2012 Olympics: Swimming
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Comparing finishing 2nd (Lochte in the 4x100) or 3rd (Hansen in the 100 br). That is the question? see link to NPR:
I think you have to look at the athletes situation and how he is performing at the time of competition. Brenden Hansen should be really happy winning the bronze medal because a lot of people counted him out to get to the podium and he beat that man that has given him nightmares in the last 2 Olympics. To compare this same bronze medal to the bronze medal that Brenden Hansen won in the 200 *** at 2004 Olympics and its different. He was not happy losing to Kitajimi and Gyurta because he was the Number 1 swimmer in the World and the World Record holder before the final started.
In contrast, Ryan Lochte was in first place in the 400 Free Relay and because he was caught he felt he let his teammates down. If he would have been behind, maybe, just maybe he wouldn't be so disappointed.
Now there is not a swimmer on earth with his skills and abilities that would not be disappointed in getting a bronze in the 200 Back especially with his history in this event in the last 6 years. The 200 IM is hard to figure because he didn't have time to analyze what went wrong if anything and he had to get himself up to swim Phelps.
Phelps was under pressure to win his first individual gold and be the first male to 3 peat. This was his third opportunity to do this and he didn't want this to slip away. I honestly don't think Ryan was as disappointed in this effort as he was in the 200 Back and I don't think it was because he got a higher medal (silver). I think he would have been disappointed in a silver also in the 200 Back. He let an opportunity slip away to defend his Olympic Championship and now he has to deal with Clary and Irie in future to get back on top in this event.
Comparing finishing 2nd (Lochte in the 4x100) or 3rd (Hansen in the 100 br). That is the question? see link to NPR:
www.npr.org/.../would-you-rather-win-silver-or-bronze-be-careful-what-you-wish-for
Or 5th in the 200 breaststroke (Scott Weltz) when your college swimming program has been cancelled (UC Davis) and no one thought you'd make the Olympics at all? It's too easy to lose sight of how amazing all of these swimmers are!
OK NBC!!????? :bitching:
Quote (at least pretty close) from the broadcast on TV prior to commercial:
"Rebecca Soni, New Jersey native, training in California, has achieved Gold in her 200 Meter Breaststroke Final. And coming up after this, we'll show it to you."
WTF?????
Especially for those who don't want to know ahead of time before viewing it on tv at night??
Grrrrrrrr!!!!!! :bitching:
The US women have a chance at the medley relay wr
The current wr is
3:52.19
(58.98)
(1:04.12)
(56.28)
(52.81)
If everyone swims well, they have a shot.
Franklin- 58.3
Soni- 1:05.0
Volmer- 55.5
Schmitt- 53.2
=3:52.00
I think Soni and Volmer have a little more to give than their individual performances. Australia will be challenging the US for gold and hopefully that pushes the US to break the world record. It would be a fantastic way to end the meet.
I thought you had to turn 16 sometime during the Olympic year to be able to compete. I know that's the rule in some sports such as gymnastics and figure skating. Apparently swimming is exempt from the rule since they mentioned Ledecky turned 15 in March.