Milorad i Saša

Na prvi pogled Sale “Nacionale” Đorđević i Milorad “Nacionale” Čavić imaju zajedničko to što su vrhunski sportisti, ponos Srbije. Ali, od sada imaju još jedan zajednički imenitelj – Ekonomac!

Kragujevački Ekonomac, vicešampion Srbije u malom fudbalu, posle angažovanja Milorada Čavića na mestu golmana, doveo je i Sašu Đorđevića! Svetski prvak u plivanju i svetski prvak u košarci na jednom mestu! Protivnicima bi morale već da se “tresu gaće”.

“Kakve ambicije može da ima klub koji ima takve veličine poput Čavića i Đorđevića? Sve drugo osim prvog mesta bio bi nesupeh”, izjavio je predsednik Ekonomca Veroljub Dugalić”.

Čavić je izrazio nadu da će Ekonomac opet igrati u Ligi šampiona, a Sale Đorđević je izrazio zadovljstvo što je postao deo uspešnog kolektiva. “Kad god mi obaveze budu dozvoljavale, dolaziću u Kragujevac”, rekao je Đorđević.

Izvor

Gay and Bolt set to do battle in Berlin at Worlds. Photo from The Guardian News (UK)

Phelps-Cavic Duel Possible in Later this Year? Photo from AP

Less than two weeks ago, a good portion of savvy-sports fans, flipping around hopelessly before the dog days of summer touched down, tuned in the FINA Swimming World Championships. The big story, other than the rage of the “high tech” suits leading to the demolition of the swimming world record book, was the highly anticipated showdown between 14-time gold medalist and Olympic hero Michael Phelps and the confident, yet more than capable Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic. Later this week, the world will watch as American sprinter Tyson Gay sets up to duel the world-record holder and Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica, who set the track on fire in Beijing. Two sports largely ignored for three years at time, but in the spotlight in a non-Olympic year, are set up and ignited by duels that were set in place almost a year ago by disappointments in Summer Olympics.

We start in the pool. It was less than a year prior that Phelps edged out Cavic at the wall in an epic 100-meter butterfly final in the Olympics which may be the most scintillating finish in Olympic history (not just swimming). After stewing for almost a year and getting another shot at his rival, Cavic, the American born in Los Angeles to Serbian parents and who is often also called “Michael”, starting stirring the pot by stating that he believes, no matter the photos and numerous exhibits of evidence, that he beat Phelps in the classic final at the Water Cube. After seeing Phelps defeated in 200 free and make a big deal about the suit controversey, Cavic continued to talk, calling Phelps’ allegiance to his sponsor Speedo “a complete lie”, and even offered to level the field by letting him borrow or even buy a new suit for their final. In the process, Cavic broke Phelps’ record in the 100 Fly semis for good measure. In the final, we know what happened. Cavic, after exploding out to a great first 50 meters as expected, was reeled in by Phelps in the back 50-meters as was beaten at the wall-yet again. The Foro Italico was packed with spectators anticipating the showdown and even better: NBC broadcast the final LIVE. The two played their roles perfectly: Cavic, the black masked braggadocious villian and Phelps the silent and motivated hero. Don’t think anyone was watching? NBC recorded a 1.4 rating for the FINA Worlds that day, higher than the X-Games, Women’s British Open and U.S. Senior Open. Not bad for a niche sport that people supposedly only care about every four years.

On the track, it was Tyson Gay that was the great American hope heading into the Olympics last year, but Bolt, who had just broken the world record in the 100 that May, was the favorite sporting the gold shoes. After Gay was eliminated in the 100 semis, Bolt devastated the field in the 100 final, breaking his own world record by .03 seconds and that was with him celebrating the last 20 meters. Bolt then completed the feat by doing what was though to be impossible: breaking Michael Johnson’s world record i the 200 set at the ‘96 Olympics by running 19.30. Gay didn’t even compete in the 200, and finshed his disappointing campaign in Beijing as the 2nd half of a fumbled exchange in the prelims of the 4 x 100 relay with Darvis Patton heading into the anchor leg. Jamaica, who had their 3rd leg run by Bolt and anchored by Asafa Powell, broke the 16-year record in the relay set by TEAM USA in Barcelona. Since then, Bolt has rode the wave, still running great times in the meets he’s competed.

However, Gay has responded from his Olympic disappointment, by having a great outdoor season. At the Reebok Grand Prix in June, Gay blew away the field that included college teammate Wallace Spearmon, Jr and Xavier Carter by running a world-best time this year 19.58 in the 200. Just a week ago at the Super Grand Prix in Stockholm, Gay overcame a poor start to overtake Patton and Asafa Powell and win the 100 in a wind-aided 9.79, amazing considering his start was so bad. Gay has already said that he will “shock the world” against Bolt in the field this week despite a groin injury that has hampered his training. The two figure to be the centerpiece of the men’s signature sprint events in Berlin.

