Brandon's like me, about the same age, doing everything he can to stay fit, swimming.
There's been a lot of smack-talk about the 50 yard fly at Masters Nationals coming up this spring in Clovis, CA. I've got my goal times, and Brandon's got his, and Keith Dennison is a big question mark. I got a feeling Brandon will be sub 25 seconds. I went about that fast back in November, as a get-out-swim, at the GOLDEN GOGGLES / USA SWIMMING FOUNDATION / MASTERS SWIMMING CLINIC in Manhattan. (Please note: The USA Swimming Foundation will be doing more clinics in 2009, with more Olympians, with great instruction while having a great time!)
Keith, though, he worries me. I trained with Keith at the peak of my career, and I never ever beat him in a practice, in a sprint fly repeat. Keith's a long-time friend and great guy.
However, I have a feeling, Keith's sneaking around, doing double workouts, or something extra between now and Masters National Championships on the side. I don't know what it is, but I must admit I've been worrying about it.
Being an Olympic Gold Medalist in the 200 fly, I shouldn't have anything left to prove.....but I'm feeling the heat, feeling the pressure....I think I need to drill-down and get serious about my tiny swimming workouts. (If any spies out there want to let me in on Keith's plan, I ready and willing to listen.)
I suppose we are all just a bunch of old swimming geeks. That's ok. I can accept it. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't want it any other way...
If you missed my SWIMNETWORK INTERVIEWS at the Long Beach Grand Prix, here they are:
Note: I buttoned my interview with Ous, calling him "MeZOOLIE. I edited the piece and would've cut it to protect my mistake. However, I liked Ous throwing the "peace sign" too much. I would've lost that tiny piece of tape, so I had to live with my embarrassing mistake. :(
Up next on my web talk show, GOLD MEDAL MINUTE, B.J. Bedford Miller, the funniest woman in swimming...aside from also being an Olympic gold medalist....
PLEASE NOTE SOME OTHER bloggers and columnists I've been reading and loving lately:
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)!
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.)
I meant to post more videos from my NYC Birthday Party. Unfortunately I got too busy. I did manage to cut together this quick highlights vid. The overall vibe is as "faded" as it appears. Shooting at the end of the night isn't always the best idea. I do care about my friends looking and sounding their best. Instead, to be true to the moment, I'm only giving a glimpse. It should be noted that everyone had a good time, packing a life-time of catching up into only one night. Then we all took cabs home--as responsible adults.
Dean Hutchinson, my old roomie from the 1994 Goodwill Games, came (with his wife) to celebrate. Dean's a great guy, a father of three, and a swim coach at Rider University. Back in the day, he was a National Team athlete. He's also a proud alumnus of Auburn University:
As a member of the US National Team alumni, we've stayed in touch through these vlogs. Specifically, that's how the vlogs got started. The idea was simple: Record trips to swimming meets where the National Team traveled. Go behind the scenes. We wanted to give alumni the feeling of being there, making new friends with the "present" National Team Members and their coaches. (These relationships are life-long, life-defining--so meaningful.)
Back at the Olympics, when LaBi and I vlogged, we were giving insider information to an audience of very knowledgeable viewers, athletes who had traveled and represented their country abroad. Of course our content dealt with food, how the events were run behind the scenes, the feeling of the crowd and the media and how it effected the athletes. We also talked about the little tit for tats between the athletes. We were honest about the hardcore sense of competition between the swimmers... What we learned is that a lot more people were tuning in to get the inside scoop. We actually pulled back a bit on the info out of fear that we were giving up too much insider stuff.
One thing we did do was act out the swimmer milieu. (Swimmers who swim in tiny suits aren't modest. They're very open and free and can come across too much so for many people.) In short, we vlogged in bathrobes and shower-caps, swim-caps, fighter-pilot helmets...we did what swimmers would do among friends having fun...
The results of the above has been overwhelming. Swimmers, master swimmers, swimmer-parents and swimming fans have tuned in, and continue to come back for more information. A lot of the info is serious, but we try to keep it fun... If you're new to this blog, don't be afraid to ask any questions. I try to answer each and every one....
As for the "man-panties" Dean Hutchinson was referring to in the vlog above, my daughter is new to the swimming world (only joining a team this year), and she is just now realizing her dad ran around half-naked most of his life.
