Fan video inside the water cube

I prefer the Munich pool which was built in 1972.

Update on the 'Timed Prelims' autographed kickboard for charity auction at eBay.

The Timed Prelims kickboard for charity action went very well. I was told today that Mr. Scott Goldblatt ponied up the winning bid and now $102.50 cents will go towards teaching under privileged kids how to swim. :-)

WHAT is going on! I got an email today telling me it was over! I guess I got pranked! The auction is still in progress. Go bid on it here: [Link]

Nick D'Arcy has a history of violence and/or alcohol according to accusers!

From The Australian: "...Queensland-based Ironman competitor Tim Peach, in Perth for the national titles starting today, told of a clash with D'Arcy at a Sunshine Coast nightclub two years ago that left him with two black eyes and a broken nose.

"He (D'Arcy) knocked me down on the ground," Peach told the Nine Network.

"It was pretty horrible how I looked. I thought he would have learned his lesson from that."

Peach admitted he was "pretty drunk" on the night of the fight, September 9, 2006. He said he was in a line with D'Arcy waiting to get into a nightclub when the pair began "mouthing off at each other".

"We had a bit of history over a girl," Peach said. [Link]

Then there is this conjunctional phrase that stops short of apologizing - from News.Com.Au: "... D'Arcy is due in court on April 21, two days before the swim team gathers at a camp in Canberra, to face charges of assault and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

The swimmer said today he regretted the "unfortunate isolated incident" at the Loft Bar in Sydney.

"I deeply regret my involvement in this incident and the injury occasioned to Simon Cowley," he said. ..."

I pity any girl that marries him. What a handful.

Nick D'Arcy savagely beats up former Australian champion.

This is a few days old but I am posting it now since I didn't know the extent of the harm he caused the victim. From news.scotsman.com: "... A DRUNKEN late-night punch-up has rocked the record-breaking Australian Olympic swim team and left a new star facing a serious assault charge and demotion from the national team. Former swim champion Simon Cowley ended up in hospital with serious injuries, including a broken jaw, fractured eye socket and broken nose. ..." To me, this sounds like kicking to the victim's head or a weapon was involved for a hand would break causing that much damage. [Link]

From the Herald Sun: "... Cowley provided a police statement last night and, according to friends, is in extreme pain.

"He can't eat anything and basically is only on liquids and he's still bleeding from the nose, the source said. ..." [Link]

Here is an article from west.com.au where several quotes of D'Arcy which include words like regret..., sincerely regret..., embarrassed..., and this gem: “... I, like all individuals am entitled to a fair trial and due process through the judicial system.”

Quotes like these certainly make one notice how carefully measured his words are; too measured for my taste, for where were phrases like "I'm sorry" or "I apologize" or "I didn't do it" but instead we get, don't judge me! [Link]

UPDATE: I went to Yahoo Answers to find out what the drinking age in Australia is and it ranges between the ages of 16-years-old if accompanied by an adult in Victoria and 18-years-old nationally. [Link]

Melanie Marshall was not allowed to swim the 100 free at the British Championships!

Melanie Marshall was denied the right to swim the final of the 100 free due to a screwup on her part by not reporting to the "ready room" fifteen minutes before the event. From The Independent: "... Marshall was scheduled to compete in the 100m freestyle final but was forbidden from taking part because officials deemed her late for registration. All competitors must report to a "ready room" 15 minutes before they swim. Marshall was in the vicinity but not in the room itself, so was prevented from swimming.

The race was delayed several minutes while Marshall, clearly furious, tried to persuade officials to change their minds, while repeating the phrase: "They won't let me swim." In order to qualify for the Games, athletes must swim inside set times in heats, then finish first or second in the final. ..." [Link]

I would have let her swim. Especially since there are only about 60 swimmers left in England due to numerous pool closures.

Olive Branch sent out by WMG?

Swim Network , which is owned by the Wasserman Media Group linked to Swimming World today. This is a very positive sign and I may link to Swim Network articles and videos moving forward if they maintain this policy.

Meet "Vlad Savich" - My April Fools joke for today

April Fools - So, Did I Fool You?

Russian Anti Doping Agency uncovers first case of 'gene doping'

This was found at Russian Swimming. The coin next to the hand is a Russian Ruble for scale purposes. Here is a link to Russian Swimming detailing how Vlad Savich was identified as a gene doper. Apparently his hands were the give-a-way! Duh! Look at those things, they are the size of a hand paddle.

