2009 FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2009 Series
16 – 17 October 2009 Durban (RSA) RESULTS
23 – 25 October 2009 Rio de Janeiro (BRA) (cancelled)
6 – 7 November 2009 Moscow (RUS)
10 – 11 November 2009 Stockholm (SWE)
14 – 15 November 2009 Berlin (GER)
21 – 22 November 2009 Singapore (SIN)
the site wrote:
"We would like to remind you that every swimmer participating to the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2009 Series shall only wear a swimsuit approved by FINA as published on the FINA website.
Phelps looks silly ... but I think this will fuel him for next season. He is going to take the image of these beatings home and "repay" it next year.
Biedermann looked amazing - he just crushed the field. He is going to destroy Phelps in the 200 Free, if Phelps even makes the final....
I don't think he looks silly at all. Phelps has nothing to prove to anyone at this point. I think he is running jammers because he took some time off and isn't in his usual competition condition. It gives him a place to go mentally when he doesn't perform up to his incredibly high standards. It helps him to get ready for next year, losing the feel of the body suits early. It probably gives him a little boost (and strikes yet more fear into the hearts of his competitors) when he does well: (a) in jammers; (b) out of shape; and (c) sporting facial hair. If he doesn't make the finals, he can easily, at least superficially, say "oh well, no worries," relying on a, b, & c.
That said, he is one of the fiercest competitors ever seen in the sport. Any beatdown he suffers by anyone at any time for any reason and despite any genuine, reasonable excuse seems to resonate deeply with him, and frequently motivates him to some super-human performance (e.g. 100 fly re-match with Cavic). He and Bowman have a great handle on how to light his fire when necessary, but also understand how not to light it too early or too often.
I think he's setting himself up perfectly for a post-suit competition world.
Phelps looks silly ... but I think this will fuel him for next season. He is going to take the image of these beatings home and "repay" it next year.
Biedermann looked amazing - he just crushed the field. He is going to destroy Phelps in the 200 Free, if Phelps even makes the final....
I don't think he looks silly at all. Phelps has nothing to prove to anyone at this point. I think he is running jammers because he took some time off and isn't in his usual competition condition. It gives him a place to go mentally when he doesn't perform up to his incredibly high standards. It helps him to get ready for next year, losing the feel of the body suits early. It probably gives him a little boost (and strikes yet more fear into the hearts of his competitors) when he does well: (a) in jammers; (b) out of shape; and (c) sporting facial hair. If he doesn't make the finals, he can easily, at least superficially, say "oh well, no worries," relying on a, b, & c.
That said, he is one of the fiercest competitors ever seen in the sport. Any beatdown he suffers by anyone at any time for any reason and despite any genuine, reasonable excuse seems to resonate deeply with him, and frequently motivates him to some super-human performance (e.g. 100 fly re-match with Cavic). He and Bowman have a great handle on how to light his fire when necessary, but also understand how not to light it too early or too often.
I think he's setting himself up perfectly for a post-suit competition world.
