the17thman

Saturday's Swim Report - Setting Targets & Aiming For Gold

Lane 1 - Daily Telegraph posts "James Magnussen has Michael Phelps on his radar.  JAMES Magnussen can already see him: Michael Phelps, standing on the blocks next to him, both leading off for their respective nations in pursuit of 4x100m freestyle relay gold in London."

Lane 2 - The Canberra Times posts "Rocket seeking missile.  HIS SWIM times say it even if he's not prepared to yet – James 'The Rocket' Roberts is gunning for James 'The Missile' Magnussen in what shapes as an historic Australian medal shoot-out in the 100 metres freestyle at the London Olympics.  Having blown AIS coaches away with his raw power as an unheralded teenager, Roberts has slashed almost three seconds off his 100m time since coming to Canberra to train two years ago."

Lane 3 - M Go Blue posts "Five Questions: Mike Bottom.  Michigan men's swimming head coach Mike Bottom will accompany a large contingent of former and current Wolverines to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, scheduled for June 25-July 2 in Omaha, Neb. A veteran coach of international swimming, Bottom has coached at each of the last four Olympic Games, and from the 1996-2004 Olympiads, he guided his athletes to nine of the 18 medals awarded in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events. In the 2012 London Games, Bottom will serve as the head coach of the Serbian Olympic team."

Lane 4 - Times Union posts "Ervin, swimming's mystery man, returns to the pool.  Anthony Ervin has never been one to swim with the flow.  A dozen years ago, while still just a teenager, he seemingly came out of nowhere to make the U.S. Olympic team, then topped that by winning gold and silver medals at the Sydney Games. He had the world in his grasp, a dashing young star who was more at home in the pool than he was on land.  At age 22, he walked away from the sport, dropping out of the limelight for eight long years to search for a deeper purpose to life. He sold his Olympic gold to aid victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, lost his silver medal during his various travels, and became a huge enigma to those who wondered how someone with so much talent, so much promise, could give it all up."

Lane 5 - Herald Sun posts "Curry speaks up for D'Arcy.  CONTROVERSIAL swimmer Nick D'Arcy has a supporter in Lisa Curry. Despite his much-talked-about assault of swimmer Simon Cowley and his bankruptcy declaration after being sued by the swimmer, Curry believes we all now should be getting behind D'Arcy leading into the London Olympics.  "Nick is a good kid and he always has been a good kid," she said.  "He's a guy who made a mistake and he had to pay for it.  "For some reason all the criticism is still going on and on and on, but I just think it should be left alone now.  "He's made a mistake and he's done his time."

Lane 6 - NBC Miami posts (w/video) "Ryan Lochte Says No Matter Who Wins In London, He'll Be Friends With Michael Phelps.  Ryan Lochte has changed his diet in the lead-up to the games.  Former Gator, Ryan Lochte may be one of this Summer Olympics' biggest stars…Lochte, who is half Cuban, swam in Phelps's shadow in Athens and Beijing but in 2012, he's primed for a breakout."

Lane 7 - Gay Games Blog posts "Video portrait of Gay Games Ambassador Bruce Hayes.  A video profile of Gay Games Ambassador Bruce Hayes, featuring friend of the Gay Games Jack Mackenroth"

Lane 8 - The Westside Gazette posts "ISHOF honors Swimmers of African decent.  In celebration of the accomplishments that swimmers of African descent have made in the sport and other water related activities, The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) chose several venues to celebrate these accomplishments during last week.  People of African decent have shown their athletic greatness in the world of sports, but there comes lately questions to their abilities to swim."

Early registration for Gay Games 9 now open!

COUNT ME IN!

Early registration has arrived!

Get your foot in the door and register for Gay Games 9 Cleveland+Akron.

Note that currently only the base registration is open. Registration for specific sport and cultural events will be phased in progressively over the coming weeks, starting with Aquatics. You can always come back to complete your sport or culture registration, so don't wait to register at gaymes.info/gg9register !