You would think gene dopers would go for a more internal approach such as altering the red blood cell count but these webbed hands executed through cadaver grafts and immune system modification are summarily chimeric.

Right now the site is getting pretty hammered so you may have a long wait trying to get through. I will see if I can find a mirror site. Here is a direct link or you can copy/paste the link below: [Link] http://www.swimming.ru/index.html

Thanks to Diana Drozdovska who provided the link and translation.

And Zeus said un to me! "You want a piece of Olympia? Well, you got to bid on it at eBay!"

The Timed Prelims guys started out as the court jesters of swimming. Now they are adding really sublime content such as interviews with Eddie Reese, Cesar Cielo, Ed Mosses, Rebecca Soni and videos too such as the Long Course Championships and a red carpet video of the Golden Goggles Awards. The site has credibility and they don't plagiarize.

Now, I recently discovered that they are throwing an outrageously cool auction on eBay. Imagine owning a kickboard with all these autographs on it?:

Josh Baseheart • Nick Brunelli • Simon Burnett • Dave Cromwell • Craig Chapman • Ian Crocker • Kirsty Coventry • Mary Descenza • Matt Grevers • Brendan Hansen • Tanica Jamison • Cullen Jones • Kara Lynn Joyce • Dana Kirk • Tara Kirk • Adam Mania • Haley McGregory • Whitney Myers • Aaron Peirsol • Dale Rogers • Adam Ritter • Eric Shanteau • Elizabeth Tinnon • Neil Walker • Garrett Webber Gale • Peter Verhoef

From the Timed Prelims site: "... Timed Prelims presents autographed kickboard for charity. All proceeds go to the S.W.I.M. Program! The S.W.I.M. Program was established in 2006 with the goal of helping teach the sport of swimming to low socio-economic kids in Austin, Texas. Check out their website at www.swimaustin.org. Video of the swim meet and the autograph signing can be found at www.timedprelims.com/videos/encore.htm ..."

Here is a direct link to the eBay auction: [Link]

I dare you to outbid me. Whoever wins, please send me a photo of it and I will post it :-)

Hail Cesar Cielo! - NCAA 2008 - 40"92 in the 100 Yard Free

Cesar Cielo from Brazil swimming for Auburn University becomes the first man in NCAA history to break a 0:41 in the 100 YD free. Links: [Swimming World] - [CSTV] - [College Swimming]

Libby Trickett sets a WR in the 50 LCM Freestyle

She now owns both the 50 and the 100 LCM. Australian swimming is rising to great heights post the Ian Thorpe period led by names like Stephanie Rice, Eamon Sullivan, Emily Seebohm, Libby Trickett and the great Grant Hackett. Is the USA team as strong?

As the swimmers are introduced look at their physical profiles and note how strong and slender they look. Most of the above look thinner and stronger than any model ever produced at the "Vogue" or "Elle" secret DNA laboratories but some of these swimmers' "latssimus dorsi" muscle groups shake around like a fat lady's arm. I am convinced that the new Speedo Lazr is a ultimately a corset and the panels in between the "welded seams" are not fabric but rather what appears to be semi-rigid rubber. With that in mind the TYR Aquashift should not have been banned by FINA.

This quote from the LA Times has me wondering: "...One rare complaint, however, surfaced Wednesday at the trials in Australia. Jess Schipper said that the LZR filled with water as she competed in the 200-meter butterfly final and caused her to fade down the stretch. ..." [link]

Isn't water suppose to get into your swimsuit? If it can't, then isn't that using the air between your body and the suit to promote buoyancy? I think FINA may have a mess on their hands? Why does the TYR Aquashift and it's arm bands receive no FINA approval yet a quasi rigid LZR that has semi-rigid panels and resists water from crossing the seam/panel barrier get approval? That really disturbs me. All the Aquashift had were three trip lines or strings sewned into the fabric. The Speedo LZR has a rubber that has never been seen nor is it accessible.

For a higher-rez version, click here: [Link]

'Speedo Lazr' discussed in the L.A. Times - Sidenote: I can't believe that they didn't retouch out his "$1.50" in the photo below

This article sent to me by blogger Trevr. I am astonished that the LA Times didn't color correct this photo but rather published a JPG of it with the "Photoshop levels" blown out so badly that you can literally see though the dark parts of the suit; (Note below the knee and how the skin shows though). Consequently, the highlights on his "$1.50" are so extreme that one can see how well or how meekly he may be endowed. Poor guy; and look at Amanda Beard, her face reads as if she is thinking, thank goodness Phelps is the focal point. But enough about my problems...

