122. Deutsche Meisterschaften - German Nationals

German Nationals start today and like a number of other major swimming federations they offer a live stream (Britain - Catch up). Its a tremendous way to see swimmers that you'd otherwise have to wait until a major competition to get a look at. Most eyes will be on Paul Biedermann to see what times he can acheive, however Germany also has a strong crop of youngsters coming through which includes:-
- Silke Lippok, 16, who swam 54.99 in the 100m Free at the German Youth Championships
- Christian vom Lehn, 18, who swam 2:13.38 in the 200m Breast at German Youths
- Bastian Vollmer, 17, who swam 28.87 in the 50m Breast at German Youths.
(Thanks to @swimsportnews for the results)

Other senior swimmers to watch out for are Hendrik Feldwehr, Daniela Samulksi, Benjamin Starke, Yannick Lebherz, Jenny Mensing, Marco Koch, Caroline Ruhnau, Steffen Diebler, Dorothea Brandt and Annika Mehlhorn.

Live Stream - Here

Startlists and Results - Here

LiveTiming - Here

Paris Open - Recap

The Paris Open is over for another year. In NFL Draft style, I thought I would grade some of the star swimmers that were on display:-

Michael Phelps - C

Phelps himself is reported to have said he was 'disgusted' with his swims in Paris. That might be going a little far for a non-tapered event but certainly highlights the less than stellar year Phelps has had so far. Its a measure of his greatness that he can be upset after swimming 1:55.70 in the 200m Fly, 1:58.95 in the 200m IM, 49.44 in them 100m Free and 1:47.24 for the 200m Free.

Cesar Cielo - A

Just when it looked like Fred Bousquet was starting to establish himself as the no.1 50m Freestyler in the world, Cesar Cielo re-affirmed his supremacy. Of all the textile records in swimming, Alex Popov's 21.64 was the most iconic. Popov, wearing briefs, stunned the world with the time in 2000. Whilst Cielo's 21.55 will not go down in official record books, it will help towards Cielo going down as one of the sport's greatest sprinters. In his relatively short career (he is still only 23) here are Cielo's acheivements:-
Olympic Gold - 50m Free, Olympic Bronze - 100m Free,
World Champion - 50m Free and 100m Free,
World Record Holder - 50m Free and 100m Free,
Textile Best Time - 50m Free.

Alain Bernard - D

Bernard was the face of this year's Paris Open and despite lowering expectations before this meet I expected him to come out fighting this weekend. I predicted that Bernard would win the 100m Free and make the top 3 in the 50m Free, in the end he had to watch both finals from the stands. 22.73 and 50.44 are less than encouraging heat swims with Europeans not too far away. Bernard has a history of not getting it right in the heats and missing finals, something which might just come back to haunt him at major competitions in the future... He also has a habit of swimming fast (in finals) at the big meets.

Camille Muffat - B+

As I've mentioned before, Muffat, 20, is one of the most underrated female swimmers currently. Muffat took victory in the 200m Free (1:56.92) and 200m IM (2:11.18) and second in a tight 400m Free (4:05.49). Muffat moved to 2nd in the world on the 200m Free, 3rd on the 400m Free and 4th on the 400m IM.

She is also showing a tremendous level of consistency. She holds 5 of the Top 25 times in the 200m Free, 4 of the Top 25 on the 400m Free and 7 of the Top 16 times on the 200m IM.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo - B

Kromowidjojo underlined her favourite status for European's with strong performances in the 50m Free (24.54) and 100m Free (54.08). Kromowidjojo owns the Top 3 times in the 100m Free this year and after Therese Alshammar's 24.27 owns the next 3 fastest times in the world on the 50m Free. Excitingly for Dutch swimming enthusiasts, Kromowidjojo is still just 19 years of age.

Elizabeth Simmonds - B

In the 200m Back Simmonds came out on top in likely her only LC duel with American youngster Elizabeth Pelton in 2010. With the major global meets fast approaching Simmonds has shown herself to be the woman to beat on the 200m Back. She currently owns 6 of the Top 10 times in the world this year. Simmonds' fastest time this year of 2:06.79 is just 0.17 secs off Krisztina Egerszegi's textile best time of 2:06.62 set at the 1991 European Championships. Expect this to go at Commonwealths, if not at Europeans.

