Conquest of the Space Sea

via fantasticfiction

Mistress of the Dark Pool

via 45thstreetproductions

Saturday's Swim Report - A Date With Eamon Sullivan

Lane 1 - Star Observer posts "A date with Eamon Sullivan.  Oxford St independent bookstore Ariel will host a book signing with Olympic swimmer, Celebrity Masterchef winner, Cleo Bachelor of the Year and gay favourite Eamon Sullivan on Tuesday August 30."

Lane 2 - Philippine Daily Inquirer posts "Hollywood mermaid swam her way into viewers’ hearts.  Esther Williams, the box-office queen of MGM in the late ’40s, turned 90 recently. As hoofer Donald O’Connor said in “That’s Entertainment”: “Eat your heart out, Mark Spitz!” Indeed, Spitz may have won the most number of Olympic gold medals at one time, but Esther was Queen of Hollywood in her prime."

Lane 3 - The Modesto Bee has "Masters meet draws top-notch talent to Modesto
Event to be held at MJC swim complex.  United States Masters Swimming, the event's sanctioning body, approached the local club five years ago to stage a meet in the Central Valley. The MAAC, 240 members strong, has adopted the affair ever since.  Forty-two members of the MAAC will compete Saturday in the meet that will bring together swimmers spanning in age from 18 to 82. Several age-group world-record holders will take part."

Lane 4 - NPR scares the beejesus out of me with "To Avoid Brain-Eating Amoebas, Hold Your Nose.  Brain-eating amoebas have killed three people so far this summer. The victims include a 9-year-old Virginia boy and a 16-year-old Florida girl; both apparently became infected while swimming in warm, stagnant water. That makes the typical summer health warnings about swimmer's ear and sunburn seem mundane by comparison."

Lane 5 - The Sydney Morning Herald posts "This Sporting Life: Chloe McCardel.  In her own words, the distance swimmer details the perils of taking on the English Channel.  In year six, I hated the fact that I couldn't swim. It was compulsory and I was embarrassed that I was the only one in the class that couldn't swim. I had to be in the lane with all the beginners. In a country like Australia, every child should be able to swim - it's part of Australian culture."

Lane 6 - Gawker has "Late Summer’s Gratuitous Shots of Celebrities in Bathing Suits."

Lane 7 - Palestine Herald-Press posts "Youth Sports: 2 Piranhas swim with an Olympian.  On Monday, Palestine YMCA Piranhas Madison Crader and Chase Fields learned from and swam with two-time Olympian and three-time gold medalist Josh Davis in the Breakout! Swim Clinic hosted by Swim Athens at the Cain Center.  Forty swimmers from around the East Texas region, ranging in age between 8 and 18, spent three hours immersed in the theory and the practice that works for world class swimmers presented and demonstrated by Davis."

Lane 8 - Irish Weather has "Two Swimmers Survive Rare Russian Shark Attacks."

Saturday's Swim Report - When Pigs Swim!

Lane 1 - The News-Record has "Olympic medalist Katie Hoff to come to the aquatic center opening.  The ribbon cutting is scheduled for Aug. 26 and will kick off a weekend of exhibitions and activites for the aquatic center that will also include a demonstration by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming team."

Lane 2 - I'd swim for an Oreo!  The NYI Times has "Swimming pigs delight crowd at Lake County Fair.With an Oreo cookie as incentive at the finish line, Vietnamese potbellied pigs with nicknames such as Tsunami Salami and Soggy Bacon race up a ramp, plop into a tank of water, paddle across and scurry around a track."

Lane 3 - From LEAGLE "TAFLINGER v. U.S. SWIMMING, INC."  Some light fun reading.

Lane 4 - NPR has (w/audio report) "Swimming The Channel: This Time, She's Sure.  Pat Gallant-Charette wants to swim across the English Channel in August. On top of her job as a nurse, the 60-year-old grandmother from Westbrook, Maine, follows a rigorous training schedule that includes one- to 10-hour swims along the crashing waves of the cold ocean shore. Gallant-Charette almost crossed the Channel once before, but currents kept her at bay just a mile and a half from the finish. This time, she's convinced she'll make it. Independent producer Patty Wight sends this audio postcard."

Lane 5 - Daily Cal looks at "More Likely To Sweep: Swimming or Water Polo?  For the men’s and women’s swim teams, NCAAs are seven months and two seasons away; yet both squads are undoubtedly looking to toward that far-off event in hopes of repeating a national title sweep."