****The video above was shot by the Chris Michael and Mike Gustafson, from the SWIMNETWORK show Chlorination. Swimnetwork is the leading voice of swimming in partnership with the national governing body. They do a fantastic job reaching out to all types of swimmers, encouraging participation, fun and fellowship******
Here you go, my gmm holiday gift to all the social-networkers who have supported swimming this year:
Now that I have your attention, I want to thank you all for your support of my life-defining sport.
When I swam, no one paid much attention, except at the Olympics, and even then it was only for the proverbial fifteen minutes. This year more than two billion tuned in to see Michael Phelps, and supporting stars like Lochte (aka Reezy), Aaron Peirsol, Matt Grevers, Katie Hoff, Dara Torres, Natalie Couglin and Cullen Jones. It confirmed something I already knew. Billions swim. Billions go to the beach. Billions understand the appeal of good health through swimming and its rewards, aka "The Swimmer Body," illustrated perfectly by Ryan Lochte.
Conservatively, more than 180 million people swim 3 times a week on the planet. Our numbers are huge. In terms of media-attention, I hope the interest in swimming will hold, but I'm positive it can and will with the support of bloggers and social-networkers around the globe.
I've been asking since August how to make the most of this "tiger-by-tail" situation. I've gotten great feedback, and I've passed it along to the powers that be inside of USA Swimming.
A CONFESSION: I used to be indifferent about my Olympic Governing Body. (FYI: swimming, track n field, and gymnastics operate under the US Olympic Committee). When I swam I was convinced they did absolutely nothing. This year I worked for the USA Swimming Foundation (raising money for "learn to swim" programs), which gave me a peek inside the hallowed halls of power. What I saw surprised me. They work nonstop. They're forward thinking, always looking for opportunities to marketing swimming.
ON DECK FOR 2009: USA Swimming is already prepping for Olympic Trials in 2012! Golden Goggles ended mere weeks ago, and they've already met in LA to set up the '09 gala weekend. And unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know NBC Sports will be broadcasting World Championships in Rome.
Rumors have been flying about a pro-swimming circuit. What I've learned is that USA Swimming intends to beef up the Grand Prix Series. What that amounts to is creating a series of competitions that are more audience and media friendly. Old ideas about the long three-hour finals-format may change. The old guard is listening! They know we need a new schedule to better present our stars in swimming.
I will be on deck all year, and I will continue to follow stories that entertain. (I'm particularly interested in a new star, Dagney Knutson, from America's northern plain.) I'll also be doingON THE ROAD, a show with my partner, Christopher LaBianco. Chris, or LaBi, is the Chief of the Swim Foundation, and he's all about everything swimming.
I know Lochte's about to blow-up with his PR company PMK. I know Matt Grevers, Christine Magnuson, Gary Hall Jr., and many other star swimmers under David Arluck's banner, Arluck Promotions, will be tackling social-media in '09 brilliantly. (More news on that in February.)
David Arluck, the uber Olympic agent based in Miami, has surprised many this year. He continually creates marketing platforms for his athletes with a socially conscious background.
Evan Morgenstein, based in Raleigh NC, reps almost everyone else, and I know he's always booking his swimmers on NBC prime-time shows and other media-outlets. Evan reps Cullen Jones, one of swimming's greatest assets. There are rumors about a major news network's interest in covering him monthly. (More news on that in March.)
For me this holiday season, I'm happier than I've been in 15 years. (I normally get down around December, with the shorter days, but not as much this year.) My daughter, Bay, has been swimming, and my wife, Tif, has been swimming (and I should also mention that she's been supportive of my work all year long). As a couple, with a young daughter, we're happy, but always looking to the future slightly concerned. We hope Bay continues swimming. We hope she benefits from all the positives of the sport. It's helps kids, especially young girls, develop so much confidence and discipline.
In the meantime, while Bay is only 8 years old, still believing in Santa Claus, we'll celebrate her innocence. It goes without saying that I love swimming, but she's my greatest joy of all.
SWIMMING NEWS TODAY, DEC 24TH:
My column GOLD MEDAL MEL: Merry Seasons Greetings just posted on swimnetwork.
US Masters Swimming nets partnership with Blueseventy. In his ongoing march toward making US Masters Swimming a force in the market, Rob Butcher, the executive director, signs a deal with the swimwear company, Blueseventy (considered by many to have the fastest suit on the planet).
Driven To Succeed: Freestyle Insight with Garrett Weber Gale is NOT just another boring swimming instructional. Garrett opens up and infuses the narrative with his real-life drama; all his reasons why stroke efficiency, superior starts and turns, and mental preparation are supremely necessary for him to compete and win.
