Australia
Davies Going The Distance
“Quite good fun.” That’s what Great Britain’s David Davies is quoted as saying in describing his 10k victory at the South African Open Water Championships last month. Apparently the one hour-fifty three minute race was such good fun that Davies now says he does want to swim it in Beijing.
It’s Official: Henry Out of Games
It started with what seemed like just a rumour (after all, Grant Hackett has set the stage for this kind of thing before), then gathered some steam when Henry confirmed it (but again, the Hackett factor) but now it’s official: defending 100m free Olympic Champion Jodie Henry will not take part in the Australian Trials and therefore […]
Pressure To Perform
Australia national team coach Alan Thompson makes no bones about the fact that he believes the federal government needs to ante up when it comes to swimming. Now he’s going even further, saying that the Aussies will be under the gun in Beijing. He believes they need a big showing in order to convince the […]
Britta Steffen Pulls Out of Euro’s With Shoulder Injury
A year or so ago many people were still anticipating a match-up between Australia’s Jodie Henry and German world record holder Britta Steffen in Beijing. Henry is expected to announce tomorrow whether or not she will even compete in Beijing and now it looks like Steffen’s shoulder injury may be more serious than expected.
Australian Olympians Will Have Blood and Urine Samples Frozen
The Australians are getting serious about catching cheats. Fearful of an embarrassing episode such as what US Track and Field has endured with the disgraceful revelations about Marion Jones, the Australian Olympic Committee and Australian Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) has guaranteed that every single athlete in its Olympic delegation will be tested before the Games. Additionally, […]
Aussie Coach Widmer Urges Swimmers Not to be Distracted by U.S.
Although Eamon Sullivan was tearing it up on the other side of the world this weekend, apparently a lot of Australians’ attention was focused on the results posted at the Missouri Grand Prix. Addressing this, top Australian coach Stephan Widmer urged athletes not to be intimidated by the results, stressing that everyone is at different points in their […]
Swimming Australia’s Money Crunch
Swimming Australia chief Glenn Tasker is holding no punches when it comes to demanding more government funding for the sport. He very pointedly tells the Herald Sun that unless Swimming Australia gets more government help, the Aussies’ may face a difficult future on the international stage.
Jodie Henry: Illness May Threaten Olympic Hopes
Defending Olympic 100 free champion and triple gold medalist Jodie Henry is not feeling so hot these days. That’s unfortunate, as 2007 didn’t go quite as well as she would’ve hoped. In a move that would make even Laure Manaudou look twice, she switched coaches, then a week later switched again. Also, my personal favorite, she was called […]
Leisel Jones Shows Why She’s the Greatest
Does anyone ever know what Leisel Jones is going to do? After losing to countrywoman Tarnee White in the 50 a couple days ago Jones came roaring back to win the 100. Did I say win? I mean demolish the field with a blistering 1:06.49, pretty darn good for someone that claims to be in the […]
Ziegler, Hackett, Coughlin Strong at Victorian Champs
Kate Ziegler always swims fast. In fact, I would argue the same for Natalie Coughlin as well. Normally people don’t go 4 seconds off the World Record time in the 400 free in-season, but I suppose “normal” isn’t a trait that describes any swimmer at Ziegler’s level. Coughlin also looked sharp as did Grant Hackett at […]
Hackett Not Under 50, Not in Final. Leisel Jones Suffers Defeat As Well
Grant Hackett, Leisel Jones. The two names are associated with everything right in Australian Swimming, and with good reason. But unlike other sports, sometimes the good ones are vulnerable during the year, and it appears that’s the case with the continent’s two biggest stars.
Victorian Championships Rolling in Australia
The US National Junior Team went to Australia to get some international experience and they’re certainly getting just that: Australia’s top level talent (including Grant Hackett) was in action. Hackett lost a close 200 free in the premiere event of the day while some of the United States’ future stars were already shining.
Hacket Aims at Completing Sub 50 Second Grand Slam
Grant Hackett has said he would like to finish his career having broken all the 50 second barriers: 50, 1:50, 3:50 and 14:50 in the 100, 200, 400 and 1500 freestyles respectively. Clearly the latter three aren’t a problem: he is the fifth fastest 200 freestyler, the second fastest 400 freestyler and the top 1500 […]
Grant Hackett Wins Australian 10KM Olympian Qualifier, Responds Physically and Verbally to Doubters
Grant Hackett has taken the first successful step towards taking the open water gold medal in Beijing by winning the Australian World Championships Qualifier today. Hackett took on all comers and emerged victorious, just ahead of his friend Ky Hurst, an open water and Australian Ironman veteran, allowing both to qualify for the World Championships in […]
Perkins Worried that Open Water May Lead to Hackett’s Demise
Kieren Perkins has never been shy about making his own opinions public, and is now voicing his concern about Grant Hackett’s focus headed into the Australian Trials and the Beijing Olympics. Not that it really is any of his business, but he believes that Hackett’s pursuit of open water glory will impede his chances […]
Gold Medal Mel Mel Stewart
The Swimmers' Ear Mike Gustafson
Top 5 Tuesday David Cromwell
In My Mind Nathan Jendrick