the17thman

Sunday's Swim Report - The Magnificent Swimnificent Forties

Lane 1 - ESPN posts "Janet Evans embracing the comeback whirlwind.  Janet Evans walks out to greet her second interviewer of the day with her face still made up and television-ready. A CNN crew has just vacated her living room after filming a segment on women's health, set up by her corporate sponsors at Procter & Gamble; bagels and coffee procured for the shoot sit on the kitchen island…"

Lane 2 - The OC Register posts "West cheating Father Time to make Olympics.  Steve West's legs whip together on each powerful, underwater kick. His hands knife forward through the water's surface as he speeds toward the conclusion of another mid-day training session.  The Huntington Beach resident doesn't swim like a longshot for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in June. But admittedly, he is.  Last summer at age 39, the former Huntington Beach High and University of Michigan breaststroker became the oldest American male to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials, according to Swimming World.  Now almost a year later, West could break his own record this weekend at a star-studded TYR Fran Crippen Memorial Swim Meet of Champions."

Lane 3 - Florida Today posts "Trio excel in pool at Masters.  At 58, Pat Sargeant is a lifelong swimmer who holds an armful of age group records. Mo Hughes, who is the same age as Sargeant, was a standout swimmer who became one of the area’s most respected coaches. J.C. Mejia, who is 25 years old, never swam a competitive stroke until two and a half years ago.  Each was a multiple-event winner at the 2012 National YMCA Masters Championship April 12 to 15 at the Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatic Complex in Fort Lauderdale."

Lane 4 - Engadget posts "Polaris' pool-cleaning robots get updated with added intelligence, four-wheel drive.  That includes the company's most advanced robot to date, the $1499 Polaris 9400 Sport (pictured), which adds four-wheel drive for the first time, as well as the company's new accelerometer-enhanced ActivMotion Sensor technology -- something Polaris says allows the robot to continually sense where it is in the pool and optimize its cleaning action accordingly."  We so needed this morning to pick up all the duck poop in the pool!

Lane 5 - The Australian posts "Magnussen swims under the radar.  NO ONE should worry that James Magnussen will suffer the same fate as Stephen Holland when the world champion makes his bid for Olympic gold, according to former long-time coach of the "Superfish", Laurie Lawrence.  Lawrence mentored Holland to 12 world records in three years in the 1500m freestyle.  Like Magnussen, Holland was the reigning world champion heading into the 1976 Montreal Olympics. He was viewed as a certainty to win gold. But after leading for two-thirds of the race he was overhauled by Americans Brian Goodell and Bobby Hackett. Holland took bronze, with all three swimming under the Australian's old world record."

Lane 6 - Sportlive posts "Magnificent seven is Le Clos' Games goal.  NEW star Chad Le Clos is looking to do a Mark Spitz at the London Olympics by competing in seven events - a first for an SA swimmer.  Le Clos, 20, wants to enter four individual races as well as the 4x200m freestyle relay and the butterfly leg of the 4x100m medley relay."

Lane 7 - The Gainesville Sun posts "Gators will be well-represented at London Games.    Florida swimming coach Gregg Troy was surprised to learn the 2012 Olympics in London will start in 100 days.  “We've got a lot of different targets,” Troy said. “The Olympic Trials for the Americans and then we've got a few foreigners that are getting ready for the Olympics."

Lane 8 - WSJ posts "Getting Ready for the Social Media Olympics.  Pegged to the 100-day countdown to this summer’s Olympics in London, the International Olympic Committee Wednesday rolled out a hub pulling in Facebook messages and Twitter posts of Olympic athletes.  The Olympic Athletes’ Hub collects in a single directory the existing Facebook and Twitter profiles from athletes including tennis player Rafael Nadal and New Zealand rower Juliette Haigh, who posted a message Wednesday on Twitter and Facebook: “#100daystogo until London 2012.” The more athletes a person “follows, the more points he collects towards winning prizes and unlocking rewards, such as an online video about training tips from former Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz."

Saturday's Swim Report - Do The Olympic Swimmer Dance!

Lane 1 - SB Nation posts (w/ video) "Buzz Williams Hits A Half-court Shot, Goes Swimming.  Buzz Williams is already a college basketball favorite. He's emotional, he screams, he dances on the sideline and he's never afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. The Marquette Golden Eagles coach just seems like a good dude to be around.  That extended to a lighthearted moment at practice this week as Marquette prepared for its Sweet 16 matchup against the Florida Gators. Sure, it's stressful preparing for a huge NCAA tournament game, but Williams keeps the mood light."

