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Posts from ‘National’
Lochte wins 200 IM, sets new meet record
Sunday, May 13th, 2012Lochte ditched the brief in favor of a racing jammer on Sunday at the Charlotte UltraSwim Grand Prix event.
Phelps settles for another runner-up at Charlotte
Saturday, May 12th, 2012Phelps fails to find the top of the podium in his last Grand Prix race. Soni, Shanteau continue to impress in the breaststroke events.
Phelps beats Lochte at Charlotte, Berens wins race
Friday, May 11th, 2012Olympians and Olympic hopefuls dueled on Day Two of the Charlotte UltraSwim Grand Prix event.
Swimmer Jason Lezak goes solo to prepare for Olympic trials
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012At 36, Jason Lezak attempts to make his fourth U.S. Olympic Team training on his own.
Phelps to retire after 2012 Olympics
Monday, May 7th, 2012Michael Phelps sits down with Anderson Cooper on “60 Minutes”
USA Swimming will allow hand signals to accommodate deaf athletes at Olympic trials
Thursday, April 19th, 2012USA Swimming decided Thursday to allow hand signals to be used at the U.S. Olympic Trials in July to accomodate deaf swimmers at the start of their races, reversing the organization’s decision, issued less than 48 hours earlier.
Michael Phelps thrives while Ryan Lochte labors at Indianapolis Grand Prix swimming meet
Sunday, April 1st, 2012Michael Phelps claims his third gold medal and fourth overall at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, winning the 200-meter individual medley final on Saturday.
Michael Phelps impresses in 400 individual medley at Indianapolis Grand Prix
Saturday, March 31st, 2012After swearing he had given up the event, Michael Phelps wins the 400 individual medley final at the Indianapolis Grand Prix.
Dara Torres, 44, impresses in heats at Indy
Friday, March 30th, 2012Dara Torres, 44, posted the the second-fastest qualifying time in the 50-meter freestyle heats.
Indianapolis Grand Prix swimming: Brendan Hansen, Ed Moses lead parade out retirement and back into pool
Friday, March 30th, 2012The Indianapolis Grand Prix showcases a handful of former retirees, including Brendan Hansen and Ed Moses, preparing for another Olympic run. Michael Phelps (shown) also took part.
Ryan Lochte misses chance to face Michael Phelps in Indy
Thursday, March 29th, 2012Can’t wait to see Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte race head-to-head? Eager to see whether Lochte proves as worthy a challenger to the best swimmer of all time as he did last summer?
Bootsma posts fastest time in the world at Juniors
Monday, March 26th, 2012On the final day at NCSA Junior Nationals, all the usual suspects could be found in the top heats, performing as they had all week. Katie Ledecky and Jack Conger earned the female and male performance of the meet awards.
Ledecky wins big in 400 free; Conger, Bootsma log pair of wins each on Day 4 at Junior Nationals
Saturday, March 24th, 2012Katie Ledecky notched her third win of the meet in Orlando, as did Jack Conger, in the second to last day of competition at NCSA Junior Nationals.
Ledecky wins second freestyle event; Haase on her way to breaststroke sweep
Friday, March 23rd, 2012Ledecky continues to show her versatility in the freestyle events, winning the 200 free in commanding fashion. Haase one win away from a sweep of the breaststroke events, after 50 breaststroke win on Thursday.
Conger blows away competition in 200m back at Junior Nationals; rising stars McTaggart and Seliskar make first Trials cuts
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012Jack Conger rocked the competition Wednesday night in the men’s 200-meter backstroke, bringing the crowd to their feet in the Orlando YMCA Aquatic Center.
4 stories to follow at NCSA Junior Nationals
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012Local talent will headline at this year’s NCSA Junior National Swimming Championships. Here are RFTW’s top 4 stories to watch. Link to results inside.
Ledecky breaks two NAG records in first event as a 15-year-old
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012Curl-Burke swimmer Katie Ledecky starts her Junior Nationals campaign by breaking a pair of girls’ 15-16 year-old NAG records.
