond on screen - I am told in James Bond's bucket list, he would like to portray Ian Thorpe

The Marine Times: Critics say Corps’ new swim quals are too easy

The Marine Times headline: Critics say [Marine] Corps’ new swim quals are too easy! My witty retort: ...and the statistics think so too:

From the Marine Times:

Gunnery Sgt. Joshua Turner, an experienced instructor-trainer and safety swimmer, said he has found considerable problems with the new quals, calling them “ridiculously easy” and suggesting the program fails to ensure that Marines will learn enough to survive a life-threatening situation on the water. Since 2001, more than 70 Marines have died as a result of waterborne mishaps, according to Navy statistics. Five died last year alone.

[...]

“In combat, you are not going to take off your boots,” said Staff Sgt. Jacob Howard, an instructor-trainer and special projects team leader at the San Diego recruit depot pool. Howard, an amphibious assault vehicle crewman by training, said he likes the new rules and noted that, during the Iraq war, Marines died in rivers “because they didn’t know how to properly execute gear shed.”

[Link]

Here is something I learn if I ever fall off a boat and I wearing shoes:

"... Bare feet no more. Every Marine and recruit must jump into the pool wearing his boots and utility uniform. This, instructors say, will be a mental obstacle initially. They’ll have to use bicycle kicks — rather than egg-beater movements — to better tread water with all the extra bulk. ..."

Tsunami animation from NOAA

What a lousy day to hold an open water race. For a bigger window, Fastcodesign has one as well as some infrared images: [Link]

You Tube: Japanese Earthquake Tsunami Wave arrives in Emeryville CA

The Tsunami that hit Japan also hit California, see it above rolling into the San Francisco Bay towards Emeryville in the You Tube above. Though much smaller in proportions and diminished strength. This should be looked upon as a de facto warning. Though I am pro-nuclear power as a way of cleaning up both our air and water, I question whether California has any idea what risks the San Onofre nuclear power plant and the El Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant pose? Both practically reside on ocean front property and both are located near earthquake faults.

Though the nuclear explosion in Japan will not by any means be comparable to the Chernobyl accident; (I can provide links as to why), this "black swan" event could easily be duplicated in California and that concerns me.

Tsunami wave height model from NOAA illustrates the tremedous ferocity of what happened in northern Japan!

Measured in centimeters the wave heights are still pretty sick.

When a tidal wave surges, it is not the height but the momentum as well. A three foot tidal wave with enough surge can take out a pier or a harbor.

Here is a link to the NOAA animation of the beast:

This animation shows the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research's wave height estimation for the March 11, 2011 tsunami that started off the coast of Japan and has placed the entire Pacific basin on alert.

[Link]

Originally found at NOAA

Allegedly on a dare, a student during a field trip leaps off the Golden Gate Bridge but survives!

Though he did not jump at the apex of the bridge, which is 250-feet-high, he was still was 220-feet up or 22-stories. When he landed surfers who were surfing off of Fort Point rescued him. They were told he did it on a dare but students stated it was his idea. I find this perplexing since if they knew it was "his idea," why didn't they shout for help?

The student is 17-years-old, he was able to walk out of the water with a torn lung and bruising but described how he felt as bruised and a sore.

Here is a link to NBC Bay Area which has the news: [Link]

Photo taken by Rich Niewiroski Jr.

Photos of one of the largest underwater caves known - the Ordinskaya Cave located in Russia!

To put some "WOW" into your day, the Ordinskaya Cave is located in Russia and looks both formidable and spectacular at the same time: [Link]

Here is some background on the cave:

Ordinskaya Cave is located near the southwest edge of the village of Orda in the Perm Region of Russia. The opening to the cave is located in the Kazakovskaya Mountain Massif, which overlooks the Kungur River. Karst sinkholes dot the surface of the massif and large springs bubble out of ferocious sand boils in the river below. The linear direction of flow from the cave is unloading its forces towards Arsenovskiy Spring approximately 2000 feet east of the cave entrance. This spring discharges significant volumes (300 l/sec.) of water but has not been connected through exploration at this juncture.