After the finish in Rome in the men’s 100 Fly, Cavic didn’t stop talking there. Ever in his quest to stir up the pot, he suggested that he an Phelps race in the 100 fly in a meet in Dubai where he also suggested the world’s top racers come together for a meet to race against each other. Cavic may have sealed the deal with the smartest thing that may have come of his mouth. The entire swimming world and casual observers would love to see Cavic and Phelps race again, and imagine swimmers like Alain Bernard and Fred Bousquet of France, Cesar Cielo of Brazil, Eamon Sullivan of Australia and even Jason Lezak or Nathan Adrian of the U.S. competing in the 50 and 100 free! People love races and a meet where the fastest in the world compete gunning for show and bragging rights would be quite the spectacle. Cavic might have to wait until next year, though. Bob Bowman hinted that he may hold Phelps out of any meets until the FINA ban for the all polyurethane bodysuits goes in effect January 1 of next year. But you’ve got to imagine, if Cavic talks enough, Phelps would be itching to shut him up for the third time.

Meanwhile in the coming week, the IAAF Worlds will be broadcast on Universal Sports and in prime position on NBC this weekend. Granted, track & field WILL NOT compete with Tiger Woods and the PGA Championships for the hearts and minds of sports watchers, but if you want to see 9-20 seconds of mind-boggling speed at its highest level, you want to see the likes of Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay duel on the track in the German capital. Can a Cavic-Phelps match and a meet with the world’s fastest swimmers materialize? For the visibility of the sport, it would be wise for it to happen.

But remember 12 years ago with the debate between Michael Johnson and Donovan Bailey over who was the world’s fastest man? After each broke the world record in the 100 (Bailey) and 200 (Johnson) in the ‘96 Olympics, many were calling Johnson the world’s fastest man, a title usually reserved for the winner of the Olympic men’s 100. Bailey, ever the confident one, challenged Johnson to a 150 meter race to determine the fastest man in the world hands down. Johnson accepted and the two met in the Skydome in the summer of 1997. Bailey started out eating Johnson alive on the curb, then Johnson pulled up lame heading into the straightaway with Bailey in the clear lead. In hindsight, it was a mockery and embarrassment as nothing was clearly proved that day. Already, Bolt and Gay will meet after the worlds to race in Brussels n September 4, possibly in the 100. Both men are competitive and to mirror their counterparts in swimming, Phelps and Cavic, let’s hope the competition is good and not made to be a farce like the travesty in Toronto 12 years ago. Again, spectators love to see speed. Between this weekend and what is possible for swimming and considering the ratings from Beijing last summer, it shouldn’t take a rocket scientist, or a world class racer for that matter to figure that out.

-B. Cox

Michael Phelps compilation from the 13th FINA World Swimming Championships, Roma 2009. The Cavic smackdown, plus incredible underwater video. Check out the full body power and stroke technique. The entire clip is turbocharged by AC/DC from the Razor’s Edge album. Thunderstruck! 23 days to the start of the BOZE 2009/2010 swim season.

Get motivated for the new season with this front-row-seat, italiano reality version of the Michael Phelps vs. Milorad Cavic showdown in the 100 fly at the Roma 2009 FINA World Championships!

Phelps beats Cavic again.  No doubt.  No Beijing-like photo finish.  No polyurethane suit required.  Sets world record.  The first swimmer to break the 50 second barrier.  49.82.

Regarding the suit controversy and the swim-smack head games,  a post-race Phelps emphasized, “It doesn’t matter what suit you wear. It matters how you train.”

ESPN reporter Jim Rome summed up this race classic best.  “Michael Phelps has done the impossible.  He has made us care about swimming, in a year not divisible by four.”  Whoa.  He’s right!

Regarding the race day fire in Phelp’s belly, Rome went on to say, “The dude looked like MJ, Kobe, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, all rolled into one.”

Iconic, and going mainstream. The future of swimming continues to brighten!  Check out the report here — http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4375070.

Preparazione nel peggior italian style. Sembra non si possa far diversamente, da Italia 90 in poi. Abusi, ritardi, scontri di potere, paura. Poi insabbiamenti, rush finale, tutti buoni, belli e bravi, trionfo. Italians do it this way.

(Mentre guardavo il Foro Italico, sempre bello, sempre emozionante, pensavo però al desolato cantiere della Città dello sport di Calatrava: chissà, forse per le Olimpiadi del 20vattelapesca la finiranno.)

Italians like Paolo Barelli and Giovanni Malagò, di cui abbiam dovuto sorbirci tutto lo strabordante ego, compresi conflitti a fuoco coi congiuntivi del primo, la piacioneria sconfinata del secondo. Le botte avrebbero fatto alzare vieppiù l’audience, ma quelle ce l’hanno risparmiate.