Weekly Wrap-up: Ledecky steps into spotlight at Grand Prix; Records tumble at Metros; Virginia champ meet round-ups
Monday, February 13th, 2012Katie Ledecky (Curl-Burke) bursts onto the Grand Prix scene this year, winning the women’s 800m freestyle; Gonzaga, Churchill win Metros; and more in this week’s round-up.
Phelps bests Lochte for third win at Austin Grand Prix
Monday, January 16th, 2012It may be a bit too early to determine who will have the edge in London this year between Phelps and Lochte. Both are swimming at high levels, despite taxing training schedules, but we do know that this weekend, Phelps got the better of Lochte in several events. Also competing on Sunday were RMSC’s Jack Conger and Sarah Haase, as well as former SNOW swimmer Matt McLean.
Phelps captures second win, looks ahead to Day Three showdown with Lochte
Sunday, January 15th, 2012Phelps joked about going for Erik Vendt’s pool record in the men’s 200 IM before his race on Saturday, but with 100 meters to go, Phelps had a shot.
Allison Schmitt breaks pool record on opening night of Austin Grand Prix
Saturday, January 14th, 2012Allison Schmitt breaks Janet Evans’ 1988 pool record. Evans swam in the event’s “B” Final, moments before Schmitt’s swim. Evans is making hoping to make the 2012 Olympic team after coming out of retirement last year.
Locals looking for Trials cuts at a star-studded Austin Grand Prix
Thursday, January 12th, 2012Potomac Valley swimmers will be competing this weekend in Austin, Texas this weekend, in USA Swimming’s Austin Grand Prix.
2011 Winter Nationals: Day Three Wrap-up
Sunday, December 4th, 20112011 Winter Nationals: Day Three – Finals results Rachael Burnett (West Virginia University/Potomac Marlins) finished sixth in a timed finals of the women’s 800 freestyle in a time of 8 minutes 47.44 seconds. Moving up one position, Jack Conger (RMSC) finished ninth in the “A” Final of the men’s 200 backstroke (2:02.27). In the women’s [...]
2011 Winter Nationals: Day Two Wrap-up
Friday, December 2nd, 2011Day Two prelims conclude at the 2011 Winter Nationals in Atlanta.
2011 Winter Nationals: Area swimmers reach Day One finals – Results
Thursday, December 1st, 2011Results from Day One at the 2011 Winter Nationals in Atlanta. Four area swimmers competed Thursday night in the first day’s finals after advancing out of morning prelims.
Potomac Valley swimmers in action this weekend at Winter Nationals
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011Swimmers from area swim clubs will be competing this weekend at the 2011 Winter National Championships. Former SNOW swimmer and University of Virginia graduate, Matt McLean is looking to defend his first place finish in the 400 free and improve upon his second place finish in the 200 free at the 2011 National Championships last August.
Racing towards a London showdown, Phelps, Lochte back in the pool
Friday, November 11th, 2011This weekend, November 11-13, swim fans will see two heavyweights going at it in the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center pool at the 2011 Minneapolis Grand Prix, hosted by USA Swimming, as Lochte and Phelps face off in four events.
Ledecky, Katis lead strong Curl-Burke showing at Junior Nationals
Saturday, August 13th, 2011Katie Ledecky won three events at the USA Swimming Junior National Championships this week, setting a meet record in the girls’ 1500 free, while Chuck Katis posted three top-five swims.
McLean, Conger impress at Nationals
Monday, August 8th, 2011Two days after the FINA World Championships in Shanghai, USA Swimming’s elite convened in Palo Alto, CA, for the 2011 ConocoPhillips National Championships. Former All-Mets and local swimmers churned out a number of notable performances at Stanford University’s Avery Aquatics Center.
Without walls: Swimming open water
Thursday, July 14th, 2011Looking for a challenge? An interview with US Open Water National Champion, Alex Meyer, plus commentary from local open water swimmers and coaches.
