Duel in the Pool

Bert, Bob is correct. It is “duel” not “dual”. And, I’m sure that our friends at USA-Swimming have an English major or two, so I assume the homophone was some marketing brainstorm.

I see that........thank you. The "duel in the pool" dual meet should be fun and interesting. Bert

Sounds interesting and fun..... I will try to watch. Without notices like this, some of us would never hear of these events. By the way, it's "dual" meet (as in two-way) unless you are deliberately trying for a play on words with "duel". English major here........sorry ! Bert

Oops! 100 FR Men-Australia (One of three wins for Thorpe) Women-US (Thompson or Coughlin in either case US should win) What about world records? Anyone care to venture a prediction?

Got my tickets in the mail today and am psyched to cheer on the US in person! Here's how I think things will shake out on Sunday April 6th (5-3-2-1 individual; 7-0 relays No more than 3 entrants per event) 400 Free Relay Men-Australia Women-US 400 IM Men-US Women-Australia 100 BA Men-Australia Women-US 100 BR Men-US Women-US 100 FLY Men-US Women-US 200 BA Men-US Women-US 200 BR Men-US Women-US (Now the US has a pretty good lead based on their depth in strokes. Hold on here come the Aussies and their awesome freestylers. Things get interesting) 50 FR Men-Australia Women-US 200 FR Men-Australia Women-US (Australia picks up ground because of their depth on the men's side) 200 FL Men-US Women-Australia 800 FR Women-US 1500 FR Men-Australia (Australia has picke up more ground based on their strength in men's distance) 400 Medlay Relay Men-US Women-US (Both are close races but Team US triumphs as the hometown crowd cheers them on) In the unlikely event of a tie: 200 Mixed Medley Relay Coughlin, Moses, Phelps and Thompson can beat a relay composed of the best of the rest of the world in this event. Check out the details at: www.usaswimming.org/.../Duel.htm

I predict a $50,000 bonus going to Ed Moses for Two (2) world records, and the first time in ages that one swimmer will hold both these records. Ed has more speed than any other breaststroker every, he just has never had a perfect long course meters race. He is so far ahead of the rest of the world in the 200 short course meters it is amazing. So if he has that magic race you may see 57.7 in the 100 and 2:06+ in the 200 breaststrokes. He just may come through and really excite the home crowd!!! And he is the main reason why we will win the mens 400 medley relay and if it comes down to it, the mixed relay. Wayne McCauley

You forgot to make a call in the 100 Free!

Wayne: I agree that Ed Moses has a very good chance of setting two world records-although he will have to overcome his previous performances when the pressure is really on (2000 Olympic Trials in the 200 and his 100 *** in the Olympics). He does seem to swim much better with less competition-witness his incredible time trial. He has the talent and as a fellow (but much slower) breaststroker I'd love to see it. I do disagree, however, with your assertion that if there is a 200 mixed medley relay that Moses would be the "main reason" the US would win. I assert that in the unlikely event of such a tie-breaking relay it is Natalie Coughlin who will effectively end the race on the first leg. She is so far ahead of the rest of the world, and especially the Australians, in this event. The Aussies do have some decent men breaststrokers (not as good as Moses in the sprints) but no one can touch Natalie. She will simply gap the Aussies right off the start when she comes up at 15 meters-race over! There are a lot of very talented swimmers in the world right now, and quite a few will be swimming that day. Natalie however is in a class of her own and is the ONLY legitimate threat to repeat the Spitz performance in 1972. (Without the new format of prelims, semis, etc she would probably do it). Thorpe especially gets a lot of press but right now he is not favored or rank #1 in the four individual events-nor is Phelps. Natalie is a triple threat in the free/back/fly.

I do not think that at this moment Natalie Coughlin is as dominant long course meters as she should be. Her 49.9 hundred yards back should equate to a 57 in long course meters, the world was happy when she only did a 59+. I have looked at last years NCAA video tape a hundred times, she is awesome, gaining over a body length over everyone after the start and each turn. But swimming alone she is not as dominant. We are indeed fortunate that the Australian ladies are not as good as the europeans in free, back and fly. Natalie should win all three 100 meters races by at least a half a second. If this dual in the pool was shourt course meters she would get at least 6 golds. We finally have men who can do 51+ for 100 meter fly, that has been our weakest event since 1992. I hope they have underwater shots of the swimmers like the Olympics. We can all learn form the great swimmers. Wayne

Wayne: I agree with you that Moses is a better candidate for a world record that day then Natalie largely because she will swim two weeks after her shave/taper for NCAA and Moses will likely target Spring Nationals. A number of the US NCAA women swimmers will be at a similar "disadvantage". (The Men will have only one week from their taper). RE SCY/SCY vs LCM. I once asked John Flanagan, who has coached quite a few swimmers to success at all level, what "conversion factor" to use going from SC to LC--his answer was "none, there two different sports." Having said that, while you might think that Natalie "should" swim a 57 but "only" swims a 59 for LCM it still better than any other woman has managed so far.