Si poteva sospettare che alle mani venissero pure Phelps e Čavić. Invece il serbo l’ha presa bene. Una volta si vince, una si perde. Dite che Phelps ha vinto anche a Pechino? Sì, come Bush su Gore, più o meno.

No, è che Phelps mi sta sui maroni in maniera esplosiva, lui, le sue guardie del corpo, le sue colazioni, la sua impresentabile mamma e la spocchia da gringo in battuta di caccia. Ridateci Ian Thorpe.

Miss Simpatia, invece, sempre da down under, Libby Trickett. Mi mette allegria, non c’è niente da fare. Miss in generale (per non dismettere la fama di guardone), volevo dire la Seppälä, ma poco s’è vista.

S’è vista fino alla nausea la Pellegrini: a un certo punto lo stalking delle telecamere Rai che l’andavano a scovare in qualsiasi recesso del Foro ha raggiunto apici grotteschi.

Altre cose di cui non se ne poteva più: lo stacco serale su via della Conciliazione; l’ennesimo inno baglioniano (indimenticabile la frase “e parte il tempo di un tempo a parte/E parte di quel tempo è per noi”); la pubblicità dei due salarymen che si annaffiano col chewing-gum; i 43 record del mondo (alla fine gli esausti Fioravanti-Sacchi manco li annunciavano) e la telenovela dei costumi gommati (copyright Cristina Chiuso) o semi, che per fortuna l’anno prossimo finirà.

D’altra parte, quando ci si mette, l’ex EIAR le cose le fa bene. Lo spiegamento di forze era notevole, e i risultati si son visti, a parte qualche momento di svacco autocelebratorio verso la fine.

Le mie riprese preferite rimangono ad ogni modo il carrello verticale a seguire i tuffi sott’acqua, che mi ogni volta mi fa felice come un bambino, e l’inquadratura a piombo sulla palla iniziale della pallanuoto, coi riflessi iridescenti del fondo tagliati dai cunei delle nuotate.

Come gli piacciono gli stacchetti di costume ai montatori Rai, e alcuni erano pure carini: però per tutto il tempo mi son chiesto che diavolo c’entrasse Santa Maradona coi mondiali di nuoto.

Fioravanti-Sacchi, si diceva. Una sicurezza, se solo Sandro evocasse un po’ meno spesso il possibile e l’impossibile, e Luca non si credesse ormai definitivamente il Bruce Willis de noantri. Ma come coppia sono la migliore in assoluto tra i telecronisti nostrani.

Alla Caporale ormai chiedono le foto, ma tra gli intervistatori è da segnalare l’avvento di Alessandro Antinelli, simpatico e spigliato, col difetto ogni tanto di mettere in mezzo il calcio dove proprio non lo vorremmo sentire. Mi sfugge il nome della poveraccia messa col microfono a bordo tuffi senza la possibilità di fare neanche una domanda di propria sponte.

Per i tuffi, sempre ottimo Bizzotto, mentre Bertone, la prossima volta che dice assolutamente sì gli lancio una fattura. Nel sincronizzato, al posto di Fioravanti S. è arrivato Enrico Cattaneo, che ha quel tono dandystico che mi diverte un sacco, anche se ogni tanto sbarella (per 2 volte 2 ha annunciato Yesterday di John Lennon!)

Gli stringinaso del sincro sono una delle cose che mi fanno più paura al mondo. Strano che ancora nessuno abbia pensato a un Suspiria a mollo.

Di Mazzocchi, si ricordano soprattutto le continue frecciatine da parte di Fioravanti S. Laddove di Fioravanti D., si ricordano soprattutto certi duetti niente male con Castagnetti, come quello in cui quest’ultimo rievoca gli stratagemmi del sommo ranista per sottrarsi agli allenamenti.

Quanto ad allenatori, si prende atto dell’ascesa di Bane Dinic a novello elargitore di saggezze slave in stile Boskov, mentre quanto a coppie comiche, suggerisco agli autori di sitcom di pensare a una Brembo e il Cagnaccio, protagonisti Emiliano e Max.

Per finire coi telecronisti, Failla era un po’ meno peggio del solito, però all’ennesima volta che spiegava le regole base della pallanuoto veniva da grattarsi. Grazie a dio, complici le precoci eliminazioni di sette-rosa e bello, lui e Postiglione si sono accorti che le infinite finali di cui non frega niente a nessuno sono un’assurdità.

Perle failliane 1: Passiamo la parola ad Annalisa Bartoli, con la sua dolcezza, il suo sorriso, la sua competenza. (forse qui c’era un’autocritica inconscia)

Perle failliane 2: Ratko Rudic, colui che modella gli atleti come Geppetto fece con Pinocchio.

