Five more names were added to Swimming Canada’s Olympic nomination list for a total of 11 after two days. Julia Wilkinson qualified with a 59.85 in the women’s 100 backstroke, Canadian record holder Sinead Russell qualifying in 2nd with a 1:00.45. David Sharpe clipped Zack Chetrat, 1:58.81 to 1:58.83, missing the FINA A standard of 1:56.86 but earning a provisional spot on the squad pending FINA’s B cut selection process that happens later this meet. Stephanie Horner did the same as Sharpe in the women’s 400 IM, edging teammate Island Swimming teammate Alexa Kormanycki 4:42.25 to 4:42.69. And Charles Francis in the men’s 100 backstroke with a 54.84, FINA A standard being 54.40 and FINA B standard 56.30. Via swimming.ca and SwimmingWorld Magazine, see all results from day 2 here on omegatiming.com.
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London 2012 Games get thumbs-up from IOC-boss Jacques Rogge
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge says he is ‘very happy’ with preparations for the London 2012 Olympics after his final inspection visit, that London had ‘raised the bar on how to deliver a lasting legacy, and set out a blueprint for future host cities to aspire to.’ Speaking at Downing Street, after a meeting with Mr Rogge, prime minister David Cameron said the Games would be secure, on budget and on time. “The London Olympics will be the greatest show on earth, and we look forward to welcoming you all.”. Read more here on Metro.
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Rouge et Or Natation 2011-2012 video montage
Beautiful montage video I think recapping the 2011-2012 season of the Université Laval swim team Rouge et Or (Red and Gold) in Québec, Canada, presented at their Sports Gala 2012.
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Olympic Legends take over the London Underground
Hop on the London Underground at Jesse Owens station. After one stop change at Carl Lewis, and then ride the Tube all the way to Michael Phelps. That will get you from central London out to the Olympic Stadium. The London Underground has taken on a new look with Transport for London’s Olympic Legends Map. Instead of Piccadilly Circus, Baker Street and Knightsbridge, the map has changed the names of 361 stations to celebrate Olympians. Read more here on sbs.com.au and see complete map here.
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All Aussie swimmers but two reject the Speedo Fastskin3
There is no end in sight to the Speedo suit controversy plaguing the Australian swimming team and their chief sponsor, with just two swimmers willing to wear the Speedo product in its current form. Via the Sydney Morning Herald
According to sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell, both sponsored by Adidas and going to wear an unmarked Adidas suit at the London Olympics, dissatisfaction with the new Speedo suit is so high many are applying for official exemptions to regulations demanding they compete in it.
“I think there’s about two people on the team who are happy with the Speedo suit at the moment,” Bronte Campbell said. “I think most of the team is happy with the older Speedo suit, so they may have to look at [wearing] that, but it’s not really an issue for us at all and I can’t really comment on what anyone else thinks of it.”
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Kosuke Kitajima signs with Arena/Descente
The Japanese distributor for the Arena brand, announced today that it has signed Kosuke Kitajima. The two-year contract begins April 1, 2012 for an undisclosed amount. Kitajima will begin wearing Arena at the Japanese Olympic Trials, April 2-8, at the Tatsumi Aquatics Center in Tokyo. Kitajima had previously contracted with Mizuno. Read more here on SwimmingWorld Magazine
In other news, Alain Bernard is also an Arena man, here testing the Powerskin Carbon Pro. Seems like every decent swimmer out there is switching to the Arena brand (aah, let the trash talk begin … and no, I’m not sponsored by Arena :-)
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CC photo #89: Dániel Gyurta after his 200 breaststroke win in Rome 2009
Hungary’s Dani Gyurta very happy after his men’s 200 meter breaststroke win at the Rome 2009 World Aquatics Championships. Winning time 2:07.64, Australia’s Christian Sprenger had set the 2:07.31 world record in the semifinal the day, but swam 2:07.80 in the final, joint 3rd with Lithuanian Giedrius Titenis, USA’s Eric Shanteau in between with a 2:07.65. Tired swimmers in the pool are (I guess) Eric Shanteau on lane 5 and Italy’s Loris Facci on lane 7, see startlist.
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Wow, the highest shallow dive world record is 11.20 m (36 ft 8.96 in)
The highest shallow dive was from a height of 11.20 m (36 ft 8.94 in) into 30 cm (12 in) of water and was achieved by Darren Taylor (a.k.a. Professor Splash, USA) in Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, on 26 November 2011. See the Guinness Book of World Records.
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World’s first live Google+ underwater hangout from Great Barrier reef this Friday
Award winning documentarian Richard Fitzpatrick, together with the team from the Catlin Seaview Survey, will be hanging out on Google+ from beneath the sea LIVE from the Great Barrier Reef this Friday March 30 at 3:45 p.m. Sydney Time (that’s early Friday morning 04:45.00 UTC in Europe). Leave your questions and comments for the divers here, Google+ is sort of a mix of Facebook and Twitter, only without your friends :-P
(OK, that was uncalled for … I use Google+, and I like it, but then I’m a geek :-)