March 15 - 22
Start List
Results
Qualifying Criteria
One TV Coverage
Heats start at 10am , Finals start at 7pm (Thu, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu) and 6:30pm (Fri, Sat, Sun)
(10am in Adelaide = 11:30pm GMT / 7:30pm EDT , 6:30pm in Adelaide = 8am GMT / 4am EDT)
Adelaide is in some weird half-hour time zone isn't it? I think that means finals start half an hour before I get to work D:
ReplyDeleteAdded the time difference to the post. Finals work out pretty nicely for us in the UK. Hard luck to our American friends, enjoy the heats!
DeleteNow the hunt starts for a video feed of One HD.
Please let us know as soon as you find it!
DeleteThanks Tom! :)
Emily Seebohm is wearing Arena Powerskin Carbon-Pro, and she's healthy (touch wood).
ReplyDeleteI'd say watch out for her!
Now that most people do not believe Thorpe will qualifies, and if he does, it would be amazing!
ReplyDeleteExpecting Seebohm to at least match her 58.88 in the 100back and its likely she'l better her 2.09.93 in the short medley by a good margin
ReplyDeleteIm pretty worried about Steph Rice's chances.
ReplyDeleteI could see Seebohm having a huge year because I believe that 2011 kind of concealed any physical developments that would be natural for someone of her age. She was already 209high and 59low in 2010, and if you use those times to predict what she may swim this year, it may be undershooting simply because we dont know what would have been in 2011. I think her time in Shanghai and untapered times showed that she would've had MUCH more in the tank in the 100back. It shouldnt be surprising if she puts up HUGE times like a 58mid or a sub209 or something. Especially if you consider that at panpacs she barely even knew how to swim the event.
Thant said, Rice has never broken 210 in textile at Trials, and this most likely means she wont make top 2 this year-- especially if her confidence is shaken by the fact that she was already beaten to the wall by 2 swimmers in the 400IM, which lets face it--- is much harder to swim with a busted shoulder. :/
The good thing for Steph Rice is that the 400 IM is on the first day. So she can trow everything she has into this event.
DeleteI've been following her twitter, and she seems to be on very good mood lately, so that's maybe a good sign, but I worry about her diet which seems consist mostly if not all on "cleanandlean" diet, mostly veggies, fruits and grains. I wonder if she eats meat.
I'm so proud of Eliza Smith and would congratulate her simply because she is currently living her dream. Eliza taught my daughter how to swim and I'm very very grateful to have met her. Hey Eliza, if you're reading this, Judy says hi and we wish you the best of luck!
ReplyDeleteJane from http://swimminggear.org/
I have absolutely no idea how anyone will go including Thorpe.
ReplyDeleteSad to see Bonnie MacDonald out with injuries. One of the few young swimmers who actually was doing the yards is cut down for doing the yards!
.
Bonnie macDonald is out? That's too bad.
DeleteBut I got a feeling another young teenager will claim one of the two spots in 800 free: Remy Fairweather.
Or maybe I am a bit too optimistic?
The other spot will be taken by Katie Goldman, most likely.
Might be a little optimistic. Bonnie had some 200 speed plus the open water . Remy is a talent but maybe a little soon. Jessica Ashwood & Mel Gorman can get down to 8.28 .
DeleteKatie is looking fine in her Zealous swimmers! Check out Alice Mills/Tait's muscles. Reminiscent of Lisa Curry .
Kylie Palmer is entered in the 800 free.
DeleteSince it's towards the end of the program, I'm very much hoping she swims it.
She's been 8:22 in textile (maybe faster?).
I don't think she's competed in it since she's started setting those huge PBs of hers, so maybe she has some improvement on that time.
How/why Alice Mills became Tait?
ReplyDeleteShe hasn't got married has she?
Alice got married to Gregor Tait (UK swimmer).
DeleteWishing her all the best. I'm not sure how she'll go in the sprint frees given the crazy competition, but it would be nice if she got a relay spot.
She is capable of a sub 54 swim (textile), and is one of the fastest Aussies all time in the 50 free (textile).
Well with those fine muscles she ain't been sunbaking at Southport.
DeleteLOL after seeing those I booked into a gym program + personal trainer!
Alice you rock.
Some of the women's events will be very hard to predict this year for a number of reasons.
ReplyDeleteEmily Seebohm, Libby Trickett, Stephanie Rice, Melanie Schlanger, Alice Tait, Cate Campbell all haven't been in top form in 2011 or haven't posted tapered times as they made their comebacks.
That makes events like the sprint frees, 100 fly and the 200IM so hard to predict, but that much more exciting.
The great form of other swimmers has made events like the 200 free, 400 free and 400 IM also hard to predict, as the list of favourites grows.
Ok, prediction time (Olympic events):
ReplyDeleteW 50 Free - 1. C Campbell 2. Kukla
W 100 Free - 1. Coutts 2. C Campbell 3. Schlanger 4. Seebohm
W 200 Free - 1. Palmer 2. Barrett 3. Evans 4. Rice
W 400 Free - 1. Palmer 2. Barrett
W 800 Free - 1. Goldman 2. Evans
W 100 Fly - 1. Coutts 2. Schipper
W 200 Fly - 1. Rice 2. Schipper
W 100 Back - 1. Seebohm 2. Hocking
W 200 Back - 1. Hocking 2. Nay
W 100 Breast - 1. Jones 2. Pickett
W 200 Breast - 1. Jones 2. Katsoulis
W 200 IM - 1. Coutts 2. Rice
W 400 IM - 1. Rice 2. Evans
... and the Men (Olympic events):
ReplyDeleteM 50 Free - 1. Targett 2. Abood
M 100 Free - 1. Magnussen 2. Sullivan 3. Targett 4. Roberts
M 200 Free - 1. Fraser-Holmes 2. Monk 3. Ffrost 4. McEvoy
M 400 Free - 1. Napoleon 2. McKeon
M 1500 Free - 1. Hurley 2. Napoleon
M 100 Fly - 1. Huegill 2. Lauterstein
M 200 Fly - 1. D'Arcy 2. Wright (Hadler's not entered?!)
M 100 Back - 1. Stoeckel 2. Delaney
M 200 Back - 1. Delaney 2. Beaver
M 100 Breast - 1. Rickard 2. Sprenger
M 200 Breast - 1. Rickard 2. Sprenger (he's back!)
M 200 IM - 1. To 2. Hadler
M 400 IM - 1. Fraser-Holmes 2. Larkin
wow!I love predictions!
