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Some of y'all missed a great chat with John Lohn last night. Thanks to everyone who made it, including a couple of new folks, and thanks of course to John for not only coming but staying so long even though he had guests. It was a lot of fun.
Rowdy Gaines next week. Don't miss it!
Walker Takes Leave of Absence from University of Texas
Gaines to be inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Aaron Peirsol makes appearance at Bozeman Swim Center
Australia in Support of Video Replay
Australia also thinks there are too many major events with Worlds every year, Pan Pacific and Commonwealth games, etc. It seems to me it's better to have so many opportunities to break records, win medals and earn some money and since there are several countries in the Pan Pacific region who are ineligible for the Commonwealth games it hardly makes sense to say there should only be one or the other each year. What do you guys think?
And another new member who's sent in a photo for the blogger gallery.
Mika!
Rowdy Gaines next week. Don't miss it!
Walker Takes Leave of Absence from University of Texas
Gaines to be inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Aaron Peirsol makes appearance at Bozeman Swim Center
Australia in Support of Video Replay
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Japan's Kosuke Kitajima used an obvious dolphin kick off the start and turn in his narrow victory in the 100 breaststroke over American Brendan Hansen. While the dolphin kick has since been legalized, at the time of Kitajima's use, it was a forbidden move. As for this past summer, Australia's Jessicah Schipper lost gold in the 200 butterfly at the World Championships when Poland's Otylia Jedrzejczak used an apparent one-hand touch at the finish.
Australia also thinks there are too many major events with Worlds every year, Pan Pacific and Commonwealth games, etc. It seems to me it's better to have so many opportunities to break records, win medals and earn some money and since there are several countries in the Pan Pacific region who are ineligible for the Commonwealth games it hardly makes sense to say there should only be one or the other each year. What do you guys think?
And another new member who's sent in a photo for the blogger gallery.
Mika!
posted by Michelle at
10/17/2005 12:13:00 PM
11 Comments:
Major congrats to Rowdy! I'm pretty excited he was voted in. One of my picks of course.
Sorry I missed the bulk of the chat. I set my alarm to get up early but evidently I slept on through it. Drat ;)
Hi Mika! *waves*
By
blairbecky, at 10/17/2005 12:52 PM
Oops...forgot to throw in my opinion on the too-many-championships theory. I agree that the more the merrier. If they want the sport to grow they need to let it. It would also be nice to see more usa championships be held. Besides trials are there any major events just for the US?
By
blairbecky, at 10/17/2005 12:55 PM
lala said...
MIka is adorable as is UT Gina! I forgot to post the day her picture was posted.
Lots of interesting news. I am thrilled about Rowdy's induction into the Hall of Fame. He really has been one of the most recurring faces for me being in the same age groups as I am. I am always thrilled to hear his name at the beginning of a televised swimming event because it tells me there is someone there who knows the sport and loves it. I really enjoy Dara Torres too but she doesn't get as Rowdy as Rowdy! He's so much fun.
About the video replay.. Mixed emotions. I think they need to get officials who are not going to be cowed by the popularity of a swimmer. I mean nobody wants to DQ a champion and humanitarian like Otylia Jedrzejczak.. but sometimes people make and error. And there can only be one winner at these world competitions and reputation should not make you the winner. That was Jess Schippers race, and her World Record. And if spectators can see it.... the officials should be able to. I think this should be only in the case of protest though. Otherwise what would they have to do.. have an official just to watch the video footage? I guess if they did that would be okay too. But if they had been able to use that footage in Montreal, probably 5 out of 8 of the contestants for the Men's 100 Breast would have been DQ's for illeagal kicks. That sure would rattle things up wouldn't i?. And I am not even gunna mention Backstrokers who pop up late. Oops... Looks like I mentioned it.
10/17/2005 5:08 PM
By
lala, at 10/17/2005 5:18 PM
Sorry that I missed the chat last night but I knew that I would stay on too long and with my early morning wake-up call, did not think it would have been wise.
Mika, how cute you are!!! It is so nice to see the face behind the name, especially for me because I am really bad when it comes to names but most of you know that already. Would love to see some more.
I did not read all of the articles posted but did read the comments....I vote for 'go to video'. My reasoning may appear prejudice but truly it is not. Any athlete that reaches this level of competition knows what is legal and what is not. I cannot justify in my own mind, no matter how great/well-known the name, how some still get away with illegal moves. These athletes train so hard and give up so much, to allow another to wear the gold when an illegal move was done during the race, is just completely wrong. As many know this happened to Brendan, but not just in the Olympics it also happened in 2003 Worlds, where spectators saw what was done by another swimmer who shall remain nameless. I believe this is the reason Aaron reacted the way he did at the 100 breast in Athens...they saw it happen too many times in the past. Another point too, football uses replay all of the time, why not for swimming?
Special congrats to Rowdy!!! Lala is right...he gets so excited, he knows the sport, and gives others a greater appreciation for how hard these swimmers work to produce good times. Sometimes we just expect it and fail to realize how difficult it is to stay on top of your game for years at a time...he reminds us in such a nice way.
By
Aunt K, at 10/17/2005 5:46 PM
Awww Aunt K...You're so sweet! I definitely realize now where Brendan gets it from!
And congrats to Rowdy!
By
Mika, at 10/17/2005 7:29 PM
Haha first: Mika, you are too adorable! That's such a great picture.
second: MAJOR congrats to Rowdy. It's nice to see him getting the recognition. He's done so much for the sport, he really deserved it. *claps*
third: Go to video. I do see your points lala, but I have to agree that in the end, it makes sense to go to vid, like all other sports, in order for it to be fair.
fourth: damn, lala and aunt K, you ladies can write! haha.
By
Sarah, at 10/17/2005 8:28 PM
It is not a meet for me unless I hear Rowdy's voice! He is soo good and knows those swimmers so well it is hard for me to listen to anyone else. He has spoiled me.
Mika, you look great, thanks for putting a face behind a name! Helps us old folks.
I agree with Lala and Aunt K. If you want to clean up the sport find out what is going on UNDER the water. Unfortuately, officials are just there for show. This year certainly proved that with the guy right over the wall. I might also add, even though Brendan won his race, illegal kicks, two, were done in his race as well.
Kudo's to Australia for taking this project on and fighting for the honest athlete.
By
Mrs. H, at 10/18/2005 7:58 AM
I didn't know that about Bren's race. Well,at least now it will be straight across the board for the dolphin kick. It doesn't make up for all the times it was missed but I'm glad that Bren can now add it to his race. It's a shame that it hurts the people that pride themself on swimming a clean race. I'm all for video especially if the rules for a sport are so precise and technical.
By
blairbecky, at 10/18/2005 12:33 PM
Blair, if you go back and watch the underwater footage of worlds during the 100 Breast, you can see several guys on the turn do a bad kick. Brendan is about the only one to glide properly before the pullout. It was scandalous. I hope the Aussies are strong enough to pull everyone else on the train with them. But they along with he US were also against implementing the dolphin kick on the breastroke.
By
lala, at 10/18/2005 6:59 PM
Darn, now that everyone knows the news, i have to think of a new question for the chat...darn.
I am also a supporter of video replay because anything that makes the sport fairer should be instituted so that everyone has an equal chance? right?
Like your picture mika :)
By
Timtheswimmer, at 10/19/2005 8:07 AM
News: "Amanda Weir Joins the Trojans"
Swimming World Magazine Article
After leaving the Georgia Dawgs, she moves to Southern California.
By
Timtheswimmer, at 10/19/2005 8:10 AM
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