Right now, on the big island of Hawaii, a tiny robot is taking on the classic Ironman challenge, that started with a 2.4-mile swim on Sunday, before a 112 miles bike ride now and then a 26.2-mile run these next many days. Well, actually, they are a trio of robots specialized in each event, and right now the cycling version is recharging batteries. But kudos No. 1 for completing the swim. Read Hawaii 24/7, Popular Mechanics and follow it on panasonic.jp.
Ouch, read SwimmingWorld Magazine:
“Even if Franklin fades to second or third, she will be looking at bypassing anywhere from $50,000 to $70,000 in winnings to maintain NCAA eligibility. She has already compiled $21,500 in two meets, including a $10,000 world record bonus, that she will have to forgo to remain recruitable.”
(Missy Franklin at the 2011 Indy Grand Prix)
Update: Read also this more extensive column on SwimmingWorld Magazine.
Introduction to the video highlights of the British Gas Great Swim Series 2011, watch it on Channel 4. Via the17thman
According to the Australian, Leisel Jones is contemplating stretching her career to a fifth Olympics in Rio in 2016. She admits that it is only since Shanghai that she has returned to the level of training commitment she had before the Beijing Games, but says that now with the Olympics as the nearest event on the horizon, a light came on inside here. “In the Olympic year, you don’t have to work hard on your motivation, it’s just there.”
“It’s a matter of having the will to do it. I’d like to go to Rio as a destination but it’s not that easy. It’s not your local school carnival. You do have to sacrifice a lot. It’s very hard because people sometimes don’t understand what we do, and it’s another four years of being in bed at nine and up at five.”
Read The Australian.
Chicago police officer and endurance swimmer Nial Funchion swam between Spain and Morocco in order to raise funds to benefit fallen officers. Safely on shore again, his support team told him that 5 orcas had followed him a a distance of 100 yards (91 meters) for nearly the entire time. His response, “thanks for not telling me” :-)
Read seattlepi.com
Great video here, know at least one Faroese girl who is fascinated by this ‘old’ lady repeatedly beating the up-and-coming kids. Dara Torres, 44, has won 12 Olympic Medals and is not stopping here. She hopes to compete in one final Olympic Games and at 45 become the oldest ever Olympic swimmer (already the oldest swimmer on a US team). Read The Huffington Post.
16-year-old Melissa “Missy” Franklin from USA set a new short course world record in the 200 backstroke today at the World Cup leg in Berlin, with an agonizing 2:00.03, so close to the magic 2 minutes. Japan’s Shiho Sakai set the old world record in a ‘supersuit’ also in Berlin in 2009. Read The Swimmers Circle
A Mutual of Omaha Breakout! Swim Clinic here hosted by the Blue Dolfins in Oviedo, Florida. Coaches Great Gobat and Charlie Rose, plus Ryan Lochte and Josh Davis. “Repeat after me: Thumb by thigh, elbow high, gliding on my side, streamline makes you fly!”
Wow, wild story here on thestar.com, about life-banned Canadian coach Cecil Russell who apparently has continued to coach ever since being banned for life in first 1997 and then 2007. Right, his own kids are of Olympic quality, his daughter a finalist in this year’s world championship, and the Dolphin Swim Club parents are supporting him, claiming it is a violation of human rights to punish their club for having this guy on deck. But, we are not talking ‘just’ doping, but also narcotics and disposal of a murder victim. I will second this: “It’s a black cloud that hangs over Canadian swimming“. Via SwimNews.com