ReplyDeleteMy predictions(just some minor differences from Tom):
W 50 Free - 1. C Campbell 2. Kukla
W 100 Free - 1.Schlanger 2. C Campbell 3.Tait 4. Seebohm
W 200 Free - 1. Palmer 2. Barrett 3. Evans 4. Rice
W 400 Free - 1. Palmer 2. Barrett
W 800 Free - 1. Goldman 2. Palmer(if she swims)
W 100 Fly - 1. Tait 2. Schipper
W 200 Fly - 1. Rice 2. Schipper
W 100 Back - 1. Seebohm 2. Hocking
W 200 Back - 1. Hocking 2. Nay
W 100 Breast - 1. Jones 2. Pickett
W 200 Breast - 1. Jones 2. Katsoulis
W 200 IM - 1. Tait 2. Rice
W 400 IM - 1. Rice 2. Evans
M 50 Free - 1. Targett 2. Abood
M 100 Free - 1. Magnussen 2.Targett 3.Roberts 4.Sullivan
M 200 Free - 1. Fraser-Holmes 2. Monk 3. Ffrost 4. McEvoy(Torpey in 5th)
M 400 Free - 1. Napoleon 2. McKeon
M 1500 Free - 1. Hurley 2. Napoleon
M 100 Fly - 1. Huegill 2. Lauterstein
M 200 Fly - 1. D'Arcy 2. Wright
M 100 Back - 1. Stoeckel 2. Delaney
M 200 Back - 1. Delaney 2. Beaver
M 100 Breast - 1. Rickard 2. Sprenger
M 200 Breast - 1. Rickard 2. Sprenger
M 200 IM - 1. To 2. Hadler
M 400 IM - 1. Fraser-Holmes 2. Larkin
DDias- did you forget about Coutts, World Silver Medalist in the 200 IM and 100 fly? She also finaled in the 100 free at worlds. Unless there is something you know about her that we don't, I think you should reconsider your predictions especially the 200 IM and 100 fly
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteyou are right, but i dint forget her!I made a mistake thinking she was married!It was Mills who married not Coutts!
Where you are reading Tait, replace by Coutts in my bets.
Not much chance for Trickett, either?
ReplyDeleteHoping for the best for all the oldies and comebackers.
It would be great to see Ian in 200 free in London!!
Trickett will qualify for relay methinks.
DeleteIan MAY qualify in the relay too.
My confidence in Trickett grows stronger as we approach trials (or now, as we approach the semis of the 100 fly).
DeleteI'm sure she'll do very well.
She states she is stronger than in 2008.
She is also back to her 'original' coach who first guided her to WRs in the 100 free, so I think she will do well.
I made my predictions list, but somehow the system ate it.
ReplyDeleteMine is basically not too dissimilar from Tom's
and now Day 1 Starts!
I might just join in :)
ReplyDeleteW 50 Free - 1. Campbell 2. Kukla
W 100 Free - 1. Schlanger 2. Seebohm 3. Coutts 4. Kukla (Trickett/Campbell)
W 200 Free - 1. Barratt 2. Palmer 3. Evans 4. Dingjan (Bainbridge/Schlanger)
W 400 Free - 1. Palmer 2. Barratt
W 800 Free - 1. Goldman 2. Fairweather
W 100 Fly - 1. Coutts 2. Kukla
W 200 Fly - 1. Rice 2. Schipper
W 100 Back - 1. Seebohm 2. Hocking
W 200 Back - 1. Hocking 2. Nay
W 100 Breast - 1. Pickett 2. Jones
W 200 Breast - 1. Jones 2. Foster
W 200 IM - 1. Coutts 2. Seebohm
W 400 IM - 1. Rice 2. Evans
M 50 Free - 1. Targett Abood
M 100 Free - 1. Magnussen 2. Targett 3. Roberts 4. McEvoy (Sullivan/Abood)
M 200 Free - 1. Fraser-Holmes 2. McEvoy 3. Monk 4. Napoleon (Killey/Ffrost)
M 400 Free - 1. Napoleon 2. McKeon
M 1500 Free - 1. Hurley 2. Napoleon
M 100 Fly - 1. Lauterstein 2. Huegill
M 200 Fly - 1. D'arcy 2. Wright
M 100 Back - 1. Stoeckel 2. Arnamnart
M 200 Back - 1. Delaney 2. Beaver
M 100 Breast - 1. Rickard 2. Sprenger
M 200 Breast - 1. Rickard 2. Sprenger
M 200 IM - 1. To 2. Tranter
M 400 IM - 1. Fraser-Holmes 2. Larkin
Does anyone know what the results are for prelims? live results won't show up.
ReplyDeleteKeep refreshing, they should work.
DeleteClicking on the individual event loaded the results versus clicking on last completed.
Trickett through to semis of 100 fly in sub minute swim (her first since her comeback I think). Schipper through first in 58.35. Nice and surprising. All the usuals and favourites through through Kukla slow.
Women's 400 IM - all top three through in 4:4x times, not great competition in heats.
Mens 400 free - David McKeon in 4:48 heat time, very good. ALl the usuals through as well, but I think McKeon has something big to come.
Mens 400IM - fairly slow, but look out for Fraser-Holmes and Larkin.
a number of preditions:
ReplyDelete-Emily Seebohm will win the 100free, 100back AND the 200IM. Coutts will come second in the 100free (or maybe Schlanger) and 200IM. Yes I think she will be that good.
- Rice will only make the team in the 200fly (i hope im wrong :/)
-David McKeon will win the 400m free (I'm kind of cheating since the prelim times have been posted)
-Magnussen will win the 100free in a time he shrugs at, but it will still be a time the world notices. My gut feeling is that he will probably fall short of his expectations and instead posts a 47.5 or 47.6 (I'm just trying not to expect too much)
- a 2nd man will go sub48
-targett wins 50free in 21.7
-Ben Treffers will win the m100back in a 53low.
I had a weird dream where Rice finished 3rd (4:34) in the 400IM behind Hamill (4:30) and Evans (4:32), and later Coutts won the 200IM in a 2:07.
DeleteDon't know why I'm dreaming of swimming, but I thought I'd post in case my dreams were precursory. :)
Agree with the potential of Seebohm, fantastic yet unknown.
I don't know though if she will definitely win the 100.
Schlanger and Campbell can each drop maybe half a second after taper taking them to 53.3 or faster.
Coutts is likely to be faster too.
Seebohm has posted crazy times in the back untapered, but her freestyle has been slow.
Not sure what to make of it other than I think she can go 58.5 in the 100 back.
yes Seebohm in 28.01 in 50 heats. That is fast first up morning swim. Shows she is ready.
DeleteAlso pleased to see Schipper aggressive. MacKeon impressive -again went out nice & fast.
I am not expecting this to be a fast meet , more a racing meet - nice to see some swimmers showing courage.
John26, I like your prediction.
DeleteI don't like Napoleon's attitude who said he reserved energy for his 200 free. And he dissed Thorpe. Or was that Fraser-Holmes?
ReplyDeleteI like David McKeon's. I hope he qualifies.
Australian men (apart from the sprinters) continue to be such disappointment.
Aswim . Historically Ryan is a better 400 than 200 swimmer. This year his 200 has been closer to his pb.2 secs as against 8.
DeleteThomas does have a clash of 400fr & 400 im. His chances were about equal in either & he can't be expected to do both in one night + the 200 free.
I remember a comment earlier in the season in answering a Thorpe query. Mmm Remember he does train with Sun & Co.
aswimfan: I think he was talking about McKeon when he said that. I didn't read a Thorpe diss, but he said that perhaps McKeon wasn't going for the 200, whereas he (Napoleon) has more speed than McKeon in the 200 (so essentially saying that McKeon was putting all he had in the 400).
DeleteI think Fraser-Holmes is better off concentrating on the 200. He can easily grab an individual spot but if not there are relay spots going too.
Ryan Napoleon sounds very defensive.
DeleteHe said that David mckeon could afford to swim fast in the morning heat because he doesn't have the 200 free event, which is b.s.
