Swimmer's Daily

  • A 15-year-old boy and a 38-year-old garda, both from Co Meath, were the winners of this year’s Liffey Swim.

    Teenager Mark Hanley, who is a member of the North Dublin Swimming Club, claimed first place in the men’s event.  Sinead Delaney, who swims with the Phoenix Club in Clondalkin, won the women’s event.

    Billy Keogh (61) of Sandycove Swimming Club finished second in the men’s event. Sarah Keane, Olympic Council of Ireland president and chief executive of Swim Ireland, from Clontarf Swimming Club, finished second in the women’s  race.

    Read the Irish Times

  • Winners to qualify for Tokyo

    Kyiv is ready to stage another memorable edition of the European Diving Championships. The event kicks off on Monday and will feature a great line-up of European stars who all seek qualification for the 2020 Games: winners of the respective events on the Olympic programme shall book their spots in Tokyo.

    (L to R) Igor Lysov Ukrainian Diving Federation President Oleksiy Sereda UKR Tamara Tokmachova Team Ukraine Head Coach Press Conference Kyiv, Ukraine UKR 04/08/2019 Diving Len European Diving Championships 2019 Sport Arena Liko Kyiv, Ukraine Photo © Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
    Igor Lysov Ukrainian Diving Federation President Press Conference Kyiv, Ukraine UKR 04/08/2019 Diving Len European Diving Championships 2019 Sport Arena Liko Kyiv, Ukraine Photo © Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
    (L to R) Georgia Fyrigou Consolo LEN TDC Chairman Marco Birri LEN Operation Manager Andriy Vlaskov LEN Vice President Igor Lysov Ukrainian Diving Federation President Oleksiy Sereda UKR Tamara Tokmachova Team Ukraine Head Coach Press Conference Kyiv, Ukraine UKR 04/08/2019 Diving Len European Diving Championships 2019 Sport Arena Liko Kyiv, Ukraine Photo © Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

    Two years after the first quite successful meet in the Liko Sports Centre in Kyiv, everything is set to witness another outstanding edition of the European Diving Championships. This one has even more at stake: winners of the Olympic events (individual and synchro events in 3m and 10m in both genders) will qualify for Tokyo.

    “We are very happy to welcome back the diving family and very proud that Kyiv can host this event for the second time” said Igor Lysov, President of the Ukrainian Diving Federation, the man behind the entire showcase who also built the magnificent Liko complex, venue of the competition.

    LEN Vice-President Andriy Vlaskov also welcomed the media and all athletes, coaches and officials. “Kyiv is a great city and the fans love diving here so we will enjoy an outstanding event” he said.

    LEN Operational Manager Marco Birri and Chair of the LEN Technical Diving Committee Georgia Fyrigou-Consolo both praised the efforts of the hosts. “We are always keen to come here as we can’t wish for any better venue and more professional organisation” Mrs. Consolo added.

    As a highlight of the press conference, the locals greeted the new-born star of the discipline, 13 year-old Oleksiy Sereda who had offered a stunning performance at the World Championships in Gwangju and finished 4th both in the individual and the synchro events in the 10m platform. His appearance will surely be a highlight of the event and the young prodigy said that he would not crack under the mounting pressure since he was suddenly regarded a hot favourite to win titles here.

    The championships start with the Mixed Team Event on Monday at 17.00hrs local time. LEN shall provide free live streaming on the event on its website.
    Press release from LEN, images courtesy of Deepbluemedia / Giorgio Scala

  • Water polo team THE SHINY SHRIMPS have little hope of achieving their goal to compete in the world’s biggest LGBTQ+ sporting event, the Gay Games. Along comes World Silver Medalist swimmer Matthias Le Goff who, after making a homophobic remark on live TV, is offered redemption by means of training and reigning in the flamboyant Shrimps.

    The Shiny Shrimps, however, have other ideas. They prefer partying to serious practice. Should Matthias quit for selfish reasons or hit the road to Croatia with this uncoordinated shoal of water divas and ensure that THE SHINY SHRIMPS will become Queens Of The Pool?

  • A Danish man took a small sample of seawater, and when he put it under his microscope, he found it was teeming with life.

  • A cat in western Pennsylvania is bucking stereotypes with its love of swimming.

    Tissy is an orange Maine Coon who regularly cools off in the family pool in Bradys Bend Township, about 55 miles north of Pittsburgh.

    Sonny Herr tells the Tribune Review she rescued Tissy as a homeless kitten about five years ago from a parking lot near the county fair.

    She says Tissy got curious about water when the kitty was about a year old and started to swim. Tissy’s favorite thing is to swim with Herr’s 9-year-old daughter Taylee.

    Read Delaware Online

  • When swimmer Mack Horton refused to share a podium with Sun Yang, accusing him of being a drug cheat, what he didn’t know is that one of his own teammates had tested positive for a banned substance. On Friday Shayna Jack will attempt to clear her name as she faces a four year ban. The consequences for athletes are serious– stripped of medals, barred from competition and a reputation in tatters, it hardly seems worth the risk. Time and time again athletes get caught, but is the testing regime keeping up?

    Listen to the BBC Beyond Today podcast with Adam Peaty and Craig Lord

    Another angle on the same subject …

  • Giggling and shivering in the cold pool water, 3-year-old Noah Baxter wrapped his arms around swim teacher Lisa Weitzman-Alford’s neck as she swung him in a slow circle.

    “Speedboat, speedboat, go so slow,” Weitzman-Alford sang, increasing speed while instructing Noah to hold his arms straight in front of him. “Speedboat, speedboat, go so fast!”

    Over the next 30 minutes, Noah and four other toddlers taking the “Learn to Swim” course recently at Allentown’s Mack Pool practiced floating on their backs, holding their breath and pulling themselves out of the pool ― all skills they’d need if they ever fell into water and there was no grown-up around to help.

    “There really is no safe child in the water, just a more prepared child,” Weitzman-Alford said.

    Read The Morning Call

     

  • Wednesday’s event by the Bayou City Initiative was billed “Flood Resiliency and the State of City Infrastructure.” So, it was no surprise to see featured speaker Carol Haddock, head of Houston Public Works, get asked what the city department in charge of drainage and roads has done to prepare itself for the next storm.

    Haddock started by saying the department had provided swimming lessons to its staff.

    “I’m proud of that,” she said later.

    Read Houston Chronicle

    Photo by karllehenbauer