"I'm not as tall or muscular as other world-class swimmers," Garrett told me. "To be honest, I don't have the talent really. I've had to work to shave every tenth of second. I'm like a lot a swimmers out there, swimmers who weren't born to succeed."
Garrett didn't come out and say it, but he was alluding to his health challenges. He suffers from high blood-pressure, which might be an understatement. When he was diagnosed in 2005, his doctor told him not to practice or compete, that he'd be at risk for a stroke or heart-attack.
Garrett was faced with a future that looked bleak.
Not competing wasn't an option for Garrett, so he formulated a game-plan. He was prepared to do anything to continue his swimming-life as he'd always known it.
"I had to take medication, which was scary," Garrett said. "Four of the seven drugs were on the ban-list. I take Benicar, which isn't bad. It has few side-effects. But taking medicine wasn't nearly enough. I had to change the way I lived."
Garrett tried to control his salt in-take and used meditation to lower his stress. It helped, but only slightly. Garrett knew he needed to do something drastic.
"I radically changed my diet," Garrett told me. "That's a big part of my DVD. While I suffer from high blood-pressure, the truth is, all swimmers have to have proper nutrition if they want to be great athletes."
Nutrition is part of the entertainment in Garrett's DVD. He takes you into his kitchen to whip up one of his favorite dishes.
"My salmon recipe's in it. You could say my DVD's part cooking show too," he laughed!
Garrett sounds like he had a lot of fun making his DVD. So if you're a swimmer, or swimming fan, or a mother and father of one, Driven to Succeed could be the perfect stocking-stuffer this holiday season.
Go to here to order DRIVEN TO SUCCEED. And checkout Garrett's commercial for a glimpse of what you'll see:
And for those who don't know Garrett, the champion, check him out in action:
US Masters Swimming is 50,000 members strong, and with their new Executive Director, Rob Butcher, at the helm, they're moving, shaking, and signing new deals!
Chattem Inc., already a proud sponsor of US Masters Swimming through its UltraSwim Shampoo product, is apparently very pleased with the relationship. They're renewing their support, and adding new products to the partnership.
“We developed a grass roots sampling and brand activation plan for UltraSwim to better take advantage of its sponsorship with the U.S. Masters Swimming membership, and it became apparent to both Chattem and us that the activation plan could naturally be extended to their BullFrog, Icy Hott and Gold Bond brands,” Rob Butcher said.
I bet Rob did. Rob's a smart guy. In any relationship, he always looks for the win-win. Since he took over at USMS, he's been on the road extolling the virtues of the best kept secret in swimming, something he calls "the circle of life." I've hear him say it over and over, and I understand. There's no reason to stop swimming, no reason not to extend your love of the sport, no matter what your age or level of fitness. Simply put: Swim.
I've drunk the cool aid. My wife and I are back in to water as well. We've benefited from Rob's mantra since we started hearing it two years before he became USMS's Executive Director.
IN OTHER NEWS
Milorad "Mike" Cavic, fresh off of his 100 fly win at the short course meters European Championships, is already setting his sights on World Championships in Rome next year:
"There is still room for improvement," Cavic told Blic Online Sports. "I don't know how quick Michael Phelps is going to be, but I believe I can swim the 100m butterfly in under 50.3 seconds, which is the current world record."
Cavic burst on the world stage when he was touched out by one-hundredth of a second in Beijing, by Phelps in the 100m fly. Here's a look back at Cavic moments after the dramatic loss:
Adlington, the 19 year old media sensation on English soil for being the first Brit to win Olympic gold in the pool since 1988, has signed with Aussie agency, Elite Sports Properties, or ESP.
"Nationality was irrelevant and didn't even come into the equation and I thought ESP gave a very professional presentation and that was the clincher in the end," Adlington said.
ESP also reps high-profile sprint freestyler, Eamon Sullivan.
(Thank you to Mikayla Cooke for pointing this article out!)
Three-time Olympic Medalist, Megan Jendrick, has amicably parted ways with long-time agent, Peter Carlisle of Octagon. (Carlisle, thrust into the limelight as Michael Phelps' representation, has also recently lost Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte.)
Megan, famous for gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine, won two gold medals at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. In 2004, she narrowly missed making the US Olympic Team by 11 one-hundredths of a second in the 100 meters breaststroke. Many in the swimming community counted her out, until the 2008 Olympic Trials, when she made the US Olympic Team and went on the win silver in Beijing.
