I had a good seat just above the finish line, but up high.
Prelims the weather was nice overcast. Some good swims in prelims indicated the best races would be the mens 400 free, and it was.
Prelims ended at 11 am, sat down to lunch, and who sets down next to me? Just the best looking and one of the greatest women swimmers ever, DARA Torres. Still looking like she could beat the other women, and still beautiful. She swam in the 1984, 88, 92 and 2000 Olympics!!!! Made my day, the first time I saw her was in 1988 and she lit up the airport with her smile.
Then had a drink with Mo Chambers and her husband. Mo writes the great workouts and is one of the woderful masters coaches and people we have.
Then the first event, WOW 4:08.41 by Michael Phelps
Splits:
Fly 55.66
Back 1:02.19
*** 1:12.90 (great split)
Free 57.66
Some good swims in the womens 100 fly prelims, took 59 seconds to make the finals.
Then the best race of the night, mens 400 free, Keller in 3:44.19
beating Phelps american record by almost two seconds. And the kid from Mission Viejo swam a great 4:46
This was the USAs worst event for the last 3 Olympics, but if the Torpedo has a poor day Klete will be there.
Then a 15 year old girl broke Summer Sanders american record in the 400 IM with a very good 4:37
Mens 100 *** semi finals were good, Hansen swam an American record 1:00.19 and looked good. Moses did not look good, so my prediction of Hansen in 59+
Of course I always look like a cooked lobster at these meets, darn Scottish background I never tan. At least I used sun tan lotion:D
Former Member
Had lots of FUN today. Became an official member of the Brendan Hansen family. They gave me a Nike hat, Brendan wears Nike suits!!!
We expected 33.5 and 33.5 for laps 3 and 4, he went out fast at 1:01.88 and did 33.50 and 33.66 for the last two laps. We hear the pool has a real wave the swimmers have to fight, as it is the same depth the whole way. Some might consider it a slow pool, compared to say Indy.
Phelps is swimming so many events, and is not ducking anyone. He will have to swim against the Thorpedo and the best of the world in the 200 free, and against Piersol in the 200 back. And he still has to beat Tom Malchow in the 200 fly. The Ian Crocker in the 100 fly!!
Saw Jim Miller, USMS President, and Jeff Farrell, the 1956 Olympic swimmer who swims in SPMA:D :D
Bill Mullikan (Gold 200 *** 1956) presented Brendan Hansen with his gold medal, Bill also swims masters.
Former Member
OK guys, Summer was a babe, just last time I saw her swim she was so tan it was a turn off. I have been talking to the men arround the pool deck, and the concensious is Amanda is babe-a-liciuos, I believe is the word most used. Other words such a booty were mentioned.
Actually there were finally three grab starts today, all in the mens 200 *** prelims, heat 2 lane 7, heat 3 lane 8 and heat 4 lane 8. Only one looked very good off the start, Patrick Fowler. The other two did not gain anything over the track starters.
Staciana Stitts has Alopecia, check out www.naaf.org/.../story.asp
She is all lady, she was sitting with her boyfriend during prelims before the 100 *** finals. I think sitting on those hard seats hurt her performance in the finals.
Allen, don't get too fast. You are fast enough and you are in my age group.:D :D Actually what some people saw in the breaststrokes is some swimmers are using the lats by pulling like a butterfly pull rather than the traditional scull out and scull in. What these swimmers gain most is the ability to kick with their head underwater more. Almost a pull - kick and glide:p
I am sitting with Brendan Hansens dad and extended family. Todays swims were easy!!! Take that to the bank, a new world record tomorrow in the mens 200 ***. I predict him out in 1:02.1 and back in 1:06.8. Anything faster than 1:02 will lower the record more!
Here's a picture that, up until now, many of us thought we'd never see. D Carson brought this to my attention. Yes, that's Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps.
Former Member
Having met Mark Spitz many times at our UCLA swim meets, I was surprised at how well he handled the presentation of the medal for the 200 meter fly, and how gracious he was towards Phelps. Spitx came up several notches in everyones eyes by his genuine display of "handing the mantle of greatness" over to Phelps.
Mark never backed out of his quest, and he had some great competition. Few remember he set a world record in EVERY event he swam.
Phelps is going after the best in the world, he is a true winner even if he looses the 100 fly tomorrow.
Former Member
Originally posted by knelson
Favorite picture so far from the swimcam gallery:
www.usaswimming.org/.../1239m373627ac-4236-408a-8517-0df5463fffff.jpg
OK, for some reason this shows up as a link not a photo. Maybe the administrator has turned off the ability to link to photos directly.
What is most impressive to me is how little he's disturbing the water as he swims.
Tomorrow is going to be great. We'll get to see Michael Phelps swim finals in two events (200 back and 200 IM) within minutes of each other. I think it's safe to say no one else on earth could pull that off.
How about Kaitlin Sandeno? No one really said much about her beforehand, but here she is already having qualified in four events. She could qualify in the 800 free, too, but she hinted on TV tonight that she could scratch that. I think she should go for it!
And Dana and Tara Kirk the first time sisters have qualified for the same Olympic team.
Former Member
Originally posted by DocWhoRocks
I really hope Scott Usher makes it in the 100 *** - GO WYOMING!!!! :D
Well Scott didn't make the 100 br. - got 3rd :(
But he had an incredible 200 br. and made the team!!! WAY TO GO SCOTT! Dropped over 3 seconds from his original seed time. I'm really happy for him.
Former Member
Kaitlin Sandeno has been increadible. The croud continues to buzz every time she swims. She is rapidly becoming the croud favorite. At the Olympics don't count her out on anything.