Locals shine at Junior Nationals
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011Curl-Burke took the overall team title at this year’s Junior Nationals in Orlando, and many local swimmers brought home some hardware of their own.
Hoff, Ziegler take the plunge, again
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010After time off following Olympic failure and burnout, Katie Hoff and Kate Ziegler are back in the pool
Eastern Zones age group championship results
Monday, August 16th, 2010Ten-year-old Isabella Rongione won six events and helped three relay teams to victories as Potomac Valley won the team title in last week’s LC Eastern Zone Age Group Championships in Rockville. The complete list of locals who finished in the top 3 is inside.
Even without supersuits, world records may fall
Saturday, August 14th, 2010American athletes and coaches cite recent strong performances at nationals as evidence that the best swimmers can close the gap more quickly than expected since high-tech bodysuits were banned.
Hu takes 13th in butterfly at Jr. Nationals
Thursday, August 12th, 201014-year-old Janet Hu had the day’s best result of any local Wednesday at USA Swimming’s Junior National Championships, taking 13th in the 100 butterfly in 1:01.97.
Pawlowicz posts two top-10s at Jr. Nationals
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010All-Met Girls’ Swimmer of the Year Kaitlin Pawlowicz, a rising senior at Oakton High, continued her fast-paced week on Tuesday night, finishing ninth in the 400 IM at the USA Swimming Junior National Championships in Irvine, Calif. On Monday night, Pawlowicz finished second in the 200 butterfly.
PVS wins Eastern Zone SC Age Group Champs
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010Potomac Valley Swimming won the combined team title at the Eastern Zone Short Course Age Group Championship for the second time in as many years. Nine other LSC’s from Virginia to Maine participated in the event which was held in Webster, New York April 1-3.
This Week In U.S. Swimming
Thursday, March 25th, 2010This week: Speedo’s latest agreement with a star swimmer, the results from the NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships and the reason why the Men’s Swimming Championships have to take a day off.
Junior Nationals wrap-up
Monday, March 22nd, 2010Curl-Burke took second overall at the NCSA Junior Nationals this past weekend in Orlando, finishing behind NOVA of Virginia Aquatics (Richmond), which won the meet with a score of 1005.5, ahead of Curl’s 742.5. Rockville Montgomery was fourth with 459 points. A complete round-up of the top finishers from the final three days of Junior Nationals.
Area Roundup
Friday, March 19th, 2010RMSC’s Jack Conger breaks a national age group record in the 200 backstroke, Curl-Burke’s Chuck Katis and K.J. Park go one-two in the 100 breaststroke and several other swimmers impress in days two and three at Junior Nationals. Also, locals get started at the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships.
PVS Junior Olympic Championships underway
Friday, March 19th, 2010The 2010 Potomac Valley Swim Junior Olympic Championships began Thursday and continue through Sunday and involve many of the top 14 and under swimmers in the area.
This Week In U.S. Swimming
Thursday, March 18th, 2010This Week In U.S. Swimming covers the latest junior national results, examines the results from the Synchronized Swimming championships at Stanford University and provides an quick recap and link to a story on McDonalds and swimming.
NCSA Junior Nationals: Locals on Day One
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010The first day of NCSA Junior Nationals is in the books. Check out how the swimmers from local clubs Curl-Burke, Rockville-Montgomery and Arlington Aquatic fared on Day One and early in Day Two, and get links to see the full results of the first day’s events.
This Week In U.S. Swimming
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010Reach For The Wall brings you the week in U.S. swimming one day earlier this week, with highlights from Michael Phelps’ swim in Maryland, the Austin Grand Prix and a feature story on a coach you have to read about.
This Week In U.S. Swimming
Thursday, March 4th, 2010This Week in U.S. Swimming returns this week with big news on the Austin Grand Prix and an update on the college front.
Area round-up
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010A round-up of area events, including the Virginia men winning the ACC championships, locals performances for Texas at the Big 12 championships, top performances at CAAs by Ashley Danner and Eric Knight, Oakton All-Met Kaitlin Pawlowicz’s nomination for USA Swimming’s race of the week and local clubs taking national honors.