Nathan Adrian - B+

Nathan Adrian put in some strong times in Paris that certainly whet the appetite ahead of US Nationals and Pan Pacs in August. 22.01 on the 50m Free and 48.83 on the 100m Free are very strong times for Adrian's stage of the season.

Yannick Agnel - A

2010 was already a breakout year for Yannick Agnel but he made the world take notice by taking down Michael Phelps in the 200m Free. He bettered his own best time in the world this year in the 200m Free with a 1:46.30. With 3 of the top 4 times in the world this year on the 200m Free some might see him as favourite for the Europeans. I personally think Paul Biedermann will get the better of him in Budapest but to be swimming these times at the age of 17 is remarkable. He is also showing his strength in the 100m Free with a 2nd placed (tied with Adrian) finish in a time of 48.83.

Here's a stat worth keeping a close eye on over the next few years - Head-to-Heads vs. Michael Phelps in Finals - Agnel - 2, Phelps - 0.

Camille Lacourt - B+

Lacourt won the 50m Back (24.82) and 100m Back (53.73) at Paris. In doing so he took down some major competitors (Liam Tancock, Randall Bal, Aristeidis Grigoriadis). Lacourt's emergence could be very interesting for the French 4 x 100m Medley Relay team's chances. The freestyle team is well known and that leg of the relay is certainly taken care of. With Hugues Duboscq offering a strong Breaststroke and Lacourt now offering the French a world class Backstroke leg the Butterfly leg is the one piece missing in the puzzle. If Clement Lefert, Romain Sassot or even Fred Bousquet can keep the French within striking distance before handing over to Bernard or Gilot the French could cause a major upset this year or next.

*Newsflash* - Cesar Cielo breaks Popov's textile best mark

Cesar Cielo has broken the iconic former world record and textile best time of Alexander Popov. Cielo raced to win in a lightning quick time of 21.55 at the Paris Open to become the fastest man ever in a textile suit. Cielo can add this accolade to his non-textile suit WR of 20.91.

Popov's time of 21.64 was set in 2000.

Full result

1 CIELO Cesar Brésil 21.55
2 GILOT Fabien France 21.83
3 BOUSQUET Frédérick France 21.95
4 ADRIAN Nathan Etats-Unis 22.01
5 BOVELL George Trinite El Tobago 22.33
5 SCHOEMAN Roland Afrique du Sud 22.33
7 DOTTO Luca Italie 22.78
8 MANAUDOU Florent France 22.83

A Speed_Endurance Exclusive Start List for 4e OPEN EDF de Natation 2010 - Paris Open & Preview

This year's Paris Open has turned into one of the most anticipated meets of 2010. The lack of a major global competition this year means that this meet represents one of the few chances to see some of the world's best compete head-to-head in LC metres. This is no more apparent than in the men's sprint events.

The event organisers deserve a Toulouse-Lautrec sized 'chapeau' for their ability to draw the world's top male sprinters. Competing this weekend are the French contingent of Fred Bousquet, Alain Bernard, Yannick Agnel and Fabien Gilot, Brazil's sprint sensation Cesar Cielo, South Africa's Roland Schoeman, Trinidad's George Bovell, Italy's Filippo Magnini, Poland's up and coming sprinter Konrad Czerniak and most impressively the American duo of Nathan Adrian and.... wait for it..... Michael Phelps.

Phelps is set to compete in the 100m Free, 200m Free, 200m Butterfly and 200m IM. Whilst it is exciting to see swimming's biggest star race each and every time, especially on foreign soil, it's his decision to go up against the world's best in the 100m Freestyle that is perhaps the biggest talking point. Phelps will have to produce something very special to get the better of the swimmers listed above, especially given his relatively (by Phelps' high standards) slow start to 2010.

The women's events see the French going up a small but strong Dutch, British and American contingent. Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Femke Heemskerk and Hinkelien Schreuder head up Holland's challenge with Elizabeth Simmonds and Francesca Halsall representing Britain's interest. The US women include Allison Schmitt, Felicia Lee and Elizabeth Pelton with more international star power being added by Sweden's Therese Alshammar, Romania's Camelia Potec and Serbia's Nadia Higl.