[Link] - [More...Link]

Between 2,000-and-10,000 shipping containers fall into the ocean each year - One has been found in the Monterey Bay marine sanctuary!

On February 4th 2004, the merchant vessel Med Taipei set sail from San Francisco heading due south to the port of Los Angeles. A terrible winter storm was raging that day delivering swells up to 21-to-27-meters in height which for the crew must have felt like they were sailing a "cork" through a "flushing toilet." Consequently they lost some freight; 14 containers in all and now one of those containers has been found in the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.

Two years after the incident a $3.25-million settlement was paid by the shipping company to the US government agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to settle all claims. Some of that money is going towards locating all 14-containers. An ambitious task since containers will float for a period of time before sinking so GPS coordinates as to where an accident happened may not be accurate but the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has taken up the quest.

After some heavy duty ocean reconnaissance, the MBARI found a container. After tracing numbers on the side of the upside down container, they were able to connect the contents to a US customs manifest stating if is filled with over 1,159 steel-belted radials. Other containers lost that day had similar "inert" contents such as metal fencing, mattress pads, and other urban junk that is essentially not so harmful when the contents are compared to 55-gallon drums of acetone, benzene, or powered bleach.

From the MBARI site:

The merchant vessel Med Taipei left San Francisco on February 25, 2004, in the middle of a winter storm. As the ship steamed south toward the Port of Los Angeles, it began rolling violently in seven- to nine-meter (23- to 30-foot) swells. In a rush to get his goods to port, the captain continued southward at high speed, despite the rolls. Unbeknownst to the captain and crew, the containers on their ship had been stacked incorrectly, with massive, heavy containers perched on top of lighter ones.

[Link]

Imagine you are the Captain or a crew member and you find out that your container ship could have capsized that day! Nonetheless, according to National Geographic Between 2,000 and 10,000 containers are lost at sea each year and that is a lot of stuff!

From National Geographic:

"... Every year, more than 10,000 containers fall overboard and spill their cargo into the ocean. Storms are often to blame.

An 8-foot by 40-foot container (2.4-meter by 12.2-meter), which can carry up to 58,000 pounds (26,000 kilograms) of cargo, might hold 10,000 shoes, 17,000 hockey gloves, or a million pieces of Lego. ..."

[Link]

So, why don't we hear about this? Because they is no law that says container dumps such as the Med Taipai have to be reported hence only the customs agents know. Hence, one has to wonder if this is a possible smuggling tactic?

The inspiration for this article was originally from a tweet written by Joe Rojas-Burke.

Federica Pellegrin busts the four minute mark in the 400-meter free short course at the Italian "Coppa Brema" meet!

Federica Pellegrini easily breaks four-minutes in the 400-meter free (short course) and she is stoked:

From the FINA website:

The two-time World champion scored an impressive 3:57.59 in the 400m freestyle (25m), breaking a national record and establishing the seventh best all-time performance (and the year's second best). "I am very happy", said Pellegrini. "It is an unexpected result given the amount of work that I am bearing. More than the record, it is important to register the confirmation of the training's beneficial effect. I managed to race in negative-split because I knew I did not have much speed. I go back to Paris with further confirmation and a great enthusiasm," she continued.

[Link]

Translation From Corriere dello Sport.it

"... The performance creates great confidence: quiet in the first 200 meters (1.59.60) but irresistible in the second half, swimming in a 1.57.99: "I am very happy - Federica Said - It is an unexpected result given the amount of work I am advocating. The record is important, it confirms how good the training has been. I managed to negative split the race because I am conscious that I don't have a lot of speed. I'll be back in Paris with further confirmation and great Enthusiasm. "

[Link]

The womens 400-free is filled with so much talent!

