Shanghai World Championships - Underrated All Stars

World Championship predictions are coming in thick and fast from around the swimming community. The various predictions differ on certain events and agree on others. What is becoming clear is that a lot of top swimmers are coming into this event under the radar. As a result, I decided to go through each event with David 'The Swim Geek' Rieder to come up with our own Underrated All Star rosters.

. MEN Tom Willdridge David Rieder . . 50 Free Adam Brown Alain Bernard . 100 Free Marco DiCarli Jason Lezak/Eamon Sullivan* . 200 Free Paul Biedermann Danila Izotov . 400 Free Peter Vanderkaay Paul Biedermann . 800 Free Pal Joensen Chad LaTourette . 1500 Free Chad LaTourette Ous Mellouli . 50 Back Liam Tancock Liam Tancock . 100 Back David Plummer David Plummer . 200 Back Benjamin Stasiulis James Goddard . 50 Breast Damir Dugonjic Fabio Scozolli . 100 Breast Christian Sprenger Mark Gangloff . 200 Breast Eric Shanteau Eric Shanteau . 50 Fly Milorad Cavic Andrii Govorov . 100 Fly Jason Dunford Tyler McGill . 200 Fly Michael Rock Tyler Clary . 200 IM Markus Rogan Markus Rogan . 400 IM Chengxiang Wang David Verraszto . 4 x 100 Free Brazil Germany

. 4 x 200 Free France Australia . 4 x 100 Medley Japan Russia . * - If James Magnussen withdraws, Eamon Sullivan takes his place in the 100 Free. . . WOMEN Tom Willdridge David Rieder . . 50 Free Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace . 100 Free Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Britta Steffen . 200 Free Sarah Sjostrom Allison Schmitt . 400 Free Chloe Sutton Katie Hoff . 800 Free Kate Ziegler Kate Ziegler . 1500 Free Grainne Murphy Keri-Anne Payne . 50 Back Georgia Davies Emily Seebohm . 100 Back Gemma Spofforth/Femke Heemskerk Elizabeth Pelton . 200 Back Kirsty Coventry Anastasia Zueva/Elizabeth Beisel . 50 Breast Leisel Jones Rebecca Soni . 100 Breast Ji Liping Jillian Tyler . 200 Breast Nadja Higl Amanda Beard . 50 Fly Li Tao Marieke Guehrer . 100 Fly Christine Magnuson Christine Magnuson

. 200 Fly Jessica Schipper Jessica Schipper . 200 IM Katinka Hosszu Katinka Hosszu . 400 IM Caitlin Leverenz Katinka Hosszu/Kirsty Coventry . 4 x 100 Free Sweden Germany . 4 x 200 Free Great Britain Great Britain . 4 x 100 Medley Netherlands Sweden

World Swimming Championships Predictions - Men

Men's World Championships Predictions - Version 1.1

    50 Free
1    Bousquet
2    Cielo
3    Adrian

Before Cielo's recent failed test for a masking agent, I had him doing the 50 and 100 Free double. His biggest advantage has been his incredible mental strength, and the impact this had on his competitors. Cielo has always had a mental edge over Fred Bousquet especially, now I think the tables have turned. I see Bousquet sensing a chink in the Brazilian's armour and taking advantage of it.    
   
    100 Free
1    Cielo
2    Adrian
3    Hayden

As the Cielo saga unfolds this choice could change, but he did look on incredible form at the Paris Open. Nathan Adrian has not shown his hand in 2011, but should be a force to be reckoned with after a full taper. Brent Hayden might be the most under rated 100 Freestyler on the planet, the only man to break 48 seconds last year and yet still most people see bronze at best for the Canadian.    
   
    200 Free (Changing my mind on a daily basis)
1    Park
2    Phelps
3   Lochte

Easily the hardest event to predict in world swimming. Park is my choice for the top spot based on three factors a) he is an Olympic champion, that can never be underestimated, b) he was a full half second faster than the rest of the world last year, and c) he looked in great shape at the Santa Clara meet. Lochte is Lochte and Phelps is Phelps. At this stage its a coin flip between the two of them. I still refuse to rule out Paul Biedermann and he will have a serious point to prove in Shanghai.And then there's the improving Yannick Agnel.... my head is starting to hurt again.