Lane 6 - Robin Leach over at Las Vegas Weekly has "Mermaid Convention to include 3D swimming with sharks film.  More than 200 professional mermaids from around the world splash onto The Strip this weekend for the first-ever World Mermaid Convention and Awards. During the two-day event, featured star Hannah Fraser, who arrives in Las Vegas today, will debut her new 3D underwater film of her swimming with sharks."  Wait they have Professional Mermaids?

Lane 7 - onearth has "Shark Week Is Over, But Sharks Still Need Our Help.  In early August, millions of people flipped on their TVs to watch Discovery channel’s 24th annual Shark Week. Seeing new footage of these wild and powerful creatures each year is awe inspiring and a reminder that our oceans are still a frontier we’ve yet to fully understand or respect.  It’s also a reminder that sharks deserve to be part of our lives for more than one week each year and many shark populations are on the verge of collapse due to a destructive practice called shark finning. Shark finning is where the shark’s fins are sliced off and the shark is tossed back to sea still alive and left to suffocate a slow death as it sinks to the bottom of the ocean, finless and unable to swim."

Lane 8 - Only cuz' I love these stories.  From WJLA "Woman drives down embankment, lands in swimming pool."

This Flask And I Were Born For Each Other - Round Flask Victorian Mermaid

via etsy

Friday's Swim Report - Don't Hold Your Breath.

Lane 1 - Athletic Business posts "Man Dies During Breath-Holding Exercise at Staten Island Public Pool.  Two strapping young men who were practicing breath-holding exercises at a Staten Island pool yesterday to prepare for military training were pulled out unconscious and one died - after two lifeguards and 20 swimmers failed to spot them." Also at Athletic Business "Blog: Breath-Holding Can Be as Lethal as a Grenade."

Lane 2 - From ESPN "Michael Phelps eyes Ian Thorpe return.  Michael Phelps was still getting over a mild slump when he heard Ian Thorpe was planning a comeback for the London Olympics.  The 14-time Olympic gold medalist freely admits he hates to lose. So news of the Australian's return couldn't have come as any better motivation for training."

Lane 3 - The Australian has "Michael Phelps flying again as Ian Thorpe looms.  IAN Thorpe is not the only one who feels there is unfinished business about his return to the pool.  American superstar Michael Phelps admitted yesterday he also has unfinished business with Thorpe, who is one of the few men in swimming to have got the better of him at the Olympic Games."

Lane 4 - Florida Today has "Henderson determined, successful in the pool.  Cocoa's Martha Henderson is a self-described late bloomer…As it is, Henderson, 74, came away from the National Senior Games in June with a haul of medals. She won gold in the 50-yard butterfly (54.20 seconds) and the 100 individual medley (1:55.45) and silver in the 50 backstroke (52.09), the 100 back (1:50.62) and the 200 back (4:05.93)."

Lane 5 - The Australian has "Mistakes, I've made a few.  And then, when the Games were over, Rice added fuel to the fire by seeming to pop up everywhere: parties, red carpets, nightclubs.  Rice happily admits she let her hair down after the Games. She was 20 years old, all her dreams had come true."

Lane 6 - CBS News looks at "New gov't. cash crunch victims: public pools. One of the best ways to beat summer heat is to take a dip in a swimming pool. But for millions of people, the local public pool isn't an option this year.   Many have been padlocked - victims of local government budget cuts, reports CBS News Correspondent Michelle Miller."

Lane 7 - The Guardian has "Liam Tancock: 'I would always be in the fields looking for slow worms'.  The backstroke world record holder on his unusual hobbies, his 'Fatboy' nickname and why Michael Jackson's music is timeless…You wouldn't fancy having gills like Aquaman – or would that be too much like work? Nah, that sounds a bit boring!"

Lane 8 - What Do Lady Gaga, Madonna, Cher and Katy Perry have in common besides pop music?  Boy Culture looks at the mermaid war in "Surf War".

 

Tuesday's Swim Report - Can you pee in a pool without getting found out?

Lane 1 - Yes You Can!  io9 asks "Can you pee in a pool without getting found out?  There are plenty of sites on the internet addressing the idea that there is a compound that changes color when exposed to urine. Is there such a compound? The answer is yes. The problem is, it would react to a lot of different organic chemicals as well. Urea, a compound found in urine, is used in a number of different ways, all of which would lead to angry, embarrassed people in a swimming pool."  Not that I've ever pee'd in a pool.

