According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of death for infants and young children between the ages of one and four. Infant Swimming Resource is one program that makes sure children from six months to six years of age know what to do, should they find themselves in danger while in the water. Via ABC News 4
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Gemma Spofforth unimpressed by ‘awful’ London Aquatics Centre lights
British Olympic swimmer Gemma Spofforth says the lights in the London Olympic Aquatics Centre are ‘awful’ and make it difficult to swim backstroke. “We think it’s the lights. We figured out they’re misplaced a little bit; they go in a V so when you try and follow the lines (of the parallel roof panels) you follow the lights.” The problem first came to light at last week’s British Gas Swimming Championships when Lizzie Simmonds was visibly circling the lane in her lane in the semi-final of the 100m backstroke. Or as SwimNews put it, even on the ropes
Read more here on Metro
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Dara Torres training video courtesy of REFUEL
Great video here featuring Dara Torres, who together with five other 2012 USA Swimming team hopefuls and other prominent US athletes is backing the new REFUEL | “got chocolate milk?â„¢” campaign. You know, there is science supporting refueling with chocolate milk, and it is delicious also. Via The Sacramento Bee.
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Behold the Jacqueline Bradley Boat Dress
Jacqueline Bradley is a Canberra based artist who makes sculptural objects, exploring ways of engaging with the surround environment, ideas of home and a sense of place. This particular work of art, a dress with a built-in inflatable raft, was on display as part of an exhibit called The Outdoors Type at Canberra Contemporary Art Space back in 2011.
(Image courtesy of Jacqueline Bradley, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)
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Coach Nugent defends Ian Thorpe’s funding
Australian swimming head coach Leigh Nugent today defended the financial support given to comeback stars like Ian Thorpe after rumblings within the team about favoritism ahead of the Olympics. Via AFP
“I really can’t understand why they would (be upset),” Nugent told reporters ahead of crucial London Olympic selection trials in Adelaide this week.
“These guys are multiple gold medallists of recent times, multiple world record holders.
“They’re going to contribute, if they make it, to the performance of our team and maybe help some of the other members on the team with relay medals, bring experience to the team, stability to the team with that experience.
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CC photo #73: Aschwin & Paulus Wildeboer at the Stockholm 2010 World Cup
Spanish swimmer Aschwin Wildeboer Faber and his Dutch father Paulus Wildeboer, head coach of the Danish national team, at the Stockholm leg of the 2010 FINA/Arena World Cup circuit. Checking split-times or whatever after prelims on November 6th, 2010.
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FINA nominates five to form new Facilities Committee
Interesting news here on FINA.org:
The Bureau has confirmed the creation of a Facilities Committee, formed by the following members:
- Joaquin Pujol (ESP), Chairman
- Kate McKnight (GBR), Honorary Secretary
- Per Rune Eknes (NOR), Member
- Mick Nelson (USA), Member
- Member from China, to be confirmed.
The aim of this Committee will be to deal and update the FINA Facilities Rules to be considered at the FINA General Congress in July 2013 in Barcelona (ESP) and to advice on the construction of aquatic centres (swimming pools).
On a more somber note, for the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, Mr. Andrea Prayer (ITA) has been nominated as new acting Honorary Secretary, in place of the suspended Mr. Flavio Bomio.
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Watch Michael Phelps’ Olympic Games Story
Though Michael gained millions of fans during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, his biggest fan has been there since the beginning. Who could it be?
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Anti-doping expert: “Doping control during Olympics is a waste of resources”
Disclaimer: All translations here are done by me (Rókur à Jákupsstovu) from Danish on Ingeniøren. Please read that text if you can, to avoid possible misunderstandings.
Swedish scientist and anti-doping grand old man Professor Bengt Saltin is still able to provoke people, despite of formally having retired after 40 years in the business. This week WADA’s Science Director Dr. Olivier Rabin hurried do defend his organization after scolding criticism by Saltin and others in the British Journal of Pharmacology, stating that blood doping practices are likely to remain for several years to come (with current anti-doping control practice), and that IOC’s promise of the London 2012 Games being the cleanest ever is “faint”. Read (in Danish) Ingeniøren