Hello, internet! I’m sorry for bringing this to you much later than expected, but sometimes offline life gets in the way, you know? As of this writing, I haven’t even finished watching NBC’s broadcast of the final day of the FINA World Championships, so this will be kind of a half liveblog, yeah? hahah.

In any case, like I said, this is the final day of the Worlds and I am sad, sad, sad to see them go. Killer Kim is into all kinds of sports, but I pretty much just follow Swimming, which can be difficult when it’s not widely covered outside of a giant event like the Worlds or Olympics. So, after today, I’m really gonna have to think up new content to bring you until the next big meet that I’ll get to cover. Alas! Anyway, onto the good stuff.

Today, there were seven finals:

• Men’s 50m Backstroke
• Women’s 50m Breaststroke
• Men’s 400m Individual Medley
• Women’s 50m Freestyle
• Men’s 1500m Freestyle
• Women’s 400m Individual Medley
• Men’s 4×100m Medley Relay

Since I don’t really like to liveblog 50m races (what’s the point? They’re so short that they’re over by the time I’ve typed only the header), I’ll just go ahead and give you the results right now.

Men’s 50m Backstroke: No Americans made it to the finals of this event. The big players for this one were Liam Tancock of Great Britain (Lane 4), and Junya Koga of Japan (Lane 5). Spanish hottie Aschwin Wildeboer was also in this race, but he missed the podium by .53. Sad! Tancock came in first and broke the world record with a time of 24.04. Koga came in second, and South Africa’s Gerhard Zandberg came in third.

Zandberg, Tancock, and Koga.

Can I just interrupt myself to tell you guys that I just planned an entire hypothetical trip to Shanghai for the 14th World Championships in 2011? Wowww, Celisse. I’m totally insane, dudes. Turns out, if I have the estimations correct, the whole trip would come out to just under $2,300 including tickets, flight, and hotel for the entirety of the swimming portion.

If only I had.. you know.. a job? SIGH. Anyway.

Women’s 50m Breaststroke: The American swimmers in this event were Kasey Carlson (Lane 2), and Rebecca Soni (Lane 7). The number one qualifier was Sarah Katsoulis of Australia (Lane 4). Russia’s Yuliya Efimova came in first, Soni came in second, and Katsoulis came in third. I don’t think Soni had as good of a meet as she anticipated this week, but she adds this silver to the gold she already got, so I think she’s doing pretty well for herself. Yay!

Rebecca Soni, Yuliya Efimova, and Sarah Katsoulis.

Womens 50m Freestyle: In the last 50m race of the Worlds, there were a couple of big names, including the USA’s Dara Torres, Australia’s Libby Trickett, and Germany’s super adorable Britta Steffen, who already won the gold in the Women’s 100m Freestyle earlier this week. Steffen, true to form, came in first, Sweden’s Therese Alshammar came in second, while Australia’s Cate Campbell and The Netherlands’ Marleen Veldhuis tied for third.

Therese Alshammar, Britta Steffen, Marleen Veldhuis, and Cate Campbell

Unfortunately for the US, Dara Torres came in dead last, bringing her rather disappointing run in these championships to a close. She did an interview a few days ago that said if she had managed to get a gold at Beijing last year, she probably wouldn’t be swimming today. Does that mean we’ll be seeing her again at Nationals next year? Who knows.

I really don’t understand Dara Torres, to be honest. Her medal record is quite impressive, so what is this need to continue on in this sport, past her prime? This sport can be so hard on bodies and despite the fact that she’s still in incredible shape, she already has a terrible knee problem which I believe she’s having surgery on quite soon following the championships. More power to women of any age who want to follow their dreams and all, but I feel like she shoulda quit while she was ahead, you know? If she’s looking for that one last gold medal, I don’t know how much longer she’s gonna have to look for it.

Men’s 1500m Freestyle: I almost feel like it’s pointless to blog about this event, because it is super long, and two of the athletes who medalled in this event last year in Beijing managed to medal in it again this year, with the exception of Grant Hackett, who has retired. Ous Mellouli of Tunisia grabbed the gold in this event, unsurprisingly, while Canada’s Ryan Cochrane, who got the bronze in this event last year, came in second today. Sun Yang of China came in third in this event. Most surprising and yet somehow comforting is the fact that with all the 43 world records that fell this year, Grant Hackett’s record in this event — from 2001! — still stands. Whew.

Ous Mellouli and Ryan Cochrane

Sun Yang does not look excited :C

Men’s 400m IM

Hellooooo, Ryan Lochte. Today (August 3rd) is actually his 25th birthday. Happy Birthday, cutiepie! Now, go kick some ass in this event, k?

Italy’s Luca Marin is in this race, hilariously. It’s mostly hilarious cos I know pretty much nothing about him or his swimming record, but I do know that he’s the creep who leaked those REALLY AWFUL dirty photos of Laure Manaudou to the tabs.

Tyler Clary of the US is also in this race in lane 4. He’s gonna give Lochte a run for his money but I know Ryan won’t let me down, RIGHT? Right. Lochte’s Hungarian rival, Laszlo Cseh is also in this race. Exciting!

AHAHA The announcers introduce lochte in lane 6 and says that it’s his birthday tomorrow (today), maybe he’s gonna buy a new grille. SHUT UP, ANNOUNCERS. Don’t encourage the grillz. Brazil’s Thiago Pereira is also in this race. Buncha big names, let’s see what happens.

The menz hit the water and the announcers are talking about Lochte’s free spirit and laid-back attitude. Is Lochte the new Peirsol in terms of the announcers opining endlessly about his ~*~*free spirit~*~*~? As of the 100m, Cseh has the lead, with Clary in second and Lochte in third, but they’re going into the backstroke now, which Lochte has perfected. At the 150, Lochte starts pulling ahead of Cseh, who is now in third, but Clary is keeping up very close to him. 200m, they move into the breaststroke.

The announcers mention that while they were talking to Ryan’s dad, Steve Lochte, he mentioned that Ryan loves the breast stroke. Oh, I’ll bet he does. WINK WINK. I’m 12 years old.

Just before the 300m, Clary and Cseh both start fading really fast and really equally, which gives Pereira a chance to kinda squirm his way into 2nd place. He’s gaining on Lochte and as they begin the freestyle, he’s really close to Lochte, who isn’t letting up. It’s the last 50 and Pereira has totally faded and now its Cseh and Clary fighting for 2nd place! Lochte hits first but doesn’t break a record, Clary comes in second, and Cseh in third. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYAYAYA.

Sorry. I get excited.

Oh, Ryan. You're the second best swimmer in the world, you're gorgeous, you have your pick of any lady on the planet, and you've got a beautiful smile to boot. Why do you ruin it with THAT THING IN YOUR MOUF? Stop that.

Thank you, love.

Tyler Clary, Ryan Lochte, and Laszlo Cseh.

Oh, you know, just because.

Wow, check me out posting way more pics of Lochte than of anyone else. Creepy fangirl much? Get a grip, Celisse! ahahaha

Women’s 400m Individual Medley

Oh, I’m getting really sleepy. It’s almost 8am and now I’m getting sleepy? Wonderful. Anyway, let’s look at the field, shall we? Lanes:

1. Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe
2. Julia Smit, USA
3. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary
4. Stephanie Rice, Australia
5. Elizabeth Beisel, USA
6. Tanya Hunks, Canada. Ahaaahahaha Hunks? That’s awesome.
7. Hannah Miley, GBR
8. Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Hungary

Oh, God, this is gonna be a tough one for me to pick a favorite. We all know I love Coventry, but I also really love Stephanie Rice. Hosszu has shown herself to be someone to watch at these championships as well, so I really have no idea how this is gonna go, but I’m really rooting for Rice.

The ladies hit the water and LOL the announcers are talking about Katie Hoff, and how she’s the 2-time defending world championship in this event, but she didn’t make the team at Nationals. Know why? Cos Katie Hoff, as we all know, is the official face of fail blog.

At least as far as I’m concerned.

At the first 50, Rice is in the lead, but not by much, and Hosszu has already pulled ahead of her. Coventry is in third, and everyone else is just kinda trying to keep up. Coventry has actually pulled ahead and is in the lead, with Hosszu just behind her, and Rice has fallen into 6th place. Coventry and Hosszu are neck and neck right now, on their way to the 300m and the Freestyle. Hannah Miley has moved into 3rd place. Uhoh! Hosszu has sped ahead of Coventry, and hits the wall first and breaks the championship record, followed by Coventry just before Rice.

Well, dang. If it wasnt going to be Rice, then I was hoping it would be Coventry, but alas. At least they both made it onto the podium. Katinka Hosszu really did well at these championships, dude! Good for her.

Kirsty Coventry, Katinka Hosszu, and Stephanie Rice.

Men’s 4×100m Medley Relay

Alright, this is the final race of the evening, and the final race of the championships, and it’s set to be a good one. I looove relays! The distinct way that each person swims makes such a difference and it’s just really exciting. I’m a nerd.

Here are the lanes:

1. Great Britain
2. Brazil
3. USA
4. Germany
5. Australia
6. France
7. Russia
8. Japan

Some of the big names in this race are Liam Tancock of Great Britain, who won gold in the 50m backstroke earlier tonight, Cesar Cielo of Brazil who has won 2 gold medals so far this week, Germany’s Paul Biedermann, who rather arrogantly and infamously beat Phelps in the 200m Free earlier this week, and of course, JERKFACED Alain Bernard, swimming anchor for France. Puhlease.

Swimming for the US team are Aaron Peirsol (yay!), Eric Shantaeu (yay for Kim!), Michael Phelps (yay for AMERICA!), and David Walters (…yay?).

I refuse to doubt the power of a US relay team to do anything but dominate against the French, so let’s do this.

The teams are getting prepared, and I’m giggling cos everyone is all set up and ready to go, except for Peirsol, who’s like, JUST putting on his goggles and cap while he walks out. He looks to be one of only a few wearing a half suit, as well, which is always enjoyable. Cos I’m a perv. Oh, Peirsol, we love you.

The 100m comes and goes and Peirsol hits the wall first, but doesn’t manage to get an individual world record, although he was above the overall world record for this event. Shanteau swims the breaststroke and hits the wall in first place, and off goes Milky to swim the butterfly. I pause my DVR, and Australia’s Andrew Lauterstein seems to be in first, followed by Phelps, and then by Benjamin Starke of Germany, but Phelps always holds off a bit at first, yeah? Going into the 300m, Phelps starts to pull way ahead, of course, and then it’s time for David Walters to bring it home. Walters is more than a body length ahead of everyone else, and he hits the wall YESSSSSSSS.S.S.S.S.S.SS.S.. Killed the world record too!

Germany hits second and Australia gets third YES YES YESSSSSS.

I swear the Men’s team makes me so happy. They never make me cry. Way more than I can say for the women’s team pshhh.

Aaron Peirsol, Eric Shanteau, and Michael Phelps, waiting for David Walters

Arms to the sky, boys.

Aaahahaha on the way to the medal ceremony, some freak rushed the field and tried to get her grubby little paws on Milky. That, clearly, did not work out as planned. Also, nice kicks, Milky.

Awww, Michael poses with Dara. Sweet.

Someone told me recently that I should start a tumblr called PhelpsFace, cos he makes the most amazing facial expressions, like, ALWAYS, and it's so true.

Alright, guys, that brings my coverage of the Worlds to a close. Now, I sleep for 5,000 hours. HAH Just kidding, but thanks for sticking with Kim and me, and apparently the 2009 Visa Gymnastics Championships start in about a week and a half, so we’ll try to bring you some more AWESOME then!

I am starting off this blog post with the time I have this weekend as I get dressed to go do some more festivalin’. Rowdy and Dan are speaking about new suits, age irrelevancy and Cavic vs. Phelps.

At this point, I’m starting to feel a little bad about Michael Phelps. He’s doing the classy thing by electing to say few words (though the few words he says are a little sassy) while Cavic is spelling out VAST MEDIA CONSPIRACY. Sports Illustrated is only showing you the photos that they want the public to see. Cavic, don’t you think if you won, there would be no pictures of your hand not yet touching the wall while Phelps’ hand was on the wall? I mean, really? Are you saying you touched the wall then pulled your hand back in that really quick moment and that’s the picture that is shown?

Michael Phelps says the talking was done in the pool while Ryan Lochte makes a weird guffaw or something.

While I was typing this there was a Women’s 50m Fly. Celisse is obviously the superior swimming blogger here. There is a very, very excited Australian, Marieke Guehrer, who came in first. She did not break a world record, though, which I think is starting to be more historic than breaking records. China’s Zhou Yafei is in second and Invild Snildal of Norway is in third. Go you!

We’re getting a 44 minute graphic indicating when the Phelps/Cavic race is. I won’t be here. Dang.

They keep talking about meatball marinaras with jalapenos from Subway. I’m curious as to what that tastes like. I usually get mine with pickles, black olives, lettuce, and SOMETIMES mayonnaise. So, yes, I can be who I want at Subway. Tease THAT sandwich, guys.

And now we’re talking about the 1960 Rome Olympics for no reason except to show old video of Muhammad Ali.

Men’s 50 M Free.

Lane 1. Nathan Adrian – Where you at, Cell?
Lane 2. CULLEN JONES!!! I’ve missed you! He apparently spent three days in the hospital before this.
Lane 3. Amaury Leveaux – France
Lane 4. Frederick Bousquet – France. He’s pretty. Don’t tell anyone.
Lane 5. Duje Dranganja – Croatia.
Lane 6. Cesar Cielo – Brazil. My new fave, since he screams and sobs and all of that.
Lane 7. Stefan Nystrand – Sweden
Lane 8. George Bovell – Trinidad & Tobago. Won a swim-off.

Cielo is the man to watch. I agree, if only because I want to watch his hysterics again. Though I’m pulling for my Cullen Jones and Nathan Adrian, it seems like the Frenchies vs Cielo are the guys to beat. And that’s exactly what happened in this fast race. Cielo wins and then collapses in a heap in the water. Bousquet and Leveaux are behind in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Jones and Adrian are 5th and 6th. I’ll give them both hugs.