Jason Lezak still remains the fastest American this year in the 50-meter free!

The photo above is an exterior shot of the Shanghai swimming stadium that will be used in July for the 2011 FINA World Championships. (Sort of looks like a pair of sharpened dentures.)

At 35-years old Jason Lezak is still in the game with a 22.57 he set back in January and a 22.59 just this past weekend in Indiana.

While going over the top times in the 50/100/200-meter free, of course Michael Phelps' stands out as the number one swimmer in the 100/200-free but quite frankly the Australians and the French are the dominating flags in all three of those events.

In one event, the 100 free, the French own four positions while the Australians own five positions in the top-10! Only one American flag exists in that top-10 list and his name is the Michael Phelps.

In the 50-free again it is all about Australia and France who control six positions in the the top-10 while Jason Lezak carries the flag for America at number-9

We are still early in the year but the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai are coming up in a mere 4-months-and-one week. Will we get spanked in those three events cumulatively? - [Link]

Famous author and blogger Cory Doctorow reviews swimming MP3 players!

Cory Doctorow has quite a resume; wiki him and you can read it. From civil liberty defense with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a blogger at BoingBoing.net, a journalist for Wired and the author of several books, he has written a review on what he has found to be the best MP3 player for swimming:

Look what he had to say about the Speedo Aquabeat From [deleted]

However, buying an underwater MP3 player has been more complex than I'd thought. I started with a Speedo Aquabeat, which is about the worst-designed piece of consumer electronics I've ever owned. Not only does it crash every single time I use it, it also requires some kind of proprietary Windows crapware to create custom playlists if you want to do something really complicated, like listening to all the numbered tracks of an audiobook in order. After the Aquabeat crashed with seemingly terminal finality, I tried something else. ...

Guess which MP3 player won?

Phelps takes five wins in Indiana - posts fastest times of the year!

I am extraordinarily impressed with how Michael Phelps can jump into a pool and within 6-months 6-weeks or less can suddenly reclaim the fact that he is still the best swimmer in the world.

Let's assume that this will be the program he swims for the London 2012 games. It is entirely possible; but not a given, that he actually can win seven more gold medals. Even if he only wins two or three; (only two or three? what a concept when winning jut one gold is an overwhelmingly significant accomplishment), he would still remain in perpetuity the greatest Olympian ever but seven more gold medals would make him the greatest athlete ever produced.

It also nice not hearing any more excuses for being out of shape, unprepared, or his proverbial, "wake-up call," and actually see him roll out of bed on time and give the fans the inspiration they paid to see. :-P

The mighty, mighty, Megalodon: Could swallow a great white shark whole without even having to take a bite!

So "mighty" I had to say it twice! Biggest jaw fossil ever found to be auctioned off: Asking price $625,000.

[Link]

British diver Tom Daley stars in a new London 2012 Olympic mascot film!

After being bullied at school for wearing a racing brief for his "day job," Tom Daley became quite a celebrity for bringing the subject of school bullying to the publics attention:

"... From age 11 to 14 Daley attended Eggbuckland Community College. At 13 he became a celebrity supporter of ChildLine, a children's helpline run by the NSPCC, and at that time it was revealed that he had been bullied eighteen months earlier. In April 2009 Daley alleged to Plymouth's main local newspaper The Herald that he had been regularly bullied at school since the Olympics, and his father told the BBC that he had temporarily withdrawn him from Eggbuckland because its response to the problem had been ineffective..." -- Wiki

Eggbuckland? What a name for school! Sounds like trouble on many levels to me.

Later Daley got to hang with Kate Moss and even convinced her to pose for him for a photo recreation of a David Hockney original portrait. He even went swimming with her since Moss believe it or not is a synchro-swimmer.

