GOLD MEDAL MEL

Ryan Lochte in San Antonio, TX, Jan 31st, 3-7pm

Spoke to my buddy, Josh Davis, today.  Josh, a 5-time Olympic medalist, is the doctor of stroke technique.  He travels more than a 100 days a year, to every corner of the country, conducting fantastic swimming clinics.   (I've heard from a good source that Josh works so hard during the swimming portion of his clinics that he's fallen asleep at the end, while signing autographs.  For those who know Josh, this must make you smile.  Josh is pure, positive energy, always going ninety miles an hour.) This Sunday, January 31st, six-time Olympic medalist, Ryan Lochte, will be joining Josh.  If you live in the San Antonio area, you don't want to miss this clinic.  Below, I've included the press release with more details.  The number one swim wear company, Speedo, is proud to partner with the largest provider of Olympians and inspiration, the Mutual of Omaha BreakOut Swim Clinics and bring to South Texas the clinic of the century!  Texas Legend and Master Motivator Josh Davis, will be joining forces for the first time ever, with pound for pound, inch for inch, the greatest swimmer on the planet, world Record Holder, Ryan Lochte!!  For 4 hours on Sunday, Jan 31st, from 3-7pm, Ryan and Josh will be demonstrating all 4 strokes, starts and turns.  The clinic at the Josh Davis swim center in San Antonio, TX will also include racing Ryan and Josh, autographs and pictures with Ryan, and a huge goody bag full of Speedo and Mutual Of Omaha, tshirts, posters, dvd and more.  Ryan in in heavy training for a 3rd Olympic Games and is the current world record holder in the 200IM, eclipsing Phelps' od record.  Truly an opportunity of a lifetime to race, learn and be inspired by one of the best the USA and the planet has ever seen.   Gold Medal Media, LLC

Ous Mellouli, From Dubai, 2010 Short Course World Championships

Ous Mellouli, Olympic Champion and World Champion in the 1500 meter freestyle, is Tunisian and an Olympic Ambassador throughout the Middle East.  He was nice enough to catch up with me from Dubai, on the spur of the moment, for a GOLD MEDAL MINUTE interview.  (In the video, if I look like I just rolled out of bed, sorry... I'll do anything to get an interview, even with 60 seconds notice.)  

Ous is extremely charismatic, and, more importantly, bright. I fully expect him to go into politics in his home country, or to be a pivotal player in the Olympic Movement, specifically for the International Olympic Committee (IOC).  

Political power at the IOC level is something U.S. athletes haven't really cracked. Ous, however, is perfect for the global movement.  Not only is he from the Middle East, he is also a moderate muslim. Ous doesn't make a point of this. He simply says, "It's part of my culture."  I know Ous wants to promote sports in the region, and all the benefits that come with it. He's quietly passionate about it, and I think we should all support him in his efforts.

Dubai, as the site for FINA's Short Course World Championships, has taken fire from reporters and bloggers. Many believe Dubai, riddled with economic hardships in the aftermath of the credit-crunch, won't have a competitive venue ready in time for the championships in December of this year.   Ous says "They will."  And I believe him...

For Ous fans, check him out in this "swimnetwork" interview, right before his 2009 World Championship win in the 1500 free. He's vintage Ous, exactly what we love to see:

Ous is represented by Arluck Promotions.

For more Ous info, go to his facebook fan page.

And on twitter, follow Ous here.

Gold Medal Media, LLC

Nick Thoman, the Future of Backstroke?

According to David Marsh, head coach of SwimMAC (a USA Swimming Center of Excellence), Thoman's backstroke is perfect. "It's the way everyone will swim backstroke in future," he said, during a GOLD MEDAL MINUTE interview on SwimNetwork.

Thoman's stroke is clearly strong and efficient, but it's tough to tell if it's perfect when he's swimming in the shadow of Ryan Lochte and Aaron Peirsol.  

Thoman's world record on the 400 medley relay leadoff at the 2009 Duel in the Pool is wide-open. He swims alone and in clear view.  Check out his stroke and explain the perfection to me. I'm always amazed at the details I miss and what other swimmers and coaches can see. 

A new star's rise is always interesting to track. It's a slow burning confidence that surfaces in tiny moments.  Thoman's taken some tough losses, and he keeps on keeping on.  Watch his interview below, captured right before his performance at Duel in the Pool, and tell me if you see evidence of his winning attitude.

