SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: AS MORE world records tumbled at the world championships in Rome, Fina, the world governing body, has bowed to the inevitable and announced that the controversial full bodysuits will be banned from all competitions from January 1st next year.
Fina president Julio Maglione initially announced this week the ban would come into effect in “April or May” of next year to be replaced by textile-only suits with leggings for men, and the more traditional swimwear for women.
Bob Bowman, coach to Michael Phelps, said earlier in the week he would pull his swimmer out of future meets if the issue was not resolved.
In a further move. Fina’s technical committee say they will consider the issue of the world records set over the last two years since the bodysuit entered world swimming in February 2008 with the introduction of the Speedo LZR leggings which were used extensively during the Beijing Olympics which produced 25 world records.
In the pool last night, the world records surged past the 30 mark. In the first race Germany’s Olympic champion Britta Steffan produced a storming last 50 metres to win the women’s 100 metres freestyle, setting a world’s best for the event for the second time this week. Trailing Lisbeth Trickett at the 50-metre turn, Steffan, half a body length behind, began to hunt down the Australian in the lane beside her, passing her in the last 15 metres to claim gold. Her winning time was 52.07 seconds. Trickett had to settle for bronze, beaten to the touch by Britain’s Fran Halsall.
American Aaron Piersol kept the world records coming in the next race, smashing the men’s 200 metres backstroke time in taking gold and making up for not making the 100 metres final.
Other world records were set in the semi-finals of the women’s 50 metres butterfly by Magdalena Veldhuis of the Netherlands in 25.28 seconds, only for the time to be beaten by Sweden’s Therese Alshammer in the next semi-final in 25.07.
Outspoken Serbian Milorad Cavic, who had offered to buy Phelps a full bodysuit to replace his Speedo leggings, took the American’s world record in the second semi-final of the 100 metres butterfly in 50.01 seconds.
Phelps won gold as part of the US 4x200 metres freestyle relay squad who set the final world record of the night, cutting one hundredth of a second off their Beijing time, winning in six minutes 58.55 seconds.
Earlier in the day, Ireland’s Barry Murphy, a semi-finalist in the 50 metres breaststroke, narrowly failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the men’s 50 metres freestyle despite swimming a world-class time of 22.14 seconds, his fastest ever, which left him 19th overall. Murphy won his heat impressively but the time was just not good enough for him to make his second semi-final of the week.
Murphy may have one more race tomorrow. “I’m not sure if I’m finished. It’s between me and (Andrew) Bree for the medley relay squad but the coaches will decide that.”
Conor Leaney, swimming in an earlier heat, broke the Irish junior record in the 50 metres freestyle, while Melanie Nocher went in her top event, the women’s 200 metres butterfly, but despite winning her heat failed to progress. Nuala and Gráinne Murphy failed to get to the final of the women’s 800 metres freestyle.
Irish swimmers in action today are Fiona Doyle and Clare Dawson in the 50 metres freestyle, Karl Burdis and Donal O’Neill, who compete in the 50 backstroke and the women’s 4x100 metres medley relay squad of Aisling Cooney, Doyle, Murphy and Dawson.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Techno doping in Rome
The aquatics world is abuzz about the new 100 per cent polyurethane suits that enable swimmers to churn through the water faster than ever before. As a result, 35 world records have already been broken this week at the world championships in Rome.
After losing a race to an unheralded German swimmer who was using one of the new suits, the legendary Michael Phelps – still wearing last year's revolutionary design (less than 50 per cent polyurethane) – declared that he would withdraw from competitive swimming until the new suits are banned. FINA, the world governing body for the sport, responded yesterday by announcing the suits would be banned as of Jan. 1, 2010.
Critics say the new all-polyurethane suit is a case of "techno doping." Like a performance-enhancing drug, it gives a swimmer an unfair edge over the competition.
Of course, swimming is not alone in this respect. Technological changes in equipment are a major issue in golf, tennis, hockey and many other sports.
One of the attractive qualities of competitive sport – for athletes and fans alike – is record-keeping. It allows us to compare performances over the years. But new technology can make those comparisons meaningless by vaulting the present-day athlete ahead of those who came before and used inferior equipment. The records set at the world swimming championships this week may stand for many years as the swimmers revert to old-style suits next year.
It is too late to go back to wooden tennis racquets or hickory-shafted golf clubs. But like FINA, the governing bodies for these and other sports have a duty to keep technological changes under control so that athletic competition is truly a contest between athletes, not designers.
After losing a race to an unheralded German swimmer who was using one of the new suits, the legendary Michael Phelps – still wearing last year's revolutionary design (less than 50 per cent polyurethane) – declared that he would withdraw from competitive swimming until the new suits are banned. FINA, the world governing body for the sport, responded yesterday by announcing the suits would be banned as of Jan. 1, 2010.
