Swimmer's Daily

  • Ocean safety officials said they brought in more than 300 swimmers who were either too tired to finish the course or make it to shore on their own.

  • The Australian para-swimming team are striving to be their best for the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Listen to their amazing story.

  • Streets of Prague can get really hot during the summer so it’s not a bad idea to cool yourself down.

  • In 2008, U.S. Paralympic gold medalist Mallory Weggemann was paralyzed from the waist down after a routine procedure. Now she inspires all of us to tackle and overcome challenges each and every day.

  • Katie Ledecky cemented herself as the dominant force in women’s swimming during the Rio games. The 19-year-old reflects on her experience in the pool, chatting with Simone Biles, and explains the impact Michael Phelps has had on her young career.

    https://youtu.be/GFQTOFEqK6Y

  • In this short biopic about Norblad by British director and photographer Ian Derry for Nowness, Norblad talks about how she came across the sport after a horrific bike accident and tried cold water treatment to make sure she didn’t lose her fractured leg.

    See GrindTV

  • Michael Phelps is retired, but his infamous #PhelpsFace lives on, thanks to a large, life-size cutout courtesy of The Tonight Show.

    See Mashable

  • FINA was surprised to receive the letter of resignation from three officials from its Doping Control Review Board (DCRB), including the Chairman Dr. Andrew Pipe.

    While FINA obviously regrets this decision, our International Federation expresses its deep appreciation and recognition for their supportive action in our successful anti-doping policies over the recent years.

    Concerning the claims expressed in their resignation letter, FINA would like to clarify that the Olympic Games are an IOC event. For Rio 2016, the decision on the participation of the Russian athletes has been made by the CAS and the IOC. FINA fully respected and implemented their decisions.
    In this very complex process, FINA did express the DCRB position but our International Federation was not the body ultimately deciding the outcome on this matter.

    With regard to the FINA DCRB technical recommendations, FINA would like to confirm that these have always been implemented, thus leading to a fruitful anti-doping strategy.

    In his letter to the three former members of the DCRB following their resignation, the FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione stated: “I am sure you agree that FINA is in the forefront of the fight against doping with an important financial investment in doping control activities. FINA always coordinates with all stakeholders in the sport movement to assure that transparency and zero tolerance in the fight against doping is in place, thus protecting the clean athletes”.

    In his letter, Dr. Maglione concluded: “Please rest assured that we will continue the same policy in fighting against doping without any limitation, equally applying the doping control rules to all athletes and all FINA Member Federations.”

    Read FINA

  • Less than a week before the Paralympics opens, organisers are hoping that a late surge of interest will help them to fill seats, stretch budgets and avoid criticism that the second stage of Rio 2016 will be remembered as the “neglected Games”.

    Financial cuts, downgraded facilities, volunteer shortfalls and poor ticket sales have overshadowed the countdown to the opening ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium on Wednesday, prompting fears that the events could be even more sparsely attended than for the Olympics last month.

    However, athletes – who are now arriving at Galeão international airport – hope the atmosphere can be salvaged by a late marketing push.

    The Paralympic torch relay, which got under way last Thursday, is seen as the best opportunity to drum up public enthusiasm. Barely half of the 2.5 million tickets for the 500 medal events have been sold, despite prices as low as 10 reais (£2.30) – a quarter of the cheapest seat prices at the Olympics.

    An online campaign was launched in the UK last week – #filltheseats – to buy tickets for Brazilian children. With support from major donors, including Sainsbury’s and Allianz, it was already 10 times above its initial target after eight days. Donovan Ferreti, the ticketing director of Rio 2016, said he had been encouraged by a pick-up in local demand from Rio residents in the past week. “We have a long way to go, but we are happy with the last-minute demand,” he said. “It’s really affordable – cheaper than going to see a movie. We are telling people they can have a great time with high-performance competition and have a great day out in the Olympic Park.”

    Read The Guardian