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Glenn Mills, Olympian & GoSwim Co-Founder

Glenn Mills, a 1980 Olympian in the 200 breaststroke, has become the god of swimming videos, the master of showing "you" how to improve your stroke technique. Through his company, GoSwim, Glenn has produced best-selling swimming videos for swimmers who are serious about swimming proficiently. 

Glenn, I love GoSwim! When do I get my GoSwim Lezak Video? 

Say the word on the Lezak vid.  You know we reserve some "press release" copies... but I'll see if I can get Jason to put his sig on it... as long as you promise not to sell it on e-Bay.  He was just named one of the top 10 performances of the decade by the NY Times, so a signed copy will be a hot property.  With the NY Times thing and his new baby, he'll be making a big effort to get the video back without baby powder on it.

You're a facebook guy with one of the best profile pics I've ever seen! 

What was the inspiration behind your facebook photo? 

That's very funny about the pic.  I've thought of changing it a bunch of times, but then someone comments about it... so I've let it stay.  The inspiration was the movie "Altered States", a 1980 movie that was kinda freaky.  

That (the facebook profile picture) is from 1982 World Championships in Equador.  We were doing all kinds of fun stuff with the cap, and from what I remember, a few of us actually put Kim Rhodenbaugh inside one of the caps.  Those good old latex caps stretched a long way.

Let's get serious for a moment and talk swimming. Who got you started?

I'm the youngest of 3 boys, so I just went to the pool to be with my brothers.  They both ended up being great swimmers with my oldest brother, Kevin, placing as high as 2nd at Senior Nats and being on the National Team.  They broke the boundaries...I just did what they did.

 
Who inspired you to stay with swimming?

My biggest inspiration was my other brother Kyle.  

He lost a two year battle with cancer when I was just a freshman in HS, and he was a Senior.  I saw what people can endure, and it made the pain of swimming much easier. I did my best to never complain about 10 x 400's breast after watching him average 39 for nine holes of golf with one leg.  Anything is possible. He showed me that.

Ok, the big question... How did you get through the anger and frustration after the 1980 Olympic Boycott? At the time, you were so young to be world-class, to be the best in your event!

1980 wasn't the worst part.  As a senior in HS, and making the Olympic Team... you just figure you'll make it the next time.  1984 was the part that hurt.  Missing the team by 5/10ths was initially very hard.  However, I can now look back on my career with the knowledge that I did all I could.  If it wasn't for my brothers, I would have never been as good as I was, so I'm very grateful for what I did achieve and made lifelong friends through it.  Heck, I still hang out with John Moffet, and he's one of the guys that kicked me off the team in '84.... (and Richard Schroeder).

If you really want to read about the boycott, here's a great book featuring four swimmers, Craig Beardsley, Sue Walsh, Lisa Buese, and myself and with the initial mention of the boycott 30 years ago January 23rd... it's a good time to read it:

http://www.amazon.com/Boycott-Stolen-Dreams-Moscow-Olympic/dp/0942257405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263511924&sr=8-1

(Glenn with National Team alum, Clay Britt, way back when....)

 Tell me about your NCAA success, coming back from 1980 and winning again, being the 1983 NCAA champ in the 200 breast.

 I had a couple years where I was struggling and actually decided to quit.  My Dad said one thing to me that I'll never forget, "we'll love you no matter what, but we've always tried to teach you it's better to quit when you're on top, not when you're on the bottom."  I was back in the water within a couple days, worked extremely hard, and ended up winning a meet I didn't expect to win.  Of course... then I didn't want to quit.  My Dad was very sneaky that way.

Breaststrokers are a different breed. Are breaststrokers more sensitive to technique because they're pushing so much water? 

Breaststrokers are simply more sensitive... so be kind with the rest of the questions.  I think it takes a long time to be a great breaststroker.  You have to realize it can't be all about the power, it's got to be about what you need to avoid.  The harder you try, the more the water fights you.  The goal has always been to develop a constant forward movement, and you have to be keyed in to wether the effort your putting in is productive, or destructive.  It's a very fine line, always.

(Glenn with fellow breaststroke specialist and 4-time Olympic medalist, Brendan Hansen.)

  

Between coaching for so many years and ascending to the top in breaststroke, do you think you were destined to be the Dr. of stroke technique?