Lane 2 - Canadian Water Polo Player Nathan Kotylak apologizes for his act in the Vancouver Riots (LINK) via youtube

Lane 3 - Maryland Swim for Life, Saturday June 25, 2011.  Sponsored by District of Columbia Aquatics Club, member of FGG members IGLA and Team DC.  Sanctioned by Maryland LMSC for USMS, Inc. via gay games blog

Lane 4 - Confessions from the Velvet Ropes (NSFWS) found Aquaman among "The Mermaid Parade and unofficial after party at Ruby's Bar & Grill in Coney Island, June 18, 2011. Photos & text by Glenn Belverio."

Lane 5 - Super Sport reports "SA swimmers win nine medals in Rome.  The South African swimming team capped their final preparations before the Fina World Championships with a nine-medal haul at the three-day International Sette Colli competition in Rome over the past weekend."

Lane 6 - BBC reports "Britain name World Championships squad.  Britain have named their 40-strong squad for next month's Fina World Swimming Championships in Shanghai."

Lane 7 - Check out Nick Brunelli's online plea "GOAL: London 2012 Olympic Gold! I Need Your Help!!  With that said I am in need of monetary help to support the basics of my expenses as a normally human being in pursuit of Olympic Gold in London 2012. I am looking to build a monthly stipend to support my training regime and monthly expenses. I am not looking for anything more than what it costs to train and travel for swimming."  So head on over to his blog and give to it hurts.

Lane 8 - From Swimmer's Daily "100 Black Men of Jackson want drowning risk lowered.  In USA, African-American children are three times more likely to drown than white children, based on studies and statistics. Nearly 70 percent of African-American children can’t swim, compared to 40 percent for white children, according to the most recent survey from USA Swimming. The civic group 100 Black Men of Jackson wants to change this, having started an aquatics program to teach 125 area youths from ages 8-17 how to swim."

Sunday's Swim Report - Video Killed The Swimming Stars

Lane 1 - Check out FINA "Shanghai 2011 - Trailer 2".  They keep getting cheesier! via youtube

Lane 2 - The Daily Telegraph reports "Michael Klim is enjoying his comeback journey rather than worrying about the end destination.  HE HAD forgotten about the smell of chlorine on his skin. It seems no amount of scrubbing can get rid of the stench.  When he looks in the mirror he can see his body changing. A ripple of muscle is starting to appear at the top of his abdominals.  His four-year-old daughter Stella no longer refers to him as 'daddy', now it’s 'daddy, the swimmer'. On the streets, he hears shouts of 'Go Klimy' and 'how’s the training?'.  Michael Klim is back – the question is will he make it to the London Olympics?"

Lane 3 - Interview Lars Frolander with The Race Club via youtube

Lane 4 - The Telegraph posts "Reborn Nick D'Arcy chases big fish.  NICK D'Arcy finished second to American superfish Michael Phelps in the 100m butterfly at the Santa Clara International yesterday to signal a strong return to the pool."

Lane 5 - USA Swimming with Eric Shanteau via youtube

Lane 6 - Denver Post posts "Regis' Missy Franklin catches break as Coughlin is disqualified.  Franklin, a sophomore at Regis Jesuit High School and The Denver Post Youth Excellence in Sports winner for 2010, won the women's 100- meter freestyle in 54.33 seconds, beating Amanda Weir by 0.28 seconds. Eleven-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin seemingly won in 54.1 seconds but was disqualified for staying underwater too long."

Lane 7 - Wait, they have a Mermaid Parade and I've yet to be Grand Marshall?  AOL has "Mermaid Parade 2011 Preview In Coney Island (PHOTOS)" while the WSJ covers it with "Getting Their Dance On at the Mermaid Parade.  By night, they are practicing members of a dance troupe, gearing up for the highly anticipated Coney Island Mermaid parade on Saturday."

Lane 8 - The New Zealand Herald reports "Swimming: NZ has 'no hope' of medal.  New Zealand's Olympic swimming hopes appear dim after Sparc's damning review of the sport and insistence on change - with insiders saying there is little or no hope of medalling at London next year."

and on deck...

Saturday's Swim Report - Swimming Cat Fight Edition

Lane 1 - News4Jax.com reports on "15 Things Your Lifeguard Won't Tell You.
Check Out These Secrets From Lifeguards Past And Present." I like "14. We care about tan lines."

Lane 2 - From the National Football Post "Raiders hitting the swimming pool.  Raiders swimming during lockout.  As part of the Oakland Raiders' efforts to stay in shape during the NFL lockout, they're hitting the swimming pool.  The Raiders went swimming today during a workout in Lawrenceville, Ga. organized by defensive lineman Richard Seymour."

Lane 3 - Slowtwitch has Gary Hall, Sr on "How to Position your Head while Swimming.  Nearly every swimmer, good or not-so-good, who has visited The Race Club camp in the past several years has shared one common problem; the head position is wrong."