Lane 2 - The Herald Sun posts "Australian swimmer James Magnussen a 'threat, says US coach.  HOW can we get this guy on our team for the Games?  That was the reaction from world swimming's superpower, the United States, after James Magnussen's scorching performances at the Australian Olympic trials in Adelaide.  US swimming national team director Frank Busch yesterday heaped praise on Australian swimming's man of the moment, who he expected to be a thorn in the side of his team's relay ambitions in London."

Lane 3 - The Washington Post umm…posts "Shirley May France, who as a young woman tried to swim the English Channel, dies at 79.  With the words “Black Magic” emblazoned across the bosom of her swimsuit, Shirley May France captivated two continents with her attempt to swim the English Channel in 1949.  Then a 17-year-old Massachusetts schoolgirl, she would have been the youngest person in history to conquer the 21 miles of frigid double tides and currents between Cap Gris Nez in France and England’s white cliffs of Dover."

Lane 4 - NCAA posts "Cal swimmer learns from the best.  Shields always looking to improve, even by studying dolphins.  Tom Shields is a workhorse. And because he is, Cal’s hopes of repeating as national champs at the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships that conclude Saturday have rested squarely on the junior All-American’s shoulders.  “I hear that when they do the next Flipper movie, he’s going to be the stand-in,” Texas coach Eddie Reese cracked, not knowing just how close that could be."

Lane 5 - Alligator posts "UF men's swimming ranks eighth after first day at NCAA Championships."

Lane 6 - The Telegraph posts "Stephanie Rice's heart is biger than Texas - just don't mention her shoulder."

Lane 7 - Time Magazine posts (w/video) "Synchronized Swimming: No Joke.  TIME gets a lesson in synchronized swimming."

Lane 8 - ninemsn posts "Sunk Thorpedo had enough time, Ginn says.  Excuses that Ian Thorpe didn't give himself enough training time to qualify for the London Games doesn't wash with triple Olympic rowing champion Drew Ginn.  But Ginn, who made a comeback of his own in this Olympic cycle after taking two years off rowing as he recovered from delicate back surgery, labelled that as bunk.  The 37-year-old strongly believes older athletes only need six months of full-on hard training to return to their best.  "Having watched all the swimming last week and hearing 'oh they needed another year or two years', sorry to say it, I reckon that's bulls--t," he told AAP."

Sunday's Swim Report - Go USA! Florida No. 1 In Shark Attacks!

Lane 1 - Speedway Media posts "Three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Ryan Lochte to serve as Grand Marshal for the first Gatorade Duel.  Ryan Lochte, three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer and Daytona Beach native, will serve as Grand Marshal for the first of two Gatorade Duel At Daytona 150-mile qualifying races on Thursday, Feb. 23 at Daytona International Speedway."

Lane 2 - The Sydney Morning Herald posts "D'Arcy Olympic dreams languish amid board silence.  THE fate of controversial swimmer Nick D'Arcy still hangs in the balance two days after the Swimming Australia board met to consider it."

Lane 3 - Gator Sports posts "Roundup: UF produces nation’s top swimmers, fall short at SECs.  The 2012 Southeastern Conference swimming and diving championships came to a close Saturday night at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tenn. In a tight finish, the Florida men (700) narrowly missed the top spot, to sit behind Auburn (730.5) in the runner-up spot, for the eleventh conseutive year, while the UF women finished third behind the University of Georgia (781), and host, Tennessee (629.5)."

Lane 4 - Sunshine State posts "2011 Report: Florida No. 1 In Shark Attacks, None Of Those Fatal (VIDEO).  Sharks are finally exacting their revenge on humans, according to the University of Florida’s (UF) recently released International Shark Attacks File."

Lane 5 - ioL posts "Van der Burg wants secluded Olympic build up.  Olympic Games medal hopeful Cameron van der Burgh says he will swim in fewer races this year to keep his form secret from his competitors ahead of the global showpiece in July.  “I don't really want to give my form away to my competitors,” Van der Burgh said."