Momenti che ricorderò:
il pianto di Tania Di Mario;
l’imperiale progressione di Alessia sui 1500;
la gara di tiro alla fune commentata da Luca Bindi appena finite le gare;
Tancock che incontrando Di Tora il primo giorno gli dice: “Non ce la faccio più a vederti”. “Ma come”, fa Mirco, “sei appena arrivato.” “E’ un mese che ti vedo in mutande quando esco di casa.”

The story of Michael Phelps might get old after a while for some people, what with the endorsement deals and Saturday Night Live appearances and tabloid scandals.

But when it comes to what happens in the pool, there’s plenty still to be written in what is already the most illustrious story in swimming and Olympic history.

Saturday’s 100 m Butterfly final at the World Championships showed the epitome of what Phelps — as a sports icon — is all about. It was a race that, were it not for the Phelps-mania that swept the country last summer, would have gone largely unnoticed by most of us who don’t spend hours a day combing the sports pages. While it lacked the Olympic stage that Phelps shone so brightly on a year ago, it may have been one of the greatest races you will ever see from him.

The backdrop was straight out of a blockbuster sports movie: a rematch of the Olympic final against Serbian Milorad Cavic, who Phelps touched out by one-hundredth of a second for his seventh gold. Cavic, playing the villain, repeatedly admitted that he still didn’t believe Phelps had actually gotten his fingers on the wall first in Beijing. The American-born Serbian even offered to buy Phelps a new polyurethane suit like his own after Phelps said he would stick with his Speedo suit rather than the newer rubberized suit. And topping it off was Cavic’s performance in the semifinals, where he finished with the top time, 50.01 seconds, and a new world record.

The race more than lived up to its hype. Cavic, as usual, held the lead at the turn after going out in 22.69 seconds (just off the 22.68 he put up in wining in 50 Fly gold earlier in the week). And Phelps, just as he did in the Water Cube, came storming back to touch his rival out, becoming the first man to break 50 seconds in the event with a world record time of 49.82.

The celebration from the usually mild-mannered and unostentatious Phelps was the most telling sign of what this race meant. He had played it low key all week, sticking to the refrain that he would let his performance in the pool do the talking. But after the race, he climbed up onto the lane line and looked into the stands with both hands displaying his supposedly low-tech suit.

While this race will never have the significance of the duel with Cavic in Beijing, it nonetheless serves as a defining highlight in Phelps lore. It’s the storybook situation—somewhat of an underdog, against a hostile opponent, the quiet hero—where the protagonist Phelps had to, just had to win to show everyone he is the infallible superstar.

He did. And once again, we are left in utter amazement.

–Matthew De George ‘10

Michael Phelps did his talk in the pool with a world record 100-meter butterfly. Milorad Cavic had called out Phelps re: his swimsuit. Phelps answered called. This reminds us of when Lefty called out Woods on his inferior equipment. That didn’t work very well either.

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!

To Milorad Cavic:

Did you honestly think that your lame swim suit could keep beating Michael Phelps? Honestly? Michael phelps is like a freakin sailfish in the pool.  You can’t be a smug little jerk and expect to keep getting away with beating M. Phelps in the ocean…No You Can’t Buster…If you want a real test of who is faster in the water why don’t the both of you swim naked.So now that we are both clear that Phelps can beat your little swim suit and doesn’t need to argue over who touched first in the Beijing Olympics…. We can clearly see that Michael Phelps owns. Now, why don’t you try competing against Michael in something where he isn’t in water (see acting), and maybe Michael Phelps will let you win there. Maybe…If you’re lucky. For now just know….Phelps is just faster.

Sincerely Yours,

Daronline

Michael Phelps became the first swimmer ever to break 50 seconds in the 100 meter world butterfly competition by taking down arch rival Milorad Cavic in 49.82 seconds. Cavic broke 50 seconds as well, but his 49.95 was not enough.  Last summer in Beijing Phelps beat Cavic by nine hundredths of a second in a classic finish.  Heading into Rome, Cavic was claiming that he had won that race at Beijing, but photographic evidence clearly proves that Phelps touched the wall first.  Michael Phelps did his talking in the pool today, and Cavic’s best shot wasn’t enough.  Wearing his regular speedo bathing suit, Phelps showed yet again why he is the best in the world.  He shows up for all the big ones, he is the Michael Jordan of swimming, or the Tiger Woods, whatever you want to call him.  Or maybe, he is just Michael Phelps, a guy that I am still convinced is half dolphin.  Phelps is at the top of his game in his respective sport. 

           We are in a great era for sports at this moment.  The steroids in baseball overshadows Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, and Michael Phelps.  How often do you see the best player of all time playing right in front of your eyes?  Who knows if there will ever be players this dominant again?  Over time I am sure there will be some “one of a kind” athletes, but for our generation this is something to cherish.  Michael Phelps joined the elite group after he won 8 olympic gold medals at last summer’s olympics in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz record of 7 at the 1972 olympic games at Munich.  When there is so much negative publicity on athletes these days, at least we see some decency in another American champ staying at the top of the mountain.