Critics say the new all-polyurethane suit is a case of "techno doping." Like a performance-enhancing drug, it gives a swimmer an unfair edge over the competition.
Of course, swimming is not alone in this respect. Technological changes in equipment are a major issue in golf, tennis, hockey and many other sports.
One of the attractive qualities of competitive sport – for athletes and fans alike – is record-keeping. It allows us to compare performances over the years. But new technology can make those comparisons meaningless by vaulting the present-day athlete ahead of those who came before and used inferior equipment. The records set at the world swimming championships this week may stand for many years as the swimmers revert to old-style suits next year.
It is too late to go back to wooden tennis racquets or hickory-shafted golf clubs. But like FINA, the governing bodies for these and other sports have a duty to keep technological changes under control so that athletic competition is truly a contest between athletes, not designers.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Swimsuits wreck a noble sport
Across town from the ancient arena, which hosted chariot races, an aquatic version has emerged in the past week, created by the International Swimming Federation when it failed to come to grips with the threat of swimsuit technology before the world championships began last Sunday.
Since FINA opened the door to the use of performance-enhancing polyurethane swimsuits, the record books have been under siege.
The monuments to some of the great champions of the sport - Ian Thorpe, Michael Phelps, Grant Hackett, Leisel Jones, Inge de Bruijn - have not just been toppled in the last week, they have been smashed to smithereens.
Only two world records that pre-date the release of the first suit with polyurethane panels (the Speedo LZR) in February last year remain - Hackett's revered 1500m freestyle standard and American Kate Ziegler's female equivalent.
By tomorrow Ziegler's mark is expected to be the sole survivor.
The procession began within days of the launch of the LZR. Since then more than 160 world records have fallen, and the mad pace of progress has further accelerated this year, fuelled by the proliferation of full polyurethane suits.
A record 25 world records were broken at the Beijing Olympics, yet at these world championships 35 fell in six days. There could be more world records than events (40) by the time the final tally is taken tonight.
Yet by late last year, it had become obvious something vital to the sport was under threat from this technology. Swimming has always been one of the few pure sports, requiring no equipment to compete.
The suit supporters who have compared the rise of swimsuit technology to advances in Formula One or tennis misunderstand the nature of the sport. Formula One and tennis don't exist without their equipment.
There has been a fundamental shift in swimming's character. As Michael Phelps said in Rome: "Now, it's not swimming".
And so a one-off freak show is being held at the Foro Italico, one that will never be repeated now FINA has finally agreed to ban the polyurethane bodysuits from January 1.
In the meantime, world records are not greeted with wonder by swimmers and coaches as they were in the past. They are being devalued faster than a stockmarket plunge.
Now they are barely acknowledged, and accompanied by sadness when one of greats is taken down by a bolt of fantastic plastic.
There is great awareness that the sport has been unhinged from its foundations.
"We have lost the history of the sport," Phelps's coach, Bob Bowman, lamented after watching unfancied German Paul Biedermann take down Ian Thorpe's 400m freestyle world record and Phelps's 200m mark in three days.
"I just said to Doug Frost (Thorpe's first coach), the two of us were erased in three days," Bowman said.
"It took no time, what took us 12 years together (to build)."
American distance great Janet Evans, whose 1988 world 800m freestyle record went down at Beijing, said: "It's kind of hard to watch. I go online in the morning and I laugh. It's so out of control. We need to kind of start over again."
There was considerable relief around the pool deck yesterday when FINA finally declared a date for the new start.
Perhaps surprisingly, Biedermann, one of those who has gained the most from polyurethane suits, is just as keen to see the back of them.
Since FINA opened the door to the use of performance-enhancing polyurethane swimsuits, the record books have been under siege.
The monuments to some of the great champions of the sport - Ian Thorpe, Michael Phelps, Grant Hackett, Leisel Jones, Inge de Bruijn - have not just been toppled in the last week, they have been smashed to smithereens.
Only two world records that pre-date the release of the first suit with polyurethane panels (the Speedo LZR) in February last year remain - Hackett's revered 1500m freestyle standard and American Kate Ziegler's female equivalent.
By tomorrow Ziegler's mark is expected to be the sole survivor.
The procession began within days of the launch of the LZR. Since then more than 160 world records have fallen, and the mad pace of progress has further accelerated this year, fuelled by the proliferation of full polyurethane suits.
A record 25 world records were broken at the Beijing Olympics, yet at these world championships 35 fell in six days. There could be more world records than events (40) by the time the final tally is taken tonight.