Lane 6 - The Canberra Times posts "A twit born every minute…Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan tweeted Tuesday he was on his way to Canberra for testing at the AIS. The Canberra Times picked it up and made inquiries, only for Swimming Australia to fall over itself quicker than Thorpie falling off the blocks at the 2004 Olympic trials. Swimming Australia said the session was secret and media was banned. The last time they chucked such a hissy fit to an AIS visit was in 2003, when superfish Michael Phelps and others were in Canberra testing the now outlawed LZR racing suits.  Turns out Sullivan and Geoff Huegill were just doing some wet-plate testing, a technology designed to measure reaction times off the blocks and smooth out any kinks in our relay changeovers before the Olympics. How do we know? Sullivan tweeted it."

Lane 7 - Fox Sports posts "Lezak preparing for next challenge in London.  Last Saturday, a plastic ice pack was placed around Lezak's right knee after he climbed from the pool at the Mizzou Aquatic Center following a second-place finish in a 50-meter freestyle heat.  At age 36, his body has changed from his world-record 46.06-second split in Beijing, but the veteran swimmer is confident in his speed as he trains for London."

Lane 8 - NatGeo posts "Shark-Attack Deaths Highest in 19 Years—Travel Trends to Blame?  U.S. fatalities down, possibly due to economic downturn."

Sunday's Swim Report - Swimming With The Flow

Lane 1 - Gator Country posts "UF swimming splits at Tennessee.  Florida’s Marcin Cieslak blew the competition out of the water in the Florida men’s 162-138 win over Tennessee. Cieslak had three of the eight victories for the men with each time qualified for a NCAA ‘B’ cut. He was able to continue his unbeaten streak in the 200 fly by touching the wall at 1:48.49."

Lane 2 - NZ Herald posts "Sue's young at heart and stays fit.  Those of us who are back at work and struggling to find time for fitness in a busy week need to talk to Sue Pollard.  The CEO of the NZ Nutrition Foundation keeps to a strict fitness routine and is a regular competitor in the popular State Beach Series at Takapuna Beach.  "The beach series is an opportunity to swim in the sea every week and socialise afterwards," said the 68-year-old."

Lane 3 - Florida Today posts "Swimmers go with the flow of exercise.  Merritt Island family links aquatics with health care.  A study published in 2009 by Dr. Steven Blair at the University of South Carolina showed that the risk of death in swimmers is about 50 percent less than runners, walkers and sedentary people.  Swimming also keeps you young, as masters’ swimmers will attest."

Lane 4 - The Australian posts "Failure is not an option for Ian Thorpe. IAN Thorpe made no progress on the clock in his latest race in Luxembourg yesterday, but declared he had "no intentions of failing" at the national trials in March.  Time is running out for Thorpe, Australia's greatest Olympian, to find his feet in his comeback to the sport after a five-year retirement."  Also from The Australian "Ian Thorpe sets fastest comeback time in 100m freestyle."

Lane 5 - CNN posts "London 2012: A swimmer's story.  Katy Sexton.  It’s not long until the British Olympic swimming trials in March, and it’s really exciting because it’s the first time I’m going to see the new pool in London. Days are ticking by and it’s getting really close.  I’m really excited by the prospect of actually competing at the Olympic pool for the first instance in the trials, and then hopefully I can convert my times into a place on the team and compete there again in the summer. I went to Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004, and I want to be involved again."

Lane 6 - Adelaide Now posts "Matt Targett shows he means business.  OLYMPIAN Matt Targett set a new personal best in the 50m freestyle last night at the SA Long Course Championship.  The Victorian had a time of 21.98 seconds, showing he is set for a big year with the Australian Championships in March and the London Olympics.  Targett led from the start at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre and edged out Matthew Abood on 22.15 and fellow Olympian James Magnussen on 22.41."

Lane 7 - NZ Herald posts "Battle of the sexes back on in capital.  A transtasman battle of the sexes will resume tomorrow in round three of the State Ocean Swim Series in Wellington, dubbed the Capital Classic.  In round two at the Bay of Islands, the 2009 world champion Melissa Gorman was the overall winner of the race, becoming the first female in the history of the series to beat all the men home.  There's also a strong group of Kiwi men and a top-rated Australian, George O'Brien. The Swimming New Zealand High Performance Centre swimmer, coached by Mark Regan, will face all of the leading Kiwis who tested him at the national championships last weekend."

