Swimmer's Daily

  • Gavin Peacock dives, flips, and completes an epic catch while being launched from a lakeside Russian Swing in Toronto, Canada.

  • A medical student who swam 21 miles across the Channel has told how jelly babies and a determination to raise money for charity got her through the gruelling challenge.

    Marisa Schubert spent 14 hours and 40 minutes making her way through the busy shipping lane between England and France.

    The 21-year-old, of Headington, managed to raise almost £1,100 for the Stroke Association through her efforts.

    She said: “The water can be so unpredictable people told me not to have a target time, but I was just pleased I completed the journey.

    Read The Oxford Times

    Photo by tony.evans

  • Team Wales swimmer Jemma Lowe has taken the plunge into the world of video production ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

    The bronze medallist in Delhi filmed her teammates training in and out of the pool for Glasgow 2014.

    She set the results to a 1990s dance club hit – aping a similar effort to an earlier American swimming team’s video – and posted her film on YouTube.

    Swimmers such as Jazz Carlin and Bath-based Jemma herself feature.

    See BBC

  • When Darian Townsend first came to the United States a decade ago, it was primarily to further his international swimming career.

    Townsend still is an elite swimmer but when he became an American citizen at a naturalization ceremony Thursday in Phoenix, the reasons transcended his sport.

    “I didn’t do this for athletics,” the three-time South African Olympian and 2004 gold medalist said. “I did this for myself as a person and for my future in this country. I did it because I’m proud to be an American. I believe I’m part of the American society, not just the swimming society.”

    See azcentral

  • Man has exploited the ocean and its creatures for as long as mankind has existed. Now the sea creatures are fighting back. Arif Sabir were spearfishing with friends off the coast of Jupiter, Florida, when they encountered a large Goliath grouper. The men get a short laugh in just before the grouper takes a bite out of Sabir’s flipper and makes off with his catch, spear and all!

    See Neatorama

  • The largest flying aquatic insect on record was discovered in China’s Sichuan province. The specimen was delivered to the Insect Museum of West China and determined to be a larger version of the dobsonfly.

    The creature has a wingspan of 8.27 inches (21 cm). With its wings fully extended, this giant dobsonfly can completely cover an adult human face.
    These gigantic insects have never been spotted in Sichuan before. They have a keen sense for water cleanliness and will leave a body of water that is even a somewhat contaminated. They typically are found in Vietnam, parts of India and elsewhere in China.
    http://youtu.be/zL5dv2QyQ38
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  • At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this evening, Australia’s women’s 4×100 meter freestyle relay set a new world record, clocking 3:30.98 where the Netherlands’ world record from the (supersuited) Rome 2009 World Championships was 3:31.72.

    Comparative splits

    Australia 2014

    • Bronte Campbell: 53.15
    • Melanie Schlanger: 52.76
    • Emma McKeon: 52.91
    • Cate Campbell: 52.16

    The Netherlands 2009

    • Inge Dekker: 53.61
    • Ranomi Kromowidjojo: 52.30
    • Femke Heemskerk: 53.03
    • Marleen Veldhuis: 52.78

    Read SwimmingWorld

  • RNLI lifeguards rescued a boy who had been dragged away from Crooklets Beach in Bude, Cornwall, in a very strong rip current while bodyboarding.

    He was heard screaming for help so lifeguard Joby Wolfenden-Brown paddled out on a rescue board and grabbed the boy, who was exhausted and clearly in a lot of distress. He was brought back to shore safely and reunited with his family.

    Chris Wafer, RNLI lifeguard supervisor, gives this advice: ‘If you’re stuck in a rip current do not panic or swim against the current, keep hold of your flotation device and raise your arm to signal for help.’

    A press release is available here: http://bit.ly/1rAz7lL

  • So, obviously, thousands of athletes involved in the Glasgow Opening Ceremony last night captured the moment by taking a selfie – or two.

    Competitors from around the world posted various portraits of themselves and their team mates on social media during the £20million celebration.

    The competitors, who were chaperoned by Scottish Highland Terriers, took their time to soak up the atmosphere as they made their way around the city’s Celtic Stadium – capturing as much of it as possible on their smart phones.

    So perhaps it is no coincidence the ceremony overran by about 45 minutes – finishing well past the event curfew enforced by organisers.

    Read Capital Sports

     

    Photo by Light Painting