That is very weak attitude.
Get your facts straight before you bag people out. Media take things out of content all the time. Napoleon has been swimming with respitory infection. Nothing wrong with his attitude... Tom and Ryan are great young men.
DeleteIs there any live streaming?
ReplyDeleteguys? please?
Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteRice bolted a 4:33.45
This proves my belief that she could do a 4:29 had she not bugged with this shoulder stuff
That was a very controlled swim, apparently going 2.12.7 for the first 200.. She was faster in shanghai with a 2.11.1 split. There is definitively room for improvent and a 4:29high is not out of question.
ReplyDelete@ aswimfan. U were the one saying that Blair Evans would go 4.32. Perhaps she 'wilted' under pressure of an olympic trials.. Based on Rice's solid swim, i'd say she has a far better shot at the short medley as well. Can see a low 2.09 for rice..
ReplyDeleteYes I'm surprised with Evans.
DeleteI think it's the pressure. She's definitely much more capable than that. At least she qualifies now, and I can see her doing 4:32 in London
Finally, an Australian record in the men's 400IM!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's taken a while; it survived the tech suit era, and Fraser-Holmes has got it.
Rice's swim seemed 'easy'. She did seem to go out conservatively but she came home fast. Her breaststroke was pretty fast. She really wasn't pushed in the second half though. She was 5 seconds ahead at the 300.
Add Fraser-Holmes to the long list of medal contenders in London.
DeleteAfter Lochte (and maybe Clary) it is wide open. Fraser-Holmes' strong freestyle should give him a decent shot for a medal if the final is tight.
Tom: Fraser-Holmes made a comment in the post race interview about his turns saying something like he could improve on them and that should help him go faster. I guess he wasn't happy with his turns in that race, but I wasn't paying attention.
DeleteStill, very happy that an Aussie has been able to get close to 4:10.
Just after I commented how useless the aussie men are, here comes Fraser-Holmes
DeleteHowever, he'll have to do at least 4 seconds PB in London to medal
Rice last 50 was very fast. This could be a good sign for her inclusion in Australia's gold medal contending 4x200
ReplyDeleteRice - Fly - 29.0/1:02.51 - Back - 35.4/1:10.28 - Breast - 38.8/1:18.19 - Free - 32.0/1:02.47
DeleteMiley - Fly - 29.8/1:03.10 - Back - 34.7/1:09.36 - Breast - 37.9/1:16.77 - Free - 32.2/1:03.44
Just shows how much Miley has improved her backstroke.
Yeah, Rice needs to improve on her backstroke to have a chance in winning London
DeleteActually her last 50 is a little bit faster than her Beijing WR swim!
ReplyDelete(30.44 to 30.53)
Schipper looks strong.
ReplyDeleteIf you couldn't see the footage, her thighs looked like... tree trunks (nicely). She looks like she's worked hard and built her strength, upper and lower body.
Trickett too, the muscles are out once again.
I think Schipper will put up a big challenge in the 100. A bit surprised, but should be a good race.
I don't think Schipper will get anywhere near Coutts.
DeleteI love to be wrong, Schipper is one of my fave swimmers
I'm glad that Napoleon big mouth got beaten by a McKeon who only started swimming seriously 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteHehe. MacKeon swam smart.
DeleteIt is looking tense out there .
Stephanie's swim was amazing . In an old textile -in fact no fs3s for the girls. Take that Speedo.
Thomas FH -He will be happy to be fastr than the Chinese.
Coutts & Schipper for the fly. Probably only need mid 57s.
Now we know coach Bohl was not only posturing that it would need a 4:29 to win in London.
ReplyDeleteThat translates to a WR on the opening day of the games.. A 4.29 will do for gold but i think it will take a 4.31 to medal
ReplyDelete4:29 would not necessarily be a WR, unless it is under WR.
DeleteI believe there will be a world record on opening night in London, it just will not be in this event. The jump from 431.7 to 429low is humongous (2.5 seconds). It is the equivalent to predicting Grant Hackett would break Thorpe's 400free WR back in the mid2000s.
ReplyDeleteRice's WR, and Coventry's Silver performance were masterpieces and I can't see the girls today touching it. Sans suits, these performances were probably in the area of a 430high or so. And that's probably the best I can see the girls going this year. I do feel this event was underswam in Shanghai being so late in the program, but I think 430high/431 will win it. 432mid to medal.
I'm very pleasantly surprised by Rice's performance. I still believe that she is probably the most talented 400IMer on the planet, we'll ahve to see how much her shoulder will affect her training, which I'd imagine it will. On the other hand, I definitely think its going to be possible for her to go under 209.5 in the 200IM. Coutts hasn't shown anything at all this year, and if she posts the time she did at trials last year, she will not make the team, which would be huge.
Lastly, I would not be surprised if Rice used a full taper on this meet as there was so much uncertainty even for her party that they probably thought she needed all her fitness in case her shoulder was an issue
ReplyDeleteI would be hugely surprised if any swimmer hasn't had a full taper for this meet. The beauty of having trials this early is the ability to get a full block of training in before London (with an effective taper).
DeleteI have been following Rice's tweets for months now, and it sound she did use full taper.
DeleteOn the other hand, it does seem that her shoulder did affect her training in a big way.
But that's why she's a champion, she never complained and blamed her shoulder and she killed it when it matters.
This meet will sort out those most able to handle the psychological pressures. Not expecting it to be fast.
ReplyDeleteMany who are capable of x time will fall short those with the best heads will prevail.
I think everyone will be smarter for this in 2013 especially the former young stars .
I always want to dare myself join the competition on swimming and see if I can beat some of the good swimmers. That's a great challenge though I'm not a good in swimming but I can swim.
ReplyDeleteIs that you Craig?
Deletehehe.
DeleteIan Thorpe about to go in the 200m Free heats. Huge moment in his comeback.
ReplyDeleteWish there were live updates!!
DeleteTHORPE, IAN 29 SOPAC, NSW 1:49.16
Deleter:++0.77 25.15 51.78 (26.63)
1:19.87 (28.09) 1:49.16 (29.29)
Thank you, Tom!
DeleteGosh 1:49? Is that going to be enough for the semis at least....
Anon, there's live results:
Deletehttp://www.clubsonline.com.au/uploads/swimresults/National/2012Open/index.htm
and yes, Thorpie qualifies for semis at equal 5th with McKeon.
Here's the splits:
5 THORPE, IAN 29 SOPAC, NSW 1:50.79 1:49.16B 815
r:+0.77 25.15 51.78 (26.63)
1:19.87 (28.09) 1:49.16 (29.29)
Either he was cruising in the last 50 or he ran out of steam. Not sure unless I watch the actual swim
he's good. Very encouraging.
ReplyDeletelast year, this time would've missed the finals by 0.02. and would've placed 7th (6th being 148.96). I imagine that this year is going to be a much faster field altogether, but I reckon if Thorpe's got another second left to drop, he'd be good.
ReplyDeleteHis first 100m time is very encouraging, I hope it was because he shut it down
Yeah we don't know whether he shut it down second 100 or he ran out of steam. I hope it's the first.
DeleteIt's always a joy to watch him swim.