The French will be looking to Camille Muffat, Coralie Balmy, Alexianne Castel and Aurore Mongel to fend off their international challengers.

Start List here (speed_endurance exclusive)

Results will appear here

Predictions

Women

Women

50m Free

1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo
2. Hinkelien Schreuder
3. Femke Heemskerk

100m Free

1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo
2. Francesca Hansall
3. Femke Heemskerk

200m Free

1. Camille Muffat
2. Femke Heemskerk
3. Allison Schmitt

400m Free

1. Camille Muffat
2. Coralie Balmy
3. Allison Schmitt

800m Free

1. Camelia Potec
2. Grainne Murphy
3. Nuala Murphy

50m Back

1. Elizabeth Simmonds
2. Theodora Drakou
3. Alexianne Castel

100m Back

1. Elizabeth Simmonds
2. Alexianne Castel
3. Elizabeth Pelton

200m Back

1. Elizabeth Simmonds
2. Elizabeth Pelton
3. Alexianne Castel

50m Breast

1. Moniek Nijhuis
2. Maria Michalaka
3. Kate Haywood

100m Breast

1. Nadja Higl
2. Moniek Nijhuis
3. Maria Michalaka

200m Breast

1. Nadja Higl
2. Alena Alexeeva
3. Fanny Babou

50m Fly

1. Therese Alshammar
2. Francesca Halsall
3. Melanie Henique

100m Fly

1. Francesca Halsall
2. Aurore Mongel
3. Kim Vanderberg

200m Fly

1. Aurore Mongel
2. Lara Grangeon
3. Francesca Segat

200m IM

1. Camille Muffat
2. Lara Grangeon
3. Francesca Segat

400m IM

1. Grainne Murphy
2. Lara Grangeon
3. Francesca Segat

Predictions

Men

50m Free

1. Fred Bousquet
2. Cesar Cielo
3. Alain Bernard

100m Free

1. Alain Bernard
2. Cesar Cielo
3. Michael Phelps

200m Free

1. Michael Phelps
2. Yannick Agnel (Phelps v Agnel is the race I want to see above all others)
3. Sebastaian Verschuren

400m Free

1. Sebastien Rouault
2. Federico Colbertaldo
3. Massimiliano Rosolino

1500m Free

1. Sebastien Rouault
2. Federico Colbertaldo
3. Anthony Pannier

50m Back

1. Liam Tancock
2. Camille Lacourt
3. Randall Bal

100m Back

1. Liam Tancock
2. Camille Lacourt
3. Jeremy Stravius

200m Back

1. Eric Ress
2. Nick Driebergen
3. Aristeidis Grigoriadis

50m Breast

1. Lennart Stekelenburg
2. Fabio Scozzoli
3. Alessandro Terrin

100m Breast

1. Hugues Duboscq
2. Alexander Dale Oen
3. Fabio Scozzoli

200m Breast

1. Hugues Duboscq
2. Scott Spann
3. Alexander Dale Oen

50m Fly

1. Fred Bousquet
2. Roland Schoeman
3. Konrad Czerniak

100m Fly

1. Konrad Czerniak
2. Joeri Verlinden
3. Albert Subirats

200m Fly

1. Michael Phelps
2. Dinko Jukic
3. Stefanos Dimitriadis

200m IM

1. Michael Phelps
2. Dinko Jukic
3. Todd Patrick

400m IM

1. Dinko Jukic
2. Sebastien Rouault
3. Anthony Pannier

47° Trofeo Sette Colli

Seven Hills Trophy - Pescara

Following on from the Mare Nostrum series a whole host of international swimming stars have descended on Pescara for another high quality 50m LC meet.

Psych Sheet here

Results here

Heats begin at 9am (Italian Time)

Finals begin at 4:30pm (Italian Time)

*UPDATE* - The first night of finals is already in the books with outstanding, world leading swims from Therese Alshammar (24.27 - 50m Free) and Federica Pellegrini (4:03.12 - 400m Free).

Poll Results - Will Ian Thorpe return for 2012?

The swimming community has spoken (well, 123 members of it atleast) and the general consensus is that... Ian Thorpe will not be returning to London 2012.

91 voted for No, a whopping percentage of 74%. Myself and 31 others voted for Yes, a minuscule 26%.

