Browsing: Beijing 2008
Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe set a new world record in the 100 back semifinal with a time of 58.77. Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima became the first man under 59 seconds in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 58.91. And Eamon Sullivan led off Australia’s 4×100 freestyle relay with a 100 free world record time of 47.24, in a blistering race where 5 teams went under the 4×100 world record mark from yesterday, and USA just barely overtook France at the finish to claim the gold and world record time of 3:08.24.
Sources: SwimInfo here, here and here
Share this:
Both 400 IM world records were bettered at the 2008 Olympics yesterday, when first USA’s Michael Phelps swam 4:03.84, smashing his own world record of 4:05.25 from the U.S. Olympic Trials, and Australia’s Stephanie Rice swam 4:29.45, more than half a second faster than the 4:31.12 of Katie Hoff from the U.S. Trials.
Sources: SwimInfo here and here
Share this:
Their current contract prohibits swimmers wearing anything but Mizuna, Asics and Descente (an Arena brand); but now the Japanese considers allowing also Speedo LZR, if not the three contracted companies improve each of their current models to be equally as good as the new Speedo swimwear by May 30.
Source: SwimInfo
Share this:
South African Natalie Du Toit has made history by becoming the first amputee to qualify for the Olympic Games. Read all about it here on The Telegraph
Share this:
The International Olympic Committee has decided to ban any kind of political protest at the upcoming Olympic Games in Bejing, including waving the Tibet flag, paying tribute to the Dalai Lama, or any other kind of “look, external appearance, clothing, gestures, and written or oral statements.”
Source: The Associated Press
Share this:
The Australian Olympic Committee has decided to ban Nick D’Arcy from Beijing 2008, after an investigation following the 20-year-old’s nightclub altercation with former Commonwealth swimming champion Simon Cowley in Sydney last month. Coach Brian Stehr says that this probably has ended D’Arcy’s swimming career. Read more here on AidelaideNow.
Share this:
19 long-course and 11 short-course world records have now fallen since the launch of the Speedo LZR Racer swim suit in February, of which the LZR was worn in all but one long-course and 2 short-course events.
In the remaining record breaking events, the swimmers wore other brands of high tech full-body swimsuits.
According to the CNN, U.S. head coach Mark Schubert believes that every record in the sport could fall at the Beijing Olympics.
The technology advantage of the new Speedo’s is so big, that according to TimesOnline, the main rivals have let it be known that they will not penalise athletes who wear other apparel when racing for a national team sponsored by Speedo.