I know she is of little significance (On a scale of expected qualifiers) but is Lorna Tonks (4th in 100br heats) the British Lorna Tonks? The young girl who represented us at Euro Juniors in breast/free and then went missing, age matches up......If so ffs we might have just lost another good breaststroker that we REALLY need.
ReplyDeleteYes . She has been here for years -at least 2005. She was doing 2.15s IM for a time around 2006 . She has popped up again over the last 18 months as a breastroker. That is her pb I would guess.
DeleteThanks. It would make sense, I think Euro juniors was 2003/4 for her.
DeleteWhich reminds me of when my 16 year old daughter went off to nationals.
DeleteShe said - Mom - guess what ? Old people are still competing& doing all right..
How old I asked.?
23.
:)
Here's a video of the final 50. Thorpe's looking good, he didn't look like he died at all,
ReplyDeletehttp://www.smh.com.au/sport/olympics-2012/swimming-updates-thorpe-into-semifinal-20120316-1v986.html
he wasn't really even using his legs in the last 25 (when Napolean passed him) and lifted his head up at the very end. I think he could've easily been under 149 if he has streamlined into the wall. I feel confident about his chances of making the team.
Nice find John. He totally shuts it down at the end, no leg kick... plus he doesn't look out of breath at the end. This is looking very good!
DeleteThanks John
DeleteSo he did totally shut it down.
I LOVE watching him swim freestyle. So graceful and seemingly effortless.
Remy Fairweather swam a PB methinks. Impressive for a 14 yo girl.
ReplyDeleteShe may not be fast enough to outswim Palmer and Barratt in the final tonight, but I think she has pretty good chance in 800.
and how about Hocking's swim?
Why did she feel she had to swim a 58.89 in the prelims where 1:03.50 is sufficient to get to semis??
Unless she has a 58.5 in her??
Maybe she is practicing for olympics prelims already?
And Ashley Delaney almost didn't make it to semis.
ReplyDeleteShocking
Yes he must have had a malfunction of sorts. 28.6/28.2. Negative split!
DeleteHoping for Remy . She has been keen forever & as an 11 year old went with Sam Hamill to Thailand as a training buddy. She was so cute. Does not mess with open water nor SLSA . She has never been sidetracked.
Oh & Goldman not looking too good yesterday /today heats. Remy on the other hand always delivers her best.
It was mentioned on the coverage that Delaney slipped on his start and lost some ground.
DeleteWomen 100 fly is quite slow.
ReplyDeleteTrickett continues to cut down her "fastest time" by 1 full second, and Elmslie also keeps getting faster.
All 8 finalists under 1 minute.
I don't know why Seebohm bothers to swim the 50 back final when she has 100 semis later on. Doesn't she want to reserve some energy for her busy program?
OH NO!
ReplyDeleteThorpe did not get through!
:(
I'm so bummed
So sad
Yeha. Real shame, especially after easing back in his heat. He just didn't have the fitness to race twice in a day, it has been something he's suffered from throughout his comeback.
Delete6 THORPE, IAN 29 SOPAC, NSW 1:49.91
r:++0.76 24.77 52.19 (27.42)
1:20.73 (28.54) 1:49.91 (29.18)
Oh wow, Ian..... 12th place....
ReplyDeleteI suppose that's it for London then.
How disappointing! :(
Kylie Palmer is impressive, negative splitting her race:
ReplyDelete1 PALMER, KYLIE 22 CHANDLER, QLD 4:09.12 4:03.40# 948
r:+0.74 28.87 59.78 (30.91)
1:30.40 (30.62) 2:01.28 (30.88)
2:32.11 (30.83) 3:02.87 (30.76)
3:33.46 (30.59) 4:03.40 (29.94)
barratt seems to have plateaued and even getting slower
But Remy Fairweather is even more impressive, relatively, as she is only 14!
4:08.63
Give her a year or two, and she may be ready to do some real damage.
Yeah, can't wait for Remy's 800 now.
DeleteBarratt has always been 'inconsistent'... and I don't mean that in a negative way; only saying that her swims from meet to meet and from year to year don't show a consistent performance or improvement.
Last year she swam slower at the WCs than at trials.
Not sure why. I know she has been swimming well over the shorter distances so perhaps her 200 will be strong.
Palmer had very even splits, 59.7 / 2:01.2 / 3:02.8 / 4:03.40.
ReplyDeleteRebecca Adlington went out much faster 58.6 / 1:59.9 / 3:01.7 / 4:02.35.
Palmer joins the elite level at 400 all the same. Pellegrini, Adlington, Muffat and now Palmer (wait for the American call (read David Rieder) for Allison Schmitt to be added to that list).
Belinda Hocking scares me with her 59.39semi/100back. In my own opinion she is a genuine gold medal contender in both the 100back/200back and if she can get close to her 2.06.06 in the 200back from Shanghai, she can potentially beat Missy Franklin. Just an observation. I stand to be corrected by the experts.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by that time in the semis; I thought she would ease up after the heats, but I think this points to a potentially much faster time in the finals, and that would be a good thing for Seebohm too; to get that kind of competition domestically allows her to judge her performances throughout the week as they would be at the Olympics.
DeleteShe's going to be challenged in all her events.
When Hocking swam 59.5 at the WCs I thought that was towards her peak in the shorter distance, but she really has been improving greatly.
It's hard to tell how fast she can go, but her and Seebohm will push each other.
Can you imagine, both have the potential to dip below 59 seconds.
I think Missy Franklin is still far away the hot favorite to win 200 back.
Delete100 back is a different game though.
Only two days of competition have taken place so far, but what do people think is the top swim so far?
ReplyDeleteRice - 4:33
Fraser-Holmes - 4:11
Palmer - 4:03
Sprenger - 59.9
Hocking - 59.3
No mention of Thorpe's 1:49.1?!
DeleteGood question. I would probably go with Palmer's 4:03 followed by Hocking and Rice.
It's interesting how similar a lot of the times are between AUS and GBR.
most unexpected Fraser Holmes
Deleteworld class would be Rice or Palmer
On relative basis, Hocking's 59.3 is more startling because it was done in the semis.
DeleteI'm very disappointed with Thorpe not making the cut, the concensus after the prelim swim was that he had another 1 or 2 seconds in him. Its a shame that he didn't make the cut. My honest opinion is that he went out way too fast. 24.7? Really? that's what how he went out in his prime. If he went out in 25.2 or so, I would be confident of his chances, he definitely could've been there.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we do know he can go out in 24.7 and 51.7, which bodes well for the 100m free. I have not lost faith that he will be swimming in the London pool.
PS. This is a much faster field than 2011
So, without trying to name drop... Milorad Cavic said on twitter "I heard about some incredible times he was doing in workouts from an insider"
Deleteno way thorpe makes 100 will not make the final either. the event is stacked
DeleteNo one knows anything about Thorpe's fitness and condition better than he and his coach.
DeleteHowever, on the coverage, when he stepped out of the pool, he didn't look as sharp as I thought he would. He still seems to be carrying a bit of extra weight.
Given that he has indicated he wants to swim further, and that he may still consider the 400 free in future, he may well get back to top shape by next year.
John, this is a much faster field than 2011 because I believe Thorpe's return in a way forced these useless aussie men to swim to their potentials.
