GOLD MEDAL MEL

Megan Jendrick, GOLD MEDAL MINUTE

If you didn't notice, I absolutely cherish this young woman.  She reminds me of all my favorite female swimmers, the ones I traveled with on the USA Swimming National Team.

Megan's as sweet as they come, but by no means a push over. When she swims, she swims to win. She's the best kind of competitor; one you respect for their toughness, but also want to hang out with.  

My time has come and gone. I don't have much in common with this new generation of champions, other than a shared history and a mutual understanding of the time sacrificed to achieve--and, on occasion, the feeling that that time was lost. 

Megan understands losing. I don't think she'd like for me to dwell on her 2004 Trials swim, when she missed making the Olympic Team by a mere 11 one-hundreds of a second, but it makes my heart feel like bursting whenever I think of it... 

The emotion is all summed up in numbers; the years, days, and hours lost. The time lost. I can't speak for Megan, but I know (as many athletes do) how lonely and depressing it is when you lose. You do question yourself. You do wonder if you've wasted your time. (I've been watching network sports for decades, but I've never really heard an athlete speak from that place, that absolute bottom. There is always an "uptick" woven in thematically. The narrative's manipulated for an audience that will only pay attention for the two minute news-opera-bio before they disengage and leave...)  

In nontraditional sports (often Olympic sports) big moments to perform are so rare. You spend a lifetime to prepare for what may only be one, two, or if you're lucky, three life-defining competitions.  When you lose, it does feels like death. Many athletes describe it that way -- a part me died. I'd like to add that that part doesn't always heal or grow back. That hurt occupies a little part of your brain, and when it's electrically tapped, it cuts your breath away in pain. For me it feels like heartburn, followed by a very, very bitter acid-taste.  

Sounds awful, huh? It's not. Not really. In fact I don't fully trust any athlete (or any one for that matter) who hasn't been knocked back on their butt. Everyone has "eaten it" at one point or another. Even Michael Phelps. (Lest we forget, he lost in 2004 to Ian Thorpe in the 200 free--before he came back and ran away with that race in Beijing.)

As for Megan, I can't imagine winning gold at the Olympics, and then waiting and training and sacrificing for a full eight years before tasting it again. I know she had help. I know she loves her husband, Nathan, and I know how kind and loyal he was and has been. I think their story, as a couple, is as interesting as any I've heard. I wish I could write their book, but I have a feeling they're going to write it themselves... 

One correction. I have a little more in common with Megan and Nathan, despite the age gap. Aside from both being writers and married (as I am), they are mature beyond their years. Megan and Nathan also held my hand, so to speak, when I got my first tattoo, the Olympic Rings. I would not have done it without their help. Here's the vid:

Get to know Megan Jendrick more at her blog, meganjendrick.net (not dot com)!

And read Megan's weekly column at Fitness Rx Magazine.

To book Megan for a swimming clinic, go to acquaswim.com.

And buy Get Wet Get Fit! My wife, Tiffany, used their book to get in swimming shape, and she never swam competitively when she was young. 

Ultraman World Champs: The Rich Roll, GOLD MEDAL MINUTE, interview

Rich Roll could not be properly covered in a mere 6 minutes. He's a renaissance man. Aside from being a super-endurance athlete and a high-powered Hollywood attorney, he's a writer, film maker and producer. Rich rubs shoulders with the entertainment industry elite.  

I met Rich via Facebook (as I have with so many interesting new friends). While we moved in the same circles and competed at the same time in the late 1980s, we somehow missed each other. It was clearly my loss. Rich is the kind of guy you want to know; supremely compassionate while pursuing his own, often lonely, personal goals...

Our interview went long, and I made a lot of mistakes, but Rich was patient and encouraging. (He has been since I started social-networking with swimmers and Olympic-fans). There was a section of the interview I could not cut-down into a bite-sized clip for the web. Rich talked eloquently about his Ultraman journey, an almost tribal feeling that enveloped him as he progressed through the 320 mile competition. While Rich, a 42 year old man, was the 3rd fastest American, he didn't go into any detail about his place. It wasn't about that. It was, I gathered, as close to a spiritual journey as anyone could ever experience. He said, "When you're in it, the competition, you want everyone to finish..."