Daley has become a British celebrity for both his accomplishments in the pool and his charity involvement hence he was perfect actor to be an attraction in the London 2012 Mascot film titled "Out of the Rainbow" with the "cyclops" London 2012 mascot:

Here is a link to the film: [Link]

Missing open water swimmer busted in Yuma Arizona!

Over the weekend a swimmer named, Jim Repetto, 54, was reported missing after going for a swim off of La Jolla Shores, CA. Soon after the L.A. Times mentioned this guy apparently was in a spot of trouble after being accused of stealing $1,00,000 in a fraud scheme at an Ocean Spray plant where he was a manager. He was about to be sentenced but ended up missing after going for a 2-mile swim.

From NBC San Diego:

"... Repetto, from Sandwich, Mass., was reported missing at about 6 p.m. Saturday after being over an hour overdue when attempting to swim from the Scripps Pier to the La Jolla shores lifeguard tower.

The 53-year-old was in San Diego on business, according to his wife. Police say he was having lunch with a friend in La Jolla on Saturday. The last time she saw him, he was heading into the water, wearing a wetsuit. ..."

[Link]

Thanks, Mike for sending me this.

Phelps to swim five events in Indy: Will this be his program at both FINA World Championships and the London 2012 Games?

His mom said it best, this is most likely his farewell tour. This could be the last time Indiana ever sees Michael Phelps again. Get tickets!

From USA Today:

"I have some times that I want to hit in mind," he said. "This is a chance to see where I stand for worlds. That's the biggest thing, is trying to get as prepared as I can and hit all my marks before world championships. If I do that, then I can set up my Olympic trials."

"...My mom brought up the point that this could be the last time I swim in these pools, and the last time that she travels to these cities," he said. "It's hard to think about, but we've been able to have a great career in every pool."

[Link]

Photography by Mark Savage at Pan Pacific championships - All rights reserved

Federica Pellegrini quietly training with Philippe Lucas and soon with the Italian National team in the United States!

Federica Pellegrini is quietly training with Philippe Lucas in Paris; the coach who made Laure Manaudou may now remake Pellegrini into something better. Will her technique change? Will she dominate in even more events outside her signature races?

Also, Bummer for the Italians that their US training camps are not not located in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and New York but rather: "...Fort Lauderdale, Flagstaff and Coral Springs in the United States and the open water swimmers in Perth, Australia. ..."

From a FINA news release:

"[Pellegrini] ... Next week-end she will be in Rome for the “coppa Brema”, a competition which awards the national title per club. After this Italian stop, she will be back in Paris before taking part in the Italian Championships in Riccione from April 13-17, a very important test in sight of the FINA World Championships in Shanghai next July: there, Pellegrini will be at the start of the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle.

[Link]

IOC Gambling Update: Rogge tells governments to tighten gambling restrictions but send them a cut.

This is absolutely pathetic. In the world of Governing bodies there is a "royalty bubble"- pay us some money and we will believe in you even if you are a gambling service and/or licensing our governing bodies so as to be a marketing arm for your products. (Read as the TYR/Speedo anti trust suit.)

Look what Jacques Rogge is quoted as saying in The Guardian:

Ahead of an anti-corruption summit on Tuesday, the president of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, called for urgent measures and the sports minister, Hugh Robertson, said Britain was prepared to lead the way in co-ordinating international action on illegal gambling and match fixing.

More controversially, Rogge also called on governments to legislate to ensure that a proportion of betting revenues flowed back into sport, partly to help fund the fight against match fixing.

"Specifically we are in favour of a system where betting operators have to be licensed by the government," said Rogge, adding this would help monitor irregular betting patterns and also the companies' finances.

"Sports organisers, national federations and international federations would have a fair return for all their efforts for organising the sport. They should be recognised with a return from financial income."

[Link]

I am shocked by this sentence: "...Sports organisers, national federations and international federations would have a fair return for all their efforts for organising the sport. ..."

Fair return for what?

Athletes will see none of this money but I bet the execs at the governing bodies will in the way of salaries.