And with that, I will hand it off to Celisse.

———

Wahahaha hi, innernet. Kim left me a message tellin’ me to finish up this post if I wanted, while she’s gone volunteering at All Points West. So, okay!

There were 6 finals today, two of which Kim already covered, the Women’s 50m Butterfly, and the Men’s 50m Freestyle. The remaining four finals are as follows:

• Women’s 200m Backstroke
• Men’s 100m Butterfly (Cavic and Phelps showdown! HECK YES!)
• Women’s 800m Freestyle
• Women’s 4×100m Medley Relay

I’m glad Kim already took care of the 50m’s before she left cos those things are annoying to blog. Anyway, I’m about to start watching my DVR, and if you didn’t catch NBC’s coverage from earlier this afternoon, you can find the video on Universal Sports right here.

First, pictures!

According to commentary during the video from day 7, Cesar Cielo of Brazil and Frenchie Freddy Bousquet train together and are legitimately bff. So much so, in fact, that they help to undress each other after races, apparently. Yep.

Actually, it’s kinda cute. Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines were saying that they’re always really happy for each other when one of them wins, and they kept saying that Freddy is such an incredibly nice, humble dude, so I’ll forgive Kim for thinking he’s pretty even though I personally hate the French team. Mhm.

I MEAN, OKAY, I don’t HATE the French team as a whole, I just hate Alain Bernard! WHATEVER.

I love how much this dude freaks out. It's so hilarious and endearing, and frightening.

Freddy Bousquet, Cesar Cielo, and Amaury Leveaux.

Apparently, last night Amaury Leveaux of France had a SWIMSUIT MALFUNCTION, ala Ricky Berens during semi-finals last Sunday. Luckily, the suit burst prior to the men filing out to the pool, so he didn’t have to swim with a bare booty.

Right now, the announcers are saying that during the Cavic/Phelps race later, Cavic will be wearing one of the new “hi-tech” suits, while Milky will be wearing his trusty old Speedo suit. Cavic, who’s been talking a whole lotta shit this week, better realize that even in the rare event he does manage to win this one, everyone is gonna say it’s cos of the suit. I’m not sayin’, Cabbage, I’m just sayin’!

Photos from after the Women’s 50m Butterfly:

Kim was right, Marieke Guehrer of Australia is SUPER excited to have just won.

And then she whispers with Sweden's Therese Alshammar about Bousquet and Cielo's bromance, I'll bet.

Kind of adorable.

China's Zhou Yafei, Marieke Guehrer, and Norway's Ingvild Snildal.

Next up is the Ladies 200m Backstroke, but my video hasn’t gotten there yet. Whoops.

Can I just say something a little bit … awkwardly pervo? Does anyone else notice that in the new monochromatic Arena/Jaked suits, MANBULGE is slightly more… noticeable? Like, the way the speedo suits have the bits of black and grey kinda offsets it, I think. But boy, not those new suits.

You know... JUST as an example....

Uh, yeah. I feel like a dirty old man. ANYWAY.

Women’s 200m Backstroke

Awww, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe is in this race! I love her. She hasn’t done spectacularly at these championships and I believe this is her last chance to get a medal.

As they go through the lanes, they introduce France’s Alexianne Castel in lane one, who is in the most unflattering pose in the world as she prepares. Her arms are up above her head, with those massive swimmer shoulders protruding out, and then, to make it worse, she spits a huge amount of water out of her mouth and into the pool, I’m assuming. SO GROSS.

Sheesh.

Great Britain’s Gemma Spofforth is also in this race, and she won the gold in the 100m Back earlier this week, so I’m thinking she’s gonna put up a good fight for Coventry, who is apparently the favorite for this event.

American’s Elizabeth Beisel and Liz Pelton, only 16 and 15 years old respectively, are also swimming this race. I remember Pelton doing really well at Nationals, but we’ll see how she does here.

As of the first 100, Coventry has pulled ahead of everyone. Russia’s Anastasia Zueva is beginning to catch up with her and is currently well into 2nd place. Coventry is slowing down a bit but about half a body length into first place. Zueva inches ever closer, but Coventry touches first winning a gold medal AND the world record, followed by Zueva, and finally Elizabeth Beisel touches third.

YAY KIRSTY COVENTRY!

Anastasia Zueva, Kirsty Coventry, and Elizabeth Beisel

yaayayyayaayayayayyyy

The NBC Poll is asking now who we think will win the Men’s 100m Fly, Milorad Cavic or Michael Phelps. COME ONNNN, POLL, don’t be so silly.

Okay, they went to an interview with Cavic and Andrea Kramer, where he’s saying more of what he already said — that he touched the wall first in that race last year, and he has seen photos proving it. Photos, photos, whatever, but baby, we saw VIDEO of it. Slow-motion video. Many, many, many times. And you did not touch that wall first, is all I’m saying.

Cabbage goes on to say that he could be in court right now contesting the results, but he’s not losing any sleep over it, and he’s come back to beat Phelps, and that’s what he’s going to do.

This is the point where I have to say, you know, I’ve never disliked Cabbage before. Last year, I thought he was a good enough guy who put up a good fight and created some amazing entertainment at the Olympics. But, dang. Right now, he’s just sounding like an arrogant little crybaby. If you think you really won the race, but “aren’t losing any sleep over it” and have come to beat Phelps in tonight’s race, then fine, do it and shut up, you know? You don’t have to talk so much shit. Prove your worth and be quiet.

And with that, it’s time for the…

Men’s 100m Butterfly

Oh yes oh yes oh yes oh yes for real oh yes for real seriously.

Milky comes out and he has his headphones on, and through them, from APW, Kim is telling him to rock this shit, I know she is. I knoooow she is.

Oh! Australia’s Andrew Lauterstein is also in this race. Maybe I haven’t been paying attention, but I’m pretty sure this is the only final I’ve seen him in thus far. Funny, since he decided to ditch Speedo and go with the new suits for these championships. Guess the new suits didn’t really work in his favor, yeah?

This race ain’t about Lauterstein, though. It’s about Milky and Cabbage. Right now they’re showing a very dramatic shot of Cavic and Phelps, each with their left foot on the block, facing each other.

If I were Milky, I'd shoot lazer beams right out my eyeballs at that fool, I really would.

Debbie Phelps looks like she’s about to keel over and puke on someone, I swear. Hold it together, lady, everything’s gonna be juuuust fine.

AGH AND THEYRE IN THE POOL. CAN I BLOG THIS ENTIRE THING IN CAPS? NO? Okay fine. At the turn, Cavic has the lead! UGH. Phelps is pulling ahead. AGH HES INCHING UP OH GOD. COME ON

YES YES YES YE SYE SYE SY ES YES YES YES YES YES YES PHELPS HITS THE WALL FIRST, LOCHTE SCREAMS FROM THE STANDS, DEBBIE FREAKS OUT. AARON LOOKS KINDA BORED, A FEROCIOUS BEAST EATS MILORAD CAVIC.

Just kidding.

Cry, wanger. Cryyyyyy.

Milky's like "Don't talk to me, fool-ass."

They just showed slow-mo shots of Phelps pulling the front of his suit away from his body, displaying it to the world that an arena suit means nothing to him. Then they showed Debbie freaking out again, which was adorable. And then, they show Ryan Lochte litterally JUMPING UP AND DOWN IN THE STANDS LIKE A LITTLE GIRL WHO JUST GOT HER FIRST LOVE NOTE FROM A CUTE BOY. IT IS THE MOST HILARIOUSLY ADORABLE THING I HAVE EVER SEEN.

Suck on this speedo, bitchessss.

Zero idea what that guy in the red is doing to Debbie.

Oh right. So, Cabbage got SILVER (which is NOT GOLD, BTW), Phelps got gold, obviously, and Rafael Munoz of Spain got the bronze.

Oh my GODDDD yes I knew there was nothing to worry about, dude. I knew it I knew it I knew it.

Hey there’s more events right? I nearly forgot. Whoops!

Women’s 800m Freestyle

After a LONG round of semi-finals, it’s time for the 800m free. While I’m not overly familiar with the swimmers for this event, over the past week of wathching and blogging I’ve gotten to know a few of them, and this seems like a really strong field. There’s actually nine women in this race, weirdly enough. Here are the lanes:

1. Kristel Kobrich, Chile
2. Wendy Trott, South Africa
3. Lotte Friis, Denmark
4. Camelia Potec, Romania
5. Rebecca Adlington, Great Britain
6. Joanne Jackson, Great Britain
7. Alessia Filippi, Italy
8. Erika Villaecija, Spain
9. Ophelie-Cyrielle Etienne, France

Rebecca Adlington is the favorite for this race, but I know that Filippi is a big competitor for her, as is Lotte Friis and Joanne Jackson. It’s a long race, so anything can happen, I think.

The winners of the 1500m free were Filippi, Friiis, and Potec, so we’ll see.

As of the 150m, I believe Potec is in first. Adlington is following closely behind, and then Joanne Jackson. And now they cut to commercial PSH. I fast forward and as of the 500m, Friis is in first, Adlington and Jackson in 2nd and 3rd, and the announcers just said that Filippi is about 5th, but aside from Friis, no one has a really huge lead. Filippi is in 4th, now, having just passed Camelia Potec, and now she’s moving ahead of Adlington and Jackson. Uhoh uhoh! Friis better watch out!

Holy crap! Filippi is moving way ahead and she’s catching up to Friis! 50 meters left and she’s so close to first! UHOH she’s losing steam! Jackson is pulling ahead! Friis hits the wall first, followed by Jackson who snuck up on everyone in that last 50m, and then Filippi who grabs the bronze. Wowwww.

That was a great race. Long, but great.

Awww, excited Lotte Friis

Joanne Jackson, Lotte Friis, and Alessia Filippi

Women’s 4×100M Medley Relay

This is the last final of the evening, and apparently the US team didn’t even make it to the finals, which the announcers say is shocking. I’m not that shocked, but whatever. Here are the lanes:

1. Australia
2. Great Britain
3. Germany
4. China
5. Japan
6. The Netherlnds
7. Canada
8. Brazil

I guess Australia is the favorite for this event, but we’ll see. As of the 100m, Great Britain, China, and Japan are all pretty much neck and neck. China seems to be pulling ahead, followed by Australia, and I think Germany is third. The third leg starts and China is just about a body length ahead of Australia, and everyone else is way behind. Jessicah Schipper of Australia is picking up some speed, and the 4th leg starts with China still just barely in the lead. Going in to the last 50, Australia has picked up just a bit, but China is still in first. Uhoh the gap is closing, and China just touches the wall first, followed by Australia, and then Germany.

China broke the world record and are very excited. Awww.

China celebrating their win.

Yay China!

Yay Germany!

Yay Australia!

Alright, guys. There are gonna be 7 finals tomorrow night, and NBC will be showing them again from 12noon to 2pm EST, so definitely check it out. Thanks for reading!

Hi, friends and lovers of hot wet athletes. That was dirty. Anyway, hello! Today was Day 12 of the FINA World Championships (Day 4 in OlyVil time, since we’re only following Swimming), and I’m here to bring you a re-cap of the past two days’ finals.

There are a lot of events to cover tonight, and I’m gonna try to keep this as organized and compact as possible. I’ll start this off by listing the nine final events that happened on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then I’ll get into the video hosted by Universal Sports and start writing from there.

Tuesday, July 28 – Day 3:

• Men’s 200M Freestyle
• Women’s 100M Backstroke
• Women’s 1500M Freestyle
• Men’s 100M Backstroke :C
• Women’s 100M Breaststroke

Wednesday, July 29 – Day 4:

• Men’s 200M Butterfly
• Women’s 200M Freestyle
• Men’s 50M Breaststroke
• Men’s 800m Freestyle

Wow, I just got sucked into watching a bit of Tuesday’s water polo match between Germany and the US, and it seems like such an awkward sport. My best friend in highschool was on the swim team, and a lot of the swimmers were also on the water polo team, and those were some of the most frightening people I’ve ever sorta known. Weird!

In any case, it’s cool when they’re all on one side of the pool, and then they immediately all go swimming to the other side like a little school of fish. Harrrrrr.

Okay, swimming! Let’s go.

Tuesday, Day 3. [video]

Men’s 200M Freestyle

The buzz around Tuesday’s events is all about the Men’s 200M Freestyle, and that Michael Phelps has a real challenge in Germany’s Paul Biedermann, who not only won the 400M Free on Sunday night, but also broke the long-standing world record set by our favorite retired swimmer (and former LOVE OF MY OLYMPICS LIFE), Ian Thorpe of Australia.

The announcers just said that all of the world records that have been broken thus far since the events began on Sunday have been by athletes who’ve been wearing the controversial (and now illegal starting in 2010) polyurethane suits that Milky’s been harping against for the past few months.

The menz are coming out to the pool now and Milky’s got his signature giant headphones on, and I know he’s hearing Kim give him all sorts of sexy peptalks before this huge race. They cut to a shot of Biedermann who literally just thumped his own chest and yelled at no one in particular. At least that’s exactly what it looked like. Maybe he was choking temporarily on a sausage or something. You just never know. Either way — awkward!

Phelps is in lane 3 of this race, and Biedermann is in lane 4. I don’t recoognize any of the other swimmers so I’m going to ignore them. Sorry, menz.

ARRITE. The men hit the water and everyone goes nuts, basically. I hate when NBC doesn’t put the flags showing which swimmer hits the wall first. Annoying. As of the 50, Biedermann is first and Phelps is second, but we all know he takes it easy at first. Biedermann is just slightly over the world record line, and is continuing to pull ahead of Milky. Uhoh. THIS IS NOT LOOKING GOOD, GUYS. Biedermann is WAY ahead of Phelps at this point and is about a half body ahead of the world record. Oh CRAP BIEDERMANN HITS THE WALL AND TAKES THE GOLD, BREAKING PHELP’S RECORD. Milky gets silver and Russia’s Danila Izotov takes the bronze.

Wow, dude. Between this and Aaron Peirsol not advancing in the 100m Backstroke, I’m about ready to cry, cry, cry. They cut to a shot of Debbie Phelps who is clapping with the most serious face I’ve ever seen before. Holy guac, she looks ready to shoot lazer beams out her eyes.