This Week In U.S. Swimming – February 18, 2010
Thursday, February 18th, 2010This week in U.S. Swimming…Chloe Sutton dominated, U.S. masters records fall, the Auburn Tigers continue their SEC run and college conference championship season begins.
Chloe Sutton dominates at Missouri Grand Prix
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010The Missouri Grand Prix was held this past weekend at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Mo., and there were plenty of notable swims. Here is a rundown of the biggest swims from the event. Chloe Sutton continued her dominance in the Grand Prix series with another first place meet finish. Her best races included [...]
This Week In U.S. Swimming
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010This week in U.S. Swimming…Cullen Jones visits his home state of New Jersey, an 11-year old makes a splash, diver Ryan Hawkins wins his second consecutive NC4A state championship and Matthew Lamping breaks an S-10 classification Paralympic American record.
The Week In U.S. Swimming
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010There were several notable events that took place across the country. Here are the best from the past week. Rebecca Soni sets a meet record in Switzerland. Rebecca Soni, a New Jersey native, set an impressive meet record at the Uster International meet held in Switzerland on the last day of January. Her time of [...]
This week in U.S. swimming
Thursday, January 28th, 2010Reachforthewall.com debuts a new weekly feature in which we scour the nation for the week’s most interesting swimming-related stories. Did we miss something? Send your suggestions to info@reachforthewall.com.
Phelps, Pelton claim victories at Long Beach
Sunday, January 17th, 2010Michael Phelps dominated the 500-yard freestyle at a grand prix meet in Long Beach, Calif., Saturday, winning the event in 4 minutes, 18.70 seconds, more than five seconds ahead of second-place Dominic Meichtry (4:24.22).
USA Swimming’s Wielgus bypassed for USOC CEO
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010The U.S. Olympic Committee has picked one of its former acting chief executive officers to be the organization’s next CEO, bypassing USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus, a source with direct knowledge of the selection said.
Local standouts at U.S. short-course junior nationals
Monday, December 14th, 2009Rockville-Montgomery placed eighth and Curl-Burke 28th in the overall team standings this past weekend at the U.S. short-course junior national championships in Columbus, Ohio, as Machine Aquatics claimed 33rd on in the men’s standings, and a host of locals swam to top-20 finishes.
Phelps begins 400-yard chase
Saturday, December 12th, 2009Michael Phelps didn’t have a fantastic time, either in the water or on the scoreboard, but he convinced himself he can try to regain his American record in the 400-yard individual medley — a mark he lost in the technical suit onslaught last spring — with a strong performance Saturday on the second day of a three-day holiday meet at the U.S. Naval Academy.
At club meet, Phelps shines, crowd swoons
Friday, December 11th, 2009There were some 1,500 people jammed into every corner of LeJeune Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy at just past 6:30 p.m. Friday, most standing, and many pointing cameras or video recorders toward the very center of a pool deck crowded with a bunch of girls no older than 10, and tall guy in a white swim cap, gray sweat jacket and dark head phones. That guy was Michael Phelps.
Close to home, Phelps goes to work in yards
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009It’s unclear what will be the strangest thing: Olympic star Michael Phelps standing on a pool deck in Annapolis this weekend with children as young as 9, preparing to compete at an annual local club event called the “Christmas Meet.” Or the fact that Phelps will be taking each of his six races in the “boys open” division very seriously.
No supersuits, no American records
Sunday, December 6th, 2009No American records were set at the first U.S. championships of the post-technical suit era this past weekend in Federal Way, Wash., but the clock still told a few interesting tales.
Phelps surprises swim team as guest coach
Friday, December 4th, 2009Michael Phelps shocked the Swim Pasadena team of Pasadena, Ca. by appearing as a guest coach during one of the team’s Saturday morning practices.