DeleteI have no idea why people, myself included, are surprised Hocking is so fast in the 100back, she IS only 21 years old, and she is presumably only going to get better. I'm dying to see what Seebohm is going to do, she really seems like she's sitting back and chillax-ing. But I'm starting to doubt she can pop the times I originally thought she'd be able to go. (textile record)
ReplyDeleteIf Seebohm is not in that sort of shape, it could appear that Rice will be the favorite in the 200IM, in contrast to my original prediction that she'd be locked out by Coutts and Seebohm. Coutts was slower than she was last year in the fly, and although that doesn't necessarily mean anything. It could mean that her 200IM is going to be around 210.5, which I would think will not get the job done.
Palmer's swim was a pleasant surprise, we haven't seen Muffat drop much time from taper, for that Palmer is an excellent pick for bronze in the event.
I think Seebohm has been coasting she also had the addition to her club of Elmslie in the last year to improve competitiveness in training previously she was pretty much on her own
DeleteI think the women's 100 free is going to be an absolute cracker assuming they all "turn up on the day" with how much Trickett and Elmslie took off their times in the fly they have the potetial to be in the 53's
I am really not sure Palmer could beat a top performing Muffat. I would expect neither girl to go much faster in London and as you pointed out the gold/silver look to be quite predictable (Providing everyone shows up)with Pellegrini (2011) and Adlington so far this year looking a leage above. Early in the year having not seen US nationals and the unpredictable Belmonte-Garcia I predict the top 6 to be Pellegrini, Adlington....Then a scrap between Palmer, Muffat, Schmitt and Belmonte (If she swims). Would love (Even as a pom) for Palmer to grab a medal though, I have a soft spot for her.
DeleteIndeed.
DeleteTo her benefit she is a pure backstroker, swimming the 100 and 200.
As she builds her speed, and with her endurance (why, she can embody the name of this blog...) she should be able to get much stronger in the 100.
Other backstrokers by comparison may be dividing thier time by swimming other events, focusing on the sprints, fly, IMs.
The problem for Seebohm is the schedule.
She has said she is saving her energy.
She has two 200IM swims today plus the final of the 100 back. That's a bit tough.
She may be saving it all for the final.
Luckily for her the final of the 100 back is before the semis of the 200IM.
There is no coasting at the Olympics though. She won't find it hard to qualify for the final of the 200IM tonight, but it will be a different story at the Olympics.
she said she wanted to save her energy, but then she swam 50 m back prelims, semis and final??
Deletedoes not make sense to me.
aswimfan: I can only guess it would be to help her either:
Deletea) get in the groove of things, or
b) try and emulate the Olympic program where she might have to swim on the first day in the relay
To be honest, I don't see Schmitt as a serious contender in the 400m. Her 200m times have been fast enough where I have trouble seeing her going much faster, and still having them translate to any meaningful improvements in the 400. She is a 200m distance swimmer, not a 200-400 swimmer like pellegrini.
ReplyDeleteI will go as far to say that I believe she will find it difficult to qualify in front of individuals like Chloe Sutton and Kate Ziegler, who, when they get it right will be 404 swimmers. I don't know where Katie Hoff's mind is at.
Ooops mistake by me, I did actually mean Sutton and not Schmitt haha. Allison was in my head due to an earlier comment I had read :)
Delete4.03 low will be the minimum to medal in London, I think both Pellegrini & Adlington will go sub 4.02 with Fed getting it by about 1/2 second....However at the same time a little voice is telling me Adlington looked in incredible shape at trials and if she swims the same race at the olympics (sub 2 mins) I would not be shocked to see Federica panic as Tom said previously.
Go Remy.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lot of shoulder /hip injuries out there with the girls.
Hope they actually take a full year out & come back refreshed.
Who else is having injuries?
DeleteI wish ALL swimmers healthy towards London. It would be a shame if a swimmer can't perform their best due to injuries.. Yes Rice I'm looking at you
Pretty much all the B + team breastrokers Wallace Selig Rebecca Sam . Lieston is needing hip surgery.
DeleteAlmost all of the B+ flyers -some not even here. Hamill looks injured .Have not seen Groves for 14 months. She was looking fantastic one week (jan 2011 ) & then gone.
It worries me . too much work for growing bones& tendons.
What's up with Kukla??
ReplyDeleteHow one earth did she swim 2:03 after 1:58 in the same pool a month ago??
Ya, did you notice how fast she went out?
DeleteHer last 50 was 34.62. That seems painful just judging from the time. Slowest last 50 out of all in the heats.
Hmmm...
She went out fast in the first 50 of the 100 fly as well.
If nothing else it bodes well for her 50 free.
She is not alone. Lots of swimmers are all over the place. Loks like she only 2 gears -hit it out of the park pace & walkabout.
DeleteMaybe we will find out she has indigenous heritage. That would explain all.
Well when she did the 1:58 last month I thought that she has finally found a way to control her own pace.
DeleteAswim. I will not hear of any criticisms of Yolane. Strength to power ratios tat are off the chart are very rare in swimming. Yo is unique & her path will be unique.
DeleteThese anons with conflicting and contradictory statements and completely opposite views are too confusing to me :)
DeleteYes I have seen some criticisms on other blogs which was rather creepy. Someone criticized her for a relay swim at some forgettable Pan Pacs & practically had her as unstable. People piling on a kid who has really only been swimming for 4.5 years.
DeleteI am quite liking the unpredictability of it all. Luckily we won't really need her for relays!
Go Yo.
So what are peoples thoughts on tonights events? I think womens 100 back is the race of the night plus I really want to see Cam McEvoy get on the team in the 200 free
ReplyDeleteYes McEvoy in at 6th place along with a couple of 19 yr olds in McKeon and McKendry... the super macs!
DeleteAs usual, the men's times are very pedestrian. 1:46.8 in 200 free and 53.98 in 100 back wouldn't get you into olympics finals these days.
DeleteThese Aussie guys are jealous of the attention lavished upon Thorpe, and yet they haven't done anything to deserve the attention they want.
Hocking is pretty consistent. The question is can she get any faster?
While I think Seebohm can still get faster in London.
I am worried about Jones. I hope she still has something for London. I'd like to see her medalling in 100. That would be awesome as she would be the first swimmer, male or female, to win medal in an event in 4 successive olympics.
I have a we might just have seen a passing of the mantle (Jones to Pickett) sadly. I predicted Pickett to win here and had Katsoulis swam as she did at NSW titles, Jones would not be on the team, shocking to see names like Meilutyte and Johansson above her after her taper meet, hoping she can improve in London otherwise I fear seeing her miss the 100br final.
DeleteAussie medley is set (right now) to gain no more than about 1.1 secs over Great Britain, our back needs to improve greatly but that is likely....If Jones improves back to the mid 66 zone in time for London, game over, GB will not be close.
Pretty much my thoughts aswimfan.
DeleteI feel the same regarding the Thorpe situation as well. STOP complaining, step up, achieve, and THEN complain. Thorpe didn't win because of the attention. He won despite it. He got the attention because he achieved.
I did for a second think of the reaction here regarding Napoleon when I saw the results of the 200 free. So much for boasting about his superior speed and then finishing behind McKeon.
Though I can understand the frustration a swimmer would have if their achievements (whatever they may be) go unnoticed.
DeleteIt's not healthy for the sport to ignore the achievements of swimmers in the moment and focus on the stories of those whose legacies are loudest. That may deteriorate public interest in and support for the new breed of swimmer.
