Lane 1 - Port Macquarie News posts "James Magnussen comes home. PORT Macquarie’s world swimming champion James Magnussen has reflected on the biggest year of his life saying he’s learnt a lot about himself. The 20-year-old became the first Australian to win the 100m world title in July and he admitted that it changed his life in a big way."
Lane 2 - iol posts "Cameron, Le Clos sparkle in the pool. Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos hogged the swimming limelight in 2011 with the former extending his reign as the country's king of the pool while the latter became the crown prince. The duo provided a flicker of hope in an otherwise bleak year for South African swimming. The national team placed a lowly 25th at the Fina World Championships in Shanghai, China, in July with three bronze medals – their worst performance since Barcelona in 2003. "
Lane 3 - China Daily posts "World highest altitude swimming race to start. The 2012 Qinghai International Winter Yellow River Crossing Challenge will be held from January 6 to 7 in Guide County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, said organizers on Wednesday. The race will take place over 2,200 meters above the sea level, said Tsering Thar, director of the Qinghai provincial sports administration. Forty swimmers from China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will compete in the extreme high altitude climate where the water temperature will be about four degree Celsius."
Lane 4 - This Is Grimsby posts "Medley king Tom has shot at London 2012. EENAGE swimming talent Tom Paine has a shot at qualification for London 2012 after qualifying for the British Olympic Trials."
Lane 5 - Dorset Echo posts "Fancy dress swimmers make best West Bay Wallow so far. NUNS, witch doctors, Santas and even Oompa Loompas took the plunge at the best West Bay Wallow so far. They were among the 156 fancydressed swimmers to make a splash at the
slipway in the seventh Boxing Day extravaganza." Isle of Wight News has "Ventnor Boxing Day Swim: Over A Thousand Watch 100+ Swimmers. Many gathered at Ventnor beach for the now-traditional Boxing Day Swim, raising money for PATCH, an Island cancer charity."
Lane 6 - Sooke News Mirror posts "Tide is turning for Rip Current masters. Fifth place out of 18 teams at an Island swim meet is not a bad place to be, especially when you take into account that many of the members on the new SEAPARC Rip Currents masters swimming team have never competed before. Masters swimming is an international adult program that is a carry over from competitive swimming, said Bell. There are regional, provincial national and even world events."
Lane 7 - StAugustine.com posts "Polar Bear swim New Year's day. Join St. Johns County lifeguards with a plunge in the chilled waters of the Atlantic in the annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear swim. The one-mile swims are not competitive and take about 30 minutes to an hour to complete, depending on the water conditions. Wet suits are advised."
Lane 8 - Non-swimming but incredible story from The Villages Daily Sun "96-year-old Villages yoga instructor inspires her students."