Thursday's Swim Report - Taking The Pool Party To The Streets

Lane 1 - nine/msn posts "Aussie Olympians to get recovery boost.  Australian athletes are set to reap the benefits of a bigger and better recovery centre for the London Olympics, with hopes it can bridge the all-important gap between silver and gold or making the podium at all."

Lane 2 - Evening Standard posts "Power is my secret weapon for London 2012 Olympics glory, says Fran Halsall.  Swimmer shatters perceptions of the stereotypical athlete but has the talent to be Britain’s golden girl of the Games."

Lane 3 - sport24 posts "Road to London: Chad le Clos.  In the eighth in a series of Q 'n A style interviews with South African sportsmen and women ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Graeme Joffe chats to SA swimming sensation, Chad le Clos."

Lane 4 - Houston News posts "Cancer survivor, Olympic athlete featured speaker at CanCare lunch.  At 24 years old, Eric Shanteau was feeling a bit like Superman.  A swimmer with Olympic aspirations, he was in the best shape of his life and feeling the competitive edge as he faced the 2008 Olympic trials.  Then a six-letter word nearly stopped him in his tracks.  On June 19, 2008, Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer."

Lane 5 - SI posts "Phelps discusses early retirement, training, London Games and more."

Lane 6 - Gay Star News posts "Soho Speedo splash!  Our reporter dons a pair of Speedos and hits the streets of London’s Soho – all for a good cause...This summer my swimming club, Out To Swim, is holding a pool party at the Brockwell Park Lido in South London.  As with any community-based organisation, getting the budget right on something like this is essential – not only do we need to sell enough tickets to cover the costs of the event, but we’re raising money (to provide dedicated swimming lessons for people living with HIV and AIDS), so we also need to sell enough tickets to make it worthwhile."  More info at http://www.eventelephant.com/OTSsummerpoolparty2012 .  The Gay Games Blog posts "London Orcas brave the cold streets of Soho to promote coming pool party.  A message from Gareth Johnson from the Out to Swim London swim club:  Well that was an interesting experience!  As part of our PR drive for the Out To Swim Pool Party 2012, our social rep Ming organised a Soho Speedo Splash!  It was the Sunday evening of the May Bank Holiday weekend, and at 19:00 a hardy group of eight OTS-ers assembled at Rupert Street. In the squad were Ming, Ian E, Gareth W, Andrejus L, Tommy T, Stephen L, Tristan G (our official photographer) and myself. It wasn't really until we were all there that it kind of hit me that it was only Ming and myself who had agreed to strip down to speedos, everyone else was keeping their OTS t-shirts (and jeans) safely on…"

Lane 7 - WTSP posts "SHARK ATTACK: German tourist Karin Ulrike Stei in hospital after Vero Beach attack.  German tourist was bitten by a shark at Humiston Beach.  Vero Beach Police report it happened near at 3000 Ocean Drive. Police identified the victim as Karin Ulrike Stei, 47, of Konstanz, Germany. Her bite wounds go from her thigh to below her knee -- eyewitnesses say the shark attack severed her femoral artery and removed a large portion of her upper thigh."

Lane 8 - SI posts "American Olympic hopeful Jessica Hardy is peerless in the pool."

Out To Swim Celebrates 20 Years

On the 25th February 2012 Out To Swim celebrated its 20th year of activity with a gala ball and dinner at the Russel Hotel. The video that was shown at the event is now available for viewing.

It is a celebration of what OTS is, what it stands for, and how it can and has changed people's lives. A great way of celebrating the 20 years of this amazing organization and all of the people that are a part of it.

For more information go to outtoswim.org

Team DC Fashion Show & Model Search

Metro Weekly "Team DC Fashion Show & Model Search.  In our 50th episode of Outspoken, Ebone Bell goes backstage at the Team DC Fashion Show and Model Search at Town Danceboutique on Saturday, March 10, to talk to some of the budding models."