Back in early May I looked at the situation and my opinions haven't changed despite a rejection of the rumours by Thorpe. There's no way Thorpe announces his return before he can be sure that he can get down to the times required in the 100m Free and that will require some intensive training. We might need to wait until mid-2011 for more news, but IF Thorpe can get into the right shape by then I fully expect him to announce a return in the 4 x 100 Free Relay and 200m Free.

Ian, if you're reading, go to 2:32 in this video, then get yourself to the pool.

Mare Nostrum - Barcelona

Performer of the Meet


Rebecca Soni

2:21.41 is an amazing time. Had Soni swum 2:21.41 at US Nationals it likely would have been seen as one of the swims of the meet. The fact she swam the time on the middle leg of the Mare Nostrum tour (where times generally haven't been overly impressive) makes this all the more special.

A look at the splits:-

PIERSE WR - 32.03 - 1:07.28 (35.25) - 1:43.42 (36.14) - 2:20.12 (36.70)
SONI ....2008 WR - 32.17 - 1:07.46 (35.29) - 1:43.70 (36.24) - 2:20.22 (36.52)

SONI - 2010 Barca - 32.02 - 1:07.85 (35.83) - 1:44.75 (36.90) - 2:21.41 (36.66)
SONI ...2010 Charl - 31.88 - 1:08.37 (36.49) - 1:44.58 (36.21) - 2:22.21 (37.63)

Soni had a faster first and last 50m split than Pierse's WR. Fully rested and tapered the middle 100 should improve. You can also see how she is changing her approach swim by swim. At the Charlotte Grand Prix her first and third 50s were faster than her swim in Barcelona but she was much quicker on the second and , crucially, final 50m.

As predicted in January, the 200m Breast WR is one of the most under threat marks right now and Soni is leading the charge to break the first WR of 2010.

Mare Nostrum - Barcelona - TV Coverage

After 2 days of searching for live video of Barcelona Mare Nostrum I finally think (hope) I have found a source.

This is a link to the Russian TV Station NTV+ Plus Sport

Some back-ups in case this one doesn't work on the day:-

RAI Sport

TV3 (Catalunya)

Monaco Info might show it again although I suspect they were only showing the Monaco leg

Monaco Info

(Last time I posted the link for Monaco, Mel Stewart, Rebecca Soni and Natalie Coughlin ended up re-tweeting it to their followers so hopefully this time it can have the same impact... you saw it here first!)

Start List

Competition Programme

Results

Mare Nostrum - Monaco - Day Two

Performer of the day


Yulia Efimova

Efimova was on top form in the 50m Breaststroke tonight clocking 30.38 in the semi-final (top 4 swimmers) and 30.35 in the final shootout against Rebecca Soni. Both times rattled Jane Edmistone's textile best time of 30.31 set in 2006 at Australian Nationals. Efimova moves into second spot all-time in a textile suit and her time is also the 16th fastest performance all-time in the 50 Breast. (She now has 5 of the top 16 swims in this event to her name). Efimova's best time is 30.05 set last year, the third fastest swim of all-time, behind Jessica Hardy's 29.80 and 29.95.

Efimova's margin of victory over Rebecca Soni was also eye-opening (0.69 secs). Whilst Soni had a strong meet herself and a far busier schedule than Efimova, the difference in pure speed on the 50m was noticeable. It is still too early to call Efimova the best 50m Breaststroker in the world, that honour will have to wait until Jessica Hardy swims at US Nationals and Pan Pacs, but Efimova has certainly staked her claim well.

Runner-Up

Camille Muffat

I could have selected Paul Biedermann again for his impressive 1:46.82 in the 200 Free, but for the sake of variety and her impressive night I've gone with Camille Muffat.

Muffat begun the night with a narrow loss in the 400 Free. She led the race for 395m before being edged out by the fast-finishing Blair Evans (4:07.39 to 4:07.59). 4:07.59 is an excellent time, 11th in the world this year, but Muffat's night was not yet over. She returned to win the 200 IM later in the evening in a time of 2:11.59. Whilst the time was a second slower than Muffat swam at French Nationals, it was an impressive effort when you consider the 400 Free earlier.

