GOLD MEDAL MEL

FINA's Swimsuit List: Pure Genius

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...

99% Phelps

In the press room, it's all about Phelps. Other athletes come through, but the questions they're asked are framed for more Phelps news.

I'm ashamed to say, I did it too, like everybody else.  Peirsol came in after his 100 back win, as low-key as ever, despite his spectacular 53.3.  Elbowing reports from all over the globe, I rushed out a question in reference to something Michael's mother said after the '08 Santa Clara Swim Meet. 

Aaron, last June, in Santa Clara, Debbie Phelps almost cried thinking that might be the last time you and her son race. Seems odd now, doesn't it, in light of today? 

Those weren't my exact words, but it went something like that... Peirsol took the question in stride, and answered gracefully. I felt like tool. 

I love the Phelps phenomenon, but I want to spread the love around. Interestingly, you can tell that Michael does, as well. He talks up his peers, praising them whenever he can. 

I personally feel lost in the shuffle, the overwhelming wave of reporters and media outlets pouring out news.  I'm trying to give a unique point of view. I'm trying to cover all the swimmers, but it's so hard to do. 

Fred Bousquet is a star and very giving of his time. Cullen Jones is the same, and coming on fast too.

Cullen, as an ambassador of diversity, is a dream. We couldn't find anyone better for USA Swimming. 

I'm off to Houston after the meet's over. I'll be there with LaBi and I'll be there with Cullen. In the meantime, here's what I've shot at the Ultraswim meet. I know it's hard to find between all the other content:

Fred Bousquet, Up Close & Personal

100 Back: Phelps & Peirsol

Cullen Jones: talks a/the 50 & 100 Free

 

Michael Phelps, AT THE ULTRASWIM, behind the scenes

Phelps physically looks better than he ever has. He's lean, showing lots of cheekbone and muscle striations, but he also appears to be bowed up more.  I think he trained so hard for so many years, the post Beijing break allowed his body to finally heal... Now Phelps can truly show us how fast he is...how far he can jack up the RPMs...how much raw speed he has when he races.

I'm on deck for Swimnetwork covering the meet behind the scenes.  If you can't find my videos, here they are for your enjoyment and ease:

PHELPS RETURNS

PHELPS FIRST FINALS: In the press room

DAGNEY KNUTSON, winner of the 2-free and 400 IM (USA Swimming's newest rising star) along with her COACH

MARK GANGLOFF & ERIC SHANTEAU go 1, 2 in the 100 breast

CHRISTINE MAGNUSON, winner of the women's 100 fly

RYAN LOCHTE: The Reezy Nation

I've said it for a long time now: Ryan's got star-power! That unexplainable, effortless charisma! Women want him and men want to be him, or, at the very least, vicariously live through him. But that doesn't do Ryan justice. The appeal goes further than that.  After spending 18 months around him, I think I've figured it out.  

Ryan's a got a big heart. Sounds cliche. Maybe silly.  Doesn't make it any less true.  It does, however, fly in the face of what you expect from a guy who has signed with the Ford Modeling Agency. You expect arrogance, especially if the guy's pocketed 6 Olympic medals in an era competing against the greatest Olympian ever.  

Ryan doesn't have a hint of that.

In the video above, the conversation's about nothing. It's just Olympians hanging out, passing time between charity work and hard workouts. You probably laugh at the funny parts and go away smiling. Shooting and editing it, I spend a lot time with the content. The video's not so funny on the 50th viewing. It becomes work trying to capture the essence of each moment. 

What I do notice are tiny things. Ryan gets interrupted, but he doesn't seem to care. He's never offended. He allows others to speak. Ryan also acknowledges everyone in the room. And he's quick to include them, no matter how odd the subject. There are the obvious moments in the video; Ryan saying he's getting a new tattoo, his family members' birth dates. But did you notice the reference to when he'd get it?  He says after Wold's, then corrects himself, saying "or World trials."  I don't buy that he doesn't think for a second that he won't make the World Championship Team. He corrects himself, because it's slightly arrogant to openly assume. 

I'm huge fan of Ryan's, as I am of most Olympians. (Matt Grevers, who entered the video 3/4s of the way through, has character far greater than I've ever witnessed in my career, a subject we discuss in my next GOLD MEDAL MINUTE.)  But Ryan means more to swimming than "the powers that be" realize, or, much less, even begin to imagine. 

Swimming's gaining traction as a sport for the masses.  I think Ryan's the key. I know he's the magnet. Beyond the swimming community there isn't a whole lot of interest for Olympic swimmers, unless your name is Torres or Phelps. Ryan, however, has pulled in a large base of non-competitive swimming fans. I think they've stuck around after the Olympic glow has died because he's a good guy, aside from being funny and good-looking. 

Ryan's following can be attributed directly to the web, specifically the members of LiveJournal's THE DAILY REEZY. They've kept up with his every word and movement in the media. 

I reached out to THE DAILY REEZY when my wife noticed their blog.  I did so with a lot of excitement. Finally, I thought, my sport has non-competitive swimming fans.  I have never said this openly, but I was criticized for this by some, swimmers who didn't appreciate anyone peering inside our relatively small swimming clique.  I didn't care. I so was thankful non-competitive swimming fans noticed the sport and cared.  

Now, over a year later, I'm certain I've benefited by making this connection and friendships with them. April 14th until today, USA Swimming held a vote: "Which Olympic Legend should appear on the 2010 Athlete Membership Card?"  I was in the running with a lot of big names. While I have core swimmers from the community who voted for me, I know the fans from THE DAILY REEZY (as well as Eve, Candace from OH YES THEY DID, and many great Facebook friends) delivered the huge numbers. The last time I checked, I had over 70k votes. 

I can't express how thankful I am. My daughter joined USA Swimming this fall, and I think she'll really get excited if her dad's on her membership card next year.  She loves swimming and has shown some talent. Tiffany (my wife) and I are trying to keep it fun, but it's a tough sport and any encouragement we can give her goes a long way. At the very least, I'll think she'll stick it out through 2010.

Thank you for your support! I hope I can continue to bring you Olympic content you appreciate.

~gmm  

"Gold Medal Minute" with Ryan Lochte

Gold Medal Minute with Ryan Lochte is up at Swimnetwork.com. Check it out here.

Also, don't forget to vote at USA Swimming for the "Olympic Legend" to be featured on the 2010 Athlete Membership Card. Click here to vote!

Next stop: Charlotte Ultraswim May 14-17.