Author: rokur

“I truly believe that mental training is just as important as any physical training that I do because you can completely mess us. Being mentally prepared is definitely an extra edge I have going into a competition and something I definitely value. ” ~ Jessica Hardy Read more here on DISC

During the filming of stunt sequences for “Johanna and the Whale”, champion free diver Niki Stepanek dives down seventy feet to hear the song of a humpback whale, up close and personal. Photographed by George Monteiro and safety Diver Bobby Kim, the whale song was recorded live as it was filmed and was so loud that it could be heard through the hull of the boat at the surface.

At the Maria Lenk Trophy yesterday evening, Brazil’s Cesar Ceilo almost posted a world textile best in the men’s 50 freestyle, scorching the pool in 21.38 seconds, where Fréderick Bousquet’s world textile record is 21.36 from the 2010 Europeans. Bruno Fratus managed a second best in the world this year in the prelims, clocking 21.70, where James Magnussen’s now 3rd best time in the world this year is 21.74 from the Australian Trials. Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen won both the 50 freestyle (25.06) and the 100 butterfly (58.64), and helped the Corinthians’ to a win in the womens 4×200 freestyle, together…

After receiving entries from 20,000 students in 146 countries, Google chose 24-year-old Viktor Johansson’s series of images capturing a competitive swimmer’s demanding training regimen for the grand prize. Johansson studies at the Nordic Photography School Biskops-Arnö in Sweden, plus gets to now have his work featured in an exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery, and to shoot anywhere in the world with the assistance of a professional photography coach. Read The Verge via the17thman

Lebanon has not won an Olympic medal since 1980. But Lebanese-American swimmer Katya Bachrouche hopes to change that at this year’s London Games in July, where, as a dual citizen, she plans to compete for her ancestral homeland. Read Middle East Voices via the17thman.

As they put it on www.simma.nu/no, “Norwegian journalists never get tired of challenging Norwegian swimmers to a duel,” this time Dagbladet photographer Thomas Rasmus Skaug challenging world champ Alexander Dale Oen to a 50 meter breaststroke at altitude in Flagstaff, Arizona, Skaug with a 15 second headstart. Good to see Alex in the pool again, in the article on Dagbladet he says that he doesn’t feel any pain from his shoulder any more, they are holding back but it looks like he’ll be back in top shape come London 2012.

Funny DIRECTV commercial

With the London Olympics less than 100 days away, British swimmers are preparing to race on the international circuit, including the Europeans in Debrecen in May, the Mare Nostrum Series in June, the OW Marathon qualifier in Setúbal in June and the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in May/June, before the last chance to book a remaining slot on Team GB at the British Gas ASA National Championships on June 20th – 23rd. Read more here on swimming.org. Team GB at Debrecen 2012 Robbie Renwick – City of Glasgow Michael Jamieson – British Gas ITC Bath James Goddard – British…

The Swedish Olympic Committee today nominated Jennie Johansson and Martina Granström for the London 2012 Olympics, in addition to already qualified Sarah Sjöström and Therese Alshammar. Johansson and Granström are Olympic debutants, while Sjöström also participated in Beijing, and Alshammar at all 4 games since 1996. The Committee also nominated the women’s 4×100 freestyle, though without naming the swimmers. According to the Swedish Swimming Federation, the next selection will be at the end of May, after the European Championships. Via simma.nu/se (Alshammar happy at the World Cup leg in Stockholm back in 2010)

Svimjihøllin í Gundadali, main swimming pool of Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, all dressed up to greet young swimmer Magnus Jákupsson after his successful Nordic Youth Championships participation back in July 2010, where he won gold in the 50 backstroke, silver in the 50 butterfly and bronze in the 200 backstroke. Had to find a photo with Merkið today, since it is our annual flag day :-)