A guy recently shot an email at me. "Gold Medal Mel," he said, "you have to pick a side. You have to choose the traditional suits or high-tech suits. You have to come down on one side or the other of the swimsuit debate."
Do I? Does it really matter? Yes, I suppose...to a degree. And I would, but I can't get past the fact that this ongoing drama has been fantastic for swimming.
Who would've thought that we'd still be debating this topic into the late spring? FINA is either corrupt, a bureaucratic nightmare, or an organization of geniuses. Since they govern my sport, I'm going with the "they're brilliant" hypothesis. (No need to unnecessarily piss anyone off.)
Think about it. We're living in the golden age of swimming. Sure Michael Phelps is largely the reason, but do a little test and see if he's the sole catalyst. Ask a truck driver, or flight attendant, or your weird uncle about the swimsuit issue. They may not know the details, but they know the drama's broad strokes. It's huge, wide-spread, something market researchers call 90% saturation...
BOTTOM-LINE: Michael and the swimsuit drama has created a perfect storm, sucking in attention.
At the end of the day, I don't think about the swimsuit issue much. It's just noise that I hope will get noisier.
THOUGHTS BETWEEN THE ULTRASWIM AND THE SANTA CLARA GRAND PRIX:
Everyone's swimming faster than I thought they'd be.
Elizabeth Beisel's "boss," and I mean that in the best way. Beisel has the voice and personality to be our first female Rowdy Gaines...some day...
Phelps is sick! Changing his stroke in free, mid-race, sort of swimming all over the place, popping off a 1:46 in the 200-free! (I've already said this, but I'll say it again. MP will net a "minimum" of 7 more Olympic medals in London.)
Davis Tarwater's back. I like that. I'd like to see him make the US Team this summer and medal at World Championships.
Eric Shanteau's my pick for greatest. He's still on track, swimming even faster than he did at the Austin Grand Prix, 1:00 in the 100 breast and 2:09 in the 200. I think he has a legitimate shot at 4 medals or more in London.
Peirsol's one of my favorite swimmers of all time. Period. Aside from going a 53.3 in the 100 back and a 1:56 in the 200 (at the Ultraswim), he has an enduring perspective and humility that keeps him honest in practice. I asked him why he didn't just train for the 100 back. "You're a 52.5, a god, and in London that's 2 gold medals." Aaron said he's a 200 backstroker. That's how he has to train... Of all the Olympic Champions returning to competition, Peirsol, to me, seems to be the most on track...
MP Fan, you always hear how he likes the 200 IM, though. I think (at least hope) he'll come back to the 200 Fly and 200 Free next year. Even if he wanted to, not enough time to swim EVERYTHING this year. Yeah, I agree probably with 200 Free, 100 Free, and 100 Fly, and then probably also the 50 Fly. Reason: Why the hell not? He gets it automatically with the 100 Fly selection (he has just opted out for 3 straight champs), and he's working on speed. I think it's on Days 1 and 2, so it fits ok.
Posted by: David2 | May 28, 2009 at 05:04 PM
Bob Bowman said Phelps would swim no more than 3 individual events in World this year. My guess he will try 100 Free, 100 Back & 100 Fly. But since 100 Back is difficult to obtain eligibility, he may swim 200 Free (which is on the same day as 100 Back in Worlds). I think he won't swim 200 Fly & 200 IM anymore. But agree that he may at least try swimming a 1:51 in 200 Fly, of course 1:50 all the better.
Posted by: MP Fan | May 27, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Spitz schedule with the 100 Back is 5 individual events? Do we think he'll ever swim the 200 Fly/200 IM again? I hope he goes back to that 200 Fly to go 1:50. at least.
Mel, I meant Shanteau can't medal if he's third-best in the US - even if he's 3rd in the world. Once again, we shall see.
Have we heard anything else about Scott Spann. I assume he's planning to go to World Trials, right? If he doesn't go to Santa Clara, can you ask someone about him?
Posted by: David2 | May 25, 2009 at 08:30 AM
David2, I said Shanteau would medal. I didn't say gold, but medaling puts him in the hunt. The interesting thing a/ Shanteau is his mass. He's put on 10-15 lbs of muscle. I think he's coming on fast.... London is a ways off. Shanteau has time...
I think MP will do the Spitz schedule with the 100 back... Just guessing for him, but that should be close...
Posted by: goldmedalmel | May 24, 2009 at 06:34 PM
Tony, Shanteau trying out every suit he can. I hope, for Shanteau's sake, that Arena will sign him. Arena's back in the game here in the states. Shanteau sure could use the $$$ to support his training right now... I'll know more about which suit he's gonna race in at World Trials after the Santa Clara Grand Prix.
Posted by: goldmedalmel | May 24, 2009 at 06:22 PM
I don't know, Mel, I think Lochte's doing what he needs to do.
Since he can't wear Blueseventy anymore (which he did well in), Shanteau will probably stick with TYR, or maybe go with the LZR.
I don't think Shanteau can beat Phelps or Lochte in the 200 IM. BUT, Phelps may not swim it (at least this year), so he would certainly be 2nd behind Lochte. 1:56 could happen.
And Mel, when you next talk to Phelps (Santa Clara), can you ask him what events he's gonna swim this year and/or in the next few years?
Posted by: David2 | May 24, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Shanteau is not swimming for TYR anymore, do you know what suit he is wearing? ;-)
Posted by: Tony | May 24, 2009 at 02:45 PM