Swimmer's Daily

  • According to news.com.au, Grant Hackett has launched Supreme Court legal action against his former solicitors for drafting his pre-nuptial agreement with Candice Alley in a way that did not comply with legal requirements back when they wed in 2007, for failing to take the opportunity to fix the problem when changes were made to the agreement in 2009, and for failing to tell him there was any “defect”. He says he was never told each party was required to have independent legal advice in order for the 2009 changes to comply with law. “As a result of the breaches … the Plaintiff has suffered loss including legal costs,” court documents say. “The Plaintiff’s loss is continuing.”

    Via Financial Review

  • “Manatee ride ends badly. As a FYI; Manatees in Florida are protected by both state and federal law. They are protected by two federal laws: The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Manatees are also protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978.”

    http://youtu.be/EISt5nFFSuE

  • “236 competitors raised over £8000 for the Lions Club, Weldmar Trust, MV Freedom and 20 other charities. The day started with torrential rain but cleared up to dazzling sunshine by the start of the race. My nephew, Karl Wall, from the Cumberland Hotel, took part, though he was hampered by his Santa Suit disintegrsting in the water.”

  • This video captures the buildup to and execution of the 1997 Polar Bear Swim on the beaches of Atlantic City, NJ; January 1, 1997

  • “Don’t miss this exclusive interview with Roly Crichton, the well-known swim coach of Paralympian Multi-Gold Medalist, Sophie Pascoe. Here he shares with us his experience in coaching and thoughts about the athletes.”

  • Cloudy skies did not deter just over 500 people from stripping off in Gisborne to break the world skinny-dipping record.

    The record, which stood at 413, was broken by 506 revellers at Midway Beach on Sunday afternoon, organisers BW Camping Festival, ZM and Skinny Mobile say.

    “We were overwhelmed with how respectful and well-behaved the skinny-dippers and spectators were,” festival manager Toby Burrows said.

    ZM presenter Luke Taplin roused 14,000 campers on the beach to participate while police and Surf Life guards watched on.

    Read more here on NZCity

    There is a video here, if you care about stuff like that

  • Rebecca Tarbotton, Executive Director of the environmental organization Rainforest Action Network (RAN), a lifelong human rights activist and one of the nation’s most prominent female environmental leaders, died on December 26 on a beach in Mexico while vacationing with her husband and friends. The coroner ruled cause of death as asphyxiation from water she breathed in while swimming. She was 39 years old. Read Earth Island Journal

  • At least I think they are family, these people he went up to hug after winning the men’s 100 backstroke at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Istanbul, Turkey.

    Matt Grevers posing with family in Istanbul

  • Stars from TV, film, sports and pop culture plunge into a whole new pool when the two-hour special event STARS IN DANGER: THE HIGH DIVE premieres Wednesday, January 9th on FOX. Based on a long-running German format, STARS IN DANGER: THE HIGH DIVE is the ultimate test for eight celebrities who will step to the edge and take a flying leap or momentous belly flop into diving history. But, first, they must complete a crash-course in diving techniques, overseen by renowned diving coaches. After an intense training period, they will compete in a series of Olympic-style dives, including solo high diving and synchronized diving, from a variety of heights. With the help of Olympic diving medalist and commentator Troy Dumais, viewers will also get a poolside look at the courage and perseverance — as well as the twists, turns and flips — that go into turning a celebrity into an expert — or not so expert — diver.

    Participating celebrities include: WOMEN: JWOWW — aka Jennifer Farley, one of the eight original cast members on reality series “Jersey Shore.” BETHANY HAMILTON — professional surfer, public speaker, role model, author of the book and subject of the feature film, “Soul Surfer.” ALEXANDRA PAUL — actress (star of more than 75 movies and TV shows, including “Baywatch” ) and endurance athlete (Ironman athlete, long distance swimmer, marathoner). KIM RICHARDS — former child actress (“Escape to Witch Mountain”), sister of Kyle Richards and cast member on “The Real