Does More Money Earn Primetime Rights to Swimming?
I came across a blog post by Dave Ling & Franchise on their blog The Vortex. It is always interesting to read the feedback and thoughts of those outside our little, for lack of a better word, vortex in the swimming community. On The Vortex they discussed how the IOC moved the swimming finals to […]
Science Says Athletes Perform Better At Night
Of the seemingly few individuals who are not opposed to the switching of the upcoming Olympic swimming schedule, many believe time of day does not affect athletic performance, thus morning finals won’t matter. Vocal proponents in this include some fans, former Olympians on internet message boards and even Australian coach Alan Thompson.
Unfortunately for the athletes […]
The IOC Continues to Offend
Joining the growing chorus of discontent revolving around the topic of morning swimming finals at the Beijing Olympics, the European Broadcasting Union is among those now voicing their opinion.
“With this decision the IOC ends the tradition of staging these finals in the evening irrespective of the time zone at the venue,” said the Union in […]
Australia’s Top Coach Wants Morning Finals
Australia’s man in charge, Alan Thompson, has made clear requests for Australia’s Olympic Trials to be held in the morning. According to a report in the October 31 edition of The Australian newspaper, Thompson is quoted as saying: “I will be asking for the trials in 2008 to follow a similar program as the Olympics, […]
Cal Continues Season Unbeaten
In their first meet at home this past Friday, the No. 1 ranked women’s team at Cal (4-0, 1-0 in the Pac-10) won every event against San Jose State, defeating them after 16 events 204-84.
But, as was to be expected, the ladies at Cal didn’t stop there.
In their conference opener on Saturday they won 11 […]
Swimmers Write Letter to the IOC
The Herald Sun obtained a copy of the letter sent by Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Pieter van den Hoogenband, Laure Manaudou and Michael Klim:
“We, the Olympic swimmers, concerned about the commercial influence to our sport, aiming at fair competition and great competition results want to swim finals at night in Beijing.”
“We believe, based on competition […]
Swim in the Morning or Commercialism - You Choose
If getting prepared as a swimmer for morning finals is so important, then why have USA Swimming and Swimming Australia not sided with giving their athletes every opportunity for swimming in the morning… especially at their respective Olympic Trials? As of this writing both have stated the need to hold their respective Olympic Trials […]
Is Swimming Finals in the Morning Good or Bad?
Depends on who you ask - I am not going to pretend to be able to quote them all, so I will leave a little food for thought… other people’s thoughts on the change. Good or bad, it is just opinion. The only fact available. Finals are in the morning and like […]
More Outside Advice for Thorpe
In the never-ending streak of outsider opinions on the return of Ian Thorpe to competitive swimming, he’s now getting some advice from a man who may know more about his position than any other.
Australian swimming legend Murray Rose, the only other man (besides Thorpe) to repeat back-to-back as Olympic champion in the 400-meter freestyle, says […]
IOC To Increase Drug Tests in Beijing
The International Olympic Committee has announced it will conduct 4,500 drug tests in Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games. The increase will greatly exceed the roughly 3,500 tests done in Athens in 2004.
Questions remain though over the viability of standard drug tests, with the inability in today’s science to accurately test for Human Growth Hormone […]
USA Swimming’s Chuck Wielgus Comments on Morning Finals
The following is the official statement from USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus regarding the IOC decision to change the swimming schedule in Beijing as reported just hours ago:
“This is a great opportunity for our sport to be showcased to the North American television audience during the first nine days of […]
It Is Official. Morning Finals are Set for Swimming.
The swimming finals at the Beijing Olympics will be held in the morning, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced. The competition schedule for the Games has been agreed by the IOC’s executive board “after a thorough consultation process,” IOC coordination commission chairman Hein Verbruggen said at a news conference.
The idea to switch the […]
Four Indiana University Swimmers Arrested
According to reports, four members of the Indiana University (IU) swimming and diving team were removed from the squad after being arrested over the weekend, said Pete Rhoda, the director of Athletic Media Relations. Rhoda would not comment further on the issue.
Keith J. Dawley, 19, Jensen V. Ried, 18, Andrew M. Bengtsen, 18, and Tyler […]
Ian Thorpe Likely to Take On the Australian Trials Cold Turkey
Ian Thorpe is likely to bypass his last chance at a competitive competition before December’s Australian trials for the swimming world championships. Thorpe is not listed among entries for the Speedo International at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from November 3 to 5.
Thorpe’s manager Dave Flaskas said last night the five-time Olympic […]
Auburn Swimming Inducts Five to Hall of Fame
Auburn Swimming and Diving inducted five members of its Alumni to its Hall of Fame.
1996 Olympian Scott Tucker, 2000 Sydney Olympians Pat Calhoun and Rada Owen, along with World University Games gold medalist Katie Taylor and 1997 NCAA champion Anne Wenglarski were recently enshrined over the annual Alumni Weekend.
The five inductees competed against the current […]
Gold Medal Mel Mel Stewart
The Swimmers' Ear Mike Gustafson
Top 5 Tuesday David Cromwell
In My Mind Nathan Jendrick