Wednesday's Swim Report - Word Of The Day Is "Aquagenic"

Lane 1 - Express posts "WIN A WATER WORKOUT AT THE LONDON 2012 AQUATIC POOL.  Speedo is offering the chance for you to win 1 of 5 pairs of tickets to Karen Pickering swim fitness class, in the amazing new London aquatics pool.  She will show you how to improve your swim, through the use of different training aids and techniques, which will leave you feeling like you’ve had a full body workout. (Usual terms and conditions apply)"

Lane 2 - NY Times posts "At 40, Former Olympic Champion Returns With a Different Focus.  hortly after Janet Evans disappeared into the bathroom, her 5-year-old daughter, Sydney, knocked on the door and said, “Can I come in, Mama?” Evans, a five-time Olympic medalist who has returned to competitive swimming at 40, was trying to provide a urine sample for a doping test while a woman sent by the United States Anti-Doping Agency watched.  “Mommy,” Sydney said, “What are you doing in there?”  How to explain to a preschooler that Mommy is swimming so fast, she has to go to the bathroom to prove she is not cheating?"

Lane 3 - Columbia Spectator posts "For CU athletics, tolerance begins poolside.  While things are still not perfect, but the Columbia men's swimming and diving team has made great progress in creating a confortable environment for its LGBT athletes.  Whether it’s at an initiation tradition, an annual midnight practice before the season starts, or shouting routine chants, the Columbia men’s swimming and diving team is closely knit. Perhaps this chemistry accounts for the welcoming environment found by team’s openly gay athletes."

Lane 4 - Emirates 24/7 posts "Bizarre: Allergic to water, woman cannot kiss fiancé.  Even a drop of saliva can make her break out into itchy hives.  A woman in UK suffers from a rare medical condition that makes her allergic to water. In fact, her disorder is so pronounced that even a drop of saliva can make her break out into angry and itchy hives.  This disorder makes it very difficult for her to even receive a kiss from her fiancé, reports Asia One.  Anyone who suffers from Aquagenic urthicaria cannot swim, enjoy long relaxing baths, get caught in the rain, play sports or enjoy cold drinks, said the website."

Lane 5 - SI posts "Tony Azevedo could be first water polo player in four Olympic Games.  Four must be a lucky number for thirty-year-old Tony Azevedo, because the captain of the U.S. national water polo team, is about to make history with it again. After becoming the first-ever water polo player to win the prestigious Peter J. Cutino award (the Heisman Trophy of collegiate water polo) four consecutive years, Azevedo may become the first-ever water polo player to compete in four consecutive Olympic Games. SI.com catches up with the water polo prodigy ahead of the 2012 Olympics."

Lane 6 - Easier Travel posts "Swim with the crocs Ben Fogle style in Australia's Northern Territory.  This Sunday (26th February 2012) sees the second episode of 'Swimming with Crocodiles' on BBC2 when Ben Fogle will be heading to Australia's Northern Territory for some more jaw and claw croc adventures. During the programme the team will offer viewers a greater insight into the the subaquatic behaviour of these fasinating reptiles.  You too , like Ben Fogle could have the opportunity to "swim with crocs" in the Northern Territory's capital city of  Darwin."

Lane 7 - The HuffPo has "Florida: It's Time to Do More to Protect Sharks. Floridians depend on the ocean. And we understand. It's in your blood. But we cannot keep taking without giving back. Suffering from overfishing, pollution and climate change, the oceans are in trouble and they need our help. One species that has been hit hardest by these devastating issues, especially off the coast of Florida, is sharks. Although sharks have been on this planet for more than 400 million years, their numbers are now plummeting, and the consequences are yet to be fully understood."

Lane 8 - Gay Games Blog posts "Why won't you be seeing any male synchronized swimmers in London this summer? As we reported  French daily paper Métro devoted a long article on the refusal of FINA to accept male swimmers in international synchronized swimming competitions. Here is a summary of the article which focuses on Paris Aquatique, a member club of FGG member organizations FSGL and IGLA:  There is only one male synchronized swimming team in France, that of Paris Aquatique. They can compete in French national competitions, but are barred from international events, including the Olympics."  They also post two follow-ups HERE and HERE.