Keep in mind, though, I don’t wanna say that Biedermann won because of the suit he was wearing, because I think it’s wrong to take away a swimmer’s skill and dedication by passing it off onto a swimsuit, but homie IS wearing the new suit, dude, and Milky isn’t, and that kinda puts an unfair spin on the whole thing.

I don’t really know what’s going on in this photo of Milky lookin downright annoyed (or, um, whistling?) next to Paul Biedermann on the podium, but it reminds me a lot of this oldschool shot from 2004, after the Men’s US Relay team steals the gold away from Australia in the 4×100 Free:

Haaaaahaaahaha ugh.

Anyway, sad day for camp Phelps and Team USA, but a happy day for Germany. At least it wasn’t the French!

Whoaaa, Andrea Kramer interviews Paul Biedermann and he actually says that maybe Milky needs more training, and this is the point where I wanna punch him right in his smug little face. Maybe Milky doesn’t need more training. Maybe Beidermann needs to take off his ILLEGAL SWIMSUIT.

Aw, shucks, right after that he said that in reference to the suits, he hopes they get banned soon and that he hopes he can challenge Michael again without the suits. Clearly, he means naked. NO okay but yeah, he sounded earnest so I’ll forgive him for his EARLIER COMMENTS. Jeez.

Women’s 100M Backstroke

I don’t have a whole lot to say about this race. Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry is in this one, which gives her a chance to recover from missing a medal on Monday in the 200M IM. I like her a lot so she’s who I’m rooting for.

The only American in the race is Hayley McGregory, who I’ve never heard of before. Alas! I don’t recognize most of the other names either, so I have nothing more to say. Let’s go!

Apparently in the semi’s on Monday night, Russia’s Anastasia Zueva broke Coventry’s record in this event, so we’ll see how this goes down. The buzzer goes off and so far, Zueva is in first as of the 50. Zueva and Gemma Spofforth of Great Britain are the only ones ahead of the world record line and I believe Coventry is in third. Uhohhhh. Oh, dang! Nevermind, Coventry is waaay behind third place DUDE. Sucks. Spofforth and Zueva are fighting for first! Spofforth gets the gold! Zueva came in second and Australia’s Emily Seebohm takes third place.

Where even is Coventry? Like, 18th? Yeah, dude, she came in dead last. Dang. All my favorites are making me wanna cry.

Anastasia Zueva, Gemma Spofforth, and Emily Seebohm get their medals.

Not gonna lie, Emily Seebohm looks SUPER annoying.

What’s the next event? I’ve only blogged two! I feel like I’ve blogged eight! Sheesh.

Universal Sports is hosting another poll, and I include it just for Kim:

Women’s 1500M Free

This is going to be a loooong race. There’s one American swimming this race. Her name is Chloe Sutton, and apparently she was at Beijing, competing in the open water competition. That’s pretty cool. I’ve never watched Open Water, tbh. Maybe I should check that out one day.

I mean, who knows, there could be a WHOLE WOOOORLD of hotties I haven’t yet discovered!

There’s really no one in this race that I’m familiar with at all, and the announcers say that there’s no one in this race who is a returning medalist in this event, so it’s pretty much wide open. Here’s the lane standings, just cos I JUST figured out that I can screencap the video! HECK YES.

Rowdy Gaines is complaining about the Women’s 1500m not being an Olympic event. He’s saying that it’s almost discrimination that the men get the 1500m as an Olympic event, but the women only get an 800m.

This race is so effing long that they actually cut to an interview during it. Hilarious.

They’re talking about the suits, again, and saying that it’s still being worked out, but it’s widely speculated that once the new suits are banned next year, the mens teams will have to wear jammers, which fall only between the waist and the knee. And the women won’t be able to wear anything above the shoulders, which confuses me cos I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that on the womens’ team before.

Personally, I can’t argue with menz wearing the Aaron Peirsol Staple:

Oh yes. Bring us more torso, FINA.

As of the 450M, Denmark’s Lotte Friis is in first place, and has been for quite a while. Chloe Sutton looks to be in 6th place. Friis is ahead of the world record line. And they cut to a break. Ahahaha.

The video returns and as the ladies hit the 950M, Lotte Friis is still in first, but Italy’s Alessia Filippi has caught up and is actually just a bit ahead of Friis! And my video just friggen disappeared. Grrrrreat.

The Italian crowd is going INSANE, basically. Filippi has surpassed Friis by quite a bit, now, as of the uhhhh, actually I have no idea how long they’ve been swimming now. Ah, the 1200 now. She’s JUST below the world record line, wow. She’s actually just ahead of it now, and only 100m left! Friis is fighting to get ahead, but she’s too far gone, I think.

OH NO, Filippi lost the world record line, but she makes it to the wall first, followed shortly by Friis who never quite caught up enough. Awww, Italy. This is sweet. Romania’s Camelia Potec came in third.

That's right, Alessia. You give that camera those bedroom eyes. Geek.

Men’s 100m Backstroke

This event is gonna break my heart no matter the outcome, just cos I love Aaron Peirsol and it makes me sad that he’s not racing it, but we do have Matt Grevers to count on, representing the US team, so all is not lost.

Oh, and hottiefaced Aschwin Wildeboer is in this race too! EXCITING in the pants.

The menz hit the water and wow dude they look like they’re going way faster than normal. As of the 50, everyone looks almost even, it’s hard to tell who’s in first. It looks like Japan’s Junya Koga may be in the lead, just above of the world record line! The world record line just randomly disappears as they immediately all fall out of pace with it, and then Koga hits the wall, followed by Germany’s Helge Meeuw, and then Spain’s Wildeboer. omg so cute, that guy. NEW CRUSH.

Matty G. came in 7th. Sigh.

Aww they're all cuties in this race. Koga has some impressive hair, man.

And just for good measure, cos I'm smitten, it's Wildeboer. Aw.

They are seriously playing the music from Star Wars right now. What the hell?

Women’s 100M Breaststroke

This is the last event of Day 3. Rebecca Soni is in lane 5. Russia’s Yuliya Efimova, who came in 2nd place to Soni at the Semifinals on Day 2 is in lane 5. Another US athlete, Kasey Carlson, is in lane 1.

Soni’s gonna take it, there’s no way she wont. LET’S SEE. After the 50m, Sarah Katsoulis of Australia has a slight lead, but Soni is right behind her. Soni is inching up, and is just above of the world record, but I don’t know if she’ll maintain it! YEP Soni gets first place but just misses the world record, followed by Katsoulis, and Kasey Carlson comes in third!

Can we talk about how cute Kasy Carlson’s reaction was to coming in third at her first World Championships?

Aw. I love when they're really super excited.

That’s the last event for Tuesday, so now I’m gonna move on to Wednesday’s events.

Wednesday, Day 4. [video]

The video starts off with the first Semifinal of the Men’s 100m Free, and I wasn’t planning to watch, but Nathan Adrian is in it, and I forgot that I love him. Whoops!

France’s Alain Bernard is also in that race, which, whatever. I hope my qtpie spanks that fool. But that’s just a dream. Alas!

Alright though seriously I don’t care about semi finals, uh, except they just said that Nathan Adrian didn’t make it to the finals for this event, and that’s pretty annoying. Whatever whatever, moving on.

Men’s 200M Butterfly

Michael Phelps is swimming in this race, and hopefully he’ll be making up for the disappointment of coming in 2nd in the 200 free. I swear, only for Michael Phelps would coming in 2nd at an international competition be a disappointment.

According to the announcers, Milky’s biggest competition is this race is Japan’s Takeshi Matsuda, but they note that neither Matsuda or Phelps is wearing the polyurethane suits, so that shouldn’t be a factor in this race, unlike the 200 free.

Okay, actually, can I just say something semi off-topic for a moment?

That right there is the very reason why I can't wait for the half-suits to become standard. Yep. Yeppppp.

Okay, they hit the water and there’s really no doubt that Milky is gonna win this one, honestly. This is Phelps’ best event, by all accounts, and as of the 50 he’s already way ahead of everyone, and he’s way ahead of the world record.

Phelps is over a bodylength above Matsuda, going into the last leg of the race. He breaks the record and I thank my lucky stars, cos I think he really needed a big win after Tuesday’s events. Love it. Matsuda actually comes in third, just after Pawel Korzeniowski of Poland.

Oh dear God, they cut to a shot of Debbie Phelps who is legitimately like sobbing in the stands. Hilarious.

As an aside, I really wanna know who picks the music for these events, cos, MAN, it is always outdated and hilarious. I think I said it last year, but I totally want that job of international sports event DJ. Mhm. I have friggen SoulDecision on my iTunes, okay? I can compete with the best of ‘em when it comes to corny pop music, okay?

This is for Kim.

Pawel Kozieniowski, Phelps, and Takesi Matsuda. Korzeniowski is kind of hunkular, yeah?

This just makes me laaaaugh.

Women’s 200M Freestyle

Alright, guys, this one should be a good race. Americans Dana Vollmer and Allison Schmitt are both in this race, along with Italy’s Federica Pellegrini, who won this race in the semifinals, and GBR’s Joanne Jackson, who came in 3rd in semifinals.

I love 200m races. Anyway, the buzzer goes off, and thus far at the 50, randomly, Hungary’s Evelyn Verraszto in lane one is in first place. As of the 100, Pellegrini is in the lead, with Dana Vollmer in second and Allison Schmitt literally right beside her. Pellegrini is way ahead of everyone and she’s under world record time, awesome. She wins it, clearly, and Schmitt and Vollmer take second and third.

Pellegrini looks like she’s about to cry, awww.

Homegurl seems pleased with herself, haha.

Allison Schmitt, Federica Pellegrini, and Dana Vollmer on the podium.

Awwww.

Men’s 50m Breaststroke

Aw, dang. Another 50m. Should I even bother? By the time I figure out what’s going on it’s already over. Psh.

The only American swimming this race is Mark Gangloff, in lane 8. I swear, it happened, and now it’s over. Sheesh. Cameron Van Der Burgh of South Africa takes first, followed by Brazil’s Felipe Silva, and Mark Gangloff is third.

I noticed on our stats that someone found this site by asking if Van Der Burgh was wearing one of the new suits when he won one of his previous races, and yes, he has been wearing one of the Arena suits for all of his events in Rome.

Felipe Silva, Cameron Van Der Burgh, and Mark Gangloff.

Men’s 800M Freestyle

This is the last final of the evening, and I’m excited just cos I’m really tired. The only names I recognize in this race are Tunisia’s Ous Mellouli, and USA’s Peter Vanderkaay, photobomber extraordinaire.

2+ minutes into the race, Ous Mellouli is currently in first. I have no idea who’s following him cos they went to break. OH, it’s back, and Zhang Lin of China has actually moved ahead of Mellouli, about half-way through the race! Both Lin and Mellouli are way, way, way ahead of the world record, which Australian Grant Hackett set four years ago.

Mellouli has pulled just ahead of Lin, and actually NO Lin takes the lead back, and they are basically neck and neck in the last 50 meters. Zhang Lin is suddenly pulling WAY ahead of Mellouli, and he wins the race by a big margin. Mellouli gets 2nd, and Ryan Cochrane of Canada makes it in third.

Peter Vanderkaay gets 6th place. Okay, then.

Ryan Cochrane, Zhang Lin, and Ous Mellouli.

And with that, dear readers, I am all caught up with the competition thus far, and now so are you! I am ridiculously sleepy and need to get OUT OF THIS CHAIR. Have a great day, and I’ll probably be back later tonight with Day 5 highlights. YAY.

I haven’t had time to sit down and blog the past couple days, and I feel badly about it, like I am failing you, dear readers, so now I am catching up on day two highlights on Universal Sports and enjoying the crap out of myself. It’s the simple things, okay?

While we’re talking of simple things making me happy, and while the highlights show I’m watching shows me, again, the Men’s 4×100M Free Relay (I have no idea why, since that was on Day 1), I’m sure you’ve noticed a new layout here at OlyVil. It took Kim and myself literally like 3 days to finally decide on a WordPress theme we liked, and then HOURS of me trying to make a header that 1. would fit, and 2. wouldn’t be compressed so ridiculously that it was better to just not have one.

Isn’t the header cute?! It’s a collage of all our favorite things we like to blog about, clearly. ADORABLE. We also updated our blogroll, so go take a look at it and visit some of our friends! If you wanna be on the blogroll, let us know and we’ll work something out. Wink wink.

Anyway, I apologize again for the delay on this recap, but, man, life. Later today I’ll try to also post a short recap of days 3 and 4 just so I can get caught up for the rest of the week.

During breaks in this video, they keep showing this hilarious shot of Milky at Nationals and it keeps making me LOL pretty hard, not gonna lie:

This should be our new header, clearly. Just this.

The video was just going over things we can expect from day 2, and it just said that  Ariana Kukors is getting ready to smash the world record. Honestly, smashing world records anymore is kinda boring, considering everyone and their mother has been smashing them lately. That doesn’t take away from the incredible discipline and skill it takes to smash a world record, but I’m just saying — it’s less exciting when it’s happening every 15 minutes.

Speaking of Ariana Kukors, let’s introduce her to the world, shall we?

Athlete Profile: Ariana Kukors

Ariana Kukors

Ariana Kukors, in my opinion (and kind of in everyone else’s opinion right now as well), is the athlete to watch on the US Women’s Swim Team this year in Rome. While the team is usually dominated by Olympic veterans who are mostly absent from this year’s World Championships (Natalie Coughlin is taking some time off after Beijing, [skankfaced] Amanda Beard is having a baby pretty soon, Katie Hoff is fail blog), this year’s team gives a few fresh faces a chance to prove themselves and show us what to expect over the next few years.

According to the wikipedia, this 20 year old Washington native swam for a bit for the Washington Huskies before joining the King Aquatic Club. She impressed spectators at Nationals when the unknown made 3rd place in the Women’s 200M IM, and then after Elizabeth Pelton scratched the event, positively shattered Australian cutiepie Stephanie Rice’s world record in the 200M IM Semifinals in Rome on Sunday. I believe that’s the only event she’ll be swimming in Rome this year, but I think we need to put this girl on our radar, cos she’s gonna be all up in our fries soon.