Mikeyrolls

     Milorad Cavic should shut up now, and I bet he would. 

     He never stopped talking since his 1/100 second loss to Michael Phelps in the Individual 100-meter Fly at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.  He felt that he touched the wall first coming home into second 50 meters; but so lightly he did that it never activated the high-tech Omega time clock system. The event was proved to be one of the biggest highlights of the Beijing Olympics swimming events for so clearly it showed Cavic’s dominance of this particular event from start to finish.  So just imagine how shocked everyone was when Official Results showed Michael Phelps out-touched Milorad Cavic, much to the delight and celebration of the former’s avid fans and supporters.  Slow-motion replays; both aerial and underwater; would later confirm that it was that half-stroke that Michael Phelps took so quickly that made his dream of an 8 for 8 gold finish at the Olympics materialized.  Michael Phelps surpassed American Mark Spitz’s records of the most number of gold medals in a single Olympics that he set in 1972.  He also became the greatest and the most celebrated Olympian ever for winning the most number of gold medals in his Olympic career.

     Still, Cavic never backed off his belief that he won the event.

     So, at this year’s World Swimming Championship in Rome, Italy; the rivalry between Cavic and Phelps was again resuscitated.  But this time, another dye was cast into the water; not just that one hundredth of a second thingy: the swimsuit controversy.

     With just one day left at the world swimming championship, a total of 39 world records have already been broken and a few more is expected to be surpassed when the event concludes on Sunday, August 2^nd.  

     Many say that the culprit behind the obliteration of a large number of world records in swimming is none other than the new type of swimsuits that most of the swimmers wear at the games.  Many consider it to be doping in the form of a wardrobe.  Innovations in swimsuit technology seemed to have approached perfection with Arena, Jaked and blueseventy leading the way. 

     Milorad Cavic wears X-Glide by Arena, which is said to lend a superior amount of buoyancy, a vital factor in achieving optimum speed in the water.  At the qualifying round for the 100-meter fly final, Cavic swam a remarkable 50.01 seconds, breaking Phelps’s world record of 50.22 seconds set in Beijing.  I would have fretted if I were Michael Phelps.

     Meanwhile, Michael Phelps has been wearing Speedo his whole life.  He is, in fact, a Speedo endorser and has earned millions since he assumed that post.  Although it was reported that Speedo will not preclude Phelps from jumping into the bandwagon, it was his loyalty to the brand that keeps Phelps swimming in Speedo attire.

     It has been reported that Phelps’ coach threatened to pull Phelps out of future competitions if the controversy surrounding the swimsuits is not addressed by the authority in the sports.  Cavic suggested that Phelps should wear one of these so called polyurethane suits.  He even offered to buy Phelps one.   

     Now, Speedo is looked upon as an inferior suit.  Phelps was just not ready to embark onto that thought.  Michael Phelps is Speedo, and Speedo is Michael Phelps.

     So, Milorad Cavic kept on poking the Tiger.  One should never do that.  For once poked, the Tiger will come back with a huge roar.

     And that’s exactly what Michael Phelps did in the penultimate day of the 2009 World Swimming Championship in Rome this year.

     I must admit, I was skeptical that Phelps will vanquish Cavic.  The suits made huge impression at the pool that; somehow; I was one of those who think that maybe it was the suits that were to blame after all.  And since Phelps was swimming in Speedo, and thinking of Cavic breaking the former world record in the semi-final heat, I was beginning to accept that the Serbian will reign superior in the end.

     So at the 100-meter fly final today, Cavic lived exactly to his reputation, attacking the event right after the jump leading Phelps by a half-body length coming home into the second length; a matter Phelps had accurately envisioned when asked about the event the day prior.

     But Phelps is also known for his explosive power at the latter part of the race.  And he did exactly just that.  He chased Cavic like he was chasing for his own life and those powerful kicks coming home justified his legacy in the pool.  Phelps and Cavic both swam the two best times in the history of the 100-meter fly; delivering under 50-second marks; 49.82 and 49.95; respectively.  In the end, Cavic will just have to accept that he only comes behind Phelps in this particular event.

     After the win, Michael Phelps hopped onto the rope that separated him and Cavic, pulled at both sides of his Speedo swimsuit for everyone to see.  He, apparently, was making a statement that winning the game has got nothing to do with the swimsuit that everyone was going crazy talking about.  Rather, it is the combination of immense talent and unwavering spirit that one can achieve greatness.

   So, move on Milorad Cavic!  The 100-meter fly concluded with a bold period.  Phelps has got nothing else to prove.  Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer this Age has ever known.