Well... I've never thought of myself as someone that knows a lot about technique, just as I've never thought of myself as a good swimmer.  It's an insecurity issue I have... but it simply means I'm always looking for something that I can tell somebody that may help them.  I make a point of never critiquing the Olympians I work with, but rather, trying to understand why they do what they do... so at some point, someone, somewhere, will swim like someone I've worked with... and I can help them acquire a technique they didn't know.  I always do my best to tell who I've learned things from, and I think some of the athletes I work with think I'm trying to impress them... but I see it as a way to buy them in to the technique.  Rather than it coming from some old dude, it becomes... THIS IS WHAT LEZAK DOES... it has MUCH more credibility... and Hansen, and Peirsol, and Beard, and Hoelzer, and Joyce... etc. etc. but especially Denniston!

What inspires you to come up with a new video?

Beauty and hunger.  I absolutely love watching these athletes swim.  It amazes me how fast and efficient they all are.  I absolutely think that every athlete I see at that level has achieved a beauty the rest of us are striving for, and I love to show it.  I also want to capture it for them... so they can show their kids or grandkids.  The hunger part comes in because this is what I do for a living... so I gotta continue to produce to continue to eat, and you know me... I love to eat.

I think GoSwim Videos (and your website, and your youtube page, and your iPhone app) do more to broaden swimming's appeal than people realize. I've seen it firsthand. My wife bought a GoSwim video because she didn't want to look like a rec swimmer. She wanted to look like a champ. (It worked by the way.) Is a lot of your client-base like that? 

Yes, and coaches.  Barbara Hummel and I initially started the business for swimmers.  We wanted to create videos that were made exclusively for swimmers.  No talking heads on the screen... nobody standing in front of the camera telling you what to do, but rather, JUST the swimmers, and if possible, JUST the swimmers voices.  As teachers and coaches, we started the Drill of the Week over 7 years ago to challenge ourselves.  The short story is, in our desire to become the BEST teachers (why shoot for less right?), we'd put our thoughts and experiments on our website for everyone to see.  When you go public with these things, and they don't work, people will call you out.  We've had some really good ones, and some really bad ones... but we just keep trying.  We now serve about 10,000 YouTube videos a day.  We've put much of our stuff out there for free because we do believe a business needs to serve it's community as well as have a part that makes money.  It can't be one way.  That's just the way we think.

GoSwim is growing fast, especially considering you've only been in business seven years. What's the future of GoSwim? Get us excited. What do we have to look forward to? 

The technique you need, when you need it, where you need it.  As coaches and as swimmers, we know what we'd like to have at the pool with us, and with the many different opportunities that occur during a single practice... you're going to need some firepower in your hand, and in your mind, as both a swimmer and a coach.  We're also going to be announcing our online evaluation system very soon, if we haven't already by the time this hits.  It's just a simple way for people to upload a clip of video, and get some help with what they need to do to swim better or faster.  Keep watching the site for that as well.

You're new iPhone app is awesome. (I got it and rated it after one day!) For folks who don't have it, explain all the GoSwim goodies they can get from their phone alone?

This app is our first venture into the mobile market.  We're experimenting with what works, and with what doesn't.  We're learning who wants what, and who wants it when.  We're putting in bits and pieces and seeing what the response is from our friends.  There are specific pictures in the app, that a coach can pull up at a moment's notice, turn the iPhone around, and show a swimmer who's still in the pool, "THIS is how I want your arm extended in freestyle."  There are example videos in super slow motion that a coach, or swimmer can look at, and see details they can't see anywhere else... and it's in the palm of their hand.  There is the daily news from the swimming community, we don't do news, but we READ the news... so we have a news aggregator with feeds from Swimming World, USA Swimming, Go Swim, and a few of our favorite blogs.  Our daily Twitter feeds, with news from around the world about swimming, paralympics, olympics, triathlons... stuff that interests us on a daily basis.  We've even linked about 50 of our YouTube videos into the app, categorized for easy locating of a freestyle, or breaststroke drill.  While we know the app isn't perfect... HEY... it's FREE and we'll learn how to make it better.

Glenn, you're a great swimming ambassador and a friend. At what big swimming event will I be seeing you and GoSwim again?