Muffat, 20, has been swimming at the top level for a few years now but has never really broken through in international competition. With impressive times in the 200m Free, 400m Free and 200m IM so far this year, 2010 looks like the year the breakthrough happens.

Mare Nostrum - Monaco - Day One

Performance of the day

Hannah Miley - 400m IM - 4:35.06

Whilst I picked Miley to win the 400 IM, the manner of her victory was not expected. After staying in contention with Mireia Belmonte on the fly leg (1:03.09 - 1:03.41), Miley took control of the race on the backstroke and never looked like being caught on the breaststroke and free. Beating Belmonte by over 5 seconds will give Miley a huge lift ahead of her busy summer of swimming (Europeans & Commonwealths). Belmonte will come back stronger and there is also Katinka Hosszu waiting in the wings, but Miley is establishing herself as the favourite for the 400 IM at Europeans.

Miley's time moves her up to third in the world this year, just behind Xuanxu Li (4:34.59) and Steph Rice (4:35.04).

Intriguingly Miley will face Katie Hoff and Ariana Kukors in Barcelona. The 400 IM is not on the schedule in Canet.

Runner-Up

Paul Biedermann - 400m Free - 3:48.77

Not because of the time he swam, but because Biedermann faced his toughest challenge of 2010 so far and passed it convincingly. He tracked Zhang Lin and Ous Mellouli for 300m before overhauling both men in the space of 50m. Biedermann, Lin and Mellouli are currently the three best 400 Free swimmers in the world and for Biedermann to win in the manner he did should answer some of his critics. Biedermann will continue to be at the forefront of male middle distance freestyle with or without the suit.

UPDATE - As David Rieder rightly pointed out, Park Tae-Hwan has proven to be equal to the three freestylers mentioned here and has to be included in the top tier of the 400m Free. Peter Vanderkaay is also in the mix, although if I had to rank all 5 guys he'd be number 5.

Results can be found here.

Live Video will be shown here (speed_endurance exclusive)

Live updates from Twitter.

2010 Mare Nostrum - Monaco - TV Coverage

I have just found the following information regarding TV coverage of the upcoming Mare Nostrum Monaco meet.

Please find an updated list of broadcasters for the Mare Nostrum 2010:
PCTV – Mexico
Hong Kong Cable – Hong Kong
Nova Sport – Greece + Cyprus
RAI Sport – Italy
NTV Plus – Russia
Poverkhnost - Ukraine
Starhub – Singapore
Sport+ - France
Monaco Info – Monaco
TV3 - Spain

If you're lucky enough to live in one of those countries enjoy the coverage. For everyone else its time to use Google Translate and hope that one of those stations has a live stream.

UPDATE - I have found a stream for Monaco Info which I believe will be showing the swimming live - http://www.tv-tube.net/tvchannels/watch/1619/monaco-info

From Monaco Info's website:-

During certain big events (National Day, Formula 1Grand Prix, Rally, Tennis, Mare Nostrum, Imagina, TV Festival), Monaco Info reinforces its presence and broadcasts live.

2010 Mare Nostrum - Monaco Predictions - Men

Mare Nostrum - Monaco Predictions

Men

50m Free

1. Fred Bousquet
2. Alain Bernard
3. George Bovell

100m Free

1. Alain Bernard
2. Eamon Sullivan
3. Brent Hayden

200m Free

1. Paul Biedermann
2. Zhang Lin
3. Ous Mellouli

400m Free

1. Paul Biedermann
2. Zhang Lin
3. Ous Mellouli

50m Back

1. Camille Lacourt
2. Daniel Arnamnart
3. Aaron Piersol

100m Back

1. Camille Lacourt
2. Aaron Piersol
3. Markus Rogan

200m Back

1. Markus Rogan
2. Aaron Piersol
3. Chris Walker Hebborn

50m Breast

1. Kosuke Kitajima
2. Hendrik Feldwehr
3. Darren Mew

100m Breast

1. Kosuke Kitajima
2. Eric Shanteau
3. Grigory Falko

200m Breast

1. Eric Shanteau
2. Kosuke Kitajima
3. Daniel Gyurta

50m Fly

1. Roland Schoeman
2. Duje Draganja
3. Geoff Huegill

100m Fly

1. Andrew Lauterstein
2. Albert Subirats
3. Benjamin Starke

200m Fly

1. Joeri Verlinden
2. Christophe Lebon
3. Andrew Mayor

200m IM

1. Eric Shanteau
2. Ous Mellouli
3. Thiago Pereira

400m IM

1. Ous Mellouli
2. Thiago Pereira
3. Lewis Smith

UPDATE - Check out David 'The Swim Geek' Rieder's predictions over at his blog.