The L.A. Times article tackles the controversy regarding the Seedo Lazr. Here is a snippet:

"... French swim officials, in particular, complain that the sport is beginning to resemble Formula One racing. The turbulent times for swimming and the focus on technology is reminiscent of the changes in tennis and golf, when wooden rackets and old-school clubs went to the back of the garage for good, replaced by their sleeker composite cousins.

"I'm an old swimmer," said Furniss, who won a bronze medal in the 1972 Olympics. "An old guy who is old school in a lot of stuff. But the reality is you look at any sport, any equipment, whether it was a bamboo pole in the pole vault going to fiberglass. . . . In swimming we're doing the same thing. We're just doing it in the water. ..." [Link]

Had a meet today in Santa Clarita: I set three "personal bests"

The first thing I did when I got home was give a couple of hugs, tell my story, and login to my email. There I found a couple of very flattering comments, one from Kerry which really made my day and one from Charlie where he states this site is actually being blocked at his work! (I know an amazing proxy server; I believe people in China may even use it. Also, the LAUSD can't stop it either.) Then blogger Trevr sent me the LA. Times article regarding the Speedo LZR which I am going to post after this. BTW, lots of talk about it around the pool.

As for swimming today, I STORMED IT!

200 YD Free: 2:11.37 (Best ever)
100 YD Free: 59.18 (Best Ever)
50 YD Free: 26:96 (Second most stinky)
50 YD Free within the 200 Medley relay: 26.3 (Not a rolling start either.)

Eamon Sullivan is really pissing off Alain Bernard - Sullivan owns the WR in the 50 LCM Free...AGAIN!

I made that up about Alain Bernard, but if it were me, I would have spit at the TV and then broke down in tears.

The 50 free WR has fallen three times this week. WOW! Especially considering that Popov's WR held for more than a decade.

Here is a link to a higher-rez version: [Link]

Libby Lenton-Trickett set the world record today in the 100 LCM Freestyle - Here is that swim!

Note that she looks WAY UP! She does not look down at all! In fact, on the slo-mo replay her first three strokes are so powerful and she is looking up so high that her goggles are almost out of the water.

In 2008, I am seeing a free-for-all in regards to technique. There are no "rules" anymore such as always look down, do not utilize a straight arm recovery, it is all about what works for you, your body and the clock.

Higher-rez version here: [Link]

I forgot that Libby Lenton got married and changed her maiden name to Libby "really, really fast" - Here she is in the 100 fly

In this video, Libby Trickett nearly sets a WR in the 100 fly. Today she has set a WR in the 100 free but it is not up at You Tube yet. I think the Australian Womens team could dominate at Beijing but let's see what Ziegler, Hoff, and Saint Natalie do.

Higher-rez version here: [Link]

Stephanie Rice WR in the 200 IM

Higher-rez version here: [Link]

On April 4-6 at Ohio State university - "The Empire Strikes Back!"

We witnessed some great swims from the Europeans and the Australians this week but on April 4th - 6th, Michael Phelps, Katie Hoff, Brendan Hansen, Aaron Peirsol, Neil Walker, along and local girl, Kaitlin Sandeno, will be showing what the "empire" can dish.

Not to be upstage, patron saint of this blog, Natalie Coughlin, will be on the other side of our continent at Stanford sharing the stage with elite stormtroopers: Kim Vandenberg, Tara Kirk, Jason Lezak and Klete Keller. [Link]

If you are going to any of these meets, please post videos to "You Tube!"

Watch the replay of Sulivan's 100 LCM freestyle win and note his straight arm recovery

We are seeing a lot of innovation this year in swimming from stroke to speedsuits. I actually have a straight arm recovery as seen above when I sprint and I am working hard to change it since my turnover needs to speed up. It's amazing how these athletes like Sullivan, Nystrand, et al. can make it work.

To see a higher-rez version of this video, click here: [Link]

Eindhoven: The 100 LCM Women's Freestyle! - Marleen Veldhuis is a contender in Beijing

Marleen Veldhuis has a loping gate to her stroke like Michael Phelps and she drives her turns with lots of dolphin kicks too.