Beograd / Roma, sabato 1 agosto

In questi giorni l’intero paese si ferma davanti ai teleschermi per seguire le gare dei Mondiali di nuoto da Roma.

Il calcio in Serbia manca all’appello ormai da quasi vent’anni, il basket annaspa dopo gli strepitosi risultati della seconda metà degli anni Novanta (cioè dopo l’embargo) e primi Duemila quando i serbi (insieme ai montenegrini) vinsero Mondiali ed Europei assortiti. Negli ultimi anni, grazie agli ottimi risultati ottenuti dai ventenni Nole Đoković (arrivato ad essere il Numero 3 al mondo), Ana Ivanović e Jelena Janković (entrambe assurte a Numeri 1 mondiali) il tennis è diventato lo “sport nazionale”. Ma recentemente tutti e tre sono hanno un momento di appannamento. È quindi il momento della pallanuoto, in cui i serbi (da soli o insieme ad altri ex jugoslavi) eccellono da sempre, e addirittura del nuoto (una novità).

L’attesa era grande per rivedere all’opera la sfida tra il plurimedagliato statunitense Michael Phelps e il serbenda [serbo nato e cresciuto negli Stati Uniti] Milorad Čavić: i due si erano affrontati alle Olimpiadi di Pechino, quando Čavić aveva perso di un solo centesimo da Phelps nei 100 farfalla (50,59). Anche a Roma Čavić impazza: dopo l’oro nei 50 farfalla, in semifinale dei 100 farfalla batte il record del mondo (50,01), ma nel nuovo duello in finale con Phelps arriva secondo, pur migliorando il suo tempo del giorno precedente (49,95 contro 49,82 di Phelps): argento, ma non poteva fare di più.

Molta emozione in tutto il paese che il giorno prima aveva goduto con la grande sorpresa Nađa Hingl, una timida ventenne di Pančevo che ha vinto l’oro nei 200 rana.

Ma oggi c’è la finale del torneo di pallanuoto. La nazionale è talentuosa ma molto giovane, per questo all’inizio del torneo non c’erano molte speranze di ottenere un risultato eccelso. Ma durante il torneo ha eliminato in successione i padroni di casa dell’Italia, nei quarti l’Ungheria (Campione Olimpica in carica) e in semifinale la Croazia (Campione del Mondo) in semifinale, per ovvie ragioni molto di più di una partita. Ora la finale è contro la Spagna, imbattuta in questo torneo e la Serbia intera è bloccata davanti ai teleschermi. In un’altalena di emozioni i serbi sono in vantaggio, ma sprecano alcune occasioni e si fanno rimontare e superare, poi recuperano sul 6-6. Si va ai supplementari, ancora parità (7-7), poi alla prima serie di rigori ed ancora non si ha un vincitore. Solo ai rigori ad oltranza i serbi trionfano in un mirabolante 14-13 finale.

Vedo l’incontro a casa di Nemanja, altro amico storico, nella sua casa di Rakovica a una quindicina di chilometri dal centro ed ormai l’ennesimo sobborgo della capitale. Subito dopo la conquista del titolo fuori si sentono i festeggiamenti. Ma i primi due botti sembrano delle pistolettate.

Come diceva Dušan, «nuotiamo meglio ora che non abbiamo più il mare», riferendosi alla separazione con il Montenegro.

—

Pazzesco il commento del telecronista della televisione serba (PTC) che dopo il rigore decisivo rimane in silenzio per prendere fiato e poi esplodere:

Milorad Cavic and American giant to battle out for gold in 100m …

It is looking very likely, that there will be a rematch between Serbian Milorad Cavic and Michael Phelps on Saturday, at the world championships. Cavic apparently came very close to beating Michael Phelps in the Beijing Olympics. …

It is looking very likely, that there will be a rematch between Serbian Milorad Cavic and Michael Phelps on Saturday, at the world championships. Cavic apparently came very close to beating Michael Phelps in the Beijing Olympics. …

The tension is mounting ahead of the long-awaited showdown of two of the world&s best butterfly-style swimmers. Milorad Cavic and Michael Phelps will.

SERBIA&s Milorad Cavic will be looking to redeem himself after a touchout loss to Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the men&s 100 fly. Here in Rome, Cavic led qualifying with a 50.56 this morning at the FINA World …

The tension is mounting ahead of the long-awaited showdown of two of the world&s best butterfly-style swimmers. Milorad Cavic and Michael Phelps will.

Milorad Cavic, of Serbia, is a great swimmer. He *ALMOST* beat Michael Phelps in Beijing. Well, apparently he thinks he did beat Phelps, even though everyone in the world who isn’t Milorad Cavic has physical, digital, and photographic evidence to prove he didn’t. Cavic has been trying for months to hype up his popularity.

Recent press reports have Cavic trying to coax Phelps into switching swimwear sponsors, even for one race, from Speedo, a label Phelps has been loyal to from the start, to Arena, Cavic’s sponsor, or Jaked, another top brand.