Megan, who is presently taking meetings with sports management companies, is by no means waiting on the sidelines. She's working on a line of skincare products and frequently books swimming clinics through her online site, acquaswim.com. She's also a successful author (along with her husband, Nathan Jendrick). Her most recent book, GET WET, GET FIT, promotes fitness, and outlines different training regiments that work for anyone, from the beginner to the elite athlete. (I know. My wife used GET WET, GET FIT to start swimming this past year. Now she's cranking workouts as a masters swimmer.)
Megan's latest endeavor should be an easy one. She's writing a column for FitnessRxmag.com. I, personally expect great content. Megan certainly has a long dramatic career of experience to draw from.
I know Megan, and her husband, Nathan, like a lot of people do; the young married couple NBC chronicled with the heavy subtext of, "aahhhh, aren't they cute." Well, they are. But that's an oversimplification. They're very real, and hard-working, and wise beyond their years because of life's ups and downs. I've had the pleasure of getting to know them better than most over the course of this year, at the Olympic Trials, The Games, and during clinics for the USA Swimming Foundation. Essentially what you do in their company is laugh. They're pure fun, whenever I'm around them...even when it's at my expense. (Megan and Nathan offered moral support when I "finally" got my Olympic Rings tat. Mostly they tagged along and laughed at me, which made the whole experience painless and easy.)
Checkout the Megan Jendrick tribute, and see her in the water, in action:
At the European Championships, Italy's Federica Pellegrini eclipsed the 104th world record of the year, blasting the 200 short course meters freestyle world mark with a 1:51:85...
Here's a glance back at Leveaux's 100 free world record, the milestone 100th of the year. (NOTE: This video's covered by English commentary.)
And American Peter Marshall's world record in the short course meters 100 back was clipped by Russian, Stanislav Donets. His 49:32 cut Marshall's mark by three tenths, a huge margin for a 100 meter sprint.
Stanislav's swim was, dare I say, the mind-numbing 105th world record of the year.
I love world records. I love the attention they bring. Between Michael Phelps' historic Beijing haul and the 100 plus world records, swimming has exploded onto the world stage!
It is realistic? Or is all one big cheat! Is it fair to the history of the sport, to our past heroes who rarely saw world marks achieved?
Swimming governing bodies and high-profile coaches are demanding a roll-back on the technology. Many have gone public, like Aussie Head Coach Alan Thompson, and many have whispered about it on deck, shaking their heads as they almost seethed in disgust. I witnessed it as recently as Short Course National Championships in Atlanta. One coach of a world-class swimmer actually cursed:
"F--- these d--- suits. They're screwing over our sport."
Until I heard that coach curse, a coach I've known for over 25 years, I didn't really want to consider the downside of 21st century swimsuit technology. I've kept my head in the sand, like an ostrich, fearful of the obvious.
Since short course Nationals in Atlanta, I've considered this topic nonstop. I hate to say it, but I feel swimming's damned if you do and damned if you don't...though I seriously hope not.
The upside of suit technology is tremendous: More world records every year, and media, and money. The downside is swimming's integrity: Can anyone take an athlete seriously if he or she drops so much time annually? Will world records become meaningless? Will they lose their fan-currency?
They will in time. It's inevitable. And if we continue on this current path, it might become painful...
I absolutely love dark chocolate, 86% pure, but if I eat it all day long (which I've done a time or two), I suffer mind-crunching headaches, serious brain-pain. The result of my bingeing is always the same: I avoid dark chocolates until I forget about my love for them, and then the cycle starts again.
The Olympic cycle is much the same for the world beyond the swimming family. They binge on us, and often grow sick. Add our world record tear to the mix, and we might be adding fuel to this cyclical fire. I hope not, but I fear it a lot... I'd like to hear if anyone else feels the same?
There's more on the downside, and as a former Olympian who lived off of a swimwear contract (Speedo), it scares me to death. Swimsuit manufacturers are threatening to pull out of the high-tech swimsuit race, or have already done so, to a degree.
Adidas is threatening to pull out. Nike Swim is taking a "let see" position. And TYR? They've been trying for years, and succeeding, but even they've called "uncle" in the wake the Speedo juggernaut, opting for litigation.
