Swimmer's Daily

  • Some of the best swimmers in Australia give their number one tips to beat pre-race nerves ahead of the 2015 Georgina Hope Foundation Age National Championships in Sydney, Australia.

  • Swimming coach John Fowlie says five-time Olympic Games medallist Alicia Coutts missing this year’s world championships squad could be a “blessing” ahead of next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

    Fowlie added Coutts’ fellow Canberran Ben Treffers would use this year’s worlds to gain valuable experience and ensure he’s also part of the Rio squad.

    There’s been speculation Coutts would retire, given she missed out on the worlds and has recently struggled with injury, but Fowlie said she would be back training on Monday with Rio the goal. […]

    Coutts tore her labrum three months ago and Fowlie said it was a remarkable effort just to compete at the nationals, let alone post such a competitive time.

    He said missing out on the worlds meant she could now focus on next year’s Olympic selection trials and expected her to be in peak condition to push for a spot at Rio.

    “Looking at the bigger picture for Alicia, this allows her more time to keep progressing now and focus on a 12-month preparation to Olympic trials and a 16-month preparation until the Olympics,” Fowlie said.

    “In some ways it’s a bit of a blessing to give her some more time to get ready for the Olympics.

    Read Sydney Morning Herald

  • Two of swimming’s legendary figures are providing Lauren Boyle with inspiration as she eyes next year’s Olympics.

    Boyle’s chances of winning gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro appear a long-shot – despite being a world-class performer, the 27-year-old is contesting the distance freestyle events dominated by American superstar Katie Ledecky.

    The 18-year-old holds women’s freestyle world records at 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m and won gold in the 800m at the 2012 London Olympics when Boyle finished fourth.

    Ledecky has clearly held the upper hand over Boyle in recent years, but the Kiwi has nothing but admiration for her.

    “The way she’s performed – she won the Olympic gold medal when she was 15 – I think she’s done a lot for the sport of swimming; especially for females,” Boyle said.

    “She’s really pushed boundaries past what I think even a lot of coaches believed were . . . not maybe possible, but I don’t know if many people thought those kind of times were possible this soon.

    “I think it’s really exciting – it shows what the human body is capable of.

    Far from being dispirited by Ledecky’s dominance, Boyle counts herself fortunate to be a rival.

    “I’m honoured that I get to swim in her races, because she could well be the swimmer of our generation – the female [Michael] Phelps. She’s an amazing swimmer.””

    Read stuff.co.nz

  • Boxing coach Freddie Roach couldn’t help but smile when he talked about Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s conditioning technique which involved swimming.

    Alex Ariza, Manny Pacquiao’s former conditioning coach, introduced the routine to Mayweather who is preparing for the biggest bout of his life against the Filipino superstar.

    Roach’s reaction was captured in a YouTube video posted by Top Rank Inc.

    “I saw pictures… Floyd’s swimming,” said Roach. “I loved it. First time in his life he tried something new in the biggest fight of his life? C’mon, gimme a break.”

    The boxing coach jested that Team Mayweather should hire a lifeguard on fight night.

    See ABS CBN

  • Martha the golden retriever is rescued by crew from New Brighton lifeboat station as she was being swept out to sea.

  • Australian swimming great Grant Hackett believes his country has unearthed its next Olympic 1,500 metres freestyle champion in 18-year-old Mack Horton.

    Horton confirmed his status as Australia’s new long-distance king with an easy win in the 1500 final at the national championships on Friday.

    Horton cruised to victory in 14 minutes 44.09 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year and the quickest ever by an 18-year-old, blowing away Hackett’s previous age record.

    Hackett, who won successive 1,500 golds at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Athens in 2004, has been watching Horton’s progress and feels the teenager can make a splash in Rio de Janeiro next year and set new world records.

    “I always said Mack is the real deal,” Hackett told local media. “Not to put too much pressure on him, but he can win that (2016 Rio Olympics) race.”

    Read Reuters

  • “This happened about two years ago when he was forced to immediately leave Melbourne to live in Sydney. The truth about this has never come out.

    “That’s what really caused the Stilnox abuse and the addiction.

    “I know he used Stilnox while he was swimming but he wasn’t hooked on it. It was when his life was threatened and he couldn’t sleep at night from all the worry.”

    Hackett snr, a former police inspector, said the death threat was never reported to police but would not explain why. He said the family took it very seriously.

    “Grant was on his way to the gym in Melbourne when he was threatened,” he said.

    “He phoned me straight away because I’m an ex copper. I told him to jump straight on a plane back here to the Gold Coast.

    “He arrived in his gym clothes with no luggage. We took the threat seriously and we still do. We didn’t say anything about it at the time because we didn’t want it out there.

    “Look I’ve said enough. He hasn’t had it easy. I just want the truth to come out. To come through what he has is just unbelievable. We’re so proud.”

    Read The Daily Telegraph

    https://youtu.be/iohvR0q51J0

  • Cameron is an Olympic champion. He won a gold medal in 100 meter breaststroke at the London Olympics 2012.