An interesting experiment in our local community pool here at Toftir, Faroe Islands, this September, where all public swimming will be free of charge. It is only a 16 meter pool, and we are only about 1000 people in the village plus a few thousand in surrounding area, so it would be difficult to make any direct profit anyways. This week was also free, even if we are not in September yet, so that was just bonus-bonus :-)
See for instance CNN and diananyad.com
If Diana Nyad never realizes her dream of swimming the Florida straits, it won’t be for lack of trying. The 64-year-old says she will begin her fifth and last bid to swim from Cuba to the United States early Saturday.
Previous attempts were thwarted by dehydration, ocean currents and excruciating jellyfish stings to her tongue.[…]
This time, Nyad said, she will wear surgical gloves and a specially designed prosthetic face mask to prevent the jellyfish from stinging her.
“It took us a year, we made mold after mold,” Nyad said of the mask, adding it was the kind used to protect people who had suffered injuries to their faces.
“It’s a two-edge sword for me. It’s cumbersome, it’s difficult to swim with, but it doesn’t matter. I am safe. There’s no other way.”
@luannnablue Yes! There will be a spot tracker going live on http://t.co/2b9vDukc0p following #XtremeDream #CubatoFlorida - TEAM NYAD — Diana Nyad (@diananyad) August 31, 2013
Two major open water events in European capitals today had to be either moved or delayed because of water quality. In Britain, the Great London Swim was moved from the Royal Victoria Dock to its contingency venue, Millwall Dock, as unexpected activity related to construction work in the immediate area has resulted in the reduction in water quality. And in Denmark, the Round Christiansborg has been delayed two hours due to a sewage overflow near Slotsholmen from a massive downpour yesterday evening.
Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen in the Palau Sant Jordi competition pool, during training a few days before the swim events started at the 15th FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. She won gold in the women’s 50 butterfly, see the result list here.
“Working on all four strokes. Swimming advice and tips from our expert advisor David McNulty Bath ITC Coach.”
“How to mentally prepare for a swim event. Swimming advice and tips from our expert advisor Julie Johnston mental skills coach”
See British Swimming
British Swimming has appointed Tim Jones, former Head of Performance Sport at British Gymnastics as the Head of Performance Pathway for Swimming.
Jones, a former international swimmer, is vastly experienced in swimming, having worked within the sport for over ten years before working as Director of the High Performance at Loughborough for UK Athletics and most recently at British Gymnastics.
Under Jones’ tenure British Gymnastics had its most successful cycle and the London 2012 Olympic Games were the most successful Games ever for the sport.
See for instance ABC, The Telegraph, The Australian and Swimming Australia
America’s Cup sailing legend John Bertrand has been named the new president of Swimming Australia (SA), replacing Barclay Nettlefold who stood down in June over accusation of innapropriate behavior.
Bertrand became a national sporting hero when he skippered Australia II to victory in the America’s Cup in 1983, ending 132 years of US supremacy. He also sailed at two Olympic Games’, claiming a bronze medal in 1976 at Montreal.
Confessing his only claim to fame in swimming was helping wife Rasa learn to do freestyle when they were students in Boston, the 66-year-old said he was confident he could bring a lot to the sport as it struggles to rebuild its international results and reputation.
“I am honoured to have been selected to preside over Swimming Australia,” Bertrand said
“I’ve had an association with high performance sport and high performance teams for more than 40 years and this appointment is one of the highlights of my career.
“Swimming has a proud history in this country and a reputation for hard work, humility and success. This tradition needs to continue and be a clear focus for all athletes and coaches as we head towards Rio in 2016.”
Welcome and congrats to @johnbertrand as the new President of @SwimmingAUS pic.twitter.com/kzzUSldQpR
— Australian Swim Team (@SwimmingAUS) August 30, 2013
Wild.