Mark The Date: August 13-18, 2013 IGLA

check out the IGLA 2013 Facebook Page

Wednesday's Swim Report: Australia Arm Themselves With A Missle & A Thorpedo

Lane 1 - Canada.com posts "Mark Tewksbury will be there for Canada.  'Whatever is needed in the moment, you do'.  To help prepare for his role as Canada's chef de mission for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Mark Tewksbury shadowed the man who held the same job at the Pan American Games last October in Mexico, where food poisoning, a hurricane and security were among the chief concerns facing Canadian athletes."

Lane 2 - South Florida Gay News posts "Hammerhead Aquatics Annual Fundraiser.  Hammerhead Aquatics is hosting the Fabulous Dixie Longate's Tupperware Party on Saturday evening Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living 26th and 15th Ave in Wilton Manors.  The team plans on going to Iceland for the IGLA (International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics) World Championship swim meet this year.  www.HammerheadAquatics.com."

Lane 3 - Adelaide Now posts "Missile sets course for Adelaide.  AUSTRALIA'S only 100m men's freestyle world champion James Magnussen will race in Adelaide this month.  The 20-year-old nicknamed "The Missile" is a confirmed starter for the January 27-29 State Championships at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre at Marion.  Magnussen became Australian swimming's big fish last July when he won two gold and one silver medal at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai.  As well as his 100m freestyle triumph, Magnussen helped Australia's 4x100m freestyle relay team to gold by clocking the fastest ever 100m freestyle time in a textile suit (47.49)."

Lane 4 - California Apparel News posts "Where Fashion Meets Fit.  Swimwear Anywhere has built a reputation for fashion-forward and fit finesse across its broad mix of brands.  With more than 250 employees worldwide, Swimwear Anywhere is the largest privately held swimwear manufacturer in North America.  The New York–based company has been run by the husband and wife team of Joe and Rosemarie DiLorenzo for 19 years and produces swimwear lines Roxanne, Beach House, Coco Reef, Coco Rave and Gabar in addition to holding the swimwear licenses for DKNY, Juicy Couture, Juicy Beach Baby, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, MICHAEL by Michael Kors, Carmen Marc Valvo, Tommy Hilfiger and Vince Camuto. The DiLorenzos are also co-founders and owners of TYR Sport in Huntington Beach, Calif. Waterwear’s Deidre Crawford spoke with Rosemarie DiLorenzo, who serves as chief creative officer for the longtime swimwear manufacturer, to find out about Coco Contours, the company’s latest swimwear line; its new collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger; and how the company has found success in the swimwear industry for so many years."

Lane 5 - The Sydney Morning Herald posts "Truce between Thorpe and Klim is now water under the bridge.  IT HAS been six years since Ian Thorpe and Michael Klim last went head-to-head in a competitive 100m freestyle race.  Tomorrow they will do so again, Thorpe and Klim returning to the same Melbourne venue for the Victorian state titles, one of the final chances the returning pool legends have to fine-tune their preparations to make the London Olympic Games."  Also from The Sydney Morning Herald comes "Thorpe back training at the AIS.  an Thorpe's comeback is starting to look familiar, the Olympic great training this week at the AIS for the first time since his retirement six years ago.  He'll take his next familiar step on his return to swimming at the Victorian state titles starting on Friday, his first competitive swim in Australia since February, 2006."

Lane 6 - WSJ posts "Swimming's Rich Little Poor Girl.  16-Year-Old Forfeits Prize Money to Keep Amateur Status Afloat; '$73,000 in Four Days'.  Missy Franklin has a money problem. People keep offering her a lot of it—and she keeps saying no.  No to more than $130,000 in potential winnings and counting. No to several endorsement offers. No to agents, would-be sponsors and life-changing opportunities for her and her family."