Personally, I'm going to try some open water swimming this year.  I've been spending some time with Fran Crippen lately (a DVD in production), and he's very inspiring.  Barbara and I are both looking at a ridiculously long open water swim and I've entered myself into the Chesapeake Bay Swim.  I'll also be at as many Swim Across America events as possible this year.  It's a very easy connection to make especially since my brother Kyle was taken from us due to cancer, and some of my best Olympian friends, Janel Jorgenson and Craig Beardsley, run the events, it's become by far, the most important swims I do each year.

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Swimming CEO, Chuck Wielgus, Winter Olympic Torch Tales

 Chuck Wielgus is a good guy, fun-loving, inspiring, and...and... 

Never mind. Since I'm a swimmer, from a swimming family, working for the USA Swimming Foundation (and swimnetwork), this all sounds like a suck up. 

BUT IT'S TRUE! HE IS!  Everybody loves Chuck.

Don't take my word for it. Read an account from Chuck's life for yourself. It's worth it for the glimpse inside what it's like when you're the CEO of USA Swimming. 

Go here for the read!

 

Gold Medal Media, LLC

Tim Morehouse, Olympic Fencing Friend

Tim Morehouse, '08 Olympic silver medalist in Men's Saber Fencing, has become fencing's ambassador and a media phenom.  Living in Manhattan, Tim's been a red carpet maverick, appearing in the gossip rags and modeling for top-shelf magazines.  

Everyone loves Tim and his "savvy" take on his under-appreciated sport. "It is the sport of nobility," he says. "and it's made for TV!"  Since he's launched his p.r. fencing campaign, I've begun to pay attention, and I think he's right. The sport's fast, brutal and graceful, all at the same time. Mostly, I've enjoyed Tim's personal journey. Here's a dispatch from the road...

Hi from Istanbul Mel!

Hope all is well with you!  I'm flying home from Turkey and had some time to write so I wanted to send you a quick update on the start of our season.    

The international season kicked off this past weekend with the Istanbul World Cup.  I placed 6th out of about 120 competitors from around the world.  This is the first of 11 world cups and 1 of 6 over the next 10 weeks!   I had previously taken a Silver Medal at the North American Cup in Pittsburgh, so the campaign to qualify for the  Paris World Championships is off to a solid start for me.   

I actually have some good video from this tournament!  Here's a short video of the final 3 points of my match to advance to the Quarter-Finals, as well as a little commentary on it.   My opponent actually made fun of my fencing during the match (not nice! lol) and on the 13-13 point I turned around mid-action and stopped fencing because I thought I hit!  When I turned back around, he was barreling at me and trying to score while I wasn't looking...somehow I still scored the point! He then complained that I had stopped fencing! lol Can't have it both ways buddy!

Follow Tim's blog here.

Follow Tim on twitter here.

Friend my friend on facebook here.

And book Tim for endorsements and/or modeling here, at Wilhelmina Models.

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Bobsleigh Wardrobe Malfunction

British female bobsleigh rider, Gillian Cooke, split her pants at the World Championships in Switzerland...and as they say, "the rest is history." 

 

Gillian  and her teammate  Nicola Minichiello will be heading to Vancouver for the Winter Olympics next month.  With their gold medal performance from the 2009 World Championships in Lake Placid, they're expected to fare well.  

It's normal to snicker at mishaps like the one above, but you can't overlook what the athletes have lost; training time, emotional energy and an opportunity to perform at their best. It obviously reminds me of Ricky Berens' wardrobe malfunction at the 2009 World Championships. 

Gold Medal Media, LLC

Ariana Kukors, On Track at the SoCal Grand Prix

Ariana Kukors, 200 meter individual medley World Champion and world recorder holder, is on track. She won her staple event at the Southern California Grand Prix, coming from behind with a killer breaststroke fifty.  One of the more open and entertaining personalities on the USA National Team, Ariana's building a big fan-base in swimming.  Expect her success to continue through London in 2012. She's coached by one of the more insightful and innovative men in the sport, Sean Hutchinson, at Fullerton Aquatics, a U.S. Olympic Post Graduate Training Program.  

In other news, Michael Phelps pulled a triple on the final day of competition at the SoCal Grand Prix. Matt Grevers won the high point award, and Mike Alexandrov (Tuscon Ford Aquatics) trailed Kosuke Kitajima to a silver in the 100 breast. 

The race of the night was women's 100 breast. Jessica Hardy nipped Rebecca Soni by one-hundredth of a second. 