For a competitive swimsuit market, we need, well, competition. Speedo can not be the only brand in mix, and I say this knowing that Speedo has been exceptionally good to swimming. For some people, Speedo, in the aquatic world, is almost a religion. Speaking out is a sin...although I don't really buy into that assumption. I believe competition is also in Speedo's best interest.
Forget the last point for a moment. Consider the impact a one-suit industry would have on world-class swimmers; fewer endorsement contracts, loss of much-need subsistence monies, talent being forced to retire, a weaker Olympic swimming team.
Back to Speedo's best interest: Competition drives companies. It focuses their energies. They're forced to produce better products. Ultimately, they must create and hone a sustainable corporate model.
Something must be done! FINA must set limits on suit technology!
If they don't, I'm starting a new swimwear company, and selling a super-slick product. I'll shrink-wrap swimmers in cellophane, and watch them slide on to multi-world record performances while I make millions of dollars.
****A big thanks to Stanford Swimming Alum, Rich Roll, for pointing out Craig Lord's November 30th article. It was eye-opening as well as frightening. I am thankful for guys like Rich Roll, who are a part of my social-swimming network******
Cullen Jones is only one athlete, with one Olympic gold medal.
Swimming's Greatest Asset?
Sure, my title is bold in the aftermath of Michael Phelps' 8 for 8 performance in Beijing. I'm sticking by it, though. In the long run, when swimming history is written in a social context, I know Cullen Jones will be king.
If you considered the face of American today, you can't deny all of the colors and shades. We're a multi-racial nation, and we're better because of it. When different cultures flow together, we all benefit from a creative energy. I believe is it empowering, even life-sustaining. In our on-going story it is what makes us great.
Cullen Jones is aware of his role in this narrative, and he is graciously following in the footsteps of other great athletes who have broken the color barrier. While Cullen is only one color, he recognizes the rainbow as well. Cullen encourages African Americans to swim, but his message encompasses everyone.
If swimming, as a sport, is ever going to reflect the face of American society, it will be because of Cullen's testimonial, and his cross-country promotion of diversity. Cullen Jones is the key. Without him, our story remains the same: near-absence from urban and minority communities.
Sometimes images are more telling! Checkout this kid who is so emotionally connected:
Just because Cullen is a man of color does not mean he qualifies for this role as king. It takes a unique mix of intelligence, charisma, compassion and patience. Fortunately, for us, Cullen has it all. He's a true star. I know. I've been privy to a few conversations, and I've heard about all the companies and media networks clamoring for a piece of his image.
Checkout this commercial and you'll see why:
Additionally, Cullen has sex appeal. I've heard it from many different women, often described the same way: "Cullen's not arrogant. He's sexy and attractive, in a completely approachable way."
Check Cullen out in this video making a connection with a Candace Brooke Silva, a big blogger who follows swimming (among many other things on her show OH YES THEY DID):
Here's Cullen connecting with Heather Lettieri (one of my favorite Facebook friends):
Is Cullen swimming's greatest asset?
It's a tough question when you consider it. Granted, Michael Phelps is the reason we've drawn in fans beyond our niche community, but if we want to sign up kids who have traditionally gravitated to basketball, football and baseball, I believe Cullen, in the long run, will have the greatest impact.
***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.
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.
Short Course Nationals ended Saturday with a NEWS BANG!
Ryan Lochte confirmed to me that he had parted ways with Octagon. This "legal separation" has apparently been an ongoing process. Ryan had nothing negative to say about his former agent, Peter Carlisle (who also reps Michael Phelps). We didn't get into the details, but I'm guessing Lochte is appreciative of his high-dollar contract with Speedo, which was brokered by Carlisle.
Lochte is presently taking many, many meetings with talent agencies. WILLIAM MORRIS and CAA were mentioned, the top two Hollywood agencies repping every A-list star imaginable.
Lochte's first order of business after leaving Octagon; signing with PMK, the best PR firm in the entertainment industry. Here's Ryan Lochte being Reezy, confirming the fact in this vid:
Ryan Lochte was Reezy on deck, but he was also all business. Lochte easily won the 200 backstroke the third night of National Championships. He followed up immediately with an effort in the 100 freestyle. The two races were so close together, Lochte didn't have time to assemble and parade out with the 100 free finalists. Lochte rushed through his warm-down, then hid away in the "pool-side change-room cubby" with me. I was back there with my Panasonic HVX200 grabbing high-quality footage. (The video above is quick and dirty, shot on my NOKIA N-Series. I shot the HVX200 b-roll to appease all fans of Reezy, going for pure eye-candy.)