Lane 7 - The Sun Sentinel posts "Rosie O'Donnell vs. the hammerhead.  TV personality criticized for participating in shark killing.  Rosie O'Donnell and her family caught huge hammerhead sharks in fishing trips off the South Florida coast.  Now the TV personality is catching abuse from environmentalists, irate at the killing of ocean predators that are considered overfished around the globe. Florida banned killing them Jan. 1, long after O'Donnell's fishing trips.  Mark "The Shark" Quartiano, the famous Miami Beach shark fishermen who guided the expeditions, recently posted a photo of O'Donnell next to a dead hammerhead on his web site as "This Month's Celebrity Angler." Since then, as other photos of O'Donnell shark-killing expeditions surfaced, environmentalists have attacked her via Facebook and Twitter accounts, accusing her of going after species that are struggling to survive."

Lane 8 - The Ledger posts "Rowdy Gaines Pool in Winter Haven to Close for Repairs.  The Rowdy Gaines pool in Winter Haven will be closed for two to four weeks for repairs starting today, Winter Haven city officials said Tuesday."

Sunday's Swim Report - Look, Listen, Swim, 2012

Lane 1 - pr.com posts "Author Chris Ayriss is Launching: "Look, Listen, Swim, 2012" to Celebrate 100 Years of English Swimming History.  Chris Ayriss, author of: Hung Out to Dry Swimming and British Culture, is launching a project to celebrate 100 years of English swimming history and to promote active involvement in the sport of wild swimming."

Lane 2 - The Guardian posts "The London 2012 Olympic Games unticketed-event planner.  There are plenty of free events across five different sports where you can get close to some of the world's top athletes.  Open water swimming - Thu 9 Aug 12pm-3pm, women &Fri 10 Aug 12pm-3pm, men.  Another Hyde Park spectacular, with a paid area around the VIP plastic pavilion at the lake's north shore and a large mill-about area on the south bank on which weary Knightsbridge shoppers can take a break and instead enjoy the spectacle of a row of heads bobbing around the lake in slipstream formation and being menaced by geese for 40 minutes before exploding into a last-lap sprint finish."

Lane 3 - Wales Online has "Swimming: Ieuan Lloyd out to emulate David Davies.  RISING Penarth swimming star Ieuan Lloyd is looking to emulate the achievements of Cardiff clubmate David Davies by becoming a teenage Olympian.  Lloyd, who will not be 19 until next July, has enjoyed a stellar year in the junior ranks and is now targeting a place at London 2012."

Lane 4 - The Sydney Morning Herald posts "Quietly confident Thorpe believes he has the goods.  The majority doubt him, logic says it can't be done, yet Thorpe himself believes, and that should not be under-estimated.  With the arrival yesterday of the Olympic year, the constant chatter about Thorpe will grow louder. Ever since he announced in February he was making a comeback and targeting an Olympic berth, whether or not he can make it has become the most frequently asked question in sport. With 3½ months before we get the definitive answer, the speculation will continue, and it seems everyone has an opinion."

Lane 5 - Boston.com posts "Hundreds join L Street Brownies in annual New Year’s Day polar bear plunge.  They wore bikinis and boxer shorts, Santa caps and sparking New Years hats. They were lured by a mild New Year’s morning to the shores of Dorchester Bay. But when the hundreds of swimmers in this year’s Polar Bear Plunge hit the water, they shrieked an icy truth, almost in unison."

Lane 6 - Tampa Bay Online posts "Fundraiser gets SEAL of approval.  ST. PETE BEACH --  As children squealed in delight over newfound sea treasures and couples strolled along the beach, Jim Collins emerged from the Gulf of Mexico and caught his breath.  Unlike most of the people enjoying an unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon, Collins was not here to sightsee or lollygag in the gentle surf.  A retired Navy SEAL lieutenant commander, Collins, 48, was one of about two dozen swimmers training for next week's Tampa Bay Frogman Swim, a 5-kilometer open-water competition to raise money for the Navy SEAL Foundation."

Lane 7 - NTDTV posts (w/video) "Orca Attacks Sharks on New Zealand Beach.  People in New Zealand's South Island witnessed a natural event not often seen, when an orca attacked a group of sharks on a beach at the town of Tuatapera."

