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

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

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

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

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

[Link]

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

Naked fisherman makes 12 hour swim to shore after trawler sinks

From The Age: "... He was spotted by search helicopters after 8am, after another fisherman on the trawler survived a remarkable 12-hour swim to shore yesterday, ending up on a beach suffering from exhaustion and dehydration.

"He grabbed my attention as he had lacerations up and down up his legs and scratches all over his [naked] body. [...] "His boat had overturned and he had hadn't seen his mates since 3.15am. ..." [Link]

One of the crew members was found 5-miles off the coast where they "clung to the esky." (I have no idea what that means.) I suspect that an experienced masters swimmer could have been able to swim 5 miles in 2-3 hours. I don't mean to be arrogant but being an accomplished swimmer can easily save your life in a stressful situation such as that. Even if it took the swimmer 6-hours instead of three; that is a heck of lot better than dog paddling for 12-hours.

Here is a link to a video at the Herald Sun: [Link]

More details at the World News Australia about the missing crew and how it happened here: [Link]