Why? He seems to be rather insistent that Phelps switch, even offering to buy Phelps a suit. For some reason, Phelps’ choice to remain loyal to a brand which has taken good financial care of him is a problem in Cavic’s eyes? What’s worse, is that Cavic doesn’t see brand loyalty as a virtue. Maybe Arena should stop paying him, then. Since he doesn’t care, and all. Something tells me he’d argue strongly if they called him up and suggested dropping him from further service.

Milorad Cavic has even been so bold as to call Phelps a liar, for saying he has to stick with Speedo. I guess in the mind of someone who has no loyalty, and no ethics, a choice to remain with a trusted business partner would seem like an excuse, or a lie. Unfortunately for Cavic, his public statements may end up costing him in the long run, big time. Not many people like a pusher, and fewer like a loud-mouth braggart who can’t accept reality. Milorad Cavic, you lost in Beijing. Cameras proved it. Both timing devices proved it. High-resolution images proved it. Do you really expect that beating Phelps now will erase your loss in Beijing? It’s like ambushing a boxer in an alley with a crowbar to the back of their head, and then calling yourself “world champion”. It’s cheap, and petty. Also, one of Cavic’s statements does ring true. All swimmers should be wearing the same suit styles. That’s the only way to make a sport fair for everyone. You can’t tell me that every swimwear maker can’t make briefs or a jammer to the same basic specs, if it was a regulation.

If Milorad Cavic were genuinely serious about ‘walking the walk’, why not switch to Speedo? Then both swimmers would be even, at least in the suit department. I’m guessing Cavic loves money, and fears Arena would dump him on his ass if he did.

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!

With regard to the decisions taken by the FINA Executive on June 19, 2009 and made public yesterday concerning the racing swimsuits subject to re-examination under the transitory FINA regulations in force (the “Dubai Charter”), Arena is pleased to learn that the latest version of Powerskin X-Glide has been approved.

As a consequence, 4 styles of Arena Powerskin X-Glide racing suits (man full body long leg, woman full body long leg with zip and open back, man pant) will be made available on time for the forthcoming Swimming World Championships in Rome.

All tests run by some of the best swimmers in the Arena Elite Team (e.g. Alain Bernard and Milorad Cavic), clearly demonstrated that the approved version of Powerskin X-Glide totally maintains its level of performance, whilst being fully compliant with the FINA guidelines.

Although Arena is fully committed to continue its open and loyal cooperation with FINA, which is at present having to deal with the tough task of making sure that the world of swimming is able to overcome the recent turmoil of the last 18 months, we must underline that the decisions released yesterday do not seem to truly aid the cause of full clarity in relation to the racing swimsuit controversy.

On June 18, besides modified prototypes, Arena presented to FINA Swimwear Commission a set of incontrovertible, scientific results (following a quantitative experiment run in cooperation with the University of Bologna – Italy) proving that the original Powerskin X-Glide suit is not generating any air trapping effect.

This is why Arena is surprised and truly disappointed to discover that its request to reconsider the approval of the original version of Powerskin X-Glide was not accepted, whereas – apparently – the same requests were considered differently by FINA when related to other racing suits based on similar technologies.

We also have to remark that requests for modifications made by FINA on May 18 turned into a one month of “freezing” of any manufacturing activities of Arena Powerskin X-Glide. FINA decision becomes even harder to accept while at the same time discovering that not all the concerned manufacturers had to undergo the same modification phase, and that some of them instead have been allowed to keep their suits unmodified, despite formerly deemed as inadmissible.

Based on the above considerations, and with the sole objective of ensuring that all swimwear manufacturers are given a fair chance to operate on an equal footing, Arena confirms that it will ask FINA to provide detailed clarifications on these points within the shortest possible time.