Knutson beats Hoff, but can’t catch Hoff’s record
Friday, December 4th, 2009In a race that pitted a burgeoning star against an Olympic veteran on the rebound, Dagny Knutson, 17, easily distanced herself from three-time Olympic medal winner Katie Hoff — but she couldn’t get Hoff’s American record at the U.S. short-course championships.
Ziegler gets gold and silver at Minnesota Grand Prix
Saturday, November 14th, 2009UPDATED: Olympian Kate Ziegler, who took a long break after the 2008 Summer Games and missed the U.S. championships this past summer because of the flu, is back in the water and getting her old speed back.
Bowman Guides Pelton, A Prodigy And Project
Friday, November 6th, 2009Though Towson’s Elizabeth Pelton, 15, performed like a veteran this summer, she is still a mere high school sophomore, and her new coach Bob Bowman won’t let himself forget that. The biggest challenge now that she has arrived on the world stage might have more to do with managing her psyche than her strokes.
Swim Parents: A Sleep-Deprived Species
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009For every child shuttled to a 4:30 a.m. practice, and perhaps back for an afternoon one, there is a parent at the wheel, probably guzzling a 16-ounce coffee. For every athlete that qualifies for the finals of a local weekend meet, there is a parent, or perhaps two, planted on a plastic bleacher seat from morning until night. Is it worth it?
High School Freshman Steps Into Big Time
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009Melissa Franklin, who will compete at a pair of World Cups in Europe next week and the “Duel in the Pool” in December, holds 10 national age-group records, the third-fastest times in two events among U.S. women this year, and unbelievable promise. And she is only 14.
Treats, Scares … And Heavy Competition
Sunday, November 1st, 2009Designed to provide a crash course in senior elite swimming to young athletes on the cusp of making their first junior or senior national teams, USA Swimming’s 2009 National Select Camp in Colorado Springs provided a mix of fun, fright and pure pain this past weekend.
Phelps Puts Reputation On Line For Supplement
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009Though the World Anti-Doping Agency calls the use of dietary supplements by athletes “a concern” and advises “extreme caution” regarding their use, Olympic star Michael Phelps touts PureSport’s dietary supplement products and says he does not fear a positive drug test.
Bal Will Offer Lessons On Swimming, Life
Friday, October 2nd, 2009Randal Bal can teach plenty about the sport of swimming, and even more about handling tough times. He will be trying to impart his experience on both fronts to the young swimmers he will meet Saturday at the Potomac Valley Swimming Swimposium.
USA Swimming Publishes List Of Allowable Suits
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009USA Swimming got the message from athletes, coaches and officials confused by the new swimsuit guidelines. In an effort to provide more guidance, the sport’s national governing body on Tuesday released a reference list of allowable suits.
No Answers Yet From Masters, But An Update
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009U.S. Masters Swimming is digesting the the most recent development on the swimsuit front and …. still doesn’t know whether or not it will ban long-length, high-tech swimsuits in masters competition for October meets. But the USMS rules committee chaired by Kathy Casey is determined to reach a decision, or at least a partial one, in the next 10 days or so, Casey said Monday night.
Hawaii Men’s Team To Dance Before It Swims
Monday, September 28th, 2009Before they taught their teammates one word, facial expression or body movement associated with the tribal dance known as the Haka, Ilia Reyes and Davis Kane looked each man in the eye and demanded an answer: Would you stand on the pool deck before an NCAA swim meet and put your whole heart and soul into this?
Masters Moves Closer To Same Suit Ban As Elites
Saturday, September 26th, 2009Masters swimming took the first step Saturday toward implementing the same ban on full-length, high-tech suits as at virtually every other level of the sport, but the issue remained far from resolved.
Bernardino Tackles Issues Beyond Charlottesville
Friday, September 25th, 2009A season after winning Coach of the Year honors twice — for his men’s and women’s teams — Virginia’s Mark Bernardino seeks continued success in the pool as he takes on a new, national challenge.
