Author: rokur

Britain’s Olympic medal hope Gemma Spofforth fell of her bike yesterday evening, breaking her toe and nose in the fall. They are keeping her at the hospital overnight in case she has a concussion. Looking at the picture, she might have broken a front tooth too, poor girl. Doing much better!! Keeping me in over night incase I have a concussion… 15 stitches, broken toe and broken nose…  http://t.co/XSEZgYKless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyGemma SpofforthGemmaSpofforth

In short, Venezuela’s short course 50 meter butterfly world champion Albert Subirats missed the world championships last month because he was reported to have missed three anti-doping tests (a sanction that is now totally lifted) while now 50 meter butterfly long course world champion César Cielo and 2 other Brazilians got a last-minute express trial and then only a warning for without doubt having taken an illegal drug. Therefore good question by Craig Lord here on SwimNews.com: The questions for CAS and all involved in seeking fairness and more rigour in the anti-doping system is clear: why, when the Subirats…

I like that description: After about six hours I am usually deep inside my own head. My body takes over and my mind drifts off somewhere…a moving meditation. At night I will try and narrow my attention to a single light or glow stick on the boat or kayak. I close my eyes periodically to ‘watch’ the whole thing from above. The ‘zone’ takes some time to get into, and it doesn’t last for the whole swim. I’ve never experienced anything like it during any land-based activity.” Via TakePart.com. Here is the quoted Dave Barra reflecting on his recent 120…

The nonprofit Dade City’s Wild Things sanctuary in Pasco County is hoping that cat lovers will pay $200 a pop for the chance to take a dip with a tiger cub. Just don’t be around when momma comes home! Via Tampa Bay Online. Here’s another video from Tampa Bay Online …

Commenters here on buzzfeed.com say that this is perfectly normal procedure in Florida, but it still looks like they are overloading the filtration system.

Ehh, this video is at the very limit of what will pass as material for this site, but unfortunately you don’t get much more swimming relevant than a ‘shower world record’. Now standing at 152 persons, beating the old record of mere 145 persons from 2009, which apparently took a good deal of squeezing. Did I mention that their secret weapon was a lot of bikini-clad ladies ? See The World Records Academy. Oh God no, there is ‘behind the scenes’ shots too. Well at least it proves that they were serious about it. “It is not a ‘thinking’ record,…

This video shows a boxing match that allegedly took place in 1939 at Wembley Empire Pool in London. Unbelievable! Doobybrain via Neatorama.

Irish Boyzone pop star Ronan Keating took to the sea off the east coast of Britain today in preparation of the 10-member charity swim from Ireland to Wales next month, but then revealed on Twitter that he is facing “disaster” after pulling a muscle in his leg. Now, this is the moment when his coach should step in and point out how distance swimming is mostly armstroke, look him straight into the eyes and ask if he is planning to kick his way to Wales (!). Follow him and Branson and the rest on the-swim.co.uk, and help them raise £1.000.000…

While visiting the oceanarium Nordsømuseet in Hirtshals today, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark took time off to don a dive suit and feed the fishes, being the experienced ‘frømand’ (Danish Navy Seal) that he is. Biggest attractions there are three sunfishes, whereof the biggest called Anton is well above 100 kg in weight. The sunfishes feared him (the prince). Via jp.dk. Tasmanian-born Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark of course got a kiss through the window while he was in the tank, because that is what real princes do :-)

Caitlin Morris from Stourport, England started learning to swim when she was 9 months old – 6 months before she could walk. Now she manages 9 meters in 47 seconds using a doggy-paddle style stroke, an ability that her instructor at Baba Seahorse rates as that of a 4-year-old. Here below she swims alongside big brother Callum. Read Express & Star.