Public attention can help generate more sponsorship and financial support etc.
Napleon has been swimming the meet with a respitory infection.He looks fitter than ever . Who goes into a race not backing themselves? If he told everyone he is ill he would be rubbished for that as well.
DeleteShocking that Merindah Dingjan not going through to final.
ReplyDeleteAustralia's women 200 free is DEEP.
And How about Brittany Elmslie in the 200! She keeps on slashing her PBs. can't wait to see her in 100.
Agree RE Merindah, she was my pick....Not fair haha.
DeleteWhy ? She has not done anything. Sits in Canberra & never competes domestically.
DeleteHas had 4 years on taxpayer express & delivered nothing.
think Rice will pull out of final so she will be in
DeleteAlso Emma McKeon took almost over a second off her 200 time so the 100 is going to take a crazy time to make top 6
Speaking of Rice pulling out of the final...
DeleteWhy are the women's 200IM, 200 free and 200 fly all overlapping?
Rice didn't swim the prelims of the 200 fly.
Makes sense.
I have just now realized Blair Evans is not swimming the 200 IM. Why??
ReplyDeleteShe was 2:12 in January at the same pool!
It's not like she's going to get individual place in the 200 free
I think she wanted to concentrate on the 200 free really.
DeleteI think it's stupid to try and do both... don't know what Rice is thinking given her shoulder problems.
A night of underwhelming results and some surprises.
ReplyDeleteSurprises (first, because they're more fun):
- Brittany Elmslie - huge PB again and yet another Aussie swimming sub 1:58. The final is going to be close, in fact, all 8 are capable of sub 1:58. Elmslie's 100 free is shaping to be huge if she is dropping seconds off her PBs over 100 and 200 distances. I think that, despite McKeon's nice time, Elmslie is going to impact the 100 free more considerably. Her PB is 55.02. She took 1.7 seconds off her 200 time. Could be big.
I think Palmer is still fave for the title over 200.
- Go Fraser-Holmes. I knew he had a 1:46 in him. Small steps, but good steps. Kinda disappointed Monk got the second spot because he's not always consistent and after the stupidity on display last year I was underwhelmed. Good for him anyway. So good to see the 'Mc' boys make the team. They were my pick from the start; I knew they would do well. Hoped McEvoy could have gone faster but what a bright future he has.
I guess Hurley will now take the 1500 seriously. Perhaps Ryan (I've got more speed than McKeon) Napoleon (in jest I say that) will also take the 1500 more seriously. And so they should, they have shown potential over the distance it's a shame to see them ignore it!
- Arnamnart making his first Olympics, and his first major senior team in an Olympic event. He's been competing for years. Surprised Treffers missed a spot.
The underwhelming:
- Other than Fraser-Holmes, the men still can't get past 1:47. Having said that, the 'Mc' boys, the teens, are relatively new to this and I'm sure won't be haunted by that barrier for long.
- Leisel! Apparently she's ill; I had hoped for more given she said she was stronger than she had been in the past and was more confident of her abilities (a big thing to say!).
- Men's 100 back, I can't believe Delaney missed a spot. He was my pick for a top two finish.
- I hope Chris Wright wins the 200 fly tomorrow. Really really do.
Was disappointed by Seebohm in the 100back. Was expecting a sub 59.. Perhaps her busy schedule is taking off that 'edge' but 59.28 is still a very fast time.. The 200IM looks to set the trials alight.. Expecting a tight rice but not an insanely fast time. A 2.09.5 or so may win it...
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in her taking her "busy" schedule seriously.
DeleteOtherwise why would she swim 50 m back ALL three rounds?
It's down either to arrogance or stupidity.
I too was somewhat underwhelmed by the times swum tonight. Fraser-Holmes' time was a pleasant surprise but only confirmed what the aussie men have needed for a long time. He was very wise in choosing the 400IM over the 400free. Though I feel he would've most likely gone 345 at these trials, that is, at the moment,several body lengths away from what will be required to medal.
ReplyDeleteI'm not too sure what to make of Seebohm's performance, I figured that she would've have been much faster: something like a textile best and Australian record. Despite this, I'm confident that her 200IM and her 100freestyle will be much faster than they were a month ago. My gut reaction tells me that Rice will be approximately 209mid in the 200IM, Coutts will be 210mid. I don't believe that Seebohm will be as good as I originally thought but her 59.2 in the back is faster than her 100back time when she went 209.9 at panpacs.
hmm didn't realize the 100m free was so soon. King James steps up to show us he hasn't been all talk tonight, and Ian is gonna get his second chance. I hope him the best, it'll be hard but based on how he swam his 200s, i wouldn't rule him out completely.
ReplyDeleteCant wait.
hmm didn't realize the 100m free was so soon. King James steps up to show us he hasn't been all talk tonight, and Ian is gonna get his second chance. I hope him the best, it'll be hard but based on how he swam his 200s, i wouldn't rule him out completely.
ReplyDeleteCant wait.
hmm didn't realize the 100m free was so soon. King James steps up to show us he hasn't been all talk tonight, and Ian is gonna get his second chance. I hope him the best, it'll be hard but based on how he swam his 200s, i wouldn't rule him out completely.
ReplyDeleteCant wait.
Oh & apparently Eammon Sullivan has a new stroke - changed it 5weeks ago.
DeleteQuick learner! He did a 48.8 club relay test run.
On with the show!
I think these titles are actually very god for Australian swimming though not fast. Consistency & racing are winning .
Perhaps the team will range from 14 -33 years of age. Here's to Geoff & Remy.making it.
Wow.
ReplyDeleteAussie men's 100 free heats are way faster than last year.
I put it down to Magnussen and Thorpe's effect.
Thorpe swam the fastest he's ever been since comeback, 50.35, just 0.2 outside what he needed to get through.
Ryan "Superior Speed" Napoleon finished 36th. LOL.
Magnussen is magnificent.
OMG Napoleon is a middle distance swimmer if you knew as much as you think you do...... thats what you would expect.
DeleteMagnussen is once again ill,
ReplyDeletehttp://au.eurosport.com/swimming/magnussen-battling-illness_sto3199984/story.shtml
He said he thought his 48.2 was a 49.2. Guess the taper was well done. I wonder if he takes dayquill before his races. It should help :/
Rice is an animal. If she can get a clean block of training no one will beat her.
ReplyDeleteYeah, very impressive swim.
DeleteIf all goes well with her shoulder over the next 4 months, and she's not interrupted in her training, she should be able to swim faster.
I won't discount Coutts either.
I'm not sure why Coutt's not as fast at the moment (not far off though), but she's certainly faster than last year's trails.
There must be something going on with Seebohm. That's quite a surprise, or she's not pacing her 200IM. Was her backstroke leg slow?
She may not be a factor in the 100 free.
Emily is just not strong again yet. My guess is that the other strokes have had to be jettisoned all 2011.
DeleteOf those 3 she is actually the fastest 50 flier but was 3rd out in an ordinary time..
Steph was great.
Rice is virtually the fiercest competitor out there. I also like how she split with her boyfriend Quade the rugby player.
DeleteShe just seemed to get better in swimming when she's without bf. Witness Beijing when she had just split with Sullivan.
