Wow, Italy’s star swimmer Federica Pellegrini has certainly taken off her gloves here on her blog, blaming now former coach Federico Bonifacenti (who according to other news dumped her) for her poor form at the Szczecin 2011 Europan Short Course Championships. And boyfriend Magnini agrees, that “I think it’s offensive both for me and for her that all a coach can think is that an athlete like Federica, in an Olympic year, just wants to train with her boyfriend and not even in the best circumstances – it’s absurd.”
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FINA committee member Flavio Bomio arrested for child molestation
Switzerland’s swimming community is in a state of shock after the now ex-president of Bellinzona swimming club, Honorary Secretary of FINA’s Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, Chairman of LEN’s Technical Open Water Committee, Honorary Member of the Swiss Swimming Federation and Member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Flavio A. Bomio (69), partially admitted to allegations of child abuse spanning more than 30 years. Jailed in Ticino since Friday December 16th, the now former coach of notable swimmers like FlaviaRigamonti is believed to have abused at least 20 minors, whereof he during a ten-hour police interrogation session admitted to having had homosexual relationships with boys aged 12 to 16 years, defending himself that the intercourse always took place without violence. Police began investigating after one of his now adult alleged victims reported the matter last month, it is believed that most of the sexual encounters took place at training camps. Read for instance The Local, Blick and Ticino News -
Ashrita Furman is The Record Breaker
Ashrita Furman a.k.a. “Mr. Versatility” has set close to 400 world records now over the last 32 years, beginning with 27,000 jumping jacks in 1979, and including stuff like walking 32.9 miles in 1989 with a milk bottle on his head, balancing 57 glasses on his chin in 1996, sack racing 10 kilometers in 1 hour 22 minutes and 2 seconds in 2001, throwing a water balloon 74 feet 5 inches in 2007, and duct taping a person to a wall in 29.97 this September 2011. At the moment he holds 134 world records, in itself the official record for “the most records held at the same time by an individual”.
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Injury forces Nick D’Arcy to cut load
A back injury that kept Nick D’Arcy out of the Queensland Swimming Championships was just a “speed bump” on the road to London, according to his coach Michael Bohl. Following his liver problems this summer, forcing him out of the Shanghai World Championships. And of course, the other thing.
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Shanghai highlights 2011
Courtesy of ArenaNatation
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Amanda Beard on her “Swim Like a Mom” blog
Or SLAM for short, her “athlete’s view of parenthood & more”. She gives workouts for beginning through advanced swimmers (as well as dryland training), offers fitness and fashion tips, shares the music she likes and even gives “Amanda Facts”. Read more on USA Today, and visit www.swimlikeamom.com.
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Mark Foster rules out a sixth Olympics
According to Reuters, 41-year-old Mark Foster has now ruled out the rumors of him competing at his home Olympic Games next year, as he doesn’t envisage winning a medal.
“I know I could make the team and be in the top two in the country but would I do anything? No, I’d probably make the semi-finals, maybe.”
(Foster to stay on the spectators’ side of the fence)
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Dan Martin to swim, cycle and run around the world
Literally, a Global Triathlon beginning with a first-ever 5700 km swim across the Atlantic Ocean under traditional stage swim rules, before crossing Europe and Asia on bicycle, and then America on foot. The swim alone will take 6 months, starting in May 2012. Via SwimmingWorld Magazine.
View The Global Triathlon in a larger map -
Ohio landlord defends “White Only” sign at pool
A landlord in Ohio is claiming that not only is her “White Only” pool sign not racist, but that the state’s civil rights commission was wrong in declaring it discriminatory. An African-American girl visited the pool and was told that she made the pool ‘cloudy’ because she used chemicals in her hair, and then this sign came up. The landlord defends herself with saying that it is “a historical sign” and then adds:
“I’ve never said anything to that child,†Hein said. “If I have to stick up for my white rights, I have to stick up for my white rights. It goes both ways.â€