Lane 8 - The Lying Liars That Lie posts "Brazil's Teeny-Weeny Bikini is Not So Teeny Anymore.  The image of the tall, tanned, Supermodel thin women on the sands of Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian beaches is being challenged by the growing empowerment of plus-sized women in one of the world's most body-conscious nations and Brazil's bikini manfactuers are taking note.   The Girl From Ipanema has put on a few pounds, and for many sunbathers on Brazil's beaches the country's iconic itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikini just doesn't suffice anymore.  A growing number of bikini manufacturers have woken up to Brazil's thickening waistline and are reaching out to the ever-expanding ranks of heavy women with new plus-size lines."

 

Sunday's Swim Report - From The Swim Lane To The Wine Vine

Lane 1 - The Independent Florida Gator posts "Florida swimming and diving defeats Auburn on Senior Day.  For Florida's swimming and diving teams, Saturday's meet with Auburn was special.  Not only did the Gators pick up a win against a Southeastern Conference opponent, but the team also held its annual Senior Day. The swimming and diving program honorably recognized its seniors with introductions before the contest took place.  Fans packed the seats and energy was high in the O'Connell Center Natatorium for the senior sendoff."

Lane 2 - The New York Times posts "Photographing the Pool, as California Icon.  What is the most enduring symbol of the Southern California lifestyle? Daniell Cornell, senior curator at the Palm Springs Art Museum, believes it’s the swimming pool.  “Backyard Oasis: The Swimming Pool in Southern California Photography, 1945-1982,” opening at the museum on Saturday, examines how pools became what Mr. Cornell calls the “suburban ideal” for postwar Americans, a design element that allowed for “nature and culture to come together in the modern house.”

Lane 3 - New Zealand Herald drinks it in with "Your Business: Swim-school owner follows dream to set up vineyard.  Ross Millar, owner of the Ross Millar Swim School, is planning to do just that with his new family business, Millars Vineyard at Mangawhai.  That may seem like a bit of stretch, but Millar grew up in West Auckland with vineyards all around."

Lane 4 - Metro posts "Keri-Anne Payne: Wedding planning takes my mind off Olympic pressure.  Swimmer Keri-Anne Payne has no time to get nervous about this summer's Olympic Games because she is so busy finalising her wedding plans."

Lane 5 - The Atlantic posts "The Bravery of Iran's Female Athletes.  What women like Faezeh Hashemi face in Iran and why their struggle matters.  In many ways, she is the godmother of women's sports in the Islamic Republic. An athlete herself, in the early 1990s she championed the right of women to have access to sports facilities and competition as the head of the Islamic Women's Sports Federation. In that role, she increased access for women to swimming pools and tennis courts and golf driving ranges. She established bike paths for women in Tehran's parks, despite that fact that conservatives are particularly bothered by the idea of women riding bicycles. She also paved the way for women to participate in international competition at the highest levels."

Lane 6 - Philly.com posts "Swimming with the homely, come-hither manatee.  From my vantage point, here in Crystal River, Fla., it's hard to see how Christopher Columbus - no matter how long he had been at sea - could possibly have mistaken a manatee for a mermaid, even if he did describe them in his journal in January of 1493 as being "not half as beautiful as they are painted to be."  And my vantage point is pretty conclusive: only six inches away from the wrinkly, puffy gray face of a decidedly Rubenesque, half-ton adult, her (or is it his?) heavily whiskered jowls drooping in what can hardly be described as a "come hither" look. Only the large fan-shaped tail at the end of her 10-foot body is even vaguely reminiscent of the legendary sirens of the sea."

Lane 7 - The Telegraph posts "London 2012 Olympics: Britain's athletes strike gold before the games begin.  Britain's elite athletes will earn up to ten times more in endorsements than during previous Olympic years thanks to their increasingly high profile in the run up to London 2012. Even a relative unknown Jenna Randall, a synchronised swimmer, has been successful in accruing endorsements Braun Female and Kellogg's, as well as a charity calendar shoot for Nichole de Carle London, the luxury lingerie brand, all on the strength of her potential this year."

Lane 8 - Mail Online posts "Ready for your close up? Diver survives tiger shark attack by fending off 12ft-beast with camera.  This is the terrifying moment a daring diver looked into the jaws of one of the world's most dangerous animals.  Forced to fend-off the tiger shark with just his camera the adventurer came perilously close to the wrong kind of snap.  Conservationalist Russell Easton was photographing the 12ft beast in the Bahamas when he got the close-up he was not expecting."