I've known endurance-athletes my whole life, and they all seem to have the same provocative similarities. They live life on the absolute edge, in their work, their personal lives, and when they party. 

I always hung with the distance swimmers when I swam. After a 60 mile week of grinding it out, they uncorked and released the pressure valve. Many have gone on to become highly regarded in their respected fields of work or fabulously wealthy. Some have almost made it, or they've flame-out. A few have crumbled into extreme addictions and even gone to jail. Rarely has there been a middle-ground. 

You might think I'm reaching on this subject, making a gross generality, or maybe you've seen this for yourself--but I know how these athletes are wired. They must be the absolute best they can be, or they feel they've failed miserably. I've dealt a little with this problem (in marriage, as a father, as an athlete, and in work). I trained with distance athletes, and won Olympic gold, and owe my success to their persistent presence, pushing me year after year in the water...but, in many ways, I knew I wasn't as disciplined as them. I knew they had a psychological make-up that I'd never fully understand.  

If you want success, I do NOT THINK YOU WILL GET IT FROM A LIFE COACH; the Tony Robbins of the world, hawking feel-good buzz-lines for life. Watch endurance-athletes. Study their discipline. Investigate their psychology. I don't think everyone should do exactly what endurance athletes do. I don't think life should be so dire, but I do know you will learn a lot. And I'm sure you will always be inspired.

If you read Rich Roll's blog, you'll get a low-key, humble inside perspective of what it takes to do the unbelievable. I'm a reader, and I have a sneaking suspicion, Rich has battled a few demons. He relays the information in a way, though, that lets you know he's bigger than anything life throws at him. For me, personally, endurance-athletes are heroes. (I know I'm not alone in my thinking. At swimming meets--World Champs, the Olympics--watch the Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochtes or Jason Lezaks of the world. They stand up and watch every minute of the mile. They know and respect the most disciplined of us all.)

For the inside stuff on the most grueling competition in the world, go to ULTRAMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS and read more. 

For the inside stuff on Rich Roll, go to his blog, jaiultra.blogspot.com. (If you're not an endurance fan, go there anyway. You appreciate the information on diet and nutrition.) 

French Swimming Nationals Coverage Continued

***Thanks to my friend, Guillaume Deutsh, we have a first person account of all the action. While English is clearly Guillaume's second language, I have elected to keep his "text" mostly as is. I think it adds a flair and authenticity to his coverage of the French Short Course National Championships***

What a first day we FRENCH had!!! The pool closed with Fred "Tattoo" Bousquet winner in 50 free over Amaury Levaux and Alain Bernard. So for this second day, we all wait for 50 fly duel between Fred Bousquet and Amaury Leveaux. And we were not disappointed. The pool of Angers was fire on Saturday!

In the morning, Amaury Leveaux swam his 50 fly in 22.73, a new FRENCH RECORD! That make crowd stand up. FRENCH fans were PASSIONATE! Only a few minutes later, Fred Bousquet answer back in the next heat with a 22.72. Both 50 fly swims looked very easy, so people and fans start to speak about something even greater in the finals of the 50 fly that evening.

FRENCH FINALS, SATURDAY, DAY TWO:

The first French Olympic Gold medalist, Laure Manaudou, won 100 back in 57.99, followed by her rival, Alexiane Castel, in 58.85. Laure took control of race from beginning for her first victory in Angers.

Then the men's 100 back was the game of Camille Lacourt from Marseille, who won with 50.94. Lacourt is now first FRENCH swimmer under 51 seconds in that event!

Breastroker, Hugues Duboscq, swam also fast in the 200, in 2.06.00, 

the 6th best performer ever in that distance!