2010 Mare Nostrum - Monaco Predictions - Women

Mare Nostrum - Monaco Predictions

Women

50m Free

1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo
2. Therese Alshammar
3. Jessica Hardy

100m Free

1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo
2. Natalie Coughlin
3. Dana Vollmer

200m Free

1. Dana Vollmer
2. Blair Evans
3. Coralie Balmy

400m Free

1. Coralie Balmy
2. Blair Evans
3. Camelia Potec

50m Back

1. Zhao Jing
2. Daniela Samulski
3. Anastasia Zueva

100m Back

1. Zhao Jing
2. Daniela Samulski
3. Sophie Edington

200m Back

1. Lauren Lavigna
2. Sophie Edington
3. Cloe Credeville

50m Breast

1. Jessica Hardy
2. Rebecca Soni
3. Yuliya Efimova

100m Breast

1. Rebecca Soni
2. Jessica Hardy
3. Yuliya Efimova

200m Breast

1. Rebecca Soni
2. Annamay Pierse
3. Joline Hostman

50m Fly

1. Therese Alshammar
2. Inge Dekker
3. Dana Vollmer

100m Fly

1. Natalie Coughlin
2. Dana Vollmer
3. Inge Dekker

200m Fly

1. Samantha Hamill
2. Annika Mehlhorn
3. Mireia Belmonte

200m IM

1. Camille Muffat
2. Mireia Belmonte
3. Hannah Miley

400m IM

1. Hannah Miley
2. Mireia Belmonte
3. Tanya Hunks

2010 Mare Nostrum Tour

The Mare Nostrum series gets underway on June 5th and 6th. Monaco hosts the first of three meets, with Barcelona (June 9th and 10th) and Canet (June 12th and 13th) still to come. Always one of the highlights on the swimming calendar, Mare Nostrum consistently features some of world swimming's top stars and this year is no exception. Strong teams have been sent from the US, Australia, China and Canada as well as most European nations.See below for some of the stars swimming in Monaco.

Psych Sheets are now out for all meets.

Monaco - Start List

Barcelona - Start List

Canet - Start List

Monaco Star Attractions (Women)

Freestyle

Ranomi Kromowidjojo
Natalie Coughlin
Hinkelein Schreuder
Sara Isakovic
Therese Alshammar
Inge Dekker
Camelia Potec
Coralie Balmy
Blair Evans

Backstroke

Anastasia Zueva
Jing Zhao
Sophie Edington
Daniela Samulski

Breaststroke

Jessica Hardy
Yuliya Efimova
Rebecca Soni
Annamay Pierse
Joline Hostman
Martha McCabe

Butterfly

Dana Vollmer
Diane Bui Duyet
Annika Mehlhorn
Samantha Hamill

IM

Camille Muffat
Hannah Miley
Mireia Belmonte
Tanya Hunks


Monaco Star Attractions (Men)

Freestyle

Fred Bousquet
Alain Bernard
Eamon Sullivan
Fabien Gilot
George Bovell
Roland Schoeman
Ashley Callus
Duje Draganja
Brent Hayden
Danila Isotov
Steffen Diebler
Zhang Lin
Ous Mellouli
Paul Biedermann
Amaury Leveaux
Alexander Sukhorukov
Pal Joensen
Robbie Renwick

Backstroke

Aaron Piersol
Arkady Vyatchanin
Stanislav Donets
Camille Lacourt
Markus Rogan
Chris Walker-Hebborn

Breaststroke

Kosuke Kitajima
Eric Shanteau
Daniel Gyurta
Grigory Falko
Hendrik Feldwehr
Darren Mew

Butterfly

Geoff Huegill
Andrew Lauterstein
Johannes Dietrich
Nikolai Svortsov
Albert Subirats
Benjamin Starke

IM

Thiago Pereira
Eric Shanteau
Ous Mellouli