Saturday's Swim Report - Going and Going and Going The Distance

Lane 1 - NINE posts "Magnussen's the man but needs support.  Just as well sprint swimming sensation James Magnussen has broad shoulders.  Because the 100m freestyle world champion is set to carry a huge weight of expectation as Australia's only genuine individual gold medal favourite heading to the pool at the London Olympics.  But beyond that, the Dolphins are banking on swag of athletes being ready to take "the next step" by turning a rush of silver at last year's world championships into gold.  Plenty is as stake, with Australia facing the prospect of their lowest swimming gold medal haul at an Olympics since taking two at Atlanta 1996 - and doing so in the backyard of their fiercest rivals."

Lane 2 - Rockford Register Star posts "60-year-old Rockford swimmer logs more than 500 miles in 2011.  Nancy Blomquist finished sixth in the U.S. in 2011 with over 516 miles.  Blomquist, 60, was sixth in the nation in mileage for her age group in 2011 according to the United States Masters Swimming Association. She finished the year with 516.5 miles — a number that was intimidating and seemed unreachable four years ago."

Lane 3 - Webwire posts "’Swim for Your Heart Feb 14’ to Raise Awareness and Funds for Heart Health.  Crissy Ahmann-Perham has joined "Swim for Your Heart Feb 14" as southern Arizona’s celebrity spokesperson. The Olympic swim champion encourages people of all ages to swim for your heart on February 14 to raise awareness and funds for heart health.  “Swim for Your Heart Feb 14” was initiated in 2011 by members of the international swimming community after losing one of their own, USA Open Water swim champion Fran Crippen, to what was believed to be a cardiac event. The inaugural event included swimmers from the United States, England, Australia, Mexico, Japan and India. This year 23 countries are participating."

Lane 4 - Gator Country posts "Senior Day for Florida’s swim teams.  he No. 9 University of Florida women’s swimming and diving team and No. 13 men’s squad return to the pool Saturday morning for the Gators’ annual Senior Day against SEC opponent No. 7/7 Auburn at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Natatorium."

Lane 5 - WaPo has "Brazilian swimmer Fabiola Molina gets increased 6-month doping ban from sports court.  Brazilian swimmer Fabiola Molina has been banned until April for doping, after testing positive for a stimulant.  The Court of Arbitration for Sport says the 36-year-old Molina received an increased six-month ban after swimming’s world governing body, FINA, appealed, claiming that Brazilian authorities treated her too leniently."

Lane 6 - Herald-Tribune posts "Burglar in wet suit swims away from police on St. Armands.  An burglar armed with a handgun and wearing a wet suit might have swum away from police this morning near St. Armands Circle.  Police officers responded to the 300 block of North Washington Drive after a construction worker reported the armed burglary.  The worker said he arrived at the home site this morning and saw a man in a wet suit in the middle of a burglary, Sarasota Police Capt. Paul Sutton said.  The officers searching for the suspect have to consider even more possible escape routes than usual — namely swimming away — because of the wet suit angle, Sutton said."

Lane 7 - Bettor.com posts "Legendary Olympian, Ian Thorpe: An overview of his comeback performances – Part 1. Five-time Olympic gold medallist and eleven-time world champion, Australia’s Ian Thorpe is trying hard to live up his 2012 London Olympic Games qualification dream. The 29-year-old Thorpe, who withdrew from competitive swimming in 2006, made a comeback to his beloved sport on Feb 1, 2011.  After five years of retirement, the Australian veteran has been putting a lot of effort in his training program to make a meaningful comeback."

Lane 8 - Vancouver Sun posts "Pit bulls of the ocean.  'Sharks will normally take a bite then spit you out.' At the world's deadliest beach, 'people are actually being eaten. It's very unusual'"

Tuesday's Swim Report - The Angeln Brothers May Have Been The Best Open Water Swimmers In US History. Or They Died Trying. #alcatraz

Lane 1 - Gator Country posts "London’s looming for Florida coach Gregg Troy and his swimmers.  Now, the University of Florida’s head swimming and diving coach is balancing the thick of the collegiate season with what’s looming across the pond.  Troy’s no stranger to coaching elite athletes. He’s mentored about 70 Olympians throughout the span of his 34-year coaching career, including former Gators and 2008 gold medalist, Ryan Lochte. Lochte has been taking the swimming realm by storm, recently adding the award of Male Athlete of the Year and Race of the Year at November’s prestigious USA Swimming Foundation Golden Goggle Awards."