Diane Buy-Duyet, a short course specialist, swam 25.56 to win the women's 50m fly, in new a French National Record! And Diana got "mise en bouche" before the men's 50 fly duel between Frederick Bousquet and Amaury Leveaux.

MEN 50 FLY BATTLE:

As all men wait behind blocks, the man from Mulhouse, Amaury Leveaux, remove ad panel between line 4 and line 5, throwing it in the way of Fred Bousquet. At that moment, Amaury Leveaux had "EYE OF TIGER." Leveaux was starving for victory!

And in only 22.29 Amaurg Leveaux blasted Matthew Jaukovic's world record! All fans were passionate, standing up for world record! And that was not it. Raphael Munoz, from Spain, also swam under the world record, in 22.37, and third was Fred Bousquet in 22.63!

Here is video of race end:

What a race... And the pool could not cool down after that. The pool was still fire!

On next race, Coralie "Coco" Balmy swam a 1.53.18 to remove the 2005 Lisbeth Lenton World Record ( 1.53.29), and by the way, the Laure Manaudou European Record (1.53.48).

Here is Coralie in video story of her life as swimmer:

FRENCH NATIONALS, DAY THREE, SUNDAY (the day of Alain Bernard's WR)

Those two first days were fantastic! It looks like we FRENCH are finally self-confident. That's pretty new, and we all expect even
more now... WE ARE STARVING FOR VICTORY!

WOMEN 400 FREE:`
Coralie "Coco" Balmy, the new world record holder in 200 free yesterday, can expect, WE CAN EXPECT, something great in 400 free. The fan stood for her, standing ovation for her... "GO COCO!" 

In line FIVE, Romanian, Camelia Potec, was good help (good competition). It took long time for Camelia to be on the blocks (meaning she had a slow start), and Coco took the lead in 27.63 from the first 50 meters. At the 100 meters Coco was a 57.38.  At the 150, Coco was 1.27.38, just off world record pace, but Coco love to finish strong. At 200 meters, 1.57.23, at 300 meters, 2.57.27. And this, with 100 meters left, was where Coco started her race. WOW!!!! At 350, Coco was a 3.27.38.  Every fan was behind her! And Coca tried more! The fans stood up for Coco! Coco's time: 3.56.35. 

The world record was not broke. World Record still belong to Laure Manaudou. Second was Camille Muffat, also under 4 minutes, in 3.59.80.

Does Coco love the sevens, or what? 

27.63, 57.38, 1.27.38, 1,57,23, 2.27.16, 2.57.27, 3.27.38

MEN 400 FREE:

It was yoyo race between Clement Lefert, Sebastien Rouault, Nicolas Rostoucher.  

Sebastien and Nicolas shared the lead position after each turn. Clement Lefert was strongest at end. Clement win: 3.43.59.

WOMEN 200 FLY:
Aurore Mongel, European Champion in Debrecen arrive, a smile on the face, with no stress after she gets the national best this morning in 2.06.27.
Aurore enjoy the race final, with fantastic finnish in 2.04.97, cutting French record by more than a second.

MEN 200 FLY:
Yes! You see? We have several WORLD RECORDS now, and 200 fly is the
oldest, a 1.50.73 It belongs to Franck Esposito (set December, 2002). Franck is now coaching Christophe Lebon from Antibes. Chris breath on the side (not straight ahead like traditional butterflyers). Franck breath on the side also. Christophe win with 1.52.36, the second best 200 fly in European this year.

WOMEN 50 BACK:
Laure Manaudou was faster than Alexianne Castel. Laure win with 27.30. The question was: will Laure swim in Arena or something else? And the answer was: BLUESEVENTY.

MEN 50 BACK: 
23.60 for Camille LaCourt, a new French record. Laure Manaudou watched 

race, supporting her little brother, Florent, who was fourth with 24.95. Laure's smiling mum and dad were at the award ceremony. We FRENCH love to see Laure with glory and victory... that correspond to her so well.

WOMEN 50 BREAST:
The Angers' pool showed the main French weakness, the woman
breaststroke. 31.80 for Fanny Babou to win the title.

