G. John Mullen analyzing races better than anybody - Rebeca Soni versus Jessica Hardy!

Coach G. John Mullen over at Swim Science is the future of swim analysis and coaching. He is a doctoral candidate at USC in physical therapy, he coaches weekly and his race analysis and postulates have have lots of math that is both demonstrable and inspiring.

Here is a snippet analysis of Rebeca Soni versus Jessica Hardy:

"... Second 25 meters: Once again, Hardy has a great turn and starts off strong getting to the 15-meter mark .4 seconds faster than Soni, but into the wall she already starts to fade. The last 10-meters into the wall, Hardy's distance per stroke is even with Soni's (1.67 meters/stroke), but her strokes/second (Stroke Rate) begins to fall to .21 strokes/second slower than her first 25 to .89. During this time Soni is steady
sailing continuing her stroke rate around .93 and her distance per stroke at 1.67 meters/stroke.

My overall impression at the first 50 is even though Hardy is ahead by .45 seconds, her slowing speed into the wall is not a good sign for the upcoming 50. ..."

[Link]

I cornered John at Starbucks yesterday we talked about swimming and blogging. Afterward he pin-pointed muscle groups for me that I need to stretch to improve my streamline. Most or all the coaches I asked about it told m to focus on my shoulders when in reality it is my upper back and pectorals that are causing me the most dificulty in executing a more reasonable streamline.

I did not know that Rebecca Soni had heart Surgery in 2006!

At last weekends Duel in the Pool meet, Rebecca Soni broke Leisel Jones' WR in the 200 SCM breaststroke in a time of 2:14.57. The following day she swam a 1:02.70 in the 100SCM breaststroke to bust Leisel Jones' world record swimming a 1:03.00

Compound that with the fact that in 2006 she had heart surgery; well, in my estimation that makes her "double filled" with "Awesomeness and win"

[Link]

Above is a photo of Rebecca Soni that Mark Savage took at the TYR Swim Meet of Champions.

Rebecca Soni takes flight, then storms, than graciously wins the 100 breast at the TYR Swim Meet of Champions

I attended to the TYR Swim Meet of Champions yesterday and I was really pleased with what I saw. There is a lot of talent here on the west coast and I will I will post more images throughout the day. For now here are some fantastic images that my SCAQ friend Mark Savage took for us.

Above are three photos of world record holder Rebecca Soni at the 2009 TYR Swim Meet of Championsin. Note that Rebecca Soni is the World Record holder in the 200 breast and in these photos you can see her take flight, storm and glow after winning the 100 breast.

If Rebecca Soni is in your town for a swim meet, it's worth the long drive to go see her swim. (Glenn Mills, we need a video.)

The way she approaches the breaststroke is very unique. She has a very fast turnover, she stays very close to the surface, and I see no undulation whatsoever. Almost an old school style of breaststroke

She was a very gracious winner; on the podium she looked to her left telling the swimmer that she did a good, then to the right doing like wise but when she was handed her yellow roses, she started to glow. Just look at that smile. :-D

Mark Savage took the photos above and I thank him very much. If you want to to post these photos on your blog, you may on the condition that you link to his sites:

[Link] MarkSavage.com

[Link] 95dollarheadshots.com

Quick thoughts

Thoughts on the 50 free prelim:

1) Cielo looks straight down the whole way
2) Nystrand has a "tomahawk/windmill" stroke as do many others.
3) Tobriner has his arms go into the water at a angle.
4) Schoeman has a very symmetrical stroke. His body is very rigid. (Rotates little?)

Thoughts on the 200 breast:

1) Rebecca Soni has a short glide phase and at least "two or three hearts."
2) Jones should have won but SOni was stronger - Jones looked fatigued all throughout - even on the blocks

Thoughts on the 200 back:

1) Lochte's Dad cried. :-]
2) Perisol did it again! He kicks on his belly during the turn! - NOT OK
3) Lochte does not kick on his belly

Thoughts on the Women's 200 back:

1) Manaudou lost weight, looks pale. Could be the LZR making her look thinner!

Thoughts on the 200 IM

1) Cseh is the most underrated swimmer in these Olympics
2) Phelps is making this looks so easy. Is it easy?

