Since this seems to be about the only place on the internet where it's acceptable to be a swimming fan, my thoughts on this meet:
1. What exactly is wrong with the Europeans? They probably were a weaker team but they were clearly capable of more then they produced. Almost universally they swam slower than the did at Euro SC just a couple of weeks ago. Friis, Joensen, the women's 4x100 team and Simmons showed up to race, the rest mostly seemed like they hardly could be bothered. Get the Germans, French, Italians and Russians to commit in force, get them excited and lets make this a real competition.
2. I'm so glad to see Ricky Berens show up at a big meet. His anchor 100 was a thing of beauty. That may have been the best relay start I've ever seen.
3. Grevers is awesome.
4. Caitlin Leverenz in the 200 IM was probably the swim of the meet for me. Her breaststroke leg was just sick. She needs to work on her free and I could easily see a medal for her in London.
5. Missy Franklin made a lot of mistakes and still rocked. Two 51.3 splits in one meet. What's scary is that she still has so much upside potential with her starts and turns. I could see her easily cracking 53 individually next year if she can get some good long course training in.
6. Otteson's interview cracked me up, finally a European with some fire. Simmons seemed pretty cool as well.
7. The US needs help in the 200 fly, 2 American records was a huge surprise to me.
8. Cseh has the weirdest fly in the world. That should not work. Those bug-eyed goggles and perma-shaved head add to his alien vibe. Just a strange dude in the water.
9. Bence Biczo is the most fun name to say in the world, but it needs to be said is a really bad Italian accent for some reason (I know he's Hungarian).
10. I hope to God Clary's OK.
Since this seems to be about the only place on the internet where it's acceptable to be a swimming fan, my thoughts on this meet:
1. What exactly is wrong with the Europeans? They probably were a weaker team but they were clearly capable of more then they produced. Almost universally they swam slower than the did at Euro SC just a couple of weeks ago. Friis, Joensen, the women's 4x100 team and Simmons showed up to race, the rest mostly seemed like they hardly could be bothered. Get the Germans, French, Italians and Russians to commit in force, get them excited and lets make this a real competition.
2. I'm so glad to see Ricky Berens show up at a big meet. His anchor 100 was a thing of beauty. That may have been the best relay start I've ever seen.
3. Grevers is awesome.
4. Caitlin Leverenz in the 200 IM was probably the swim of the meet for me. Her breaststroke leg was just sick. She needs to work on her free and I could easily see a medal for her in London.
5. Missy Franklin made a lot of mistakes and still rocked. Two 51.3 splits in one meet. What's scary is that she still has so much upside potential with her starts and turns. I could see her easily cracking 53 individually next year if she can get some good long course training in.
6. Otteson's interview cracked me up, finally a European with some fire. Simmons seemed pretty cool as well.
7. The US needs help in the 200 fly, 2 American records was a huge surprise to me.
8. Cseh has the weirdest fly in the world. That should not work. Those bug-eyed goggles and perma-shaved head add to his alien vibe. Just a strange dude in the water.
9. Bence Biczo is the most fun name to say in the world, but it needs to be said is a really bad Italian accent for some reason (I know he's Hungarian).
10. I hope to God Clary's OK.
