Swimmer's Daily

  • The Euro crisis and debt problems of Italy has stretched to the world of swimming: Sicily has told the Italian Federation (FIN) and FINA that it can no longer host the World short-course championships at Catania in 2014 because of a lack of funds. Read SwimNews.com.

  • Brace yourself before reading this Women’s Day report …

    On the surface, Grant Hackett seems to have it all – a beautiful wife, gorgeous two-year-old twins, and a golden reputation that has earned him a host of corporate gigs and a commentary spot at next year’s Olympics. But the triple Olympic gold medallist’s future is in doubt after he “lost it” and overturned his wife Candice Alley’s beloved grand piano during an ugly screaming match at their Melbourne penthouse on Derby Day. (more…)

  • Injured Marine Jay Platt trains to cross the Mississippi River handcuffed, shackled and blindfolded. And yes, he managed to complete the swim.

  • It’s official, Therese Alshammar (SWE) and Chad Le Clos (RSA) are the overall winners of the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2011, each receiving US$ 100,000 in prize money in addition to their thousands won in individual races. For Alshammer it is her second time in a row, winning in 2006, 2007 and 2010, and taking second to Jessica Hardy in 2009. Her total 2011 cash haul is $126,000, only topped by Le Clos with his $145,500. Read for instance SwimmingWorld Magazine and SwimNews.com.

  • Joel McKenna at the17thman found this gem, Johnny Weissmuller appearing at what seems to be a clip from the 1957 episode of “This is Your Life” honoring Duke Kahanamoku, also featuring Sam and (I think) David Kahanamoku.

  • Ouch, there have been a lot of headlines these past weeks about the ‘Thorpedo’ flopping, bombing etc, and now even a full second improvement in the 100 butterfly from the World Cup leg in Beijing earlier this week doesn’t bring him closer to the final in Tokyo than a 53.59 and 26th spot in Tokyo, way adrift of fastest qualifier Takeshi Matsuda of Japan (51.39).

    “This week has been challenging,” he told reporters. “I wish I could have done it with no one watching — but that’s unfortunately not the case.”

    Read for instance Reuters.com.

  • NeverWetâ„¢ is a patent-pending, silicon-based superhydrophobic spray-on coating or paint by Ross Nanotechnology that deflects nearly all liquids, heavy oils, ice, corrosion, bacteria etc so extremely much better than for instance Teflon, that NeverWet-infused materials “have remained under seawater for over a year and reemerged completely dry.”

    It will apparently make anything waterproof that you put it on, including fabrics and electronics. We’re talking never having to wash your clothes again (until you wash them with the only two liquids that will penetrate it: soap and alcohol). And being able to use your iPhone under water. Question is as asked here: What happens if you sprayed this onto your skin?

    Via CNet, GadgetReview

  • Multiple gold-medallist Cameron van der Burgh held off strong challenges from fellow swim stars Natalie du Toit and Chad le Clos to be named Swimmer of the Year’ at the SA Annual Aquatic function held in Johannesburg today. Swimming SA’s awards committee took into account performances set between the period of May 2010 to April 2011, including Van der Burgh’s two gold medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India and a gold and silver medal from the FINA World Short Course Championships in Dubai. Read more here on iol.co.za.

  • Swim coach Amanda Cox and former head coach John Diercks yesterday denied any wrongdoing after being named in a lawsuit alleging a culture of pedophilia surrounding youth swimming. Doesn’t look good though, Cox says she had no idea Wheat was molesting anyone until the night before he was arrested, but the victim’s attorney Jonathan Little had damaging text messages to present to the court, between Cox and Wheat:

    Part of the conversation reads:

    Wheat: Went too far this time…but it has stopped for now…
    Cox: How far?
    Wheat: Didnt have sex
    Cox: “Ok so u didn’t technically do anything wrong. So… why introuble?”
    Wheat: “We went pretty far…”
    Wheat: It nvr even got to this point with (name of another student redacted)
    Cox: Good idea not to say anything! ;)

    Read IndyStar.com and fox59.com.