Swimmer's Daily

  • 41-year-old John Caughlin lost an arm and part of his other hand when a boat ran over him with unprotected propeller during the Maui Channel swim on September 3. The Daily News of Open Water Swimming has this accident update on his situation, which unfortunately isn’t too good.

    Despite heroic efforts in an 11-hour operation, the surgeons were unable to salvage John’s right arm and it was removed above the elbow. The left arm was reconstructed; however there was extensive damage to the left hand. John’s left index finger, thumb, and a portion of the hand had been traumatically amputated by the propeller.

    The remaining three fingers sustained multiple fractures and severe lacerations. Just 4 days after the incident, John underwent another surgery to reconstruct what remains of his left hand. Additional surgical procedures and grafts will be needed to continue the reconstruction. John will remain hospitalized in Maui for another week and will then have the opportunity to return to California for continued treatment.

    Without the use of either of his hands, John will require 24/7 care for quite some time, and has a long, hard recovery ahead of him including surgeries and rehabilitation over the next twelve months and beyond.

    People can help out by contributing money here on PayPal, or sending cards and letters of encouragement to his sister, Jennifer Dorsey at: 1210 Green Orchard Place, Encinitas, CA 92024, U.S.A. Read more here.

  • Sounds like Nathan Brown, assistant coach of the Jamaican Swimming Team, is in a whole lot of more trouble than ‘just’ being charged for robbery with aggravation and illegal possession of firearm:

    The supermarket’s caretaker saw what was happening and went to assist the manager.

    The accused allegedly pulled a gun on the caretaker and attempted to fire at him, but the firearm failed to discharge.

    The caretaker then reportedly ran away with the swim coach firing a shot at him.

    Read more here on The Jamaica Gleaner

  • It would *NOT* be this one, crazy crazy base jumper Jeb Corliss ‘grinding the crack’ of the Eiger in Switzerland, with added GoPro fun for the rest of us to piss ourselves.

    There is now a slow-motion version too, that doesn’t make it less crazy (au contraire). Apparently he made at least 2 runs, because that ballon guy’s positions differ.

    And another one without music (if you still think he’s normal, then note again how he laughs in the first video). Via PetaPixel.

  • Quite a provocative read, but unfortunately quite right, here in the Chicago Tribune:

    The difference in global renown between Phelps, the greatest swimmer in history, and Bolt, the fastest sprinter in history, is as simple as the difference in the inclusiveness of their sports.

    Swimming remains a white bread sport. Not a single black athlete won a medal in the 40 events at the 2011 world championships. Only 20 countries accounted for the 120 medals, just one nation from Africa (South Africa, three bronze) and one from South America (Brazil three).

    The spread is even more limited in events that are on the Olympic program, since two of Brazil’s medals and two of South Africa’s came in 50-meter events contested only at worlds.

    Now for track and field. Forty-one countries won medals in the 47 events at the recent worlds. (All are on the Olympic program).

    (more…)

  • Following the craze of planking, here comes www.leisuredive.com where divers try to strike a ‘leisure pose’ in mid-air before hitting the water. “Ideally, a photographer captures the moment when the diver has reached peak height above water, when his or her hips are parallel to the waterline. If successful, the result is an airborne Corona commercial you can post to your preferred social networking platform, or mantle, if you’re old school.” Submit your best results here, and be famous in an instant ! Via Mail Online (and Jón Bjarnason)

  • Went to Korsør in Denmark last weekend, to attend the annual “Aqua Clinic“, featuring Sean Kelly this year, head coach at Stockport Metro (Keri-Anne Payne, James Goddard, (quarter Faroese) David Carry and others). He was great, tough but emphatic, thinking not only about what happens in the pool, but also about his swimmers’ and coaches’ well-being in general. Me and Bjarnason got to drive with him and Jesper Harder to the airport, and had a nice chat out there also. Great guy!

  • During the Shanghai 2011 World Aquatic Championships, fans of swimming were treated to the most extensive exhibition of aquatic memorabilia ever displayed outside of the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Didn’t have time to go see it while in Shanghai, so nice to see a bit of it here.

    ISHOF Shanghai Exhibition from Jarret Streiner on Vimeo.

  • At the recent ASCA Convention in San Diego, during a demonstration of the Endless Pool Elite, GoSwim tested the LifeProof waterproof iPhone case. Nice sci-fi sound while underwater, but that is maybe just the pump.

  • Nice video (and great soundtrack), but as a father of teenage daughters, I’m sure this was one of those days that daddy chose to stay at work, rather than suffer the noise of 20 giggling girls.

    Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Chiron Swim Party from Davey Orgill on Vimeo.