At the Spanish Open National Championships in Malaga, yesterday evening, Mireia Belmonte GarcÃa managed a 1:57.58 in the women’s 200 freestyle, besting Melanie Costa Schmid’s Spanish record of 1:57.83 from the Shanghai 2011 World Championships. Belmonte GarcÃa also managed a near-national record in the women’s 200 IM, winning in 2:10.53, and won the 800 freestyle the day before in 8:25.55. Aschwin Wildeboer Faber won the men’s 100 back in 53.78, and the 50 back the day before in 24.91. Read more here and here on SwimmingWorld Magazine.
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O’Neill launch the super-sticky Superkini
According to O’Neill, the Superkini is a technically advanced new bikini made with Nanofront – a revolutionary and super comfortable material that has 200% more grip than the standard lycra and even greater frictional force when wet, ensuring minimal bikini slippage and movement. Enjoy the beach this summer with the utmost confidence, via The Wall Street Journal.
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Battle of the Bulges – Female gym training 1940s style
I’m 99% sure a man invented these machines
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TYR launches FastStache – Faceborn Speed Gear
“In preparation for the London Games, the TYR research and development team has unveiled the most advanced technical innovation to ever hit the face of swimming, The FastStache. The next breakthrough in swimming is right under your nose. Keep a fast upper lip and get your fast face on. ” Read more here on SwimmingWorld Magazine, and visit www.TYR.com/faststache, to see also the Mutton Chop and Soul Patch expansion kits.
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FINA files show Montreal 2005 fiasco was years in the making
The Montréal Gazette has gotten hold of information after a 7-year court battle, showing that signs of an impending financial debacle were apparent more than a year before Montreal was stripped of the FINA 2005 World Aquatics Championships. Yet even as the bills accumulated, the organizing committee spent millions of dollar to pay, and sometimes lend, money to companies that were associated with members or the organizing committee. The whole row ended tragically with FINA removing Montreal as host in January 2005, the organizing committee’s head, Yvon DesRochers, committing suicides days later, and the city then reinstated again as host after the mayor of Montreal promising that the city would cover any deficit. Read much more here on The Gazette.
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Spanish Open streamed live on YouTube
This is interesting … Earlier this month, YouTube opened up the possibility for NonProfits to live stream directly on YouTube, and apparently the Spaniards were quick,
arranging the ongoing “Open” de España Natación to use this possibility, or something similar, since for instance this video says “Streamed live on Mar 29, 2012”, and others are listed but not available yet. -
Frank Busch: U.S. swim team could be best ever
USA Swimming national team director Frank Busch says the American team powered by swimmers like Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin and Missy Franklin could have it “best Olympic team” ever, able to surpass the 31 Olympic medals won in Beijing four years ago. In USA Today’s latest Medal Tracker, U.S. swimmers are projected to win 27 medals, but then that list still has swimmers like Frédérick Bousquet and Sebastién Rouault posted, so. Read the Washington Post and USA Today.
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‘Eric the Eel’ is back !
One of the Olympics’ most famous underdogs, Eric Moussambani a.k.a. ‘Eric the Eel’, is set to make a splash at the London Games after being named coach for the Equatorial Guinea swim team. Read more here on Reuters.
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Dara Torres impresses in heats at Indy, but is realistic
Though men’s megastars Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte are at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, no other swimmer got accosted Friday morning quite as thoroughly as Dara Torres, who at 44 is trying to make her sixth Olympic team. She posted the second-fastest qualifying time – 25.35 – seconds in the 50 freestyle, despite misjudging the start and getting out more slowly than any of the final 16 competitors. But, she is realistic, for instance not trying fo the 4×100 freestyle relay, even if six spots are available, for as she says “I can’t swim 100 three times in a row. My body will not do that”. Read the Washington Post and Indystar.