It's a good sign. Let's just hope her shoulders hold strong in the next 5 months
How great was the women's 200 free?
ReplyDeleteSlightly slower at the top compared to last year but what a great race between the top two.
Mel Schlanger and Brit Elmslie also are fantastic. Schlanger came home fast.
I have great hope for a really fast time from both Schlanger and Elmslie in the 100. It's going to be a great event.
Hehe. I have been following Melanie since she was at Hawaii. She was going very well until the admin abruptly ditched the coach & she quit on them& returned home. A month later she almost made Comm Games in the 50 .
ReplyDeleteIwasvery pleased to see her return. Last week I found her blog & put a comment in for her . I said she could go 53.4 & 1.56.6 !
How close was I ? Thanks Melanie for making me look super smart.
Very close in the 200, but I think she can go faster in the 100.
DeleteShe's taken half a second off her 200 free best time (swum at one of the state champs). The 100 is her better event, so it's likely she can dip in the low 53s.
I hope so anyway. I've been most impressed by her determination.
I predict Schlanger wins, with perhaps Campbell or Coutts second, Trickett then fourth, Seebomh, Elmslie and Kukla next through and Guerher or Mckeon rounding out the final.
Actually, Bronte Campbell has also dipped below 55 seconds, Barratt, if swimming it was a 54.6 previously.
Right, this is not an easy one to predict if everyone is on form.
That last reply was not anonymous... it was mine, for clarity's sake.
DeleteThe 100m free has picked up almost as much in the women as it did in the men since '10. Atm its not inconceivable that this team could beat the Americans and challenge for gold (esp if Libby returns to top form)
ReplyDeleteIn this morning's heats the 16th time of Alice Tait was 55.34, in Shanghai it took 54.86 to make it out of the heats in the individual 100m Free. Great depth.
DeleteThe Women's 200m Freestyle final video has been added - http://speedendurance.blogspot.com/2012/03/australian-olympic-trials-race.html
ReplyDeleteWith 10m to go I would have put the house on Kylie Palmer winning that race!
Wow. That is really a great race. Most likely the race of the meet.
DeleteThe first 100, the second 50 I think, with all of the top 8 i a straight line; what a sight.
DeleteThe men's 100 Breast was also a good race.
my goodness. The aussies put 9(!) girls under 55 in the prelims, last year they had 5 in the finals!
ReplyDelete6 of the top 10 are teenagers.
DeleteBronte swam a perfectly symmetrical 100 pace . Coaches dream of this stuff.
ReplyDelete27.01 + 28.07 = 55.09.
Howzat?
Meanwhile her older sister went out fast:
Delete1 CAMPBELL, CATE 19 INDOOROOPILLY 53.82 54.26A 883
r:+0.84 25.58 54.26 (28.68)
Did she shut it down the second lap?
I hope so.
Unbelievable depth among the women's 100 free. Australia could conceivable field a totally different teams for both heats and the final 4x100 free in London.
ReplyDeleteAustralia may finally be competitive once again in the women 4x100. They may not return to the great heights of 2004-2007, but they can challenge for silver.
I get your point regarding the dominance of the Aussie womens relay between those years but I think the new crop of swimmers may reach even greater heights.
DeleteAustralia seemed to have great depth in those years (how many countries had swimmers sub 54, let alone two?).
I think the depth now is greater and the most exciting thing is that most of the swimmers in final are likely to be teenagers.
However, we're speculating before the semis have even been swum.
I think Brittany Elmslie has great future. She is quite tall and unlike Kukla, she has not maxed out her potentials.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_zJBMzy2P0
ReplyDeletesome clips of today's races including m100free semis, m200fly, and w200im. It also brought up an interesting point-- if Rice wins 2 or more golds in London, she will equal/surpass Thorpe as the highest number of gold medals. Overall, how will Rice's success be remembered against Thorpe, Dawn Fraser, Shane Gould...etc
I didn't realize Rice was that far behind Coutts in the final lap of 200 IM. You would think Coutts bring it home, considering she's a far superior sprinter than Rice.
DeleteI still think Beisel as the favorite in 400 and Ye Shiwen in 200.
ReplyDeleteWow!!! 47.10 for Magnussen and 47.63 for Roberts. Is it possible that 46.91 is broken in London 2012. Now we wonder. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think it is.
DeleteMagnussen will get it.
He's only 20.
In fact, if he wins gold in London, I think he will have a fantastic chance doubling in Rio.
I wish he had broken it though. I'm not a fan of the tech suit era.
47.10!
ReplyDeleteJust WOW!
I'm speechless.
This has gotta be the swim of the year.
Magnussen walk the talk after all.
47.10 is such an amazing swim that it overshadows another unbeliavable performance by James Roberts, who just became the second fastest ever (in textile)
It is hilarious that everyone in the final went the "magnussen's way", ie. slower first lap.
ReplyDeleteIt's ridiculous that Matt Targett went out in 23.25 (ironically, much slower than Magnussen's), but the end result is that he swam his fastest ever in textile.
Same with James Roberts.
And Matt Abood missed out on a place for relay! (unless somehow he gets a place in the 50, which I now doubt it). Abood was a member of the gold medal winning relay last year.
And about McEvoy! 17 yo and 48.58 already!
Yep Magnussen has totally screwed these guys over. The pure sprinters have all decided to conserve for the back end pace per worlds and Magnussen has pushed his front end speed without any impact to his back end.
DeleteIf SUllivan makes the team in the 50, can they still bring Abood since Sullivan wouldn't be a relay only swimmer? The US regularly swims 7 because Michael Phelps qualifies in other things.
DeleteThey can still select Abood if they wish, as far as I know, based on the number of swimmers qualified.
DeleteI think they can select as many as 42 swimmers (or something like that).
They already have many double ups... Palmer and Barratt, Rice and Coutts, Schipper and Fraser-Holmes with more likely, Jones and Hocking etc all swimming more than 1 event. Fraser-Holmes could take three spots.
Most of the contenders for the women's 4x100 free relay are already on the team, so they can potentially select all of the finalists if they wish.
So they can have for example 36 swimmers for 42 spots, and can select more swimmers for the relays if those swimmers got the A qualifying time, which Abood did.
Does that sound right? Anyone?
Hopefully the footage of the men's 100 free will be posted soon so you can see the race. Pretty interesting way it unfolded.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought Magnussen was taking it out way too fast as he looked like he was almost half a body length out in front by the touch. Not what we're used to seeing.
I knew James Roberts would do well... had a feeling. He was 'silent' all during the off season and comes out with this. Amazing.
I still think he should have been on the relay last year. He outsplit Sullivan in the heats. He's now shown what he can do.
I did think Targett and Sullivan would be faster, but still, a great result.
I think there will be a battle to get on the relay between the other 4 swimmers. It's close between them, and McEvoy may still improve.
Eamon dislocated his finger in semis. Went out 23.00 . Must have hurt hitting the wall.
DeleteAm so p###ssed at FINA for not throwing the rubber times out. THAT is the WR & they have denied him .
That 47.10 will surely be the swim of the year, unless Magnussen goes under it again in London.
DeleteJust amazing.
That's right anon, forgot about that.
DeleteMan he's unlucky. But still, a great swim from him.
I wonder if he'll continue swimming for another 4 years.