Masters Swimmers Hope Suit Issue Settled Soon
Thursday, September 24th, 2009The rest of the swimming world — high schoolers, collegians, elites — already has adopted new rules restricting suits. Masters swimmers continue to debate, but U.S. Masters Swimming officials expect to receive some guidance from the world swimming governing body (FINA) by the end of the weekend.
What To Wear? If It Looks Legal, It Is
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009The message to swimmers and parents trying to figure out the new USA Swimming standards as the fall club season approaches: If a suit looks legal, it probably is. Suits will be only visually inspected at Potomac Valley Swimming meets. There will be no touching of suits, or close scrutiny of materials.
USA Swimming Enacts Technical Suit Ban Oct. 1
Saturday, September 19th, 2009USA Swimming’s House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favor of banning full-body, non-textile body suits Oct. 1, three months before the world swimming governing body (FINA) plans to enact its ban.
Aquaman 2, Superman 1
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009Michael Phelps’s 2-1 victory over Shaquille O’Neal in a trio of handicapped races that aired Tuesday on the ABC show “Shaq Vs.” brought an animated and gleeful celebration from Phelps. The 14-time Olympic gold-medal winner participated in the prime-time pseudo-competition to promote the sport; for sure, Tuesday’s show was far more about entertainment than competition.
Kukors Plans To Change With The (Slower) Times
Friday, September 11th, 2009Given that Ariana Kukors won her first world title and set a pair of world records this past summer, one might think her long-time coach Sean Hutchison would simply marvel at her technique and not touch a thing. One would be completely wrong.
Hansen Eyes Olympics, But Won’t Swim In ’10
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009Two-time Olympian Brendan Hansen, 28, decided to extend his swimming sabbatical indefinitely after a brief return to his longtime training home at the University of Texas Saturday. He said he would continue to ponder a run for the 2012 Summer Games, but would not swim competitively next summer.
Hardy Is Vindicated, But Fight Continues
Monday, September 7th, 2009Last month at the U.S. Open, Jessica Hardy burst into tears soon after learning she had set a world record in the 100-meter breaststroke. In her first significant meet since being barred from the 2008 Summer Games because of a positive drug test, Hardy seemed to sense that she had just stated to the world, more eloquently and effectively than she had in the previous 13 months, that she was not a cheater.
Youth Team To World Cups; Phelps To Mentor
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009It’s a very, very good time to be a talented high school swimmer in the United States. Not only will 46 of the nation’s best teenage swimmers get flown to a pair of elite-level European world cup meets this fall, but fourteen-time Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps will be the team’s mentor and his coach, Bob Bowman, will lead the coaching staff.
Phelps’s Golden Summer Brings Boys Into The Pool
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009Michael Phelps’s dramatic performance at the Beijing Summer Games, where he won a record eight gold medals, surely drove USA Swimming’s record 11.2 percent increase in membership in 2009. The most encouraging news, the organization reported Wednesday, was that male membership was up 14.4 percent, helping shrink what had been a troubling gap between the sexes in the sport.
Moses Goes From Laps To Links … And Back?
Sunday, August 30th, 2009When Lake Braddock High graduate Ed Moses retired from swimming in the summer of 2005, he began chasing a brand-new goal: becoming a professional golfer. He’d already reached his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal despite not swimming seriously until his junior year in high school. Why, he figured, shouldn’t he be able to make the PGA Tour, too?
High School Officials Don’t Have Suit List
Friday, August 28th, 2009With the swimming season already underway in 18 states and the National Federation of State High School Associations’s decision to ban high-tech, long-length suits just over two weeks old, the organization is trying to help its member states navigate the new dress code without providing a formal list.
Despite Suit Ban, NCAA Keeps Fast Standards
Thursday, August 27th, 2009Athletes who want to qualify automatically for this season’s Division I NCAA swimming championships will face a steep challenge: They will have to meet the record-low time standards created for the 2009 championships, which took place before full-body technical suits were banned. Sound impossible? It might be.