During DAY TWO (well, day 11, technically) of Worlds, Kukors swam the Women’s 200M IM Final, an event whose commentary is usually dominated by the long-standing rivalry between Stephanie Rice and Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry. Yesterday, though, Kukors led the pack, yet again breaking the world record she set on Sunday, and winning gold with a time of 2:06.15. Rice came in 2nd, and Coventry was shut out of the medal standings by Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who came in 3rd. Sucks to be Kirsty.

Rice, Kukors, and Hosszu

Next event coming up is the Men’s 100M Breaststroke Final. [Cancer Free!!!!!!] Eric Shanteau is swimming this event. Rowdy Gaines is saying he could become the world’s best breaststroker, depending on the results of this race, and 12 year old me giggles at “breast stroker lolz.”

AAAAND I just spoiled myself to this race while browsing Wikipedia, and that is really annoying. I’ll pretend I didn’t just see the results. TABULA RASA, CELISSE.

Shanteau is in lane 4, and he’s the only American swimming this race. I’m not familiar with any of the other swimmers previous to Sunday’s semi-finals, so I’m going to ignore them, sorry.

The buzzer goes off and the men hit the water. At the 50, Shanteau has fallen behind, but picks up some speed towards the 100. He just misses the wall, though, and comes in 4th after South Africa’s  Cameron van der Burgh (3rd), France’s Hugues Duboscq (2nd), and Australia’s Brenton Rickard, who walks away with a gold medal and a new world record.

Cute.

Sorry, Shanteau. I guess you’re not the world’s best breast stroker after all.

Next up is the Women’s 100m Butterfly Final, and Dana Vollmer is the only US swimmer in this event. And this time I am not going to spoil myself. Other important names in this event are Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom AAAAND I JUST SPOILED MYSELF AGAIN. Jesus, Celisse, when will you learn?

Anyhow, big names in this event, again, are Sarah Sjostrom, who came in first in the semi finals on Sunday, and Australia’s Jessicah Schipper, who came in second. Should be a good race, let’s get this party staaaaarted.

100’s and 50’s drive me nuts cos they’re really just too short to get into, honestly, but whatever. At the turn, Vollmer is in 7th place, and the announcers are calling it another Shanteau since Vollmer is way behind. Brazil’s Gabriella Silva had the lead at the 50, apparently, but now it looks like Sjostrom is in the lead, and just a tiny bit ahead of the world record, with Schipper following closely behind! Vollmer isn’t even in this race, dang. She hits the wall FIFTH, and looks like she’s about to cry or something. Jeez.

Sjostrom gets the gold, Schipper gets silver, and China’s Jiao Liuyang gets the bronze. Vollmer actually tied for 5th with Gabriella Silva, after France’s Aurore Mongel, who came in 4th place.

Oh hello, podium which does not include Dana Vollmer.

For as much as I generally love the Men’s US Swimming Team, the Women’s team makes me want to cry on a semi regular basis.

The Men’s 100m Backstroke Semi is up next, and the only dreamboat who has managed to stay a dreamboat for me since Athens 2004, Aaron Peirsol, is gonna ROCK THIS. Or else. RIGHT? Right.

Oh, Peirsol, you half-suited hottie.

Matty Grevers is swimming the first semifinal, and all I have to say about that is that Kim better admire the level of bulge happening while Grevers is massaging our boy Milky:

I’m not blogging a semi-final, dudes. I’m sleepy. Japan’s Junya Koga came in 1st in the first semifinal and the announcer are in awe. Grevers came in 4th. Moving on!

Second semi-final, let’s do this. Oh God, he hasn’t even been on the screen for 5 seconds and the announcers already mentioned how he exemplifies everything California Cool. WE GET IT. YOU’VE BEEN SAYING IT FOR LIKE 5 YEARS.

WHOA WHOA WHOA. HOTTIE ALERT! Who is this Aschwin Wildeboer? Apparently he’s from Spain and also a DREAMBOAT!

Sup hottie!

I have no idea who this guy is but I wanna make out. Don’t you guys love how I not only liveblog the events, but I also liveblog my personal hottie preferences? Jeez.

Uhoh, Peirsol didn’t place in this semifinal. That Spanish dreamboat came in first, Greece’s Aristeidis Grigoriadis (holy Jesus what a name) came in second, and GBR’s Liam TANCOCK (rofl rofl) came in third.

OH DANG, OH MY GOD. Peirsol gets SHUT OUT of the final, coming in NINTH PLACE. Oh my God. The standings hit the board and his face DROPS, dude. He is SHOCKED. I am too. This breaks my heart into a zillion pieces. Matt Grevers actually makes it in the 5th spot. That’s gotta hurt. The crowd is as completely baffled as I am, gasping loudly when the times hit the board. The announcers, for once in their miserable careers, don’t even know what to say.

Aaron, I have faith in you. I still love you. :C He’s still got the 200m coming up so we’ll see what happens. DANG, man. I just wanna give him a hug.

Okay, well, whatever. Up next is the Women’s 100M Breaststroke Semi. I’m pretty tired so I’m skipping this one. USA’s Rebecca Soni and Kasey Carlson both make it into the final, which was an event from tonight that I’ll blog about later. Soni broke the world record. Everyone’s breakin’ world records.

Moving on, the Men’s 50m Butterfly is next, and y’all know I hate 50m’s. There aren’t any Americans on tis race, but I’m gonna go ahead and call it for Serbia’s Milorad Cavic, in lane five. Let’s see if I’m right! They’re almost at the end of the pool and no one has reached the world record line yet. That’s a first. EYEROLL.

AHA, I was right! Milorad Cavic takes the gold, followed by Australia’s Matthew Targett in second, and Spain’s Rafael Munoz in third.

This is Cavic’s first world championship title, and the announcers actually just said that he’s “no longer a bridesmaid.” Oh, announcers. You’re weird.

I’m pretty sure the rest of the events for Day Two were all semi finals so I think I’m gonna end this here. Have a great day, guys. Like I said up there, I’ll try to play catch up on days 3 and 4 later tonight. Enjoy!

Ever have one of those days where you wake up and have a very specific goal in mind for the day, and then it seems like everything in the world begins to conspire in an effort to completely derail you? Boy oh boy, am I having one of those days. The goal I had in mind was very simple — watch and liveblog Day 1 of the FINA World Championships for Swimming. I caught only recaps of Diving and ignored water polo and synchro, but I was excited for Swimming and bringing you recaps and liveblogs of all the amazingness going on in Rome right now.

4 hours after NBC’s coverage for the day ended, I am only now beginning this liveblog, and I apologize for the hefty delay. It’s just been one of those days, man.

Before I begin, just a reminder that the only days after today that NBC will be covering of the Swimming World Championships this week, are this coming Saturday and Sunday, starting at 12 noon, EST. Universal Sports, however, has live feeds coming out of Rome every day, and if you can’t catch them live (or if you have the crappiest internet on the planet, like I do), they have video of every event since the Worlds began last Friday. Here’s the link for the site.

Okay, hopefully without any further interruptions, let’s get this party staaaaarted!

Before the races begin, there are some clips of Michael Phelps from the Beijing Olympics last year, and I get all gooey over the gorgeous Watercube, wishing  had been there. And now it’s a clip of Garrett Weber-Gale molesting Milky after the relay. Remember that?! Still hilarious. Oh good, this broadcast is brought to us by Subway. I could go for a nice foot-long right now. Where’s that cutie Nathan Adrian? omg omg omg ok jk.

The first event is the Women’s 100m Butterfly First Semifinal. Lane assignments:

1. Daynara De Paula (Brazil)
2. Jiao Liuyang (China)
3. Jeanette Ottesen (Denmark)
4. Dana Vollmer (US)
5. Zhou Yafei (China)
6. Aurore Mongel (France)
7. Marleen Veldhuis (Netherlands)
8. Gabriella Silva (Brazil)

The announcers are talking about how this is a bounce-back year for Vollmer, who missed making the Olympic team last year. The other announcer mentions that she’ll have no problem moving on to the finals in this event. The other athlete to watch in this race is Marleen Veldhuis. The ladies get into the water and apparently the oldest world record on the books is in jeopardy in this race. Vollmer is in the lead but she doesn’t look like she’s gonna beat the record. Vollmer touches first but misses the record by one second.

Now that the new swimsuits are officially illegal for all races following the World Championships, I think a lot of the records made over the past 6 months are so are gonna hold for a long time.

In any case, results:

1. Dana Vollmer
2. Jiao Liuyang
3. Aurore Mongel
4. Gabriella Silva

Veldhuis tied for 5th with China’s Zhou Yafei. See, that’s what happens when the announcers hype you up. Prime example: KATIE HOFF.

Next up is the Second Semifinal and here are the lane assignments:

1. Ellen Gandy (Great Britain)
2. Felicity Galvez (Australia)
3. Christine Magnusun (US)
4. Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden)
5. Jessicah Schipper (AUS)
6. Ingvild Snildal (Norway)
7. Aniika Mehlhorn (Germany)
8. Yuka Kato (Japan)

Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden is being heralded as the girl to watch in this race. Apparently she’s only 15 years old and won the European Championships. That’s pretty hardcore. The buzzer goes off, ladies go flying, and Sjostrom seems to be in the lead thus far. Sjostrom and Schipper are just behind the world record, and Sjostrom sneaks under and hits the wall, breaking the record! She is exciiiiited, and that’s really cute. Magnuson doesn’t make it to the finals. Oh well. Standings!

1. Sarah Sjostrom (WR)
2. Jessicah Schipper
3. Ingvild Snildal
4. Christine Magnuson

So the eight women moving on to tomorrow’s finals are: Sarah Sjostrom, Jessicah Schipper, Dana Vollmer, Ingvild Snildal, Jiao Liuyang, Aurore Mongel, Gabriella Silva, Zhou Yafei, and Marleen Veldhuis.

The Men’s 400M Freestyle Final is up next, and I managed to get spoiled to this one, I think. Dang. Lane assignments:

1. Ryan Cochrane (Canada)
2. Photobomber Extraordinaire Peter Vanderkaay (US)
3. Ous Mellouli, aka the Tunisian hottie who won the 1500M Free last year in Beijing. 1500M, dude!
4. Paul Biedermann (Germany)
5. Zhang Lin (China)
6. Mads Glaesner (Denmark)
7. David Davies (GBR)
8. Gergo Kis (Hungary)

I love how I have to pause this every five seconds to make sure I got the names and countries right. Oy. The men are in the water! 400M’s are so long, so let’s sit back and relax for a bit. I kinda like 200M’s the best. Who cares? You’re not here to read about my race length preferences. ANYWAY.  All the men seem to be a good length behind the world record, and thus far, it seems like Ous Melloili is in the lead, but the camera angle is so awkward that I’m not really sure. Oh, Cochrane has the lead, actually, with Mellouli inching ahead of him! Vanderkaay doesn’t look like he’s gonna make it thus far, but there’s still time. They’re at the 300M and Mellouli is still ahead. Cochrane seems to have fallen off the radar! Biedermann is in second, Lin in third, and UHOH Biedermann gets ahead of Mellouli! He’s close to the record! ACK HE BEAT THE RECORD HOLY CRAP. The two oldest Swimming records broken today in Rome, DANG.  Biedermann beat the record by 1/100th of a second. Standings!

1. Paul Biedermann (WR)
2. Ous Mellouli
3. Zhang Lin

Aw, Peter Vanderkaay. He came in 4th. I don’t know what happened, but better luck next time, homie. Go bomb some more pictures to make yourself feel better. Apparently the record Biedermann just beat was set in 2002 by — get this — the Australian Thorpedo, Ian Thorpe! Hilariousssss. I miss him. Why do Aussie hotties have to retire? Grant Hackett, I’m lookin’ at you, mister banker.

Oh, NBC is hosting a poll. Whose World Record is Most Likely to Fall in Rome? Lemme put in a poll and see. Actually, WordPress does not want to host a poll, apparently. Greeeeat. Anyway, the options are A. Eamon Sullivan (AUS) 100M Free, B. Aaron Peirsol (USA) 200M Back, C. Michael Phelps (USA) 100M Fly, and D. Grant Hackett (AUS) 1500M Free. Soooo many records have already been broken this year, it’s hard to think any one of those wouldn’t fall this week in Rome. I think I’ll go with A, Eamon Sullivan’s record. Just cos. Whose record do you think will fall?! Leave comments with your choice!

AHA I figured out the poll.

AAAAND wonderful, my lappy wire just broke. Brb. Alright. Back in business. That took way, way, way longer than I wanted it to. The next race is the Women’s 200M Individual Medley First Semifinal. Lanes:

1. Tomoyo Fukuda (Japan)
2. Evelyn Verraszto (Hungary)
3. Julie Hjorth-Hansen (Denmark)
4. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary)
5. Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe)
6. Emily Seebohm (GBR)
7. Joanna Maranhan-Melo (Brazil)
8. Li Jiaxing (China)

Kirsty Coventry, of course, is the athlete to watch in this race. Assuming she and Stephanie Rice (who is swimming in the next Semifinal) both make it to the finals, it’s gonna be a helluva race to watch. Out of the two of them, I don’t really have a favorite — I like them both a lot.

The race starts, and the butterfly is the starting stroke. The announcers are saying that this isn’t Coventry’s best stroke but that the backstroke and the freestyle are really strong for her. So far, she’s in seventh pllace, but most of the ladies are all around the same place so there’s still time for her to pull up. Evelyn Verraszto has the lead as they inch up to the 150.  Coventry is pulling up for the last 50, but Hjorth-Hansen has the lead. Hjorth-Hansen with the impossible name to Liveblog hits the wall first, and gets a Danish national record, while Coventry and Verraszto both tie for second. Standings!

