Swimmer's Daily

  • Great Britain will send five swimmers to the European Championships in Debrecen, Hungary in May, the wast majority of their London 2012 Olympic team opting out in favor of training through for the London Olympics. Dennis Pursley, British Swimming Head Coach said: “Participation in the European Championships was made optional for the British Olympics. The swimmers were encourage to base their decision on whether participation would enhance or compromise their preparation for the Olympics.” With the result being a tiny British team consisting of James Goddard, Robbie Renwick, Michael Jamieson, Craig Gibbons and Sophie Allen in Hungary from May 21-27. Read SwimNews.com.

    As mentioned here earlier, the entire Danish Olympic team will also skip the Europeans, including Pál Joensen from the Faroe Islands, opting for altitude training instead. The Danish team for the Debrecen 2012 Europeans will therefore consist of only one (1) swimmer – Kathrine Holm Sørensen – hoping to qualify for the Olympics.

  • Cheerleading show during the Serbia-Croatia waterpolo semifinal at the 2009 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Italy. Serbia won, even though that guy looks a bit stressed on the photo.

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  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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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  • 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 :-)

  • 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.

    Daniel Gyurta after his 200 breaststroke win in Rome 2009