Capturing Ryan Lochte in his pre-race mind-set is very telling. He's still exceedingly nice and funny, but there's a moment when he shuts out the world, getting intensely focused. Hanging out on deck with him, you almost forget he's a fierce competitor. Lochte didn't win the 100 free, but he swam faster than most people could've ever believed--right after going a 1:38 in the 200 back!
For readers, what do you think about Lochte's aspirations for a clothing brand? What's his market? What would it take for him to be successful? And what about his modeling aspirations? A Calvin Klein Underwear campaign (or something like it) makes sense to me. My wife, Tiffy (who many of you have met), thinks Reezy would be great in a Diesel Ad.
MORE REEZY NEWS: Expect him to piggy-back appearances (already booked so they don't interfere with his training) in cities where he can also hang with rap-stars. Additionally, Reezy will be doing more work with GQ Magazine. I have a funny feeling this is the beginning of REEZY WORLD DOMINATION.
MARK SCHUBERT, who was in the opening of the vid, is the OLYMPIC COACH and HEAD COACH OF THE USA NATIONAL SWIMMING TEAM (meaning he makes all decisions regarding the World Championship Team, Pan Am Team, Pan Pac Team, etc.). Anyone in the know knows Schubert is the man. Under his reign USA Swimming has shifted to a completely "performance-based" national governing body.
Schubert, the GODFATHER of all US coaches, is feared by many. I absolutely love the man! Schubert makes great things happen! CASE IN POINT:
DAVID MARSH is the head coach of Swim MAC, the man behind CULLEN JONES' Olympic success. Schubert was instrumental in moving Marsh from the collegiate world to the national and international world of swimming. Marsh is considered the greatest collegiate coach of all-time, wining 12 NCAA Swimming Championships at Auburn. Schubert moved Marsh to Swim MAC in Charlotte, NC, where Marsh now heads up the USA SWIMMING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. Schubert was also instrumental ushering Cullen Jones under Marsh's command. Here's Marsh in a vid talking about Cullen:
Cullen Jones is in excellent hands. I know. I swam for David Marsh one summer. In nine short weeks he changed my stroke. I was resistant at first (perhaps a young arrogant ass). At the time, the twilight of my career, I had been number one in the world in the butterfly for many years; however, I did not own one record. Not an American Record, US Open, NCAA or World Record. I had no toe-hold on history. Here's what happened 5 months after Marsh coached me:
MARY DESCENZA was the female overall winner of the USA Short Course National Championships. Mary, always a great interview, did not make the 2008 USA Olympic Swim Team. It must have been a huge disappointment. She certainly has the talent to be a multi-Olympic-medalist. To see her so successful, so soon after all the Olympic hype, makes me believe she will have a place on the 2012 Olympic Team.
Until the next the competition, I will be blogging about all things swimming (and/or Olympic), doing my best to get the inside scoop.
***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.....
Thanks for posting your questions! I'll be downloading and transcribing them today. I leave for Short Course National Championships in Atlanta tomorrow. If you have additional questions, don't hesitate to post them throughout the weekend...
My Facebook page is still acting squirrely. I can't return emails. Comments take many, many tries. It's frustrating, but Fackbook Support is moving faster to fix the problem. My updates work at Twitter, and my site here works fine. At Short Course Nationals, I'll be working off of this address to get the NEWS of the ACTION out.
Facebook is still working in the rights ways. Friends of friends keep finding me:
I just added MARY PLANT (aka Mary T. Meagher, or just Mary T to the indoctrinated), the greatest female butterflier of all time. She held the world record for over 25 years in the 200 fly... When I swam, Mary T was like a big sister to me. Her advice and support made the stress of international competition almost easy.
Nadia Comaneci just found me on Facebook. I know her through her husband, 1984 Olympic Gymnast and super-star gold medalist, Bart Conner. Nadia's considered the greatest gymnast of all time. She got a perfect 10 at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
That was 1976. Check her out at the USA House this past August in Beijing. She's only in the beginning of this GMM vid (a/Gary Hall), but it gives you a glimpse of how much she's changed. She's a beautiful woman now, and a mother, and a highly sought-after Olympic speaker:
Bringing Olympians and Olympic fans together is my goal. If you're not a fan of Mary T or Nadie Comaneci, do a little web-trot and research their stories.