• Julie Hjorth-Hansen
• Kirsty Coventry
• Evelyn Verraszto
• Katinka Hosszu

Women’s 200M IM Semifinal 2 is up next, and they’re showing clips from last year of Rice and Coventry’s infamous rivalry. Kirsty Coventry’s accent always makes me laugh. She sounds like a California girl. Wikipedia says she’s born and raised in Zimbabwe, although she attended and swam for Auburn University in Alabama. Weird. Moving on! Lane assignments for the Second Semifinal:

1. Francesca Segat (Italy)
2. Camille Muffat (France)
3. Hannah Miley (GBR)
4. Ariana Kukors (US)
5. Stephanie Rice (AUS)
6. Julia Smit (US)
7. Liu Jing (China)
8. Daria Belyakina (Russia)

Stephanie Rice isn’t wearing her signature green earrings (at least not that I can see), but she is sporting some hot pink nailpolish, which I can totally appreciate. I think half the reason I like her is cos she knows how to accessorize. Yep. Hannah Miley is in this race, aka the girl who constantly reminds everyone of Miley Cyrus’ Hannah Montana. Poor thing. Maybe that’s just me? I don’t know, I know we mentioned it a few times last year. Anyway!

Kukors is kind of up-and-coming, isn’t she? She wasn’t at Beijing so I’m guessing she’s the girl to watch in this race, but if she makes it to the Final she’s gonna have some heavy, heavy competition. Anyway, the buzzer goes off and the women go in. As of the 50m, Rice seems to be in the lead, but not by much. Kukors pulls ahead of her during the backstroke. They’re both ahead of the current world record, and now they turn for the 150 and Kukors is actually way ahead, wow. Rice is way in second. Kukors is WAY ahead of the world record and she’s stealing it away from Rice. Dang, Rice didn’t even break the existing record. Way to go, Ariana! This is her first world record. Awww.

Stephanie makes it a point to reach over and congratulate and hug Ariana, which is sweet, although the announcers are being CYNICAL by saying it was a fake smile. Pshhhh. Here are the results:

1. Ariana Kukors (WR)
2. Stephanie Rice
3. Hannah Miley
4. Camille Muffat

Moving on to the finals are the following ladies: Ariana Kukors, Stephanie Rice, Hannah Miley, Julia Hjorth-Hansen, Evelyn Verraszto, Kirsty Coventry, Katinka Hosszu, Camille Muffat, and Julia Smit.

The Men’s 50M Butterfly is next. It’s a semifinal, but I just realized that I’m not even half finished with this liveblog and it’s already SO long, so I’m gonna skip the semi’s and just tell you who’s moving on to the finals: Rafael Munoz (SP), Milorad Cavic (Serbia) [you might remember Cabbage as the guy who ALMOST beat Milky last year during the 100m Fly. He's from California. Random!], Nicholas Santos (Brazil), Duje Draganja (Croatia), Matthew Targett (GBR), Albert Subirats (Venezuela), Jason Dunford (Kenya), Jakob Sciøtt Andkjær (Denmark), Roland Schoeman (South Africa).

Clips of Milky and the boyz from Beijing. They’re going through all eight of his golds, actually. Dang. I skip ahead cos we’ve all seen that 234823948 times.

Okay, I’m at the half-point of the broadcast and I have genuinely no idea which event is up next, but the ladies are filing out, and they cut to a shot of a very annoyed looking Federica Pellegrini. AH okay, it’s the Women’s 400M Freestyle Final. Lanes!:

1. Lotte Friis (Denmark)
2. Camelia Potec (Romania)
3. Joanne Jackson (GBR)
4. Federica Pellegrini (ITA)
5. Allison Schmitt (US)
6. Coralie Balmy (France)
7. Ophelie-Cyrielle Etienne (France)
8. Rebecca Adlington (GBR)

Let’s do this. There are a lot of colorful suits in this race. Someone is wearing bright pink, I think. Another is wearing orange. I love that this is what I choose to comment on. Nice work, Celisse. Anyway, so far it looks like Joanne Jackson is in first, and literally 2 seconds after I say that, Pellegrini overtakes her at the 100m. At the 150, Pellegrini is still in the lead and Jackson is only a tiny bit behind her. Apparently Allison Schmitt is in third but I can’t even see her.  Oh wait, Adlington is in third, I believe. Schmitt is in 7th, dang. Pellegrini and Jackson are almost neck and neck, although Pellegrini is slightly more ahead. They’re at the 250 now and Jackson is falling back, and Pellegrini is just under the world record pace. Adlington is still in 3rd with Schmitt in 4th, and at the 350, Pellegrini is still way ahead, and shes above the world record! She hits the wall and everyone basically FREAKS OUT. Wowwww. Aww, she sits on the lane line and waves to her country and they freak out, and it’s really sweet. Results:

1. Federica Pellegrini (WR)
2. Joanne Jackson
3. Rebecca Adlington

Someone needs to explain the lane assignments to me, cos you very rarely see someone get a medal whos on one of the end lanes. I read about how they’re assigned, but I didn’t quite understand, or I don’t remember, or I dunno. Either way, that was a great race.

More semifinals coming up, so I’ll skip that and let you know who’s gonna be swimming the Men’s 100M Breaststroke Final. For the record, one of the semi-finalists is Giedrius Titenis, which is as epic a name as Rexford Tullius. Just so you know. Anyhow: Eric Shanteau (US), Cameron Van Der Burgh (South Africa), Hendrik Feldwehr (Germany), Brenton Rickard (AUS), Igor Borysik (Ukraine), Giedrius Titenis (Lithuania), Hugues Duboscq (France), Henrique Barbosa (Brazil).

And now comes the part of the races where I get really tired of liveblogging cos sitting here for 2+ hours and constantly pausing and FF and RW is killin’ me, maaaaanz. Like I said during Nationals, I’m way more used to liveblogging the Olympics, where there’s 23893209 other events going on in between each Swimming event I’d liveblog. Sheesh!

Up next is the Women’s 4×100M Freestyle Relay Final. I love relays, they’re probably my favorite, since each swimmer is different so from one swimmer to the next, the whole game can change. Here are the lanes:

1. United States
2. China
3. Australia
4. Germany
5. Netherlands
6. Sweden
7. Great Britain
8. Hungary

Dara Torres is gonna be swimming second for the US, after she just recently had a crazy knee surgery that she’s hoping will carry her through the rest of the week. One of the announcers said something like: “You have to have surgeries like that when you’re 42,” and he immediately shut up as if it was kind of a shitty thing to say, cos it was a shitty thing to say.  So far, Australia and Germany is neck and neck for the lead, with the US waaaay behind. Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands are all way ahead of world record pace. The Netherlands are ahead of everyone, and the US is way behind. Like, WAY behind. UHOH it looks like Germany is sneaking up to the Netherlands and they are sooo close. Germany pulls ahead! Netherlands gets ahead in the last few feet! More world records. Ladies screaming. Dara does not look happy. Alas. Standings!

1. Netherlands (WR)
2. Germany
3. Australia

With the sad, sad US team coming in 4th. Oh well.

The Men’s 4×100M Freestyle Relay Final is up next and they’re talking about last year’s show down with those jerkfaced Frenchies. That was such an amazing race, guys. Nothing pisses off a bunch of Americans like a bunch of arrogant French guys talkin’ smack. That was, 100%, my favorite moment of the Beijing games, with Lezak coming back from way into 2nd place and taking away the Gold. Amaaazing. Also the Milky molestation by Weber-Gale, of course.

In any case, Milky is making his World Championships debut here in Rome tonight in this event, so it’s guaranteed to be an amazing one. The men are coming out and OOH I see Nathan Adrian standing behind Lochte, while Michael Phelps wipes down the block and gets ready to start the team. Who’s the 4th man? I can’t see him. OH hahaha it’s Matt Grevers. SUP, KIM?! ahahaha. Right next to the US is the French team again, and there’s that crapfaced Alain Bernard, who will be swimming 2nd for his team. Here are the lane assignments:

1. Australia
2. Italy
3. Great Britain
4. Brazil
5. France
6. USA
7. South Africa
8. Russia

To be honest, I THINK I’m spoiled for this race, but I closed the window so fast that I’m not sure. We’ll see. Oh God, the buzzer goes off and the men legitimately FLY into the pool. As of the first 100M, Phelps was 3rd, and Lochte is swimming second for the US.  The US is still third behind Brazil in first and France in second. Oh maaaan! France is in the lead as of the 250! Matt Grevers is pulling a little ahead! THE US IS CLOSING IN. Nathan Adrian is swimming anchor and he’s pulling ahead!  AGH OH MY GOD HE PULLS WAY AHEAD AND HE TAKES IT

MY CUTIE RULES, GUYS, JS. BACK OFF OF HIM COS I CLAIMED HIM FIRST JSYK.

I love how I managed to use minimal caps UNTIL this friggen event HOLY GUAC. AW, DANG, I CAN’T STOP SMILING. I love the US Men’s Swimming Team, guys. Results:

1. United States
2. Russia
3. France rofl.

And that was the last event of the night and I get up off this compy and go get some real life stuff done. I’ll be back tonight with some pictures of today’s events. Have a good evening!

Two meet records were broken Saturday on the third day of competition at the Swimnetwork.com Santa Clara International Grand Prix. Nathan Adrian (Bremerton, Wash.) broke the meet record in the men’s 50m free in 22.04 and Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry won the women’s 400m IM in a meet-record time of 4:32.15.

Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) took home his second gold medal of the meet, winning the men’s 400m free in 3:48.05. Phelps took a comfortable lead in the first 200 meters, however, he was caught in the final 50 meters by Canada’s Ryan Cochrane.  In one the most exciting finishes of the night, Phelps was able to hold off Cochrane for the win. Cochrane took the silver in 3:48.40 and Australia’s Robert Hurley was a close third in 3:48.49.

Coventry’s gold medal and meet record came in the first race of the evening, the women’s 400m IM. The final featured five Olympians, including the world record-holder in the event, Australia’s Stephanie Rice. Coventry’s was followed by Dagny Knutson (Minot, N.D.) who earned silver with a personal best time of 4:36.02. Olympian Elizabeth Beisel (Saunderstown, R.I) claimed the bronze in 4:37.07.

Adrian’s meet record in the 50m free came in the final men’s individual event of the night. The 2008 Olympian beat Trinidad and Tobago’s George Bovell to the wall to earn his first gold medal of the meet. Bovell, who had broke the meet record in the prelims earlier in the day, finished in 22.12 and Canada’s Brent Hayden was third in 22.20.

Dana Vollmer (Gransbury, Texas), who earned two gold medals on Friday, added to her medal haul with a gold in the women’s 200m free. The 2004 Olympian was first in 1:57.46. Australia’s Meagen Nay was second in 1:59.31 and Ariana Kukors (Auburn, Wash.) was third in 1:59.80.

Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) earned gold in the men’s 200m back with a time of 1:56.83. Australia’s Ashley Delaney took the silver in 1:58.60 and Canada’s Matt Hawes earned the bronze in 2:00.30.

Coventry took home her second gold of the night in the women’s 100m back. The world record-holder in the event finished in 1:00.68 for the gold and was followed by Mary DeScenza (Naperville, Ill.) in 1:01.54 and Canada’s Katy Murdoch in 1:02.05.

In other races, Australia’s Leisel Jones won the women’s 100m breast in 1:07.11 to claim her second gold medal of the meet. Kasey Carlson (Walnut Creek, Calif.) was second in 1:08.33 and Sarah Katsoulis from Australia was third in 1:08.46. Japan’s Masayuki Kishida won the men’s 100m fly with a time of 52.43. Lochte was second, finishing with a personal best time of 52.84 and Ricky Berens (Charlotte, N.C.) was third in 53.00.

Competition concludes Sunday with 12 events. The women’s competition includes the 200m fly, 50m free, 200m IM, 200m back, 800m free and 400m medley relay. The men’s program features the 200m breast, 100m free, 200m IM, 100m back, 1500m free and 400m medley relay. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. and finals start at 5 p.m. PT.  

For complete results, click here.

Via: SwimNetwork

They might not be quite in Olympic form, but many of the swim stars from last year’s Beijing Games will compete this weekend at the Santa Clara International Invitational at the Haines Swim Center.

Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals in Beijing, is expected to swim in four events – the 200-meter butterfly (Friday), the 400 freestyle (Saturday), and the 100 free and 100 backstroke (Sunday).

Other notables in the lineup include world-record holders in the backstroke (Kirsty Coventry, Ryan Lochte), breaststroke (Leisel Jones) and individual medley (Stephanie Rice).

Other familiar names on the meet sheet include Katie Hoff, U.S.-record holder in the 200 and 400 free, Dana Vollmer (Cal) and Julia Smit (Stanford).

The meet starts Thursday with two distance events, and continues through Sunday. Finals begin about 4 p.m. each day, depending on when the preliminaries finish. Tickets for one session are $8. A meet pass is $25. Go to santaclaraswimclub.org for more information.

Via: San Francisco Chronicle

SUITS: Blueseventy is claiming US$10,000 a day in compensation from FINA, the international federation, for the loss of approval of its wetsuit-lookalike race suits. The New Zealand-based company, with a production unit in Germany, lodged its case in the Swiss Courts yesterday. The nero comp suit failed to make it on to the approved suits list because it “may cause significant air trapping”. The company offered its customers full refund on any suits that may now not be used to race in. Such a scheme will come at a high cost. The case hangs on whether FINA has acted unfairly and whether it can prove its case “scientifically”. From January 1, 2010, suits based largely on non-textile, non-permeable fabrics are likely to be barred from race swimming.

USA: More than 20 US Olympic team members, including Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Katie Hoff will compete at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix on June 11-14 in California, alongside a strong Australia selection. The meet is the final stage of the USA Swimming Grand Prix Series and the last test for many before the much-awaited ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, and Rome 2009 world-title trials next month. The Santa Clara meet will feature 30 Australians, including Olympic champions Stephanie Rice and Leisel Jones (the breaststroke ace who will not race at world championships this summer), as well as Brenton Rickard and Hayden Stoeckel. Olympic backstroke champion Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) will be there to challenge the woman who pipped her for gold in both Beijing medley finals. Rice has been training at altitude in Arizona for the past two weeks as part of a study by Swimming Australia and the Australian Sports Institute. Among other visitors testing themselves before Rome is Brent Hayden (CAN), world 100m free champion. You can watch events at USA Swimming’s official news outlet swimnetwork.com.