Lane 8 - The Bay Area Reporter "Gay Games leader resigns from planning group.  A Gay Games leader has resigned from a planning group working on the 10th global LGBT multi-sport competition set to take place in 2018.  Stevens told the Bay Area Reporter in an interview today (Friday, December 30) that his decision to step down from the working group was largely due to the proposed agreement calling for LGBT athletes who are voting members to meet in 2013 at the Outgames hosted by Antwerp, Belgium and vote on the 2018 host city.  Doing so would break with the Gay Games' tradition of selecting the host of the quadrennial event, which would be called Gay Games - Outgames Together 2018, in the city hosting the previous Gay Games. The next event is set to take place in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014.  Picking the host city in Europe would be disastrous for the Cleveland games, argues Stevens. Not only would it diminish media attention for the next Gay Games, it would also reduce participation, said Stevens. North American athletes would be forced to attend the 2013 Outgames in order to vote on the 2018 host city, a financial cost that could make it unaffordable for them to then attend the 2014 Gay Games event, said Stevens."

Monday's Swim Report - Mystery Solved: How Sonic The Hedgehog Can Swim

Lane 1 - Daily Mail posts "Taking a dip: Prince Albert of Monaco swims in Mediterranean (but that's nothing compared to Siberian swimmer who wears only Speedos as temperatures plummet to -20C)  His wife is a former Olympic swimmer who competed at the Sydney Games.  And it appears Charlene, Princess of Monaco's, enthusiasm for the sport has rubbed off on her husband Prince Albert."

Lane 2 - Herald Sun posts "Swim star Stephanie Rice forced to delay return to training.  TRIPLE Olympic champion Stephanie Rice has had a setback in her recovery from shoulder surgery with an infection forcing a delay in her return to training.  Rice's doctor ordered her to avoid training on Monday after she developed the infection following last week's arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn tendon in her right shoulder."

Lane 3 - Swimming Santa  via youtube

Lane 4 - Gay Games Blog has "Congratulations to Team Auckland Masters Swimmers on their 20th anniversary! ongratulations to our friends from IGLA member club Team Auckland Masters Swimming, whose history is recounted in this story from GayExpress.co.nz:  Team Auckland Masters Swimmers – one of New Zealand’s longest-running GLBT community groups – is turning the big 2 – 0 in January; that’s 20 years of swimming cozzies, chocolate fish and overseas trips!"

Lane 5 - NZ Herald posts "Swimming performance hub set for capital.  Swimming New Zealand will establish its first regional high performance hub in Wellington next month.  The Regional High Performance Unit would complement the National High Performance Centre at the Millennium Institute, Swimming New Zealand said today."

Lane 6 - Siliconera answers the question of the century "How Sonic Can Swim In The Mario And Sonic Olympic Games.  When Nintendo and Sega began work on Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games​, both were tasked with supervising the depiction of their own characters in the game. Nintendo would keep an eye on how the game depicted Mario and crew, and Sega kept an eye on Sonic and friends. This naturally led to some differences in opinion, regarding what was and wasn’t acceptable within the game.  One of these topics was with regard to swimming. Not only did Sega ponder the subject of whether or not characters like Peach and Mario should have to wear swimwear, Nintendo themselves rejected the early costume designs for Peach and Daisy. Meanwhile, the supervisor in charge of the Sonic brand at Sega wouldn’t budge from the fact that Sonic isn’t supposed to be able to swim at all, let alone take part in an Olympic swimming event."

Lane 7 - USA Today "Brendan Hansen is beating his rivals, feeling less pressure.  Brendan Hansen left competitive swimming so he could do all the things he'd put on the backburner, like getting married.  His wife, Martha, a sixth-grade math teacher, quickly put two and two together when she saw the two-time Olympic breaststroker in the pool without any real purpose."

Lane 8 - The Huddesrsfield Daily posts "Rebecca Adlington says Huddersfield Sports Centre has vital role to play in unearthing Britain’s next international talent."