Swimmer's Daily

  • We met up with swimmer, Alex Rosser who is representing Team Wales in this years Commonwealth Games!

  • Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has confirmed they shot down an unauthorised drone flying close to a Commonwealth Games exclusion zone.

    The incident, which occurred yesterday, gave the the security operation put in place for the event an early test after Gold Coast 2018 chairman Peter Beattie claimed the “safest place in Australia during the Games is actually going to be in the Games”.

    The drone was not breaching the zone, Gollschewski said, but its operator has been reported to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

    Police were able to track the object through new technology established as part of security plans.

    “Last night we detected an unmanned aerial system that was within a few hundred metres of one of the prescribed exclusion zones,” said Gollschewski.

    “We were able to track down that operator and refer that matter to CASA for the breaches that have been committed by that person operating that unmanned aerial vehicle.

    “The message is there, leave your drone at home, we will detect them and we will take action.”

    Read Inside the Games

  • Questions remain as to whether medals won by US relay teams during the World Juniors last year will stand, after the international federation of swimming associations (FINA) sanctioned a team member with an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV). FINA revealed that US college swimmer Matthew Willenbring has served a four month ban, after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide at the World Juniors in Indianapolis on 28 August 2017. His sanction began on 19 October and FINA states that all results from 28 August 2017 will be annulled.

    It would therefore appear that the silver medal won by the US mixed 4x100m freestyle team at the World Juniors will stand despite the involvement of Willenbring, as that medal was won on 25 August. FINA’s site still lists the US men’s 4x100m medley relay team as gold medal winners despite the involvement of Willenbring in the final, which took place on 28 August. It also still lists Willenbring as bronze medal winner in the 100m freestyle, which also took pace on 28 August.

    Read The Sports Integrity Initiative

     

    Photo by smith_cl9

  • A sea lion’s bark sounded a lot like a man’s cries for help, apparently.

    That’s what San Diego lifeguards determined might have been what a caller heard when they reported a man calling for help Saturday night.

    The call came in around 10:45 p.m. after a caller heard what was thought to be a man’s calls for help below La Jolla Cove.

    Lifeguards rushed to the scene where they also said they heard what sounded the man’s distress cries.

    Lifeguards performed several searches, complete with helicopters, and found no one, San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson Monica Munoz said.

    “They also heard the cries of sea lions and determined that was probably what the reporting party heard,” she said.

    Read NBC Los Angeles News

  • A good Samaritan is in critical condition after helping to save two children from drowning at Navarre Beach early Saturday evening.

    The children were having difficulty swimming after they went too far into the Gulf waters at about 6 p.m. Saturday. Two nearby surfers spotted the kids and were able to pull the children to safety, according to Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. A third swimmer also jumped into action and was possibly caught in an undertow while trying to save one of the children.

    Rescue Teams from SRSO was able to pull that person from the water and deputies began CPR, but the swimmer had to be taken by helicopter to a local hospital in critical condition.

    Read Pensacola News Journal

    Photo by mamamusings

  • Svetlana Kolesnichenko was 13 years old when she was invited to join the Russian Junior National Team in Artistic Swimming. Ten years later she is an Olympic Champion and a multiple World and European Champion in Team Routine and a new solo star!

  • The 16-year-old student shot in the head at Great Mills High School in Maryland is being remembered for her love of swimming, snow and her family. Jaelynn Willey died late Thursday night, hours after her mother, Melissa Willey, announced that she would be taken off life support, saying, “She is brain dead and has nothing, no life left in her.” Willey was one of nine children and the second-oldest. InsideEdition.com’s Lisa Voyticki has more.

  • We met up with swimmer, Alys Thomas who is representing Team Wales in this years Commonwealth Games!

  • Greece won the historical first title in the women’s Europa Cup Super Final in Pontevedra (ESP) – and this is their first gold since 2011 when they won the World Championships. Russia had to settle for the second place after losing 9-8 in a thrilling final. The bronze medal remained in Spain after the home side beat the Netherlands with ease.

    7 Asimaki GRE, 8 Simanovich RUS 1st LEN Women Europa Cup GRE – RUS Greece (white cap) – Russia(blue cap) Gold Final 1st – 2nd place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    13 Karnahuk RUS, 6 Gorbunova RUS 1st LEN Women Europa Cup GRE – RUS Greece (white cap) – Russia(blue cap) Gold Final 1st – 2nd place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    LEN_Europa_Cup_2018/G.Scala-DBMedia
    13 Diamantopoulou GRE MVP Most Valuable Player of the torunament 1st LEN Women Europa Cup GRE – RUS Greece (white cap) – Russia(blue cap) Gold Final 1st – 2nd place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    Asimaki Greece Captain 1st LEN Women Europa Cup GRE – RUS Greece (white cap) – Russia(blue cap) Gold Final 1st – 2nd place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    Greece 1st LEN Women Europa Cup GRE – RUS Greece (white cap) – Russia(blue cap) Gold Final 1st – 2nd place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    Spain bronze 1st LEN Women Europa Cup GRE – RUS Greece (white cap) – Russia(blue cap) Gold Final 1st – 2nd place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    Russia Silver 1st LEN Women Europa Cup GRE – RUS Greece (white cap) – Russia(blue cap) Gold Final 1st – 2nd place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    NED Team LEN Europa Cup Women 2018 finals NED-ESP Netherlands (white caps) V. Spain (blue caps) 3rd – 4th place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    Havenga Coach NED LEN Europa Cup Women 2018 finals NED-ESP Netherlands (white caps) V. Spain (blue caps) 3rd – 4th place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    1 Ester ESP (GK) LEN Europa Cup Women 2018 finals NED-ESP Netherlands (white caps) V. Spain (blue caps) 3rd – 4th place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    4 Ortiz M.B. ESP LEN Europa Cup Women 2018 finals NED-ESP Netherlands (white caps) V. Spain (blue caps) 3rd – 4th place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    LEN_Europa_Cup_2018/G.Scala-DBMedia
    Oca Coach ESP LEN Europa Cup Women 2018 finals NED-ESP Netherlands (white caps) V. Spain (blue caps) 3rd – 4th place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    12 Leiton ESP LEN Europa Cup Women 2018 finals NED-ESP Netherlands (white caps) V. Spain (blue caps) 3rd – 4th place Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    Greece GRE Winner of the 1st LEN Europa Cup 1st place LEN Europa Cup Women 2018 finals Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    Greece GRE Winner of the 1st LEN Europa Cup 1st place LEN Europa Cup Women 2018 finals Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto
    Greece GRE Winner of the 1st LEN Europa Cup 1st place LEN Europa Cup Women 2018 finals Water Polo, Pallanuoto Pontevedra, Spain Complejo Rias do sur Day03 Photo © Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

