Swimmer's Daily

  • The Danish Swimming Federation announced today that FINA has handed Mads Glæsner a 3-month ban for doping at the Istanbul 2012 World Swimming Championships (25m). I will try to explain the situation briefly here in the following, but read the official press release if you can, or wait for the press release from FINA.

    The substance in question is Levmetamfetamine, which Glæsner tested positive for after the 400 meter freestyle finale, where he was third. He will loose that bronze medal, but apparently not the gold medal in the 1500 meter freestyle two days later, since that test came out negative.

    Pál and Mads at the Rijeka 2008 SC Europeans

    Glæsner explains that the positive test was because of him accidentally using a US version of the Vicks Vapor Inhaler, which in contrast to the Danish version contains Levmetamfetamine. The Danish Swimming Federation explains that the amount of Levmetamfetamine measured in the doping test was miniscule.

    The quarantine period started on March 19th, which almost certainly means that Glæsner will miss out on the Barcelona 2013 World Swimming Championships. The Danish Federation gave exemption to a few swimmers to make the Barcelona 2013 cut also after the Danish Trials on 26-29 March 2013, which means that Glæsner could maybe make the cut when his ban is lifted on June 19; but it seems a bit far fetched.

    Press release from the Danish Swimming Federation (in Danish) …

    Dopingdom til svømmeren Mads Glæsner

    Svømmeren Mads Glæsner er af Fina (det internationale svømmeforbund) blevet testet positiv for brug af et forbudt stof under VM på kortbane i december 2012. Fina idømmer Mads Glæsner tre måneders karantæne samt fratagelse af VM-bronzemedaljen i 400 m fri.

    (more…)

  • Last minute instructions before the 2012 Seaman’s Day swim across Klaksvík harbor, back in 2012. Cold sea water makes people speculative. Tomorrow we will swim across the local firth here at Toftir, ‘we’ as in I will be taking photos :-)

    Instructions before the 2012 Seaman's Day swim

  • Read for instance BBC

    Harrison Okene, 29, was on board the tug boat Jascon-4 when it capsized in heavy swells.

    It sank to the seabed, upside down, but Mr Harrison was trapped in an air pocket and able to breathe. […]

    “I was there in the water in total darkness just thinking it’s the end. I kept thinking the water was going to fill up the room but it did not,” he said.

    “I was so hungry but mostly so, so thirsty. The salt water took the skin off my tongue.”

    “I could perceive the dead bodies of my crew were nearby. I could smell them. The fish came in and began eating the bodies. I could hear the sound.”

    But after 60 hours, Mr Harrison heard the sound of knocking.

    Amazing Atlantic Ocean rescue – BBC World News interview

  • We walked past this car daily while at the FINA 2010 World Swimming Championships (25m) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I wondered if it was because the owner hadn’t had time to wash if after some kind of ‘haboob‘ dust storm, but apparently it could be just as well be because someone had to flee in a hurry.

    A very dusty car in Dubai

  • Chloe McCardel had to abandon her swim from Cuba to Florida after she was stung by a jellyfish. She chats to Sunrise about her plans moving forward.

    See also CNN, where they also talk to Diana Nyad about the challenge

  • Search crews return to the Little Miami River for a second day after a swimmer goes under water near Mariemont.

    Second day searched ended without result

    It is thought that 19-year-old Otis Andrews was pulled under by an undertow

  • michael-pattersonRead for instance Huffington Post and International Business Times

    Michael Patterson, 43, dove headfirst into a creek on Saturday when he noticed 4-year-old Javaeh Jones struggling to stay afloat. The heroic dad hit his head, broke his neck and severed his spinal cord in the process, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down, according to his fundraising page.

    The father, whose own son was at the scene, is currently being treated at Emory Hospital, but doesn’t have medical insurance since he had just begun a new contracting job right before the accident, WSBTV reported. His friends and family are looking to generous donors to contribute to his online fund, which collected nearly $8,0000 as of press time.

  • greg winslowRead USA Today and The Washington Post

    The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that it will not pursue sexual charges against Greg Winslow, a former swimming coach at the University of Utah and in Arizona.

    Winslow was suspected of kissing and fondling a 15-year-old female swimmer at a Tempe, Ariz., swimming club, where he also coached.

    “After a careful review of the information contained in the investigation, we determined that there was sufficient cause to seek an indictment in this matter,” said County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “However, we were unable to meet the necessary burden of proof required to move forward with formal charges. Absent additional information which could support these or other allegations, we will not pursue this matter further.”

    (autostarting video after the break) (more…)

  • Pál Joensen discussing whatever with our Faroese juniors at the 2013 Mare Nostrum meet in Barcelona, Spain. From left to right Alvi Hjelm, Óli Mortensen and Markus Joensen. The three of them have been selected for the LEN 2013 European Junior Championships in Poznan, Poland, along with other swimmers while Pál will go together with three others to the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona.

    Pál and the young guns at Barcelona 2013