Source: Arena

Libby Trickett and Andrew Lauterstein have completed undefeated tours of Europe in their pet events, stamping their authority on all the local contenders in a perfect lead-up to next month’s world championships in Rome. After the first day of the Paris Open, the two training partners under coach Grant Stoelwinder also led the running for a E20,000 windfall, the prize for the best male and female performance of the meet. But the real bonus as they approach the world titles has been the consistent excellence of their performances in four meets in three countries over little more than two weeks. Both summoned their best efforts yesterday, demonstrating impressive maturity in unseasonably cold conditions at the Paris Racing Club’s outdoor pool. Trickett had hoped to threaten her own world record in the 100m freestyle (52.88sec) but had to content herself with her fastest time of the series (53.20s), after claiming a strong victory over world record-holder Marleen Veldhuis in the 50m final. In April, the Dutchwoman set a world standard of 23.96s, 0.01s faster than Trickett’s best, at her national trials, but she was no match for the Australian yesterday. Trickett had already gained a half-body-length by the time she emerged from her dive and held that advantage to the finish, stopping the clock in 24.21s, with Veldhuis second in (24.69s). She may not lead the world rankings in the 50m, but Trickett has been overwhelmingly dominant this year. She holds seven of the fastest 10 times this year in the 50m, and six of the top seven in the 100m. “It’s been a huge program (of racing), bigger than I have ever had before,” Trickett said. “It’s a very different preparation for me (after leaving her former coach Stephan Widmer last year) but it’s working, we are slowly getting faster. With a bit more freshness I should go faster again. I am already swimming faster than I have ever done before in-season. Both of those times would have won any previous world championship. “I have confidence now that I can swim 53.2s even if I am flat or tired. It makes me very excited about performing at (the) world (titles) when I have some freshness.” Lauterstein has also emerged as a dominant international performer this year after his breakthrough bronze medal in the 100m butterfly at last year’s Olympics. He claimed the 50m and 100m butterfly double yesterday and could not have done more on this tour to establish himself as a world championships contender. He has defeated everyone who stands between him and the gold medal in Rome, with the exception of American Olympic champion Michael Phelps, who he has not raced. But silver medallist Milorad Cavic of Serbia, Spain’s world rankings leader Rafael Munoz, third-ranked Brazilian Gabriel Mangabeira have all been in his wake in the past two weeks. Yesterday, he set a personal best time of 23.27sec to defeat French world short-course record-holder Amaury Leveaux (23.43s) and Cavic (23.47s) in the 50m, but he had hoped to go faster after his teammate Matt Targett broke his Australian record, clocking 23.17s at the Canada Cup in Montreal a day earlier. He returned to set his fastest 100m time of the series, 51.44s, to defeat Mangabeira (52.14s) and Cavic (52.48s). “I’m undefeated in the 100m ‘fly through the tour and that couldn’t be a better confidence builder going into Rome,” he said. “The 50 shows my speed is there and I’m convinced this extended stint in Europe will pay dividends in Rome.” Olympic 100m breaststroke champion Leisel Jones reigned supreme in the 50m and 200m breaststroke despite arriving from the US only a day earlier. Jones clocked a sharp 30.96sec to win the 50m and backed up with a 2min24.21sec in the 200m, where she led home an Australian treble. Tessa Wallace (2m29.29s) and Rebecca Kemp (2m29.69) took the minor placings.

Чавић европским рекордом до злата

На Европском првенству у кратким базенима у Ријеци репрезентативац Србије тријумфовао на 100 м лептир са 49,19 секунди. – Ленђер шести у најбржем европском финалу

Владимир Тодоровић

[објављено: 13/12/2008]

Anastasia , 13/12/2008, 14:46

Čavić je primer onog najboljeg među Srbima. Pametan, uspešan i bez dlake na jeziku.

Zbog svojih rezultata ministarka sporta morala bi da nađe način da Čaviću ova zemlja pruži svetske uslove za treninge, jer Srbija od njega očekuje i prima svetske rezultate.

Kad menadžeri u javnim preduzećima mogu „po zakonu“ da dele astronomske bonuse, mogu se „naći“ bonusi i za Milorada.

A navedeni menadžeri koji ne zaslužuju ni ime da im se pomene (osim u kr.prijavi) od Milorada su udaljeni svetlosne godine kad su u pitanju rezultati i moralni kvaliteti.

A Hrvatska se ponovo pokayala u svom svetlu. Himna “Bože pravde” je svirana na nekom raštimovanom instrumentuntu i napola prekinuta.

Sramota za domaćina.

Извор: Политика а.д. (коментари корисника)

Чавић европским рекордом до злата

На Европском првенству у кратким базенима у Ријеци репрезентативац Србије тријумфовао на 100 м лептир са 49,19 секунди. – Ленђер шести у најбржем европском финалу

Владимир Тодоровић

[објављено: 13/12/2008]

stari doktor , 13/12/2008,

Свака част овоме дивном младићу, који је у ТРИ ствари показао своју моралну вредност

1. иако рођен и одрастао у туђини, нити је заборавио ко је, нити је заборавио свој матерњи језик,

2. са 23 године завршио је факултетске студије и

3. паралелно са интелектуалним усавршавањем успео је да се и као спортиста уздигне до олимпијских висина.

Браво, златни младићу, а ви, политички пигмејци, ИСПУНИТЕ СВОЈА ОБЕЋАЊА И ХИТНО МУ ДАЈТЕ СТАН У БЕОГРАДУ; да му ту буде дом у који се враћа после победа.

Зар вас није срамота, дозвољавате лоповима у државним јавним предузећима да грабе милионе, а нисте у стању да овога сјајног младића наградите ценом полугодишње (можда и мање) дрп-плате неке лоповске битанге на месту директора?

Извор: Политика а.д. (коментари корисника)