Everybody knows Ryan Lochte, aka Reezy, and coming up on Short Course National Championships, I think it's OK to look back at a video tribute I made for the man. It's pre-Olympic, but it captures the odd urge why many of us feel the need to follow him...
For all swim-fans looking farther ahead, I'm sure you've seen this promo for FINA's WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS. If you haven't, here it is:
That was the long version, sent to me by one of my subscribers on YouTube. (I'm sorry, but I forgot the person's "handle" because I accidently erased their message. If you, my subscriber, see this, please comment and take credit for pointing this promo out. Thank you so much for keeping me informed!)
Now here's the short version of the promo for FINA's WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Pass these video promos around! Get the word out! With Short Course Nationals this weekend, everyone should be thinking about where their favorite swimmers will end of placing or winning!
I plan to go to Rome with my wife. I can't go to Italy without Tiffy!!! If you're planning to attend WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, get your tickets at (of all places) TICKET MASTER. If you're not, as always, I'll do my best to bring you the action.................
At a time when it seems everyone is so fearful (over the economy and the war and the environment), I feel overcome with absolute joy and THANKS! I'm thankful for my wife, Tif, who I love more than ever after 10 years, and my big healthy daughter, Bay, who makes me smile proudly every single day. They're my favorite girls on earth, and I couldn't imagine it any other way....
I'm thankful for the FAMILY OF SWIMMING (masters swimmers, age groupers, elite-swimmers, all of the coaches and of course the officials). And I'm so thankful for the USA Swimming Foundation, and for my friend behind it, Mr. Christopher LaBianco. I couldn't let this THANKS go as text only. Here's a video recap of all the fun and fellowship we had together...
Chris, or LaBi (as he is known on the web), has so much to be THANKFUL for himself. He came on-board at the USA Swimming Foundation to fill the shoes of a beloved star, Rowdy Gaines--a tough act to follow. Rowdy is NBC's voice of swimming at the Olympic Games. Chris, who had not been in the swimming industry for years and years, hit the ground running. He brought me along for the ride, traveling every which way imaginable, including to Beijing. Chris worked himself to death, all the way up to the Golden Goggles this fall in Manhattan....
The results of LaBi's work are in, and they're incredible considering what happened to the economy this fall. I can't say much, but I can say, conservatively, that the Foundation was hugely successful.....
THANKFUL??? It doesn't seem like a weighty enough word for me... Working with LaBi, I learned to love swimming all over again. I love it more now than when I was competing.... The Foundation supports "learn to swim" programs in places where they are needed most--in urban areas and minority communities.... I wished I had learned this when I was younger, and faster, when I was world-class. It is better to do good than to do well. I have Chris LaBianco to thank for learning that.....
If you want to support "learn to swim" programs, it's easy to do. Just go to swimfoundation.org and make a donation. Any level of support will do! If you make a donation, let me know. Comment on my blog. And if you're in a city near a GRAND PRIX swimming competition, come by and together we can vlog....
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Thanks Valeria and Candace of OH YES THEY DID! (Martha told me about the check you sent.)
Thanks to Brandon Franklin, fellow masters swimmers and lover of all things 80s. Your coming to Golden Goggles (with your wife) made the gala event!
Thanks to Shaun Jordan, my Olympic teammate (and fellow gold medalist) from 1988 and 1992. Sitting behind your table at Golden Goggles (with Aaron Peirsol) was half the fun.
Thanks to all the National Team Members, present and past! Your participation at Golden Goggles was, of course, the lifeblood of the event!
Thanks to Eve Stahlberger, especially for your THANKSGIVING story today on the web. It hit the right note. Thank you for that!
Thanks to Mike Barrows, my Mercersburg buddy from way back. I appreciate you taking the time to come to Manhattan for my birthday party, and even for bringing a Peddie Parent. (Your vid's coming soon!)
Thanks to Leif Engstrom and Dan Dakus! I loved seeing you guys again!
Thanks to Shannon LaBianco for allowing her husband to work so hard this year! And for getting me the birthday cake. You are a dear!!!!
Big thanks to ROB BUTCHER, executive director of US Masters Swimming for coming to GG!
Thanks to David Marsh, for your friendship and advice! You're the best, man! You and your wife.....
I know I'm forgetting people, but I'll have more time to thank again soon enough. Right now I have got to get my daughter, Bay, dressed and ready for the day... See you tomorrow.....