    In a strange game Greece prevailed against Russia in the gold medal match. The first half, more precisely the first 15 minutes belonged to the Russians who took a 2-0 lead. The Greeks hit the woodwork at least eight times before their young centre-forward Eleni Xenaki broke the ice with a fine action goal inside the last minute. What’s more, within 40 seconds she gave a great assist to Anastasia Kalargyrou who levelled the score 11sec before halftime.

    A brilliant lob from Ekaterina Prokofyeva put the Russians ahead once more but the Greek offence started working. They netted four goals in a row, all in man-up situations, playing with patience, putting away the ball in the 21-23rd second of the respective possessions, just when the excluded player swam in but the defence was tired out. Chrysoula Diamantopolou came up with great saves at the other end – she was named the meet’s Most Valuable Player – and with 3:30 to go Greece seemed to have it at 8-4.

    However, the Russians are famous for their late surges, a double in 43 seconds halved their deficit, and even if the Greeks could score another ‘calmer’ for 9-6, two more came from the counter-attacking rival in 39 seconds, so with 0:44 remaining on the clock it stood 9-8. But pressing didn’t pay off this time, Xenaki earned an exclusion 22 seconds before the end and the Greek team didn’t give away the ball.

    This is Greece’s first title since their 2011 triumph at the Shanghai Worlds and the first medal since their European silver in Eindhoven 2012. The win is also good news for federation’s treasury as LEN offered €20,000 for the victor – Russia’s silver is rewarded with €15,000.

    The bronze medal game turned into a lop-sided affair as the Netherlands fell into the same black hole as the day before in the semis with Greece. The Dutch staged a strong start against Spain, took a 2-1 lead – then faded from the scene. This time they could score only once in the last three periods, at 2-5, after a silence of 13:10 minutes. But no more goals followed in the remaining 12:11 minutes either – at 3-5 they earned a penalty but Catharina van der Sloot hit the bar, killing her team’s momentum, and a bit later Paula Leiton scored for 3-6. Spain’s defence worked really well, the Dutch shooters lost their confidence while the hosts went on widening the gap. The Espar sisters led the charge, Anna netted three, Clara added two, the Spaniards clinched the bronze with a 9-3 KO at the end.

    After the Easter break the Europa Cup returns with the men’s Super Final, featuring Europe – and the world’s – best teams whose four-day contest will be held in Rijeka (CRO) on 5-8 April.

    Quotes

    Georgios Morfesis, head coach, Greece:
    “This is our first medal since 2012 so we are obviously happy. Today we had some problems in the first half with our man-up play but during the break we managed to fix most of those and we could take control from the third period. Even we led by three goals before the last period I told the girls to play on as you couldn’t wait for the time running out against such a team like Russia whose counter-attacks are so dangerous.”

    Andrei Belofastov, assistant coach, Russia:
    “We played a very good first half but then we started committing mistakes. Today our man-up and man-down didn’t work that well and we presented four easy goals to Greece. Conceding so many goals against six on six is too much at this level. The difference in the number of exclusions (11-6) was a bit strange, to be honest, and to suffer five-six counter-fouls in attack didn’t help us either. It was also tough to play three strong matches in three days, yesterday we gave everything against Spain and we lacked the necessary energy in our counters for most of the time today.”

    Miguel Oca, head coach, Spain
    “I’m really satisfied with our performance today and of course we are happy to win the bronze medal. Today our defence worked really well, we could keep the Dutch team on three goals, this is great as they have many great shooters. We were organised and disciplined, we have to go on like this.”

    Arno Havenga, head coach, Netherlands:
    “For eight minutes we played a good game, then again we lost the control in our attacks. Our defence was mostly fine, but the offence didn’t work. We have to look for the reasons as I can’t tell you now why this happened to the team. Sure, we have to work a lot until the summer.”

    Europa Cup, Women’s Super Final, Day 3

    Bronze medal game
    Netherlands v Spain 3-9

    Europa Cup Final
    Greece v Russia 9-8

    Final rankings
    1. Greece – €20,000
    2. Russia – €15,000
    3. Spain – €5,000
    4. Netherlands
    5. Italy
    6. Hungary

    Most Valuable Player:
    Chrysoula Diamantopolou (GRE)

    For detailed statistics and play-by-play description visit www.len.eu

    Press release from LEN, photos courtesy of Deepbluemedia / Giorgio Scala