Lane 2 - The Urban Wire posts "Ian Thorpe’s recipe for success.  His name’s uttered in the same breath as swimming legends Mark Spitz, Alexander Popov, and Michael Phelps. But Australian Ian Thorpe may soon be compared to Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson for his burgeoning culinary aspirations.  Still, Thorpe’s true passion doesn’t seem to lie on the catwalk, but in the kitchen. Most Singaporeans will find a kindred spirit in this self-professed foodie, who admits to a love of tucking into a hearty meal. Thorpe’s already proved his chef’s chops by compiling a cookbook titled Ian Thorpe: Cook for Your Life in August last year and hosting his cooking show, Cook For Your Life – no doubt winning over legions of busy housewives."

Lane 3 - CBC posts "Olympic champion Baumann takes final Ottawa swim.  Former Canadian Olympic gold medallist, world record holder moving to New Zealand.  Former Olympic gold medal swimmer Alex Baumann has taken his final swim in Ottawa as the Canadian icon moves across the world.  Baumann, 47, is a Canadian Olympic icon after winning two gold medals and setting two world records at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.  Baumann officially announced he was stepping down as CEO of Own the Podium in September to move back down under, this time to Auckland, New Zealand."

Lane 4 - Cleveland.com posts "Greater Cleveland Aquarium ready to splash Cleveland with Saturday's opening day.  Swim with the sharks. Touch a stingray. Eyeball an octopus.  Cleveland's newest attraction is built to let people from the North Coast get to know fish from all over and from all angles."

Lane 5 - Medical News Today posts "Fewer Children Admitted To Hospital For Drowning Incidents.  Drowning is one of the leading causes of child mortality nearly 1,100 deaths per year of children aged 1 to 19 years in the United States.  Florida, Hawaii and Alaska have the highest rates of drowning incidents, and 2009 figures cite Florida with a shocking fatality rate of 8 deaths per 100,000 in the age 1 to 4 category."

Lane 6 - LA Times posts "Antitrust suits target swimming pool products company. Pool Corp..  A Louisiana company that bills itself as the world's largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool products is becoming a target for plaintiffs' lawyers filing antitrust lawsuits.  In November, Pool Corp. settled claims by the Federal Trade Commission that the Covington, La., company used its "monopoly power" to eliminate would-be rivals by pressuring manufacturers not to sell their products to other distributors."

Lane 7 - My Fox Tampa Bay posts "From Ruskin to Alcatraz — and back?
Escapees still alive, legend says.  Brothers John and Clarence Anglen were arrested for holding up a bank with a toy gun. Ironically, what put the brothers behind bars in Alcatraz was their ability to break out of jail.  The brothers cut their way out of their Alcatraz jail cell in 1962 and dove in to the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay.  Some believe the choppy surf engulfing Alcatraz was too much to survive. Others swear they've seen them living in exile in Ruskin for decades."

Lane 8 - NBC Miami posts "Wounded Warriors Swim with Dolphins During Soldier Ride Event.  Soldier Ride event benefits injured veterans.  About 30 injured veterans interacted with dolphins in the Florida Keys as part of the Soldier Ride cycling event, which began in Miami and ends in Key West on Saturday."

Monday's Swim Report - A Sing n' Dance Mermaid? A Few Swim Themed Ads.

Lane 1 - The Telegraph posts "London 2012 Olympics: the fascinating journey facing Ian Thorpe and the comeback kids.  The names are familiar – some just a twinge in the memory, others colourful flashbacks. They are the Comeback Class of the London 2012 Olympic Games.  No longer precocious talented teenagers – Janet Evans, Ian Thorpe, Michael Klim, Paul Hamm, Laure Manaudou, Libby Trickett, Rulon Gardner – but battling wrinkles, a sceptical public and the brutal enemy of time in their bold ambitions to re-live precious Olympic experiences."  While Roar posts "Ian Thorpe will shine when the moment arrives.  The man himself denies he’s foxing, but Ian Thorpe showed just enough on Saturday night to prove his bid for a spot on the Australian team for the London Olympics remains on track.  Thorpe is currently playing a game of poker with his rivals and their coaches around the world."

