Saw the women's race coverage on USA network. Very interesting strategy by the British girls -- swimming next to each other the entire way. It cost them a lot more energy - but made it very difficult to be passed in the end. The Russian girl had an amazing kick, but the German girl could not find a way to pass them.
Also noticed how little these girls had to look to the front - my money is on Davies (pool swimmer) and Lurz (best combo of pool and Open water swimmer).
It'd be nice if I could watch it, but NBC has shut those of us with Intel-less Macs out of the online videos completely. Instead, I'm watching platform diving, which is certainly interesting, but it isn't what I want to be watching. Ugh. :mad:
yeah, I saw where Davies had to swim back in line or something. Davies got out of the water and was lying on his back. I didn't see the stretcher part. Well, at least, he got silver and he could always come back in 4 years. All I know is that field looked like they were flying. I really need to do a flat water open water race. I hate doing open water swims against ocean waves.
One of the things the text commentator pointed out was how much difference in pool speed there was between the four or five leading men. Davies' best pool 1500 was 10-20s faster than any of the others (as I recall) but OW technique and maybe also superior stamina for the longer distance kept the others right with him the whole way.
Steve Munatones was doing the commentating. He also did the women's race.
He's absolutely amazing with how much he knows about the sport. I hope to see him continue doing more stuff like that.
I saw the highlights on the web. The guy that won it survived cancer. The British guy who finaled in the 1500 got silver. Davies was leading most of the way until the Dutch guy passed him. The setup was very interesting. They dive in and have to touch a pad at the end. If more open water swims were like that, I might do more. I hate to run to the finish line.
The British guy who finaled in the 1500 got silver. Davies was leading most of the way until the Dutch guy passed him.
His inexperience really cost him. He insisted on leading the entire way (like his countrywoman did) even though he couldn't get far enough away from the rest to drop them for good. Then also, he probably swam 100m farther on the final approach than the winner did.
One of the things the text commentator pointed out was how much difference in pool speed there was between the four or five leading men. Davies' best pool 1500 was 10-20s faster than any of the others (as I recall) but OW technique and maybe also superior stamina for the longer distance kept the others right with him the whole way.
At the end of the video they showed them walking up to the medal ceremony, not very long after finishing the race. They all walked as if they were in pain, especially Davies. He had been carried away from the finish area on a stretcher.