World Swimming Championships Predictions - Women

Women's World Championships Predictions - Version 1.1

    50 Free
1    Kromowidjojo
2    Alshammar
3    Hardy

I'm banking on a return to form for the world's best sprinter last year, Kromowidjojo. Her performances in Dubai last year was so head and shoulders ahead of the world, I'm looking at a repeat in the long pool. Hardy has a scheduling conflict with the 50 Breast, but I think she can step up twice in the same session.  
   
    100 Free
1    Kromowidjojo
2    Halsall
3    Heemskerk

This was a real head over heart decision. For Worlds, I've gone for Kromowidjojo for the same reasons highlighted above. I believe Halsall will take silver in Shanghai before turning it into gold in London next year. Coughlin, Steffen, Coutts and Yi Tang have all entered my intrapersonal conversation for the bronze spot.   
   
    200 Free
1    Pellegrini
2    Muffat
3    Palmer

Without trying to spoil the surprise, I see a repeat of Beijing happening for Pellegrini - a disappointing 400 Free followed by a stunning 200 Free. At the Paris Open, Camille Muffat looked like she is poised for a huge breakthrough meet. Kylie Palmer seems to be more consistent than compatriot Bronte Barratt. The obvious name missing here is Allison Schmitt. She has been in my Top 3 all year, but I just couldn't find a place for her. Toughest event to predict on the schedule.  
   
    400 Free
1    Adlington
2    Muffat
3    Pellegrini

Pellegrini has been in every spot of this Top 3 in the lead up to Worlds. Adlington has been in supreme form in this event for the last two years and has had a big training cycle since her 4:02.8 in March. Muffat's 400 in Paris was spectacular and I think she can drop down to 4:02. Should Pellegrini have a poor swim in the 400 (not out of the question going by the previous few years) and drop out of the medals, my money is on Chloe Sutton for the bronze spot.   

Watch European Junior Swimming Championships Live

Finals begin at 17:00 Belgrade time (16:00 London, 11:00 ET)


http://www.belgrade2011.rs/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90&Itemid=178

European Junior Swimming Championships, July 6-10

July has finally arrived in the swimming world. This year's highlight, the World Championships in Shanghai, are just three weeks away. What better way to get into the competitive spirit than by following the world's premier Junior competition. Think of it as the start of your own swimming spectator's taper.

What makes this competition so important?

That question is easily answered when you look at some of the previous winners during the last 10 years of this competition. The list includes Olympic Champions (Rebecca Adlington, Laure Manaudou, Diana Mocanu), World Champions (Paul Biedermann, Daniel Gyurta, Yulia Efimova, Katinka Hosszu, Gemma Spofforth, Mateusz Sawrymowicz, Laszlo Cseh, Milorad Cavic, Hanna-Maria Seppala) and World Record Holders (Anastasia Zueva, Rafael Munoz Perez, Aschwin Wildeboer Faber, Liam Tancock). When you cast the net out wider and include medalists at the European Juniors you find the likes of Federica Pellegrini, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Larissa Ilchenko, Keri-Anne Payne and Amaury Leveaux.

You don't need to be a historian of the sport to realise that this competition is a tremendous springboard towards future success.

Who will be this year's star attraction?

On paper that accolade goes to my pick for Olympic silver next year, Bence Biczo. The Hungarian comes into this competition ranked second in the world in the 200m Fly and will be looking to get a solid swim in before mounting a push for the podium in Shanghai.

Biczo, the 200m Fly victor last year, is not the only returning champion.Maxym Shemberyev, ranked 17th in the world this year in the 400m IM will look to make it back-to-back wins in that event.  Turkey's US-based Ediz Yildirimer will be defending his 800m Free crown, while Ukraine's Nadiya Koba will be looking to improve on her impressive 25.46 from last year's 50m Free final.

One of the many great things about this competition is its unpredictable nature. Swimmers (and for those who are geographically challenged, some countries) you've never heard of  have a habit of making a name for themselves on this stage. It serves as the perfect breakthrough meet for many top junior swimmers as they look to establish themselves in the senior ranks.

