NOV 15th, a Minute before Midnight, Golden Goggles Celebration Begins!

At midnight, Chris LaBianco, head of the USA Swimming Foundation, was the first to wish me a happy birthday!!! Matt Grevers, Christine Magnuson and Mark Gangloff (with his wife Ashley) were on hand. Chris' wife, Shannon, was in the mix, as always---and much appreciated! Check out the pics:

Matt Grevers, with my wife Tif, is a giant, nearly 7 seven feet tall! Matt, one of my favorite 2008 Olympic gold medalists, won't be at my birthday party on Sunday because his girlfriend's coming into town in the middle of it----but he was nice enough to celebrate tonight.

Christine Magnuson, a fellow University of Tennessee alum and Olympic multi-medalist, shares a special trait with me. SHE'S A SIDE-BREATHING BUTTERFLIER! Christine is swimming until 2012. She's  a breakout star this year. Expect exciting swims from her in the future!

Here's me hugging Grevers, the giant! This guy's about the easiest swimmer to getting along with. He will be swimming until 2012, maybe until 2016.... Keep your eye on him. He had an incredible first trip to the 2008 Olympic Games...

Comments

[Crystal]

ok one more question...
can you please inform mp that there's a mobile twitter client so he can update via cell phone - whenever he wants. lord knows the man loves to text ;)

OH. maybe you can ask who else has a twitter account, as to rule out fakes. after the lezak thing with facebook i'm really skeptical now.

thanks agian, mel :)

[Crystal]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL !! :)
damn that grevers is tall ! and the pic of you two is priceless.

i have one question for whomever you want to ask.

what are their schedules for meets gonna be like in the coming months? what do they have planned...

i'm *still* waiting on a psych sheet for the austin grand prix. i'm definitely planning on going so i'm just curious.

[Gold Medal Mel]

Natalie, got it! I'm writing down all the questions tomorrow. I'll ask them when I can during GG...

[Natalie]

Happy birthday Mel! :)

Is it too late for me to ask a question to Brendan Hansen if he's turning up at the Golden Goggles? If it's not, here's my question for him- How long of a break did you take off from the water after Beijing, and do you still remember me from Singapore, when I ran into you, Ian, Eric etc on Orchard Road during training camp?