Lane 2 - Favorite swim themed ad ever!  "Guinness Beer (Swim black) commercial" via youtube

Lane 3 - The Chicago Tribune posts "New iPhone app lets users follow roaming great white sharks.  The great white shark is lurking in cyberspace, in the form of an iPhone application launched this week that allows users to track a dozen of the predators as they roam around the Pacific Ocean.  The California-based Marine Conservation Science Institute launched the app, which the nonprofit describes as the first shark tracker of its kind, to raise funds for its research."

Lane 4 - It's got a dolphin so it's cute.  And they swim.  "Frontier Airlines -Triathlon.  Have you made your New Year's resolution yet? Flip is thinking about completing a triathlon... the swim should be a piece of cake (Griz took that literally, by the way)." via youtube

Lane 5 - Gator Country posts "Florida Swimmers take third at SMU.  While the Florida swim teams were defeating the Florida Atlantic at home on Saturday, select members of the men’s team were competing at the Perkins Natatorium in Dallas for the Classic at SMU."

Lane 6 - The Sydney Morning Herald posts "Swimmer killed by shark at one of 'world's deadliest' beaches.  A South African man has been killed by a shark while swimming in waist-deep water at Second Beach in the rural Eastern Cape, one of the world's deadliest spots for attacks."

Lane 7 - Box Score News posts "2011 US National Water Polo Awards Announced.  USA Water Polo’s Annual Awards dinner took place this past January 14 at the LAX Crowne Plaza in Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the USA Water Polo Assembly. As established in 2010, the awards have each been named in honor of a person or persons who have made an extraordinary contribution to the sport."

Lane 8 - It's Pink, it swims and it's a mermaid!  "Barbie™ in A Mermaid Tale - Swim 'N Dance Mermaids Commercial" via youtube. 

Wait did they say her hair turns pink in the water?  I so want it!

Monday's Swim Report - The Amazing Race Calls For Speedo TIME!

Lane 1 - The Alligator posts "Florida swimming wins its first Georgia Tech Invite.  Florida was able to capture the elusive victory thanks in part to spectacular performances in relay events. Out of the five relays over the course of the three-day event, the Gators took home four of them, with a narrow second-place finish in the fifth relay."

Lane 2 - Ivybridge Gazette posts "Diving headlong into training in a bid to reach London 2012.  IT is a truth universally acknowledged that many teenagers are lazy, indisciplined and lacking in any discernible goal or focus in their lives.  Well, Aaron Rickhuss from East Charleton near Kingsbridge completely obliterates these commonly held, and often misplaced, perceptions with his stunning devotion to swimming.  The 18-year-old is fiercely determined to reach next year’s Olympics after qualifying for the 100m freestyle event at the London 2012 swimming trials, which will take place next March."

Lane 3 - Bettor.com "Swimmer profile: Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli – Distant freestyle and IM specialist.  unisian born Oussama Mellouli is an African swimmer who specialises in the distant freestyle and Individual Medley events. He started his career in 2003 and nourished steadily with time until the catastrophic drug discovery in 2006, which got him into hot waters. Currently, the African record holder trains in a club at the University of South California."

Lane 4 - I've never watched the show but according to AOL TV "EXCLUSIVE: 'The Amazing Race' Strips Down to Speedos for a Bodybuilding Challenge.  his week's 'Amazing Race' (Sun., Nov. 20, 8PM ET on CBS) involves posing, speedos, a whole lotta body grease ... and not much else."

Lane 5 - Universal Sports posts "Missy Franklin gets her wish at the 2011 Golden Goggles.  No matter what, Missy Franklin was going to get her way before Sunday's USA Swimming Golden Goggle Awards."

Lane 6 - WaPo has "Swimmers Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin win athletes of the year at Golden Goggles.  Florida’s Gregg Troy won coach of the year. He was an assistant on the men’s team in Shanghai and coaches Lochte among other athletes.  Peter Vanderkaay received the perseverance award. The former Michigan swimmer relocated to Gainesville, Fla., and had three top-eight finishes at worlds while winning a gold as part of the men’s 800 freestyle relay.  Open water swimmer Alex Meyer was chosen breakout performer. He won the national 10k open water title and became the first U.S. swimmer to qualify for the London Olympics."