Masters Athletes Split Over High-Tech Suits
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009Many of the nearly 50,000 masters swimmers — non-elite adult swimmers — in the United States have no grudge with the high-tech, full-body speedsuits that have been banned at virtually every level of international swimming competition. The result: A U.S. masters governing body uncertain whether to fall in line with the rest of the swimming world in regulating the controversial suits.
Coach With Local Ties To Manage Talent And Egos
Friday, August 21st, 2009Centennial High graduate Sean Hutchison figures he will be walking into an exciting, worthwhile and, perhaps above all, complicated challenge. Hutchison won’t merely be kicking off a new U.S. Olympic Committee training center for swimmers in September, he will also be entrusted with managing the egos and psyches of a small group of the sport’s biggest stars.
Phelps Limps Into Pool; Mulls Suit For World Cups
Thursday, August 20th, 2009A sore right foot from last week’s minor car accident forced Michael Phelps to delay his return to training by a day. But after X-rays showed no break, Phelps limped to the pool Tuesday and got back in the water, beginning what his coach Bob Bowman said would be his most important year of training leading up to the 2012 Summer Games in London. It also signaled his return to an old, textile jammer for competition — at least if Bowman has his way.
Hoff Leaving NBAC
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009Katie Hoff, 20, feels comfortable with her decision to leave the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, her training home for the past six years, to join a start-up, post-graduate swimming group in Fullerton, Calif., for this reason: She’s excited about swimming for the first time in a long, long time.
Home-Grown Coach To Lead New Training Center
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009UPDATED: Years ago, few swimmers continued their elite careers beyond college, but now the bulk of Team USA’s top swimmers are either post-graduates or professionals, creating a growing training issue: Where do these athletes go? USA Swimming can now make three specific suggestions: the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, the Fullerton (Calif.) Aquatics Sports Team — led by Centennial High graduate Sean Hutchison — and SwimMAC in Charlotte, N.C. One of the first swimmers to join Hutchison is Katie Hoff, who has been at North Baltimore for more than six years.
Locals Score Medals At Eastern Zone Meet
Sunday, August 16th, 2009All-Star Aquatics Caroline McTaggart, 12, led Potomac Valley swimmers by earning six medals — four gold and two silver — at the 2009 Eastern Zone Long Course Age Group Championships in State College, Pa., that concluded Saturday. Other local standouts included Curl-Burke’s Jessica Chen, 12; Rockville-Montgomery’s Devin Truong, 10; and Fairland Aquatics Michael Stevens, 12, all of whom won multiple medals.
Yetter Goes From NBAC To Auburn … Quietly
Saturday, August 15th, 2009When former North Baltimore Aquatic Club Coach Paul Yetter accepted an assistant coaching position at Auburn University in May, he knew he would be leaving behind the youngsters he had brought from incredible potential to incredible results. But Yetter, who had guided Katie Hoff to her first Olympics at 15, had no idea just how abrupt his departure would have to be.
NBAC Racks Up Medals At Junior Championships
Saturday, August 15th, 2009The North Baltimore Aquatic Club capped a stellar week at the U.S. junior swimming championships in Federal Way, Wash., with gold-medal performances on the last night of competition Friday from Camryne Morris, 14, and Drew Cosgarea, 16, in the women’s 1,500 and men’s 800 freestyles, respectively; Felicia Lee, 17, grabbed another medal with her second place in the 200 individual medley.
Phelps In Minor Car Accident; Not Injured
Friday, August 14th, 2009Less than two weeks after winning five gold medals at the world championships in Rome, Michael Phelps was involved in a fender bender in downtown Baltimore but was not injured. There was no evidence of the use of drugs or alcohol.
How Will Gibson Do Against The Big Boys?
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009As a 12 year old, Andrew Gibson would be a top-seeded swimmer at the Eastern Zone Championships that start today. But on Aug. 1 Gibson turned 13, and as a 13 year old, he will be fighting to reach the finals in his six events, competing against more seasoned swimmers as he represents Potomac Valley Swimming at the meet in State College, Pa.