For complete results, go here.

For swimnetwork's coverage, go here.

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Michael Phelps, Why He Wins, His Pro Team

Michael Phelps swam to a 3:38 win in the 400 yard individual medley at the Southern California Grand Prix, barely a fingernail slower than his swim back in 2008, back when he was still testing the new body-suits, which were so slippery.  Last night in Long Beach, Phelps wore a jammer made of fabric, his hairy body exposed to the water.  For the uninitiated, that's like racing in a sweater.  By my calculations, Phelps should be swimming five to six seconds slower.  

When FINA (swimming's international governing body) announced their ban on the hi-tech body-suits, August of 2009, Phelps immediately and "emotionally" shifted to the jammer-suit. He was already mapping out his use of the "old school technology" over his 12 to 36 month training regiment. 

Other swimmers, many other swimmers, still raced in the hi-tech body-suits last fall. Many tried to snag world records, shooting for times that could stand for the long haul. Meanwhile, Phelps slogged through the late autumn, wearing a jammer, testing his speed at the World Cup. In some swims he didn't even make it into the final heats. He lost by a lot.  

Phelps' 3:38 win in the 400 yard individual medley marks his true and simple genius; prepare, prepare, prepare, and prepare early, long before your rivals. 

It appears Phelps has almost over-prepared for the technology-shift in suits. His 3:38 time heralds a huge base of training that is frighteningly dangerous. 

PHELPS' PRO TEAM: BOB BOWMAN & PETER CARLISLE

Bob Bowman, Phelps' life-long coach, is the man behind swimming's icon. Bob has been like a father to Phelps, protecting him during hard times. Phelps never waivers when the media critiques his career, in or out of the pool. Bob is largely the reason. His quiet confidence has empowered Phelps to always maintain his cool. 

Peter Carlisle, Phelps' sports manager, is another pillar of power. Peter's not your normal sports manager. He's slow to react, thoughtful...even kind. Talking to him you get the real sense that he's not after a pile of money. He's more concerned with developing stability for his athlete-clients.

Watch Peter in this video and judge for yourself.

For Phelps' post race press conference, go here. 

Also at the Southern California Grand Prix, Matt Grevers, Katie Hoff, Dana Vollmer, Ariana Kukors, Rebecca Soni and Kosuke Kitajima had great swims. For complete results, go here.

For swimnetwork's coverage, go here. 

Gold Medal Media, LLC

Matt Grevers, SoCal Grand Prix, Top Performer

3-time Olympic medalist, Matt Grevers, takes the top spot in both the 100 freestyle and 200 backstroke at the Southern California Grand Prix.  In this new (old) age of jammers, Grevers popped some respectable times, 43.06 in 100 free and 1:40.22 in the 200 back. 

(Michael Phelps took the 500 freestyle in a 4:18)

For complete results go here.  Sunday finals will be webcast at swimnetwork.

For an in-depth interview with Grevers about his '08 Olympic experience watch this video:

For a lighter side of Grevers, watch him below as the world famous Golf Pro:

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Michael Phelps, An Innocent Icon

Michael Phelps, USA Swimming's icon (and single greatest asset in history) is innocent...almost sweet. Lest we forget, he was still a kid, really, before Beijing.  He's grown up a lot, lived several lifetimes in last 18 months, more than 99.9% of most people.  Presently Phelps is competing at the USA SWIMMING GRAND PRIX in Long Beach. 

Catch his opening press interviews here. 

For folks outside of the swimming community, this Grand Prix (and the entire competitive year) is merely a stepping stone to greater things. Phelps, in my opinion, however, has nothing prove. Every swim he swims simply reenforces his legacy. It's his "out of the water" moves that matter really.  I'm always on the watch, looking at Phelps as a swimming ambassador, and how well his represents his community. 

For a glimpse inside Phelps' compassionate side, watch his reaction to the Tiger Woods' debacle here:

Super Endurance Athlete & Vegan, Rich Roll

Rich Roll, ranked 6th in the world in the Ultraman (6.2 mile swim, 261.4 mile bike, 52.4 mile run), is famous for competing off of his Plant Strong diet. He's a strict Vegan, and the nutrient-dense diet is working for him.  "Men's Fitness Magazine" named him one of the "25 Fitness Men on the Planet" in 2009. 