He's one talented man in and out of the pool.
You can see the second 50 here:
Deletehttp://www.foxsports.com.au/other-sports/world-champion-james-magnussen-sets-personal-best-time-to-win-100m-freestyle-title-at-australias-olympic-trials/story-fn5k3iok-1226304470696
BTW, I'm liking the arsenal the Australian team is building lol: let's see, there is the Missile, the Rocket, the Bomb... and the Thorpedo might be back.
whos the bomb?
DeleteEmily SeeBOHM
DeleteSo excited for Libby.
ReplyDeleteHer 54.19 is so good to see, so impressive.
She went out fast. Almost as fast as she used to, but she really faded on the way home.
If she paces it better tomorrow night she should be able to crack the 54 mark. Hopefully by London her fitness would have improved to allow her to come home strong.
Can Brittany Elmslie take off anymore time? It's crazy.
She's only been getting faster through the rounds of her other events, so could she dip under 54?
It is likely that Coutts might also get there, Trickett, with Campbell and Schlanger, it will be close.
I think though that Campbell and Schlanger have it. I can't predict the other places... too good.
Also, very sad for Alice Tait. Am a fan, and think she's great.
DeleteUm... the rhyming isn't deliberate. :)
I still remember her from the 2003 Worlds. Such a champ.
To think that if the suits were around we might've just seen a 45second 100m free. I think I really like the decision to not eradicate the suit records because a lot of them, although fast are not unreachable. There are probably 7 or 8 that are going to take a while, but the vast majority are solid targets that the best in the world probably had as lifetime goals.
ReplyDeleteI think what we're seeing is the next generation on Australian men starting to gather. We are still waiting on their next great breaststroker, but with the way that the men are building in depth, there is really so no doubt in my mind that the Aussie men will own this relay for at least the next 4 years. With Phelps out, if Thorpe and Magnussen resume in the 200free, they would probably be building to contend with Team China in 2016. The Aussie coaches have talked about rebuilding. It hasnt come in all the places yet, but we're definitely starting to see it happen.
I was extremely impressed with the way James Robert swam. After watching him in Shanghai semis where he went 48.49, I felt that it was a calculated swim to try to reach the finals (which we never saw). I had felt that he could probably havea 47.9 (or at least a time like that would, in a best case scenario, would win the 2nd berth). His 24.4 on the second half is probably a sign of better things to come. I hope that he could hold taper, because its looking like Australia could potentially go 1-2.
ReplyDeleteWhen watching the swim I was like "wth why is Magnussen going out so damm fast in the first 50". and there was a portion of the race in the 3rd 25 when it looked like Roberts was making a gain on him. I feel that at this stage, a 22.68 going out is probably too fast, I think if he had gone out in 22.75 or so, he might've been under the the Aus record. He looked slightly out of his comfortzone, but you can't mess around with an extraordinary time like that. Everything is definitely working out the way Magnussen has said it will, and it was a masterful delivery. Magnussen's time was pretty close to what I thought he could swim at this meet in the best case scenario
PS. The even more ominous news is that if you add the top 4 swimmers discounting 0.5 seconds for the latter 3 swimmers for relay starts, you get 3:10flat. This is also assuming swimmers do not improve between now in the olympics, which you pretty much can assume. We are looking at a team much faster than Team US or France in the lead up to Beijing, and we're possibly looking at a team that could conceivably get within a second of the outrageously fast relay WR. I hope teams US and France don't forget to do the math because this team is scary.
AUS can still do a "Bernard" and FRA/USA can do a "Lezak".
Deletenothing is set in stone.
Australia look miles clear in the mens 400 free relay but France have looked the same year after year and failed at every shot. Leveaux is swimming AMAZING this week, Gilot, Meynard, Bernard, Agnel and Bousquets are all capable of splitting 47s so, they are not far away. I can't see the US getting close right now, but they are gods of the big shock tactic. I would not be shocked to see Leveaux swim as fast as Roberts in this form (1.47 mid 200 free, he did not break 1.50 last year where his SB was 49.4) then Meynard, Gilot, Bernard, Agnel and many more can go 48 (top 4 will all likely be around 48 flat)....France will not be far behind.
DeleteAnd Magnussen backs up with a 22.19 the morning after.
ReplyDeleteMatt Target goes 52.6 100 fly - I forgot he was giving it a shot. Went out 24.
The 50 free & 100 fly scheduled so close. Does FINA actually know any swimmers ?
Olympics schedule does not make any sense at all.
ReplyDeletefor example, women's 200 IM semis only an event before women's 200 fly final.
They should have schedules all semis AFTER finals.
Well, how wrong I was about the women's 100. The final was an interesting affair to watch.
ReplyDeleteMost impressive would be Kukla putting three strong, consistent swims in the event.
Libby too, back to some consistency in her form.
Elmslie almost cracking 54 was great.
Other than that I was surprised by the slower times. I expected faster from Schlanger, Campbell and Coutts.
In fact, most were slower than the semi. Interesting racing.
With 7 of the 8 finalists already on the team, the depth for the relay is good. Maybe they can put McKeon on the team anyway. Would be good to see what she can come up with.
Most impressive on the men's side would be the fact that so many on the team are the youngsters and first-timers.
ReplyDeleteEveryone talked about how the Aussie men's side had absolutely no hope (as recently as 2006/7). These young guys coming through is fantastic to see.
3 teenagers qualified today, a 4th only 20.
SO happy the 200IM saw an Aussie record (textile). It's been a long time coming, and the depth Australia is likely to have in this event in the future could be a result of the success of Phelps really, as inspiration (who knows, I'm speculating... that or that no Aussie has dominated for a while).
Also, shocked that Lauterstein and Delaney are out. Who would have thought?
ReplyDeleteLauterstein hasn't been swimming as well as he has these past two years, and it's a shame to see because he has talent.
Delaney though has been partly victim of the emergence of the younger talent.
Sad for them.
The women 100 free seemed like a nervy affair?
ReplyDeleteI'd like to watch the race.
Apart from Elmslie, the rest are either slower than their semis or their in season times. Does not really make any sense. Especially Coutts. But maybe there's now silver lining for her that she can now concentrate on 100 fly and 200 IM.
And Jones failed to qualify in 200. I think she should just gave it up. It doesn't look like she's willing to put in extra work since 2010. It's just a shame really, with all her supreme talent, she sabotaged her own self with the exception of the years with Stephan Widmer.
Sullivan swam his textile best, how about that! And McEvoy kept surprising me!
Nothing Magnussen does surprises me anymore now. He's a beast.
Yeah, the women's 100 just seemed interesting. Possibly because not many of the times changed significantly from the semis, which is rare to see. Some were almost identical.
DeleteLibby took it out slower than she had previously and came home faster, but got almost the same time. I had thought she had taken the semi out too fast, but it didn't seem to make a difference.
Coutts was a surprise. Maybe she's not feeling 100%.
Yup, so happy for Sullivan. I hope he and Magnussen blast it in the final.
Here you go aswimfan - http://speedendurance.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/australian-olympic-trials-race.html
DeleteWomen's 100m Free added. The finish is manic, 7 in a line going into the wall.
Here's the vid:
Deletehttp://youtu.be/YhUuEzcfXxM
Ooops Tom... just a tad behind.
ReplyDelete