Women's 100 Free thoughts

1) Francesca Halsall has a beautiful body!
2) Britta Steffen STORMED it in the last 10 meters. Where everybody was fading she got stronger.
3) Natalie Coughlin is STRONG!

Rebecca Soni is back on my radar

Chiba, Japan: Rebecca Soni swam a 2:23.36 versus Liesel Jones 2:21.45 which is pretty darn fast at this time of year. Libby Lenton swam a sub 25 for the 50m free as well.

Seiko has the results for the Chiba meet here: [Link]

I yanked this photo from the USA Swimming website. Hopefully copyright ninjas from the Wasserman Media Group don't come after me. Connected to this photo is an interview with her as well: [Link]

Two local girls from USC storm it in Chiba, Japan

Chiba, Japan, the sci-fi setting for William Gibson's seminal novel, Neuromancer. It was a novel where the word, Cyberspace, was coined.

Today, Tara Kirk and Rebecca Soni, two local girls from USC California; (Soni attends USC while Kirk attends Stanford), stormed it in 100m Breast racing against Leisel Jones of Australia. Though they finished 2nd and 3rd place, it was a very close race.

From About.com: "... Soni, who swept the breaststroke events at the 2007 Conoco Phillips USA Swimming Nationals, hammered home in a time of 1:06.94 to finish just behind Australia’s world-record holder Leisel Jones in second place. Kirk took home the bronze in 1:07.31. ..." [Link]

I think if I swam an all out 100m free, I could a high 1:08. I guess I have some work to do!

This wonderful photo is part of jdlasica's photostream at Flickr.com

Local girl, Rebecca Soni, off to a great start

Rebecca Soni is a quasi local girl here in L.A.. She started in New Jersey and now lives here in Los Angeles as a USC junior. She is on the front page of the Daily News today with a subsequent profile on page 3 of the sports page.

Last year she developed an irregular heartbeat and in July went with cardiac ablation surgery to fix it. It has an amazing success rate, it's minimally invasive too but certainly not pleasant. So, with last Summer shot for training, look at her now! Faster than any time Amanda Beard has posted this year. :-P

Lane 9 News: "... Rebecca Soni paced the field in the morning heats with a time of 2:28.37, while Caitlin Leverenz finished second in 2:29.24. Keri Hehn closed out the sub-2:30 efforts with a third-place 2:29.80. ..." [Link]

Here is a link to her USC profile: [Link]

Tara Kirk has the prettiest breaststroke I have ever seen.

Here she beats Liesel Jones in the 100m breast at the Duel in the Pool meet last month. Rebecca Soni comes in third.

Speedo Grand Challenge Day 3 Prelim Results

Amanda beard swam a 2:34.03 for the 200m breast in Day 3 of the Speedo Grand Challenge. That is 13 seconds slower than her American record and 15 seconds off the world record. Granted this is just prelim results but three other swimmers swam seconds faster. Placings below:

1. Rebecca Soni, 20 - TROJAN-CA: 2:31.49
2. Keri Hehn, 26 - TROJAN-CA: 2:31.60
3. Tara Kirk, 24 - UN-PC/Stanford: 2:32.35
4. Amandea Beard, 25 - TROJAN-CA: 2:34.03

Prelim Results: [Link]

As of this meet, Amanda Beard may have qualifying times for Olympic Trials but she is seemingly not prepared enough to make the Olympic team. This is very precarious for her since she has to make the Olympic Team team to add equity to her sexualized, "Amanda Beard," brand and for her licensing agent, Stone America who wants to cut deals.

Last month in Australia we saw world records threatened and a world record fall by seconds in the 200 fly. We saw motivated swimming from all over the world. These swimmers were prepared, they races, and then hit the pool the day after World Championships. We have seen these swimmers compete in such events as the Duel in the Pool, The Eric Namesnick Memorial Grand Prix etc. etc..

I havn't seen any motivation from Amanda Beard whatsoever to race since Athens 2004. A sprinter like Gary Hall can take a 100 days to prepare for the Olympics, a specialist in the 200 anything needs 2-years-plus at least and more like four.