Lane 7 - Also from the WaPo "Ohio home-siding workers rescue horse from icy swimming pool.  An elderly horse that escaped from a barn in a rural Ohio town has found its way back to safety after falling into a neighbor’s swimming pool and its icy water.  Home-siding workers at the Logan residence of Gail Larkin mounted a rescue Friday morning after they found the 22-year-old horse struggling in the deep end. Larkin told the Logan Daily News the horse had ice crystals on its face and seemed to be in shock."

Lane 8 - Bangor Daily News has "Kittery man to swim harbor in December to raise funds for lighthouses.  Most people think he is crazy, but from Gary Sredzienski’s standpoint, he loves swimming and he lives in an ocean state — so why not do what he loves all the time?  Sredzienski is a winter swimmer. Come Saturday, Dec. 10, he will swim from Owls Head Lighthouse to Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse and back to shore, a total of 3.3 miles in 39-degree water. To Sredzienski, 39 degrees is practically bath water. The man, an accordionist by profession, typically swims the estuaries in Kittery, his hometown, almost every day. There the mix of ocean water and chillier fresh water from rivers can run as low as 30 degrees.  With the money, Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse plans to furnish the attached lighthouse keeper’s house with 1950s decorations. The house is currently pretty bare. The Rockland-based American Lighthouse Foundation will get the other half of the funds raised by Sredzienski. That organization’s director, Bob Trapani, said the funds are needed."

Saturday's Swim Report - STUF

Lane 1 - Herald Sun has "Michael Klim postpones comeback after suffering neck strain .  OLYMPIC gold medallist Michael Klim has been forced to postpone his return to competitive swimming after suffering a neck strain. OLYMPIC gold medallist Michael Klim has been forced to postpone his return to competitive swimming after suffering a neck strain."

Lane 2 - New Zealand's Herald posts "Ingram goes her own way.  Melissa Ingram has seized the initiative, dipped into her own pocket and made the most of what could be her final opportunity to compete at an Olympics.  Rather than stay home and train at North Shore's Millennium Institute with New Zealand's other high performance athletes after July's world championships, Ingram decided to invest her earnings offshore by racing the Asian legs of the World Cup 25m short course circuit. She earned podium finishes in Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo."

Lane 3 - Stuff has "NZ open water swimmers face Olympic battle.  Swimming New Zealand are banking on an emergency change to Olympic selection criteria after a new sponsorship deal has made it harder for Kiwi open water swimmers to qualify for the 2012 London Games."

Lane 4 - Speaking of stuff Mark Spitz announces his new skincare line via twitter "here is stuff about STUF™ Men's Skin Defense, my new natural skincare line for men" stufmd.com

Lane 5 - The Telegraph posts "Ocean swim series set to makes a splash.  OR seasoned long-distance swimmer Louise Stevenson, there is no better place to do 'laps' than in the ocean.  "I love that you don't have to follow a black line and the water conditions are so different every swim," said the 30-year-old from Bondi.  "There are some amazing things in and on the bottom of the ocean."

Lane 6 - Gator Country posts "Day One: First Place For Men's Team.  The University of Florida men’s swimming and diving team ended the first day of the Georgia Tech Invitational in first place after competing in 12 events. The three-day competition consists of nine teams including Florida State, Miami, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Auburn and Alabama."

Lane 7 - Brighton Pittsford Post has "Swimmer Diana Nyad to be Lifespan's 2012 Celebration of Aging.  Long distance swimmer Diana Nyad will be guest speaker at Lifespan's 2012 Celebration of Aging at noon on March 27 at the Convention Center, 123 E Main Street in Rochester."

Lane 8 - NY1 has "Harbor Seal Makes Rare Swim Up East River.  Some New Yorkers were caught by surprise Friday as a harbor seal was spotted swimming in the East River.  The mammal, which was spotted in the water near 91st Street behind Gracie Mansion earlier in the morning, quickly attracted a little crowd.  Park rangers called the Riverhead Foundation to check up on the young seal, but they say it seemed healthy before it plunged back into the water.  They put it's age at about one year.  One ranger says he's seen his fair share of seals hanging out in the Hudson, but this is the first one spotted relaxing in the East River."