Swimmer's Daily

  • Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike explains why it is not safe to open swimming pools at this stage of the coronavirus pandemic.

  • A young man is dead after venturing out with friends.

  • The World Anti-Doping Agency demanded answers Friday after reports that Chinese swimming star Sun Yang was called up for national training for the Tokyo Olympics in an apparent breach of his doping ban.

    The latest incident in the colourful career of the three-time Olympic champion comes two months after he was given an eight-year ban for refusing to provide a doping sample.

    Unless he is successful with an appeal, the 28-year-old will not be eligible for the Tokyo Games in 2021 and his career is effectively over.

    However, Chinese media said on Thursday that Sun had been included on a list of swimmers called up for national training between April 1 and June 30.

    Media published a notice purporting to show Sun’s name on the list for preparations for the Olympics, which have been moved to the summer of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) subsequently said that the 1500m freestyle world record-holder is “still serving (his) suspension.

    “The previous notice is invalid,” CSA said in a short statement.

    But that may not satisfy WADA, who said in a short statement to AFP on Friday: “We are following up with the relevant authorities to establish the facts in this matter.”

    Read ABS-CBN

    sun yang photo
    Photo by jdlasica

  • Lewis talks with former swimmer Keri-anne Payne, Olympic silver medallist and two-time 10-kilometre open water world champion. She specialised in marathon open water swimming, and long-distance freestyle swimming in the pool.

  • This class moves through the entire body hitting on areas such as the neck, lats, shoulders, chest, ankles, hip flexors and hamstrings.

  • In this 18th episode, Swim Smooth Head Coach, Paul Newsome, discusses the merits and downfalls of trying to swim with an overly high elbow during the recovery phase, whilst discussing the fabled “finger trail” drill.

  • A must watch discussion with Olympic swimmer James Guy and his father Andrew offering their experiences with setbacks, how to stay motivated following success, understanding the journey plus the best methods to be a positive swim parent [from the views of a parent who has been there and a swimmer who has seen the good and the bad first hand].

  • “I didn’t really even think about it,” the Soddy-Daisy resident said. “I saw the boat floating away. It wasn’t getting any closer. The motor was idling. The way the wind was blowing, it was headed right out to Chickamauga Lake. I decided I’m just going to go in.”

    Back on the dock, Beason and his companions — younger brothers Maddoux, 17, and Knox, 10, and family friend Jeron Wallin, 17 — were waiting to make sure all was well. They thought the man made it to the boat — he was a strong swimmer, Beason said. But they couldn’t understand why they didn’t see him climb in or why the boat was still drifting away. Had he gone under?

    “I kept asking my buddy, ‘Dude, do you see his head? Can you see his hands?’” Beason said.

    Sumrell, meanwhile, had made it to the boat with little trouble, a distance of about 50 yards, he estimates. He had surfaced on the opposite side of the boat, away from the dock, where the boys couldn’t see him.

    But even with the boat as a lifeline, he wasn’t out of danger. He had tried several times to pull himself in, with no success. Exhausted by the effort, chilled by the 50-degree water and weighed down by his wet blue jeans, he could only cling to the side and debate his next move. As he saw it, he had two choices: Stay with the boat, as it drifted toward the open river channel, and hope another boater would come along to save him. Or leave the boat and swim back to shore.

    He knew the better plan was to stay with the boat. But he was cold, and the boat was drifting.

    “All I knew was that I was floating away,” he said. “I was really tired. I didn’t know if I could make it if I tried to swim back. I was praying real hard that I could make a good decision.”

    He could hear the boys calling from the dock, their voices thin in the distance, asking if he was OK. He didn’t have the energy to answer.

    Then he felt the boat jiggle and heard a voice, this time distinct and overhead, say, “Are you still down here, Mister?”

    Read Chattanooga Times Free Press