Yet by late last year, it had become obvious something vital to the sport was under threat from this technology. Swimming has always been one of the few pure sports, requiring no equipment to compete.
The suit supporters who have compared the rise of swimsuit technology to advances in Formula One or tennis misunderstand the nature of the sport. Formula One and tennis don't exist without their equipment.
There has been a fundamental shift in swimming's character. As Michael Phelps said in Rome: "Now, it's not swimming".
And so a one-off freak show is being held at the Foro Italico, one that will never be repeated now FINA has finally agreed to ban the polyurethane bodysuits from January 1.
In the meantime, world records are not greeted with wonder by swimmers and coaches as they were in the past. They are being devalued faster than a stockmarket plunge.
Now they are barely acknowledged, and accompanied by sadness when one of greats is taken down by a bolt of fantastic plastic.
There is great awareness that the sport has been unhinged from its foundations.
"We have lost the history of the sport," Phelps's coach, Bob Bowman, lamented after watching unfancied German Paul Biedermann take down Ian Thorpe's 400m freestyle world record and Phelps's 200m mark in three days.
"I just said to Doug Frost (Thorpe's first coach), the two of us were erased in three days," Bowman said.
"It took no time, what took us 12 years together (to build)."
American distance great Janet Evans, whose 1988 world 800m freestyle record went down at Beijing, said: "It's kind of hard to watch. I go online in the morning and I laugh. It's so out of control. We need to kind of start over again."
There was considerable relief around the pool deck yesterday when FINA finally declared a date for the new start.
Perhaps surprisingly, Biedermann, one of those who has gained the most from polyurethane suits, is just as keen to see the back of them.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Fire continues to burn on Blackcomb Mountain
WHISTLER (NEWS1130) - Parts of Blackcomb Mountain have been evacuated after a lightning strike started a forest fire in the area late Thursday afternoon. No homes or businesses are at risk in Whistler Village but the bitter smell of smoke hangs in the air over the community. Whistler is open with some restrictions for hikers and mountain bikers. The Peak To Peak gondola is also open, but with no dropoff at Blackcomb.
The fire is now pegged at 30 hectares after jumping in size from about four hectares to between 50 and 75 within hours on Thursday. Crews are most concerned about the Crystal Lodge hut and chairlift but Thursday night the fire chief didn't believe them to be at risk. Firefighters are fighting the blaze from the ground and in the air, when the weather cooperates.People who saw it all unfold describe being captivated by the fast work of air tankers and helicopters dropping water. Locals, business owners, and repeat tourists all seem pretty hardy. One woman tells News1130 "we were scared we were going to get evacuated from our hotel, but we're just glad it got under control. Forest fires happen all the time, all over the place, we just love it here."
Monday, August 10, 2009
Mountain Fire No Threat To Vancouver 2010
Fire officials said a blaze on a British Columbia Olympic mountain
is much smaller than originally feared, but the Canadian Press reports just in case there's a backup plan if the winds suddenly shift and threaten the Vancouver 2010 Games venues. They will turn on the snowmaking equipment.
Doug Forseth, vice president of operations for Whistler-Backcomb said, "on the alpine venue we're fortune enough to have a sprinkler system, more or less, with the snow-making capacity we have in that zone, so we have reservoirs and the ability to pump water into those zones.
"We have fire hydrants for the snowmaking equipment and we have the ability to have some capable resources to help dampen the fire if we have anything start".
Friday it was reported the blaze spread in the Crystal Ridge area of Blackcomb Mountain on the opposite side from the 2010 Olympic Village and continued to move upslope Friday morning about three kilometres away from populated areas and infrastructure. It was still burning out of control Friday morning but presenting no threat to Olympic venues, reports the Ottawa Citizen.
Blackcomb Mountain is home to the Olympic Sliding Centre, which is hosting the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events during the Games. Whistler Mountain will host the alpine skiing events. On Friday the Ottawa Citizen reported that none of the Games venues were currently at risk.
Doug Forseth, vice president of operations for Whistler-Backcomb said, "on the alpine venue we're fortune enough to have a sprinkler system, more or less, with the snow-making capacity we have in that zone, so we have reservoirs and the ability to pump water into those zones.
"We have fire hydrants for the snowmaking equipment and we have the ability to have some capable resources to help dampen the fire if we have anything start".
Friday it was reported the blaze spread in the Crystal Ridge area of Blackcomb Mountain on the opposite side from the 2010 Olympic Village and continued to move upslope Friday morning about three kilometres away from populated areas and infrastructure. It was still burning out of control Friday morning but presenting no threat to Olympic venues, reports the Ottawa Citizen.
