2012 Olympics: Swimming
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Anyone else catch the interview Bob Costas did with Bela Karolyi after favorite Jordyn Wieber failed to qualify for the all-around competition? Only two gymnasts from each country are allowed in the all-around. Costas made a comparison to NCAA basketball. He said something like "it would be like if in the NCAA tournament only two teams from the Big Ten or the ACC were allowed into the tourney."
An equally fitting analogy would be that it's exactly like swimming at the Olympics.
@swimswamnews: FINA Breaks It's Own Rules at the London Aquatic Center
Interesting note from the S-squared folks. The swims themselves are not affected, but will there be an issue with record keeping? Do we need to put an "*" on these games?
Then again, I am sure this has happened before at some point. :bump:
I saw that, I couldn't believe they did it. And in the commercial break right before the race.
That's not the first time they've done that sort of thing. The other night they advertised the next night's 100 *** final featuring Brendan Hansen, when they hadn't shown the semifinals yet. Now imagine if you were a Shanteau fan and you didn't know the outcome yet...
I'm a bit emotional right now, having just watched the 4x100 relay, so forgive me. That was a disaster. At least when Bernard gave away the lead in 2008, it was to the fastest split in world history. The Frenchman swam great, but there is no excuse for putting a middle distance swimmer like Lochte on as the anchor leg of a 4x100. He's the hot swimmer right now and is on every magazine, but the coaches have to be more clear-headed than that. Matt Grevers should have been on that relay, with Phelps as the anchor leg.
Phelps as anchor? Going into the relay, all you knew is that he died in the 400 IM and swam slower than he did at Trials, and you're going to have him anchor? I'm glad Phelps split well, but that's pure hindsight.
Don't sell Agnel's split too short, a 46.7 in jammers isn't all that much slower than Lezak's split in a full-body cheating suit.
It was a risky move that backfired, complicated by the fact that Troy is the head US coach. Hindsight is wonderful, but everyone here acting like they know so much more than some of the best coaches in the world is just plain ridiculous, and a little sad. All we need is some belching and beer to complete the picture.
Having Grevers on the relay would almost certainly not made any difference. On paper the Australians should have crushed everybody, but relays have their own magic. Sheesh, the French swam a great relay -- and so did the US by the way -- time to give them credit rather than just bash a coaching decision.
Hooray for Brendan Hansen by the way. Walks away from his career with a medal and a victory over his old nemesis! I liked it when he said it'll be the shiniest bronze medal you've ever seen.
I'm as happy for Brendan Hansen as the next guy, but I think Cameron van der Burgh's backstory is at least as compelling. I gather he was a close friend and training partner of Alexander Dale Oen's. Would have been nice if NBC had at least mentioned that.
Yet another criticism of NBC's "coverage" of the Olympics.
Skip
Franklin espn.go.com/.../2012-olympics-missy-franklin-blossoms-olympic-champion
Never did they think the Aquatics Centre would be set up in such a way that it would be a seven-minute walk to the warm-down pool and USA Swimming would have to ask for special permission for Franklin to do her warm-down swim in the diving well, smack in front of some 17,000 gawking spectators.
Yet that's exactly what happened. After conserving her legs and qualifying eighth in the 200 free, Franklin climbed out of the competition pool, walked to the diving well, and began swimming back and forth for all to see. She stopped only for a quick drink of water.
After about 10 minutes, she climbed out of the pool and headed straight to the ready room where her rested competitors waited. In the end, her usual 1,200-meter cooldown, designed to lower her heart rate and remove the lactic acid from her muscles, was reduced to 375 meters. In other words, her recovery was nearly 75 percent incomplete.
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In the end, her usual 1,200-meter cooldown, designed to lower her heart rate and remove the lactic acid from her muscles, was reduced to 375 meters. In other words, her recovery was nearly 75 percent incomplete
So my little to none warmup isn't ideal? Now you tell me! :bouncing:
I'm also mad at NBC for no mention of Alexander Dale Oen on their prime time show.
Agreed. You would think Kitajima/Hansen was the only story ever in the men's 100BR.