MEN 50 BREAST:
Hugues Duboscq was disturbed this morning, losing his French Record to Giacomo Perez Dortona in 27.18. We FRENCH all support both swimmers.( I am not uncommitted saying that). A late start for Hugues, but good turn. It was very close, but a bad touch at the end for the guy from le Havre (Hugues), 27.09, new national best. James Gibson, from UK, was first in 27.04, swimming with no branded suit. (Gibson can be French Champion. He is from the UK.) So Hugues was the winner. Perez Dortona took silver.

WOMEN 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY:
Camille Muffat, just out of her 400 free final, win race in 2.07.94, a new French Record! Camile took a long time to recover before her TV interview.

Camile say to TV: "We can count on one hand the race with no record falling"  She's right! 

Did I mention that French Nationals are live on Eurosport TV? They are! :)

MEN 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY:
Christophe Soulier win in 2.00, very far from the 1.51.56 of Ryan Lochte. (We cannot be too fond of good swim.) The French best still belongs to Xavier Marchand, silver medalist in PERTH (World Championships) in 1999. 

AND FINALLY, 100 FREE...

LADIES FIRST:

Alena Popchenka won with 53.68. 

NOW THE MEN:
It is not Beijing here, but the race must be fast!

In the morning (prelim), Leveaux swims 46.41. Gilot swims 46.74. Alain Bernard swims 46.99. Mallet swims 47.15. Fred Bousquet swims 47.25. In the morning, all men swam raising foot in the last 25 meters (meaning they all kicked hard on the last lap). 

Alain Bernard swam under control, 21.96 in the first 50, and 24.28 in second 50, knowing he had to win the heat to be in final.

The pool was ready now.

FINAL, MEN 100 FREE:

From the start, Leveaux, Bernard, Gilot, and Bousquet are hot! They are fast. First 50, Bousquet is 21.68. At the finish, Alain Bernard is 45.68! 

A NEW WORLD RECORD! BERNARD IS BOSS!

"It can be possible..... I thought it was possible.... I just do it..." Bernard tells Eurosport TV.

Here is Bernard's 100 free on video:

 

****Thank you, Guillaume! I am awed by your bravado. I can barely speak English. I can't imagine reporting the US National Championships in another language*****

If you read Guillaume's first report and liked his photos, go to his flickr account and view dozens of photos from French National Championships.

Live from the FRENCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!

***Special guest blogger Guillaume Deutsch reports from the French National Championships

First day in Angers, France for the French Nationals 25m. The day before, swimmers arrived in town, discovering the pool. No big gain in this meet, 5 days before the Euro in Croatia. The question was: would Laure Manaudou come? ... After her discouraging Olympics in Beijing, and a new coach in the city of Marseille, was she able to swim at international level again? She showed up in Angers for the press conference, where she declared "I love swimming in Marseille. I am not the star anymore, Fred Bousquet, Fabien Gilot and Greg Mallet (3 of the 4 swimmers of the 4x100 free relay) are now the leaders". " I feel good to swim, but my goals remain the 50m season".

Alain Bernard, and Amaury Leveaux are also here. The meet should be fast, and things starts tommorow with the 50 free.

50 free women:
Alena Pochenka ( world gold medalist) is still a vaillant competitor, although she retired. Best time with 24.98. Also qualified is Laure Manaudou, 8th, in 25.91. According to Fred Vergnoux,
Alena's coach and husband," she became better and better the less she swam... we plan
together to swim in Masters meet in January for fun, but if she is still fast, maybe we will change our mind."

50 free men:
21.00 for Fred Bousquet,  new championship record. "It's time to swim fast, morning or evening, I don't care."
Amaury Leveaux, 21.16, Fabien Gilot 21.23 and Alain Bernard 21.52 easy.

*** Look for more from Guillaume in the next couple days!

Alain Bernard above...

LAURE MANADOU speaks at the press conference, French National Championships

Fred Bousquet, the Frenchman with the best tats (ink) in the swimming world.....