Blackcomb Mountain is home to the Olympic Sliding Centre, which is hosting the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events during the Games. Whistler Mountain will host the alpine skiing events. On Friday the Ottawa Citizen reported that none of the Games venues were currently at risk.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Lightning ignites fire at 2010 Olympics alpine venue
VANCOUVER, Canada — A forest fire that forced the evacuation of hundreds of tourists from a mountain venue of the 2010 Winter Olympics caused no damage to infrastructure, a resort spokeswoman said Friday.
Firefighters were still battling the blaze on Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler Resort, which ignited Thursday after a lightning strike.
Bobsled, luge and skeleton events are to be held during the 2010 Winter Olympics at the resort 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vancouver in the Rocky Mountains.
"There has been no damage to the infrastructure, that includes infrastructure on the mountain as well any Olympic venues," resort spokeswoman Jessica Delaney told AFP.
Delaney said about 350 sightseers were evacuated from the mountain, where high temperatures and lack of rain have rendered the area "timber dry."
Delaney said that by 6 pm (2200 GMT) the fire covered 75 hectares (185 acres) and was burning out of control.
A statement by the British Columbia forestry service said ground crews, seven air tankers and several helicopters were battling the blaze.
The local fire chief, cited by CBC public television, the wind was blowing the blaze away from the village of Whistler.
Television images showed a great billow of smoke rising near ski runs while tanker planes dumped large quantities of liquid to slow the fire's spread.
"Anything can happen, but we are well prepared and trained to deal with these situations," Mike McCully, a spokesman for the British Columbia Fire Service told the CBC.
"We've got some very good resources on hand. In fact we have crews from Ontario, Manitoba, and our own top crews are working this fire," he said.
The Canadian west has been hit since the start of the month by a heat wave wave and dry weather that have been at the root of many major fires.
The town of Kelowna, about 400 kilometers (248 miles) east of Vancouver, has been surrounded by three fires that have ravaged nearly 5,000 hectares of forest, forcing the temporary evacuation of some 17,000 people.
Firefighters were still battling the blaze on Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler Resort, which ignited Thursday after a lightning strike.
Bobsled, luge and skeleton events are to be held during the 2010 Winter Olympics at the resort 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vancouver in the Rocky Mountains.
"There has been no damage to the infrastructure, that includes infrastructure on the mountain as well any Olympic venues," resort spokeswoman Jessica Delaney told AFP.
Delaney said about 350 sightseers were evacuated from the mountain, where high temperatures and lack of rain have rendered the area "timber dry."
Delaney said that by 6 pm (2200 GMT) the fire covered 75 hectares (185 acres) and was burning out of control.
A statement by the British Columbia forestry service said ground crews, seven air tankers and several helicopters were battling the blaze.
The local fire chief, cited by CBC public television, the wind was blowing the blaze away from the village of Whistler.
Television images showed a great billow of smoke rising near ski runs while tanker planes dumped large quantities of liquid to slow the fire's spread.
"Anything can happen, but we are well prepared and trained to deal with these situations," Mike McCully, a spokesman for the British Columbia Fire Service told the CBC.
"We've got some very good resources on hand. In fact we have crews from Ontario, Manitoba, and our own top crews are working this fire," he said.
The Canadian west has been hit since the start of the month by a heat wave wave and dry weather that have been at the root of many major fires.
The town of Kelowna, about 400 kilometers (248 miles) east of Vancouver, has been surrounded by three fires that have ravaged nearly 5,000 hectares of forest, forcing the temporary evacuation of some 17,000 people.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Special Olympians gather in Nebraska
While the 2010 Special Olympics won't take place for another year, athletes and officials alike will get a chance to practice for the event this weekend, The Lincoln Journal Star reports.
Starting tonight at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, more than 300 Special Olympics athletes from across the country will compete in the 2009 Special Olympics National Invitational Golf & Softball Tournament.
The tournament will be a miniature version of next summer's national 2010 Special Olympics, scheduled for July 18-23 in that same city.
This weekend will provide organizers and athletes a chance to try out all of their systems - including communications, delegation services, and especially transportation.
"This is really our big test event,"said Sarah Leeth, director of marketing and fund development for the 2010 games.
Starting tonight at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, more than 300 Special Olympics athletes from across the country will compete in the 2009 Special Olympics National Invitational Golf & Softball Tournament.
The tournament will be a miniature version of next summer's national 2010 Special Olympics, scheduled for July 18-23 in that same city.
This weekend will provide organizers and athletes a chance to try out all of their systems - including communications, delegation services, and especially transportation.
"This is really our big test event,"said Sarah Leeth, director of marketing and fund development for the 2010 games.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)