Rome: Two more pools have been seized by police working on the order of the public prosecutor in the Italian capital, venue for the world championships in July in an investigation into whether urban planning rules were observed. The latest pools to be seized are the Flaminio Sporting Club and the Riserva Macchione. Meanwhile, the president of the organising committee of Roma 2009, Giovanni Giovanni Malagò, may resign today, according to Italian media reports. An “extraordinary assembly” meeting will be held at which Roberto Diacetti, Malago’s right-hand man, may be asked to go. If that happens, Malago has indicated that he will follow. 

Via: SwimNews, Craig Lord

Most people associate the Olympics with a sports extravaganza, often hyped (I really don’t want to hear any more about Michael Phelp’s 8 gold medals) to the extreme. I associate it with the death of Tina, Jenni’s sister by a different litter. In the short year that I had her she became my shadow, my best friend, my team mate. An extraordinary dog, she was the dog of a lifetime; the one that I’d been waiting for without knowing it. She was not as good looking as Jenni. In fact she had no ridge (as in ridgeback) though I liked to tell people that it just ran the other way. Her ears were too big and her tail was too long but she made up for it all in sheer joie de vivre. She was the first dog I had that was protective of me and she was just irrepressible. Extremely naughty without a hint of malice she kept me on my toes and entertained. Then in a moment of carelessness that will haunt me forever, I drove over her and she died before I could get to tell her that I did not mean to hurt her. She was all of a year old. It was also the day that Kirsty Coventry, a Zimbabwean swimmer, won her first gold medal – four years ago today.

200 costas feminino – Kirsty Convetry finalmente é ouro!

Por muitos anos uma das provas mais fracas da natação, o 200 costas ganhou destaque com a chegada da zimbabuana Kirsty Convetry. Campeã em 2004, Kirsty bateu um recorde mundial que permanecia desde 1991. Este ano, na seletiva americana, Margareth Hoelzer baixou ainda mais a marca e prometia uma disputa bonita em Pequim.

Após três pratas na competição, Convetry chegou a sua principal prova com muita vontade de garantir um ouro. Heroína nacional no Zimbábue, a atleta queria ouvir seu hino pelo menos uma vez. Nadando pela 4, após bater o recorde olímpico nas semi-finais, Convetry liderou desde o começo e virou todas as parciais na frente. Hoelzer, pela 2, virou sempre mais de 1 segundo atrás e ainda tentou chegar no final, mas a zimbabuana levou a melhor. À frente da linha do recorde mundial por toda prova, Convetry chegou para 2′05”24, retomando a melhor marca do mundo e vibrando muito com seu primeiro ouro em Pequim e o bi-campeonato na prova.

Em segundo, Hoelzer marcou 2′06”23 e levou a prata. Reiko Nakamura, do Japão, repetiu a colocação das Olimpíadas de Atenas e dos Mundiais de 2005 e 2007, ficando com o bronze.

100 borboleta masculino – 1 centésimo

Apontada como uma das provas mais difíceis de Michael Phelps rumo aos 8 ouros, o 100 metros borboleta masculino era esperada como uma das maiores disputas da competição. De um lado, Ian Crocker, que bateu Phelps no Mundial de 2003 e desde então detém o recorde mundial. Do outo, Milorad Cavic, atleta que representou três países com nomes “diferentes”, devido a fragmentações e questões geopolíticas pelas quais passou (Iugoslávia em 2000, Sérvia e Montenegro em 2004 e agora, Sérvia). No meio, Michael Phelps, recordista olímpico, em busca do seu 7º ouro na competição.

Cavic nadou forte nas eliminatórias e semi-finais, chegando à finalíssima prometendo estragar com a festa de Phelps. Saiu bem e nadou forte desde o começo, virou para 23”42, abaixo do recorde mundial, e mesmo sabendo que Phelps volta muito bem, parecia que não ia dar para o americano. Phelps foi apenas o 7º na parcial do 50m, e Crocker em segundo parecia pronto para sua revanche.

Mas Phelps voltou mais forte do que nunca. Pela câmera sub-aquática, dava pra ver o atleta acelerar o ciclo de braçadas e buscar o sérvio que ainda liderava. Parecia que iam faltar 5m para que o americano levasse. Mas não faltou, sobrou. Sobrou um centésimo de diferença, 1 centésimo para sete outos e um centésimo para 1 milhão de dólares – prêmio da atleta por se igualar a Mark Spitz.

Quem viu a olho nu não acreditou. O resultado do placar desafiou a lógica, mas quem ousaria duvidar de Michael Phelps, que desafia a ciência e o senso comum, com sua virada e recuperação pós-prova inexplicáveis. Pela câmera de baixo d’água é possível ver a vitória.

A federação sérvia resolveu protestar do resultado, inconformada com o que o placar anunciava. Michael Phelps é patrocinado pelas empresas que fazem o equipamento de placar eletrônico, o que poderia aumentar possíveis suspeitas. Mas a hipótese era muito improvável, não daria tempo nem havia condições de se forjar algum tipo de resultqaod. Tanto que Cavic reconheceu a derrota e a federação desistiu do protesto. Phelps chegou melhor e encaixou a chegada, enquanto Cavic deslizou e perdeu ali, na unha.

O recorde mundial não caiu, mas com 50”58 Phelps retomou o recorde olímpico e se tornou o maior nadador de todos os tempos. Já era, considerando-se a época em que nada, onde a especialização em cada prova é cada vez maior, algo que existia em escala muito menos na época de Mark Spitz. Phelps vibrou muito e recebeu um abraço de Crocker, que, também por um centésimo, ficou de fora do pódio. Quem levou o bronze foi Andrew Lauterstein, da Austrália, com 51”12.

800 livre feminino – Nova supremacia nas provas de fundo

Recorde mais antigo da natãção mundial, o 800 livre era a última marca do mito Janet Evan a ser batida. Com nomes como Kate Ziegler, Katie Hoff, Rebecca Adlington e Alessia Filippi, todas com tempos muito próximos, a briga prometia ser boa e o recorde balançava pela primeira vez.

Entretanto, surpresas nas eliminatórias deixaram todos de boca aberta. Não só Hoff, que fazia uma competição ruim, como Kate Zigler, que foi a Pequim só para nadar esta prova, ficaram de fora. Foi uma das únicas provas da competição sem americanas na final. Ai Shibata, campeã em 2004, confirmou a má fase e também não classificou. Rebecca Adlington, campeã dos 400 metros, tinha o caminho livre pela frente e era a franca favorita na final.

E o favoritismo se confirmou. Não só Adlington liderou desde os primeiros 50 como virou sempre abaixo do histórico recorde de Evans. Na parcial dos 500, a inglesa passou 5′07, 3 segundos abaixo do recorde. A diferença se manteve e Adlington chegou para 8′14”10, baixando o recorde em 2 segundos e se tornando o novo nome a ser batido nas provas de fundo.

Em 2º, Alessia Filippi da Itália, que igualou seu melhor tempo. Uma bela disputa pelo 3º lugar deixou de fora Camelia Potec, romena que foi campeã olímpica de 200 livre em Atenas e ficou grande parte da prova na segunda colocação. Lotte Friis, da Dinamarca, garantiu o bronze com 8′23”03, apenas 8 centésimos a frente da romena.

50 livre masculino – Cielo é campeão olímpico e encanta o mundo

Em 1992, Fernando Scherer ficou a um mísero centésimo do índice olímpico nos 50 livre. Assistiu, da TV, seu compatriota Gustavo Borges levar a prata nos 100 metros livre. Quatro anos depois, foi a vez dos centésimos atuarem a seu favor depois de empatar em 8º lugar. Scherer disputou e levou a última vaga da final, se classificando para nadar na raia 8. Um dia depois, foi bronze olímpico. Scherer ainda nadou mais duas Olimpíadas, ganhou uma medalha e, no Pan de 2003, foi tri-campeão das Américas nos 50 livre. Na época, não descartava nadar o Pan do Rio, e chegou a nadar os Jogos de Atenas. Mas logo percebeu que o trono brasileiro dos 50 livre não era mais seu. Se retirou da natação sabendo que, mesmo se quisesse, agora seria muito mais difícil ser o melhor do país na prova. Surgia César Augusto Cielo Filho.

Poucos anos depois, Scherer é chamado por Cielo de seu “empresário”, e é o responsável pela profissionalização do atleta. E na manhã de céu azul e limpo, em 15 de agosto de 2008, Scherer ficou orgulhoso de ver que, do trono brasileiro, seu pupilo chegou ao trono do mundo.

A prova tinha a dose de imprevisibilidade intrínseca ao esporte e específica do 50 livre, a prova mais rápida da natação. Cielo bateu o recorde olímpico nas semi-finais, com 21”34, mas nada estava garantido. O recordista mundial Eamon Sullivan estava na raia 7 e vinha com muita vontade após perder o 100 livre para Alain Bernard. O francês, por sua vez, classificou com o segundo tempo e prometia uma disputa com Cielo nas raias centrais. Pela 1, Amaury Leveaux, que conseguiu a segunda vaga francesa tirando da prova Frederick Bousquet, companheiro de treino de Cielo. Stefan Nystrand (Suécia) , Ben Wildman-Tobriner (EUA) , Roland Schoeman (África do Sul) e Ashley Callus (Austrália) completavam a série mais forte já vista nos 50 livre. A diferença do tempo de classificação entre Cielo e o nadador da raia 8 era de apenas 47 centésimos.

Cielo entrou na final fazendo o sinal da cruz. Nervoso, mas tanto quanto os outros sete que o acompanhavam na final. Após serem apresentados, os nadadores mais rápidos do planeta se preparavam em busca da prova perfeita. Uma piscina, só ida, uma respirada, nenhuma talvez. Cielo rangeu os dentes desde a largada e nadou assim a prova inteira. Como que se lembrando e mostrando para a câmera sub-aquática que ninguém queria aquele ouro mais que ele.

A prova foi rápida e Cielo foi perfeito. Saiu bem, liderou, só precisava chegar certo. E chegou, certo e certeiro para o ouro, o primeiro do Brasil em Pequim e o primeiro da natação brasileira em toda sua história. Minutos depois Cielo diria que não há sensação melhor do que ver o número 1 ao lado do seu nome no placar. Ainda na água, expressou o inexpressável levantando as mãos aos céus, batendo na água e chorando, simples assim.

Phelps, o revezamento americano, a dobradinha chinesa, Federica Pellegrini, foram todos momentos incríveis mas ninguém emocionou tanto o público e o mundo inteiro que o assistia como o garoto de 21 anos, que chorou como uma criança ao viver o momento de sua vida. O cubo virou verde-amarelo e, ainda durante a execução do hino brasileiro, o público aplaudiu de pé e agradeceu a sorte de ter comprado o ingresso para o 7º dia da natação, o 7º ouro de Phelps e o 1º ouro de Cielo e de uma nação inteira. Cielo, do alto de seus 1,95m e da grandeza de seu feito, chorava tanto que não era capaz nem de olhar pra frente e encarar o mundo que o louvava de pé.

Os franceses Amaury Leveaux e Alain Bernard, 2º e 3º colocados, sentiram-se honrados de ver tamanha felicidade no campeão do mundo e Bernard consolou Cielo. Por um momento, deve ter ficado em dúvida se sua vitória no 100 livre te dera tamanha satisfação. As lágrimas de Cielo reforçavam que sua vida é a natação.

Na saída do pódio, Cielo desfilou sozinho, jogou a flor para a mãe que, chorando, via seu filho atingir a consagração máxima do esporte. Pegou a bandeira brasileira de um torcedor e fez todas as câmeras de todas as TVs do mundo focarem nele e no tesouro que reluzia em seu peito e seria seu para sempre. Para completar a festa, a delegação brasileira invadiu a área da piscina e foram todos abraçar Cielo, o homem que comseguiu o que ninguém jamais havia conseguido em 88 anos de história. A comemoração foi inédita, as chinesas até se lembravam de que procedimento seguir em caso de invasão, mas não acharam uma resposta cabível em seu manual de instruções para casos de alegria plena e o brilho verde-amarelo ofuscou seus olhos. O mundo era brasileiro. César é brasileiro. O ouro é de César, por algumas horas do dia 15 de agosto, o maior dos brasileiros.

Last night, according to ESPN, Dara Torres won the 50m freestyle heat with ease, finishing at the wall with a time of time of 24.27 – 0.15 better than anyone else.

Swimming is hard enough, especially the 50 meter freestyle. An all-out sprint, the 50m requires explosive power and speed, two traits that are supposed to dwindle over the years.

But Dara Torres is proving that wrong, and she’s catching a lot of attention because of her ability to overcome that inevitable obstacle that we all must face: age.  That, and – of course – guys think she’s hot.

Torres is making history – in more ways than one.

USA Today says,

“Dara Torres is doubling up her duties in her run at history on Sunday.”

This is because, in addition to seeking her 11th Olympic medal in the finals of the 50-meter freestyle, the 41-year-old mom will swim the anchor leg of the women’s 4×100 medley relay about 40 minutes later.

Winning two medals on Sunday would tie Torres with Jenny Thompson at 12 medals (Thompson represented the US in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics). If this happens, two stars would share the title of most decorated U.S. woman swimmer in history. Torres already is the oldest female swimmer in Olympic history.

But one of the greatest impacts Torres is having on our culture is that she is inspiring older women to get fit. Check out this article from The Huffington Post which explains how this is happening and why.

Also last night, Kirsty Coventry from  Zimbabwe grabbed a gold in the 200-meter back stroke, defeating Margaret Hoelzer’s previous world-record time.

In distance, Britain’s Rebecca Adlington clinched the gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle event with a time of 8 minutes, 14.10 seconds, shattering Janet Evans’ 19-year-old world record of 8:16.22. It has been said that Adlington is the “Michael Phelps of Britain”, and is setting a said to be setting a precedent for the next summer games in London.