Rich, on a recent trip to Austin (to meet with his LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION friends), cut a little time out for me at Whole Foods:

For more about Rich Roll and his lifestyle, read his blog at CNN, and read this feature story at VegNews.

To see Rich's lifestyle in California, where's an entertainment attorney, watch this video: 

 

Follow Rich on Twitter here.

And catch up with him on facebook here.

And yes, he's a blogger. Follow his blog here.

Great seeing you, my friend. Call me up when you're in Austin, Texas again!

Gold Medal Media, LLC

Chlorine and Urine can Kill, Part II

I got a lot of emails and feedback on this topic, but none better than ROBERT T. BURROWS' email below. 

Mel,

I picked up your post, 'Chlorine and Urine can Kill' on Twitter and find your perspective intriguing, but a bit disconcerting as an Aquatics professional. Intriguing from the standpoint that the competitive swimming world, definitely no disrespect intended, who spend their lives in and around chlorinated pools by and large have little understanding of either the health issues related to swimming pool DBP's or their causation. This I also find disconcerting because so often the ill affects of DBP's on swimmers are erroneously blamed on chlorine itself, when it is actually the combination of chlorine with human effluvial in the pool that cause the harmful elements to form, which you clearly and thankfully pointed out. I write not to refute Dr. Mercola's research or your point of view, but to accentuate the fact that chloramine formation is due to the inefficient use of chlorine as a sanitizer in pool water. A by-product is a “side-effect” or “unintended” result caused by another action. In the case of chloramines, or the by-products of disinfection, they are a result of incomplete oxidation of these precursors (sweat, pee, other body debris) in the water, not overchlorination, or chlorine use in general. Prevention has been the focus of health advocate groups such as the CDC in recent years, but little attention has been given to the proper and effective use of chlorine as a preventative measure in the development of DBP's. There is much to say about this topic, but most of it has previously been said and much has been written. Here are a few links that may be helpful to you and your readers related to this topic. Please feel free to reply or contact me if you have any questions. I have numerous resources that I can refer you to for further thought.

http://ppoa.org/article_Chloramine%20Odor.htm ; Tired of Chloramine Odor? Pumproom Press, PPOA.org, Richard Young, Aquatic Commercial

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/irritants.htm ; Irritants and Indoor Pools, CDC Healthy Swimming

http://www.cdc.gov/search.do?action=search&queryText=Chloramines&image.x=11&image.y=10 ; cdc.gov search result: chloramines

Follow ROBERT T. BURROWS on twitter. 

Thanks again, Robert, for your insight. Please follow up with any more information. 

TENNESSEE SWIMMING, John Trembley

TENNESSEE SWIMMING
Tennessee... It's where I became a competitor, matured into a man, and became an Olympian. Looking backing it all came down to my coach, John Trembley (aka JT). 

Many know JT, but don't know his history. JT barely missed making the 1972 Olympic Team---and by barely I mean a few one-hundreds of a second. The event was the 100 butterfly. 

19 years later, JT coached me to my greatest race (not the Olympic gold), 200 butterfly at the World Championships in Perth, Australia. I broke the world record and won. 

Today is the anniversary of that swim, 19 years later, and all I can think about is him...my coach, JT. 

I think all swimmers love their coaches in a way. Mine was like a father. I still think about him, and all he taught me, at least once a day...

No. 1 ranked Texas Tops Georgia

Number one ranked Texas tops Georgia, taking 13 of 16 events this past weekend.  

Freshman, Jimmy Feigen, continues to impress, anchoring the 200 medley relay with a 19.41 fifty free split.  (From a flat start in the fifty free, Feigen won with a 20.01 in that event.)

Ricky Berens, '08 Olympic gold medalist, stroked to a 1:37, taking the 200 free.

Jackson Wilcox, new USA National A-Teamer, turned in a 9:08 in the 1000 free.

Scott Spann, '08 Olympian, dug-out a 55.60, delivering the 100 breast for Texas. 

Senior, David Walters (another Texas '08 Olympic gold medalist) took second in the 50 and 100 free, solid swims midseason for the Texas wildman. 

Coach Reese's Texas crew is dangerous, always. Reese has a magic touch, developing talent into Olympic superstars for the USA. 

For a peek inside the Longhorn House of Champions, watch David Walters in this GMM interview. Walter's talks about his stunning swims at '09 World Championships in this video:

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