Lane 4 - He Said, She Said, He Posted, They Sue!  So on May 23rd the SCAQ Blog posted "Is ASCA actually incorporated? - The 'Curb Northside ISD' blog say no way!" which was based on comments from Curb Northside post "Why I Believe ASCA is Operating Fraudulently."  The on the 26th the SCAQ Blog posted "John Leonard of ASCA enters the SCAQ blog with a threatening note."  Then today Swim Brief posts about Tony's post in "Tony Austin Battles with John Leonard Over ASCA's Legitimacy."  As did Texas Swimming with "It's ON!!!!"  Confused?  Don't Care?  Or can this all just be settled in the pool?  I've posted footage of this fight below via youtube.

Lane 5 - The Reston Patch has "Swimmers In The Lake This Weekend.  Hundreds will head to Lake Audubon for annual Jim McDonnell Lake Swims. About 800 swimmers are regsitered for the 24th Jim McDonnell Lake Swim sponsored by Reston Masters Swim Team."

Lane 6 - From the San Diego Gay & Lesbian News "A Side of Sports in San Diego: Get wet, or go golfing, but just don't stay home.  Love to dip more than just your toes in the water? Does the childhood swimmer in you get excited about the thought and thrill of competitive swimming?  Come and get your splash on.  Whatever your wish for the water, you need to know about Different Strokes Swim Team (DSST).  According to their website, DSST is 'all-inclusive lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, fast, slow, healthy, happening, totally cool, incredibly fun masters SWIM team.'"

Lane 7 - From Adelaide Now "Special Olympics full of fierce competitors.  GRANT Hackett believes Special Olympics athletes are often underrated as serious and skilful competitors.  The Olympic gold medallist, who captained the Australian swimming team before his retirement in 2008, said special athletes possessed the same qualities as those who competed in sports at the highest level."

Lane 8 - Wahoo!  From io9 "Whether you like It or not, the 'Dark Little Mermaid Movie' is happening.  THR is reporting that Sony is going to make a DARK Little Mermaid movie. Based on the book Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon. And it's written and directed by Shana Feste, of Country Strong fame."

Tuesdays's Swim Report - Underwater Mermaid Butterfly Kicking!

Lane 1 - The Finis Blog looks at "Underwater Dolphin Kick Requires Education and Dedication…I attended the Central States Swim Clinic this past weekend, and talked to a number of coaches and swimmers about underwater dolphin kick. The consensus was that the '5th stroke' of underwater kicking has certainly made a big impact on our sport, and most all athletes at the elite level have mastered the discipline."

Lane 2 - From MSNBC - "Who better to promote ocean conservation than Aquaman? (video)…If you’re dining at The Hump tonight, be sure to stay away from the spicy tuna roll: Vinnie Chase says those fish are endangered. And who better than Aquaman to get the word out that the bluefin tuna is being fished into extinction?"

Lane 3 - Since I just wanted to post the photo I guess I gotta post this via Swimming World "Brendan Hansen on Comeback Trail & Other Odds and Ends.  HE won't have the chance to compete for any international medals this year and whether he gets the chance to do so in the future remains to be seen. Even if he doesn't get that opportunity, his career has been stellar.  A four-time Olympic medalist and the former world-record holder in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, Brendan Hansen is set to make his competitive return to the sport at next month's Santa Clara International Swim Meet, one of the biggest stops on the USA Grand Prix Series. It will be Hansen's first competitive foray since the Beijing Olympics."

Lane 4 -  Aquaman The Movie via Extralife

Lane 5 - EXTRA! EXTRA!  Read all about it!  Read the May/June 2011 Issue of Splash from USA Swimming on nxtbook.

Lane 6 - BREAKING NEWS!  Okay so not really but I loved the headline so much I'm posting this without even reading one word past the headlong.  From SwimBrief "Salo Taught Me a Butt Dive!"  The Butt Dive!  Wahoo!  Wait so I just happened to glance and read this "I'm not going to just plow through everything."  Yeah, I think I will hafta read this post!

Lane 7 - From the Herald Sun "All in good time as Geoff Huegill sets sights on Michael Phelps in China.  NEWLYWED swimmer Geoff Huegill reckons he's ready to go faster than ever at July's world championships in Shanghai - but knows he must to mix it with the world's best.  The 32-year-old, hoping to carry his remarkable comeback through to next year's London Olympics, has never been happier, having married long-time partner Sara Hills last month."

Lane 8 - From the always entertaining SCAQ Blog "ALCATRAZ: The TV show! - No matter how much money they pour into it doing the swim itself will be way more exciting!"