I expected to experience excitement and electricity here in Austin at the Grand Prix. While all the excitement is down on 6th street, at the University of Texas pool it felt more like a very competitive intramural swim meet.
EMOTIONAL SUBTEXT OF THE SWIMMERS ON DECK: Ok, were here, in Texas, at one of the main pillars of wold-class swimming. The crowd's a little thin, but that's not a bad thing. We can cheer for those who are a little rested and swimming fast--but not too much, not while many of our peers are tired and beaten up right now in the middle of the season.
Katie Hoff won the 400m free, running away with it, swimming smooth and seemingly easy.
PVK swam under American Record pace for 250 meters of the 400m, finishing with an insanely fast a 3:45!
Mazy DeScenza continued her run, winning the 100m fly. (She's got the $20,000 Grand Prix purse locked up!)
Whitney Myers, the happiest swimmer in swimming, won the women's 200m IM. (I love Whitney's enthusiasm.)
Yannick Lebherz from Germany, broke the 200 IM German record. Eric Shanteau didn't even make the final, but in the banana heat he went a 1:59 for a faster swim. My jaw hung open impressed, while Shanteau glanced at me with a shrug like it was no big deal...
In the 50m free, Dara Torres popped off a sub 25 seconds, and Fred Bousquet broke the US Open Record.
While working for SWIMNETWORK, I got Dara and Fred on camera behind the scenes. Check Dara out here, and Freddie here. And I got Ceasar Cielo on camera as well after his silver in the 50 free. Check out the 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 50m free here.
For anyone who missed my new talk show, GOLD MEDAL MINUTE, check that out here. My first one's with Garrett Weber-Gale, Mr. Foodie himself. I didn't get a chance to talk to him after his swim in the 50m free. He didn't look very happy. He swam fast, a low 22 seconds, but I think he wanted to go faster.... I'm not surprised. Garrett trains harder than any sprinter I've ever seen. Garrett's best race is always at the end of the season...
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