Swimmer's Daily

  • Great post here on Cap & Goggles:

    I didn’t have an answer. Still don’t. Not really sure why I’ve even writing this. All I know is that I don’t think I’ve ever felt for a fellow swimmer – a guy I’ve never met – more in my life. And Adam and I both know that a fellow Canadian 200 flyer could really use some support right about now. His name is Stefan Hirniak. Last night at the Canadian Olympic Trials, he missed making the Team over the final 25 meters of the race, fading to finish 4th. The exact same thing happened to him four years ago, at the Trials for Beijing. Both times he was a favorite to make it. Both times it came down to that final 50, heading for home.

  • Ian Thorpe has already resumed full training after crashing out of contention for the London Olympics a fortnight ago, now preparing for next year’s world championships in Barcelona and maybe the Rio Olympics in 2016.

    “I have literally no idea when I’ll be back in competition,” Thorpe said.
    “It will be sometime during this year but I most definitely haven’t made any decision on which competition it will be.
    “The next phase for me is really a pretty significant training block.”

    Read the Sydney Morning Herald and Stock & Land

  • At the Indianapolis Grand Prix today, Michael Phelps qualified third for the finals in the 100 butterfly and seventh in the 100 freestyle, stating according to USA Today, ‘I feel like the old me again’. Ryan Lochte competed in the same events, but didn’t make it to the finals, according to the Washington Post usually buried in heavy training this time of year. They might meet in the 200 IM on Saturday though. Via Indystar

  • When Canadian swimmer Sinead Russell yesterday punched her ticked to the 2012 London Olympics, questions about her swim coach father’s shady past were inevitable, Cecil Russell twice banned from coaching for life for his involvement in illegal steroid and ecstasy rings, and having admitted helping burn and dispose a murder victim. It’s a mess the likes of which Canadian swimming has never seen, but Sinead Russell appears unperturbed, and didn’t flinch at a suggestion her family’s problems have made her path harder than for other swimmers.

    “Not at all. It’s made me tougher,” said the 18-year-old from Burlington. “What I’ve been through, it’s made me more determined to do what I do.”

    Read more here on The Star (a Google cached version is here in case they are still having technical problems)

  • Michael Phelps spoke Wednesday at the Wheeler-Dow Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis, as part of his foundation‘s IM Program promoting healthy lifestyles. Forthcoming in his address, telling youths that one middle-school teacher said he would never be successful. Oh and yes, in other but Phelps-related news, SFGate quotes from Phelps’ book “Beneath the Surface”, “I would have give anything not to have such big ears … other kids knew they could get under my skin flicking my ears, exposing my ears, even talking about my ears.” Via Indystar and WIBC.

  • Great Britain will send five swimmers to the European Championships in Debrecen, Hungary in May, the wast majority of their London 2012 Olympic team opting out in favor of training through for the London Olympics. Dennis Pursley, British Swimming Head Coach said: “Participation in the European Championships was made optional for the British Olympics. The swimmers were encourage to base their decision on whether participation would enhance or compromise their preparation for the Olympics.” With the result being a tiny British team consisting of James Goddard, Robbie Renwick, Michael Jamieson, Craig Gibbons and Sophie Allen in Hungary from May 21-27. Read SwimNews.com.

    As mentioned here earlier, the entire Danish Olympic team will also skip the Europeans, including Pál Joensen from the Faroe Islands, opting for altitude training instead. The Danish team for the Debrecen 2012 Europeans will therefore consist of only one (1) swimmer – Kathrine Holm Sørensen – hoping to qualify for the Olympics.

  • Cheerleading show during the Serbia-Croatia waterpolo semifinal at the 2009 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Italy. Serbia won, even though that guy looks a bit stressed on the photo.

    DSC_1276

  • Five more names were added to Swimming Canada’s Olympic nomination list for a total of 11 after two days. Julia Wilkinson qualified with a 59.85 in the women’s 100 backstroke, Canadian record holder Sinead Russell qualifying in 2nd with a 1:00.45. David Sharpe clipped Zack Chetrat, 1:58.81 to 1:58.83, missing the FINA A standard of 1:56.86 but earning a provisional spot on the squad pending FINA’s B cut selection process that happens later this meet. Stephanie Horner did the same as Sharpe in the women’s 400 IM, edging teammate Island Swimming teammate Alexa Kormanycki 4:42.25 to 4:42.69. And Charles Francis in the men’s 100 backstroke with a 54.84, FINA A standard being 54.40 and FINA B standard 56.30. Via swimming.ca and SwimmingWorld Magazine, see all results from day 2 here on omegatiming.com.

  • International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge says he is ‘very happy’ with preparations for the London 2012 Olympics after his final inspection visit, that London had ‘raised the bar on how to deliver a lasting legacy, and set out a blueprint for future host cities to aspire to.’ Speaking at Downing Street, after a meeting with Mr Rogge, prime minister David Cameron said the Games would be secure, on budget and on time. “The London Olympics will be the greatest show on earth, and we look forward to welcoming you all.”. Read more here on Metro.

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