New Suits Mean No More Records in Swimming
By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer
Yesterday, 3:01 AM
Excerpt:
As world championships approach, swimming's world record drought reaches 18 months
Swimming's world-record drought has reached 18 months, and as next month's world championships in Shanghai draw nearer the sport's close-knit community is starting to wonder when it will be broken.
. . .
Besides the suits, another noticeable change on the pool deck these days is swimmer's physiques, especially among the men, since overall mass seemed to improve performance in the more floatable rubberized suits.
"They've all suddenly gotten smaller and slimmed down," observed Coventry, who took a year off after the 2009 worlds.
From abcnews.go.com/story
A few ppl knocking on the door last summer, I think there will be at least one this year. Predictions?
how about Lochte 200 IM & maybe 400 IM too, he broke the SCM WRs in a jammer.
maybe Phelps 200 FL?
Sun Yang in the 1500
A big +1 to that. He's also got a good chance in the 800 and 400. He's top-ranked in the world in the 200 but I don't think he'll threaten the record there.
Some others to watch are Rebecca Soni and Camille LaCourt.
Sun Yang in the 1500, the only pre-2008 men's record.Yes on this, but I'd also watch out for Park Tae-Hwan. He looked very good from the 100 on up at Santa Clara. With his speed and his record of endurance, I think he'll be a threat to Sun Yang in the 400.
On a not-so-related note, why hasn't this guy been fired yet:
"USA Swimming wants to see the rules currently in place for suits remain in place," USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus
His handling of the whole athlete abuse scandal was horrendous, but maybe a stone-age mindset also explains his stone-age approach to technology.
A few ppl knocking on the door last summer, I think there will be at least one this year. Predictions?
Sun Yang in the 1500, the only pre-2008 men's record.
Park Tae-Hwan was very impressive at Santa Clara. His stroke is extremely smooth. Even in his 100m free when he was pulling away from everyone he was hardly splashing at all:
YouTube - ‪2011 Santa Clara International Grand Prix Men's 100m Freestyle A Final‬
Excellent observation. It was amazing--virtually no splash whatsoever. He also made up a lot of ground off the turn. And his kick--again, no splash--seemed to stir up the kind of wake you might see with an outboard motor.