A couple things I forgot to mention

I never commended the Aussie women for a great performance in the 4X200 free relay. I honestly can say I didn’t see that one coming. Stephanie Rice has to be right up there for best female performer of these games along with Coventry. Plus she’s pretty hot.

Congrats to Jason Lezak for winning his first every individual Olympic medal. Mostly known for his relay prowess, he tied Cesar Cielo for bronze in the 100 free. Props to Mr. Lezak. Mr. Phelps owes you big time if he wins 8 golds.

And yes it was me who said it would take 21.7 to make top 8 in the 50. Two people tied for seventh in 21.76. I am that smart!

Thoughts on last nights/this mornings finals

I’m not going to venture a guess about who win’s the men’s 50 AKA splash-and-dash. I’m amazed that it took 21.76 to make it back. (Not really, that’s what I said it would take!!!!!) That also would have won any Olympics prior to this years….

I thought Rebecca Soni would challenge Leisel Jones but I couldn’t have predicted a world record massacre of the Aussie. Okay, massacre is a bit much, so I’ll just say she crushed her. Another Norwegian breastroker makes the podium when Sara Nordenstam snagged 3rd place, they’re doing something right.

Ryan Lochte, Aaron Peirsol, and Arkady Vyatchanin had a great race and took the top 3 in the mens’ 200 back. Lochte just looked best down the stretch. He finished in WR fashion (who would’ve guessed?)

It looks like Coventry and Margaret Hoelzer will fight for gold in the women’s 200 back, but you gotta cheer for 15 year old Elizabeth Beisel. She looks like she’s having a blast.

What can I say about Michael Phelps that hasn’t already been said, he owned the 200 IM once again. Laszlo Cseh did a hell of a job holding off a hard charging Ryan Lochte for silver. During introductions, when Lochte was sitting behind the blocks he looked dead tired. He looked sluggish on his front half before getting himself back into contention. Mad props for swimming 2 finals in 30 minutes!

Britta Steffan swam an epic 100 freestyle to take gold away from the lucky Libby Trickett. She was the only swimmer who wasn’t sub-26 at the 50. She came home nearly a second faster than the field and ran down Trickett and Natalie Coughlin. Congrats to Coughlin for her 10th Olympic medal. This is getting just a bit overshadowed…..

The 100 fly semi finals made Phelps look near human, most likely because his 200 IM was a 30 minutes prior.  Milorad Cavic, the Cal Bear and Race Club product, will head into the finals as the top seed. He is followed by Phelps and WR holder Ian Crocker, who recovered well from a poor showing in prelims. (51.2 out of lane 1 in the semis ain’t too bad)

Results

On to tonight

I hate to say I’m pulling for a non-American swimmer but the way Kirsty Coventry has been swimming she deserves it. She’s performed better than her 3 silver medals show. Hoelzer should have something to say about that. I think it could take 2:04 high to win and 2:06 to medal. Expect the WR to fall.

Phelps vs. Cavic vs. Crocker. It should take a WR to win. don’t count out Andrii Serdinov who took bronze in Athens. Possible WR to win.

The women’s 800 free is without both Katie Hoff and Kate Ziegler. Rebecca Adlington (GBR) has to be the odds on favorite heading into finals, especially after her come-from-behind victory over Hoff in the 400 a few days ago. The question is whether anyone can take Janet Evan’s world record which is currently the oldest on the books.

I’m not even going to bother calling the winner in the men’s 50 because everyone in this field is capable of winning. Hopefully somebody will go sub-21….but I doubt it.

Look for Cate Campbell to lead the pack into the finals of the women’s 50. Dara Torres will try and hang with the youngster who will swim right next to her.

That is all I have for you. take care

greg

Lunch at Marie Calander’s restaurant – decent food, horrific service. We didn’t get menus til after we got our drinks….

On to more important things.

Katie Hoff is getting ripped for being overambitious with her olympic program. I let Jack Bauerle take this one. He’s spot on. She isn’t Michael Phelps, nobody is. But she is the most versatile and one of the best female swimmers in the US today.

I’m a little stumped on how the US men’s team doesn’t seem to be suffering the same fate as the womens’ team. They look fresher and well rested and the women seem to be nervous.

Thoughts from last night.

Good for Alain Bernard on his title. He was smart not to say he was going to smash Eamon Sullivan, who looked just a bit off in finals.

I may not be a huge fan of Kosuke Kitajima but he is definitely the best breaststroker in the world.

And now tonight’s tomorrow morning finals……..weird

It’s going to take 21.7 or better to make top 8 in the 50. I bet nobody saw this coming.

Can Rebecca Soni topple Lethal Leisel? Probably not but she should challenge.

Peirsol vs. Lochte. 1:54.32 vs 1:54.32. This should be a good race.

Kirsty Coventry looks on the top of her game right now. Look for something around 2:09 mid to make top 8.

Phelps vs. Lochte in the 200 IM. These two are the class of the field and should race for gold and silver. We’ll find out how 30 minutes of rest in between swims affects Lochte who was ill late last week and into early this week. Should also be a hell of a race for bronze.

Libby Trickett is probably the luckiest person in the world right now. My question is how did the announcers not notice right away that Pang false started. It was extremely obvious that she jumped. Shame on you Rowdy, I thought you were smarter than that. Oh wait didn’t you say there was no way the US would beat the french in the 4×100 free relay……. dumbass.

Phelps will warm down from the 2 IM final and ready himself for the 100 fly, which is shaping up to be faster as hell. Top seed Milrad Cavid (SRB) is famous for protesting at European Championships in Eindhoven and he went better than Phelps’ best time already. Make or break time for Phelps’. WR holder Ian Crocker heads into semi finals ranked 13th.

Look for some fast swims. The way records have fallen this week I wouldn’t be surprised to see 3 or 4 fall tonight/morning.

greg

America’s favorite 23-year-old motorboat is the talk of the Olympic Green, at least among the English-speaking. But if you ask my new Chinese friends, they’re likely to break out into the Chinese equivalent of “Scoreboard! Scoreboard!” The locals are racking up the gold medals in everything from weightlifting to sync diving to a clean sweep of team rhythmic gymnastics.

Right now, they sit atop the medal tally with 35 medals, two-thirds of which are gold. Look for the U.S. to change that when track and field starts tomorrow. But for now, just as USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth expected, the Chinese are ‘walking the walk’.

That being said, hasn’t the USA looked great? The swimmers and Coach K’s “Redeem Team” are providing me with more than enough smack talk ammo. The U.S. men’s volleyball team has courageously rebounded from the tragic attack that rocked their coach’s family and the whole team the day after Opening Ceremonies. They started the Olympic tournament with two quick wins. Switching over to the sand, beach volleyball queens Kerry Walsh and Misty May-Treanor beat Norway in straight sets today to advance to the medal round.

The U.S. gymnast team, from right, Kevin Tan, Justin Spring, Jonathan Horton, Joey Hagertey, Raj Bhavsar and Alexander Artemev pose during the medal ceremony (AP)

Penn State fans have extra reason to celebrate. Former Nittany Lion gymnast and current assistant coach Kevin Tan captained the men’s all-around gymnastics team that battled back to win the bronze medal this week. The team rallied emotionally after their two standout teammates, brothers Paul and Morgan Hamm, had to sit out due to injury. Tan contributed on the pommel horse. A medal in Beijing is extra special for Tan, whose family is originally from China.

In the “amazing athletes from unlikely places” category, what a talent swimmer Kirsty Coventry is. She’s from Zimbabwe and she’s by far the most decorated African swimmer in Olympic history. She has three silver medals in Beijing with the 200 Backstroke still to go.

Coventry celebrates a new world record

So how are the Olympics going at your house?

Besides Phelps, what’s the most exciting thing you’ve seen in NBC’s coverage?

Where do you watch the Olympics?

Who do you watch with?

Do you guys have any traditions?
Do you paint for your face?

More importantly, please provide a graphic, sensory-overloaded description of what kind of American food you like to cook? (OK, getting a bit carried away there. I’m starting to miss burgers and hot dogs and salad.)

Why won’t people just commend what Mr. Phelps is going accomplish? I’m sick of everybody trying to poke holes in what he’s doing. So what if he doesn’t play a high profile sport like basketball or football (which nobody outside the US gives two shits about). He’s competes in a sports that takes all elements of sports and combined them into something all ecompassing. I’m not saying that he’s the greatest athlete of all time, but I’m definitely saying he should be talked about in the same breath as Tiger Woods and Lebron James. All 3 dominate at their respective sport. It’s just that there aren’t million dollar TV contracts to broadcast swim meets, unless it’s the Olympics or Olympic trials (Thanks NBC!). Even Kobe and Lebron are intrigued by him; they both stopped by the Watercube to watch him perform. If they are impressed then I see no reason why mortal humans shouldn’t be.

I will say that swimming is by far the hardest sport to train for and I can say that from past experience. I know I wasn’t at this top level but I held my own with some damn good swimmers for 16 years. Some practices were harder than others but everything that you do in swim training has a purpose. Maybe this set isn’t hard but you’re working body position or breathe control. Kicking, sculling, and drilling are all done for a reason.

Not to mention swimmers get maybe 2-3 weeks off per year!! Most other sports outside of swimming and track have the luxury of a few months off per year.

All I’m saying is give the guy some credit. He’s becoming the greatest Olympian ever right in front of our faces and nobody will stop bashing him… That’s cold.

p.s. I wrote this knowing that most of the people who will read this are swimmers…..

Olympic Thoughts

Phelps looked human last night in his 200 fly but only because he couldn’t see out of his goggles. I wish Moss Burmester would have gotten a medal…

Katie Hoff looks tired. Stephanie Rice and Kirsty Coventry do not.

Eamon Sullivan vs. Alain Bernard in the 100 free and terrible first name contest. Go Hoogie!

Kitajima versus the field in the 200 breast. Go Scott Spann.

Women’s 200 fly should be a good one. Schipper the favorite but the local Chinese products are looking for gold in the Watercube.

Women’s 4×200 free relay US are the favorite but the French are capable of the upset. Too bad Laure Manaudou has been terrible thus far.

Phelps has the 2 IM semi, look for him to cruise for a middle lane in finals.

Lochte has the toughest double of the meet, with the 2 IM and 2 back….and he has it on back to back nights….good luck Mr. Lochte.

Thoughts about last nights morning finals….confusing I know…

Michael Phelps looks pretty much unbeatable. Mr. Crocker better have something special saved up to ruin this quest.

Natalie Coughlin got lucky Kirsty Coventry got off to a bit of a slow start because what an impressive charge she put on.

Aaron Peirsol looks like the favorite going into the 200 back, especially since Ryan Lochte looked a tad sluggish during the 400 IM. I definitely won’t count him out though especially if this 4X200 free relay goes as well as it should tonight/tomorrow morning….

Rebecca Soni looks poised for a strong run at silver in the 200 breaststroke. Don’t expect Leisel Jones to lose.

Thoughts about tonights swims

I’m pretty stoked for the men’s 100 free semi finals. I’m not even going to call the winner but I hope to see Pieter Van Den Hoogenband in the finals, just for a run at 3 consecutive golds.

I don’t Frederica Pellegrini pulling a 400 freestyle in the 200 freestye. Look for contention from Katie Hoff and Sara Isakovic.

Men’s 200 fly is going to be a race for silver and bronze. Any of the other swimmers in the heat are capable. I’m pulling for Moss Burmester because a) he’s a kiwi and b) his name is nothing short of awesome.

I don’t know who will make finals in the women’s 200 fly but I expect it to take 2:07 high to 2:08 low to qualify for the show.

The men’s 200 breast could possibly see an all sub 2:10 final…. Kitajima is the odds on favorite but Daniel Gyurta apparently loves this world stage.

2 aussies, 2 yankee and 1 zimbabwean (sp?) will vie for the 200 IM crown with what I can only imagine to be a great race. Look for a 2:09 low to make top 3.

The 800 free relay looks at this point to be a race for 2nd and 3rd. The US is the heavy favorite. Look for Italy, Austalia, Russia, Canada, and Great Britain to fight for the remaining medals. The only question for the Americans is whether to use veteran Klete Keller or the red-hot Ricky Berens who out split Keller by a mere hundreths in the prelims. I’d go with Berens, Keller hasn’t looked that great as of late. The rest of the team is set with Phelps, Vanderkaay, and Ryan Lochte.

There you have it folks, my thoughts about tomorrow mornings/tonight’s finals/semi-finals.

greg

RESULTS

Well, the mark of a good blog is to generate content that eviokes discussion.  And, as I internally predicted with my Alabama comment on Rowdy Gaines (see post below), my esteemed colleague and guest poster — Chris Fowler of ASBN — reacted with indignation.  However, he did posit a good argument that is worth posting below:

I don’t want to detract from your rightful acknowledgement of just how incredible that race was.  It was an excellent surprise that what was supposed to be a good event to watch turned out to be so history-making.  I was going nuts.

 

However, your low-blow remark regarding Mr. Gaines’ homeland deserves calling out.

 

You might be surprised to know that AU has won 12 NCAA Swimming Championships.  12!!!  The Men with 7 of the last 13  NCAAs and 13 of the last 14 SECs, and the women, 5 of the last 7 NCAA and 4 of the last 5 SEC Championships.  It is arguably the most dominant of any sports program of any NCAA institution in recent history, if not all time. 

 

And yes, Rowdy Gaines is an alum.  As are approximately 14 other swimmers in this Olympics, including Kristy Coventry, and 3 on the US team.  All told, some 50 or so past, present and future AU swimmers have or are competing in the Olympics.

 

I’ll grant you that the literal take on Gaines’ comment is ‘huh’?  But c’mon, you gotta recognize that kind of power.  I’ll look for a retraction and a public recognition in the coming days.

Well, I don’t know about ‘retraction’ (more on Rowdy below) but I will give props to Auburn.  Fowler did go on to mention that in the Women’s 100 Back, the Silver and Bronze medalists went to Auburn.  What he did not know is that the Gold went Natalie Coughlin, of UC BERKELEY! and she was the first woman in Olympic history to REPEAT as CHAMPION in this event.

