Swimmer's Daily

  • A swimming coach whose training methods are at the center of a controversy involving the West Fargo girls swim team has issued a response.

    On Sept. 14, Ronald Hehn was fired as the girls swimming and diving coach at West Fargo High School, after he posted a Facebook video of a student manager attempting a training method Hehn had implemented, in which he was asked to swim 25 yards in the deep end with weights hanging from his waist. (See video above).

    The manager was attempting a training method team swimmers had attempted earlier in the day.

    Hehn said the method was taken from a speech recently given by Sam Freas, a head swimming coach at Oklahoma Baptist University and a former president of the College Swim Coaches Association.

    Freas, however, says his methods, which he’s been using for more than 20 years, were implemented incorrectly. He said the training system was to be used more like resistance training, comparing it to baseball players using weights on their bats during batting practice.

    “I’ve never used hanging weights,” Freas said. “My system is nothing like (what he did).”

    Read Inforum

  • A double take at the Olympian twins who have more in common with their team-mate than their love for sport and claiming medals.

  • Experience the world’s first underwater residence through the eyes of Alessia Zecchini, freediving world champion. CENTURION Magazine x Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.

  • A hand full of new World Cup records and some great racing kept the crowd at he edge of their seats in at the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 Doha. Enjoy some nice impressions from the 2nd stop of the #SWC18.

  • Kazan hosted the first edition of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018. The “iron lady” Katinka Hosszu took the first gold medal of the competition followed by Chad Le Clos, Julia Efimova, Vladimir Morozov, Anton Chupkov, Sarah Sjöström and Andriy Govorov who can also count another gold medal their own now.

  • Russia has been reinstated by the World Anti-Doping Agency, a controversial decision given the magnitude of the country’s doping offenses.

    WADA’s executive committee voted to reinstate Russia’s Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) at a meeting Thursday in the Seychelles. The decision was expected after WADA’s compliance review committee made its recommendation for reinstatement last week.

    WADA president Craig Reedie announced on Twitter the “great majority” of the executive committee decided to reinstate RUSADA as compliant.

    Read USA Today

  • Belfast needs an Aquatic Strategy to combat its all-time high obesity levels.

    That is the message from GLL (Better Belfast) as they embark on a series of public consultations about the structure and future of leisure services in the city.

    The firm pointed to nearly 60,000 young people taking advantage of Belfast’s swimming pools last year and insisted they “want as many adults and children as possible to learn that skill and take it further”.

    Gareth Kirk, Regional Director, GLL (Better Belfast), said: “Obesity is at an all-time high in Northern Ireland. People are also living longer and living with chronic and lifelong medical conditions.

    “That means we have a huge challenge to meet in terms of the burden placed on our health service, with a growing need set against a backdrop of less funding.

    “In addition to this, there is also a growth in the prevalence of mental health problems and the impact of these on society. Much research points towards the need for physical exercise in helping to combat poor mental health, as well as poor physical health.

    “Political leaders, health service managers, patient groups and other organisations recognise this and report after report pinpoints public health and prevention as one of the central pillars in delivering a transformed health service and easing this enormous burden on public finances.

    See Belfast Live and Better.org.uk

  • A review of Swim Secure’s Wild Swim Bag. A large capacity tow float that doubles as a back pack. Ideal for Otillo style training or some wild swimming.