2011's Breakout Candidates

Velimir Stjepanovic - SRB, Iuean Lloyd - GBR, Christian Scheruebl - AUT, Arseni Kukharau - BLR,  Gregorio Paltrinieri - ITA, Fabio Laugeni - ITA, Panagiotis Samilidis - GRE

Charlotte Bonnet - FRA, Amelia Maughan - GBR, Sycerika McMahon - IRE, Donata Kilijanska - POL, Mie Nielsen - DAN, Hazal Sarikaya - TUR, Molly Renshaw - GBR, Irina Novikova - RUS, Siobhan O'Connor - GBR, Liliana Szilagyi - HUN

Entry List
Results
Live Video

This Week's Racing

Scottish Nationals - June 30 - July 3

Feat. Rebecca Adlington, Hannah Miley, Mireia Belmonte, Robbie Renwick, Rafa Munoz, Michael Jamieson, Judit Ignacio, Mercedes Peris, Claudia Dasca, Marina Garcia, Henrique Barbosa

Draft Programme
Results

Australian Short Course Championships July 1 - 3

Feat. Libby Trickett, Brendan Rickard, Christian Sprenger,  Leisel Jones, Nick D'Arcy, Robert Hurley, Yolane Kukla, Marieke Guehrer, Eamon Sullivan, James Magnussen, Kylie Palmer,

Entrants
Results/Startlists


Swedish Championships June 29 - July 3

Starlists
Results

Canada Cup June 30 - July 3

Results
Live Webcast

Libby Trickett Gets Her Chance to Make Aussie 4 x 100 Free Relay Team

Things Australia do well: Cricket, Aussie Rules, Rugby League, Surfing, their version of Masterchef, coming up with a way to give Libby Trickett a chance to compete in Shanghai.

On June 29, two days before the Australian Short Course Championships begin, Libby Trickett will get the chance to qualify for the Australian 4 x 100 Free relay team. In a masterstroke from performance director Leigh Nugent he decided to leave the 6th spot on each relay team open, to be decided by time trial. Although the ruling was designed largely for Trickett, it should also help Australia by getting the in-form swimmers onto their relay teams.

The task will not be an easy one for Trickett as she faces competition from Cate and Bronte Campbell, Alice Mills, Melanie Schlanger and Marieke Guehrer.

To gain selection for the relay Trickett will need to a) win the race and b) finish faster than the 5th place finisher at nationals, a time of 54.99.

The times for the other relay spots are as follows: Men's 100 Free - 48.95, Men's 200 Free - 1:48.50, Women's 200 Free - 1:57.59

Laure Manaudou Comeback: Official

 After breaking her return to competitive swimming last week, it was only a matter of time before Laure Manaudou made it official. She is back.

Interestingly, she registered for drug testing 9 months ago so is free to compete right away. This should give her plenty of opportunities to get some racing practice under her belt before next year's Olympic trials.

Manaudou said that she had gained weight in her time out of the sport, however from the shots of her at the Open EDF it didn't look like it was still there.

Responding to the news, Federica Pellegrini stated that she was curious to see what levels her French rival could get to and that she would treat Manaudou's comeback with 'respect'. Manaudou has earnt that respect, given that she has 3 of the top 4 textile suit times in the 400 Free (3 of the top 5 if you include Pellegrini's 4:01.53 from 2008's European's).

Pellegrini's current coach, and former mentor to Manaudou, Phillippe Lucas believes that her return 'is a plus for everyone, for women's swimming, but also for swimming in general and for  French sport' and that she has 'very big potential in the 100 backstroke.'

Should Manaudou return to a high level (1:56 or 1:57) on the 200 Free, it leaves France with a pretty strong 4 x 200 Free relay. The team could look like Camille Muffat, Laure Manaudou, Coralie Balmy & Ophélie-Cyrielle Etienne. 16-year-old Charlotte Bonnet (1:59.10 this year) also looks like an intriguing prospect.

Update: This also just in from Pellegrini's twitter. (Best to assume the spelling mistake on Manaudou's name wasn't intentional).

(Translation: Hello friends, how are you? Sorry for writing little, but the workouts are intense. And now, Manadou is also back :-) Greetings to all!)