Now on to Gaines and Dan Hicks.  They are horrible.  They talk over each; they yell; they draw early conclusions that are wrong.  Look, I am OK with Rowdy expecting Bernard of France to hold of Lezak; that rundown was unprecedented.  However, in most other races, the two of these bozos spend yelling about something, or talking about a swimmer who is not even leading.  And I cannot even count the times that they say someone is in first at a turn when the flag showing on the screen refers to another swimmer.  But most importantly, this is not radio guys, so

LET THE ACTION SPEAK FOR ITSELF!

(Note to my readers, I will be back at it tonight, watching and analyzing events, followed by text messages to my On Site Correspondent, who failed me last night by being unwilling to fork out $500 to watch swimming.  I told him to do it tonight as Phelps goes twice.  Not a bad correspondent lineup for a site that makes absolutely no money!)

US gold medalist Natalie Coughlin poses after the women’s 100m backstroke swimming final at the National Aquatics Center in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 12, 2008. American Natalie Coughlin defended her Olympic 100 metres backstroke crown with victory in the final at the Beijing Games on Tuesday. MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images.

Gold medalistUS swimmer Natalie Coughlin (C), silver medalist Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry (L) and bronze medal winner US swimmer Margaret Hoelzer stand on the podium of the women’s 100m backstroke swimming medal ceremony at the National Aquatics Center in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 12, 2008. US swimmer Natalie Coughlin defended her Olympic 100 metres backstroke crown with victory in the final at the Beijing Games. The 25-year-old world champion won in a US record time of 58.96 seconds, just 19/100ths of a second outside the world record set by Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry of 58.77 in the the semi-finals. TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images.

BEIJING – AUGUST 12: The United States team with Alexander Artemev, Raj Bhavsar, Joey Hagerty, Jonathan Horton, Justin Spring and Kai Wen Tan celebrate the bronze medal in the men’s team final of the artistic gymnastics event held at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 4 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 12, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The American gold rush in swimming continued this evening as Natalie Coughlin successfully defended her title. Coughlin is the first woman to ever defend her title in the event.

From the Associated Press:

Coughlin finished in 58.96 seconds, briefly going under world-record pace at the 50.

World record-holder Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe earned the silver in 59.19. American Margaret Hoelzer took the bronze in 59.34. Six of the eight finalists swam under 1 minute.

Coughlin earned her second medal of the Beijing Games, having won a silver in the 400 freestyle relay. Coventry was the silver medalist in the 400 individual medley.

Now if only Michael Phelps can win his eight gold medals! Thoughts?

I want to start by saying the Watercube is probably the most gorgeous aquatics facility I have ever seen pictures of! That and the Bird’s Nest next door are architectural masterpieces. Well done Chinese Olympic Committee for building these amazing structures. Now if Missouri State could renovate their P.O.S. facilities….. damn I’m good at cheap shots

Now I have to get something off my chest….. I didn’t watch the first night (morning) of finals! I had better things to do and I don’t regret missing Phelps’ otherworldly 400 IM. Why you might ask? Because I tivo-ed it at my sister’s house. Yes, I have it recorded and will be watching it soon. I feel better for coming clean.

I did watch tomorrow morning’s (tonight’s) coverage live on an hour delay. (WTF NBC?!?!) The level of swimming far exceeds anything that I could have imagined. Normally world records aren’t broken at this meet. They are broken in meets leading up to the meet (trials, etc.). Well that is now myth. Records are being obliterated at near light speed. (See men’s 4×100 free relay if you don’t believe me) This is perfect for swimming worldwide. The fact that it’s not the US versus Australia makes it so much better to watch. I can only see this boosting the sport beyond the realm of comprehension. It will help Speedo’s sales numbers also.

Quick Thoughts

Men’s 200 free

I don’t think Michael Phelps will be challenged. Basson, Vanderkaay, and Park should battle for the rest of the medals.

Women’s 100 back

Kirsty Coventry is swimming lights out and I won’t be surprised to see her win gold. But I can’t count Natalie Coughlin out. Plus she’s hot.

Men’s 100 back

Hayden Stoekel surprised everyone in semis but I still think Aaron Peirsol is the favorite to win, should be a hell of a race. Watch out for 6′8″ Matt Grevers.

Women’s 100 breast

“Lethal” Leisel Jones looks unbeatable. Silver and bronze are anybodies. just not Jessica Hardy’s…..low blow!

greg

Swimming is an Olympic sport. Every four years, it becomes huge, and then disappears into the ether for the next three. Even I, a self-proclaimed fan of swimming, will only write about the sport in an Olympic year. Okay, I my defense I did just start this thing up. It just so happens that this is 2008, and amazing things happen in the sport of swimming in years like these.

I’m going to start with the stroke I know best. Having swum breaststroke all throughout high school and into college, I follow the ins and the outs of all the best breaststrokers in the world, from Mike Barrowman, one of the best of all time in the stroke, to the Kitajima-san/Hansen rivalry. Kosuke Kitajima and Brendan Hansen are two of the best breaststrokers in the world. They have gone back and forth at each other for the last six years or so, snatching away each others’ world records in the 100/200 lengths. I think, overall, Hansen has had the edge over Kitajima in head-to-head matches. However, every four years, Hansen decides to choke away his chance at a gold medal, and that’s where the core of this rivalry comes from. It started at the 2004 Athens Olympics, when Hansen took away Kitajima’s WRs at the Long Beach US Olympic Trials. Kitajima was determined to show him up at the Olympics, and indeed he did, as Kitajima-san won double gold, while Hansen could only muster a silver and a bronze. Yet it was the way Kitajima won that stirred up controversy. Many in the US claimed that Kitajima did a dolphin kick during his underwater pulldown, which would’ve given him an extra push. One by one, disgruntled fans began pulling up examples of Kitajima doing his little kick at all the major meets, and called him a cheat. As a result, FINA actually changed the rules a couple years later, allowing for a single dolphin kick underwater during the pulldown. Hansen would regain the world titles in the years in between at Montreal in 2005 and Melbourne in 2007, but again in 2008, he would choke, swimming poor times. He has especially shown a terrible back end of his race. He fades horribly in the last 35 metres or so; he didn’t even qualify for the 200 breast because of his fading. In the finals this morning for the 100 breast, he again faded in the last 25 metres, although he was just severely outclassed in terms of pure speed, not only by Kitajima, who set a new WR at under 59 seconds, and also by Alexander Dale Oen of Norway, who popped out of nowhere to swm some seriously quick times. I was never a big fan of Brendan Hansen because of his tendency to choke. The last two US swimmers to headline the world in the 100/200 metres breaststroke, Hansen and Moses, are now officially both chokers, and that’s a disappointment, considering the fact that Barrowman was such a great champion, having held the 200 breast WR for so many years before getting it broken by Kitajima in 2002.

On the womens’ side, Kirsty Coventry is having a pretty darn good meet. Now I know where all that 2 million percent inflation is going in Zimbabwe — to help Coventry in the water! She has just been gliding through that pool. Although she only got the silver in the 400 IM, she was stroke for stroke with Stephanie Rice (why does everyone comment on the fact that she’s hot? Yes, it’s true, but get over it, and yes, she broke up with Eamon Sullivan) at the end, losing by not that much, and also going under Hoff’s old WR. Now, Coventry has just taken away the always cute and sweet Natalie Coughlin’s WR in the 100 back. I still have faith in adorable Natalie, but Coventry is really going to make Coughlin’s life difficult. Coventry has just been swimming out of her mind. Plus, Natalie hasn’t been challenged in this way in a while. She’s dominated this event for so long. She’s going to have to WR in the 100 back to win gold. Individually, this is probably Coughlin’s only huge chance at gold, and now it’s in jeopardy. It’s probably her personality that’s making it seem so difficult to see her get the gold — she’s so temperate and nice. But she’s adorable because of it.

Next, Katie Hoff has had a pretty disappointing Olympics so far, but probably not as bad as her vomit-filled Athens experience. Yet, considering she was being pegged by the media as the female ‘Phelps’, she certainly hasn’t delivered. I don’t blame her in the 400 IM. Rice and Coventry just went out scorching quick and held on with mind-blowing finishing speed. Certainly, no one really expected that fast a pace. Hoff was most likely blindsided, and perhaps couldn’t even do that speed. I think her real disappointment was in the 400 free, however. With Federica Pellegrini swimming like crap, and Laure Manadou not mentally into swimming (shafted by the ex –> Pellegrini’s current boyfriend – and those nude photos/video), Hoff should’ve won. Yet, she faded, and let Rebecca Adlington (who swam a huge semifinals race against Pellegrini, closing in on the WR holder before getting out touched) in from behind. She should’ve recognized that Adlington had good closing speed. That’s certain to mess with her head. Hoff might lose to Ziegler in the 800 free as well, although Ziegler has had a crappy Olympics thus far as well.

So far, the Team USA has been a little disappointing, not only the women, but also the men. I expected Lochte to take the silver in the 400 IM, but he faded too much gunning for Phelps. But whatever. I’m actually not a big fan of either guy. Both are annoying as hell. Phelps is especially a douche bag. He’s had his head stuck in his ass ever since the 2003 FINA Championships in Barcelona. There are many more stand-up guys in swimming other than him e.g. Ben Wildman-Tobriner, Cullen Jones, etc. Even Garrett Weber-Gale, who seems borderline retarded when he talks, seems like a swell guy.

Despite the fact that he’s an asshole his personality shortcomings, I will not refute the fact that he is undoubtedly the greatest swimmer of all time. He was built for the water, and he exploits his talents to the fullest. His underwater dolphin is god-like and he just doesn’t run out of energy. Whenever he switches it to another gear, it’s just unbelievable. I do believe that he will win at least seven gold medals here. I just hope Lochte, Crocker, and the others make it interesting for him so more WRs will topple.

Speaking of world records, how about the 4×100m free relay? Wow. That was probably the best swim race I’ve ever witnessed. I’ve been watching swim meets for a while, and that was incredible. Gigantic Frenchman Alain Bernard, with his 47.50s 100m free WR, first talks smack. Then, in the prelims, USA sets the WR at 3:12.23 with their backup sprinters. Not a bad group, but certainly not the best, although they edged out France (with only Amaury Leveaux and Fred Bousquet) for the prime ticket lane 4 spot. Yet, everyone knows the big guns aren’t out yet, and France isn’t scared, because Bousquet just did a 46.6 and Bernard could only be better, right? Everyone thinks France is going to “smash [the Americans].” Then in the final this morning, Eamon Sullivan breaks Bernard’s WR with a 47.24s in the lead off leg, with Phelps not too shabby doing a AR 47.51s (only 0.01 off Bernard’s old mark). With Weber-Gale doing the fastest second leg of all the swimmers at 47.02, Americans take the lead at the 200 metre mark, only to lose it by 250 metres, thanks to Monsieur Bousquet and his 46.63s split, a whole second faster compared to Cullen Jones’ 47.65 split. By the time Jason Lezak gets in the water, he’s over half a body length behind gigantic (have you seen this dude? He’s massive.) Bernard. I’m sure Lezak was panicking like crazy, because in a 100m race, if there’s someone in front of you, all you see is foam. But this is where Jason Lezak, repping SoCal, is at his best. He rides the draft wave of Bernard, and is only a quarter body length behind by the last 35 metres. Mr. “We’re going to smash them.” then gets tired, after having gone the fastest first 50 metres of anyone. As Rowdy Gaines said, he tightens up and slows down significantly. With 15 metres left, Lezak miraculously has hope for a win, and charges like a madman to the finish. When the two touched the wall, I seriously could not tell who touched first. Good thing NBC has those nice overlays that show “1. United States, 2. France, 3. Australia” in nice, big, white letters that contrast well against the blue water. Here comes the ridiculous part: Lezak does a 46.06 anchor leg. Just ludicrous. I didn’t think Lezak had it in him. Despite being a great sprinter, he has never, ever, even been close to that fast. You can’t blame the French too much for choking. Leveaux and Bousquet were pretty much spot on in relay times compared to their prelim times. Fabian Gilot did a very respectable 47.05s. Even Bernard’s 46.73s split, despite the tightening, would’ve been pretty darn amazing, had Lezak not been there, hunting him down like a madman. Even in victory, the Americans were pretty careful about not being too boastful, since I truly believe they respect that French team. Any other meet, the Americans probably would not have been able to pull off that upset.

It was a great race that elevated the sport of swimming, however. The world record was shattered by four (3.99) whole seconds and the top five teams all went under WR pace, with the last three all within 0.64s of the old world record. That’s a whole lot of fast swimming in less than three and a half minutes.

Again, to sum it up:

Mens’ 4×100 Metres Freestyle Relay
1. United States, 3:08.24 (47.51, AR)(47.02)(47.65)(46.06) [World Record], [American Record]
2. France, 3:08.32 (47.91)(47.05)(46.63)(46.73) [European Record]
3. Australia, 3:09.91 (47.24, WR)(47.87)(47.55)(47.25) [Commonwealth Record]
4. Italy, 3:11.48
5. Sweden, 3:11.92
6. Canada, 3:12.26
7. South Africa, 3:12.66
8. Great Britain, 3:12.87

Pardon me for a moment while I say: JASON LEZAK! Good heavens–and good TV.

Monday’s Blue Plate Special: It feels strange to call someone who has held world records and won five Olympic medals an underachiever, but it sure is hard to watch Natalie Coughlin sometimes (such as her opening leg in the 4X100 relay the other night). Will she wrest back the 100m backstroke record that was hers before yesterday, or will Zimbabwe’s remarkable Kirsty Coventry continue to be the best swimmer the US media never paid attention to before the Games? Oh, and that Phelps guy swims for another medal. NBC primetime.

Monday’s Chef’s Special: One of the best things about the Olympics is watching sports you played in PE or your backyard absolutely destroyed by the best athletes in the world. Today you can see Shakespeare the way it was meant to be played when MSNBC shows Olympic badminton. You heard me. That commercial with Brian Urlacher and David Ortiz driving a birdie into an opponent’s leg? Not so impossible, if you’re playing a champion from one of the southeast Asian countries that dominates the sport. Amazing stuff on MSNBC between noon and 1:30 EDT.