High Schools Ban All Long-Length Swimsuits
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009The National Federation of State High School Associations decided Tuesday afternoon to ban all non-textile, long-length swimsuits immediately, saying it was acting to preserve the “integrity, tradition and heritage of the sport.”
Lee Gets Off To Fast Start
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009Towson’s Felicia Lee on Monday kicked off what could be a coming-out meet for her as she won the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. junior nationals in Federal Way, Wash., and smashed the meet record in the process.
Open-Water Phenom Sutton Now A Pool Star
Monday, August 10th, 2009UPDATED Chloe Sutton was once a member of the local swim club Fish, maturing in Kate Ziegler’s shadow. Now California-based, the open-water specialist has branched out to pool swimming, making her a potential threat to Ziegler’s distance-swimming records.
Eight Men Don Briefs, Make Statement
Sunday, August 9th, 2009The entire field in the men’s 200-meter medley final got a standing ovation at the U.S. Open in Federal Way, Wash., Saturday night when the eight finalists paraded out wearing briefs rather than high-tech suits. The finalists made a pact before the race to compete in the traditional suits — knowing full well the gesture would hurt their times and bodies.
High School Officials Uncertain About Ban
Friday, August 7th, 2009UPDATED: A rules committee for the National Federation of State High School Associations decided Friday to recommend that non-textile suits be banned for the 2009-10 school year, but it gave the organization’s board of directors the option of outlawing long-length suits this year or next. The board will consider the issue and announce a decision by Tuesday.
High Schools Officials Might Allow Long Suits
Thursday, August 6th, 2009Area athletes might find themselves donning long swim suits for high school competitions and short suits for club events in the coming months if the National Federation of State High School Associations bans non-textile suits as expected but does not prohibit long-length models. The organization’s rules committee meets Friday to consider what action to take.
The Swimming Legend And The High School Kid
Saturday, July 25th, 2009Two stress fractures in his back laid up high-school swimmer Brennan Morris for three months last summer, but when Michael Phelps returned to the pool after his eight-gold-medal performance at the Beijing Summer Games, Morris became his youngest training partner. Less than a year later, Morris, 18, enters the swimming world championships that begin in Rome Sunday as the youngest male member of the U.S. team. He will compete in the 1,500-meter freestyle on Aug. 1.
20 Questions: Natalie Coughlin
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009Two-time Olympian Natalie Coughlin has won 11 Olympic medals and held four world records in her 20-year competitive swimming career. She’s won three Olympic golds, in the 100-meter backstroke and 4×200-meter freestyle relay in 2004 in Athens, and the 100-meter backstroke at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. After Beijing, Coughlin took some time away from the pool, to travel, relax, and get married. She plans to return to her training regimen by the end of the year.
Will Phelps’s Golden Quest Start With A Silver?
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009Michael Phelps’s hopes for six gold medals at the world championships, which begin Sunday in Rome, could be hijacked by four Frenchmen in very fast suits — unless coach Bob Bowman’s “surprise” plan works.
High-Tech Suits Favored at USAs; Old Suits Won
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009An unofficial analysis of last week’s U.S. swimming championships shows that 72 percent of athletes who reached the 26 event finals, and whose suits could be identified, competed in recently released versions made by Jaked, Arena, Tyr or BlueSeventy. Yet it was Speedo’s LZR, the acclaimed suit of 2008 that is now perceived as out-moded, that produced the most top-two finishes, about 33 percent.
Shanteau Sets U.S. Breaststroke Mark–Twice
Saturday, July 11th, 2009Eric Shanteau won his first U.S. title and set the American record in the 200-meter breaststroke for the second time at the U.S. swimming championships Saturday, completing a breathtaking return from his cancer diagnosis last year.
For the Record, Peirsol Wins 100 Back
Saturday, July 11th, 2009Aaron Peirsol regained his second world record at the U.S. swimming championships Saturday, lowering the 200-meter backstroke record on a night Cullen Jones and Dara Torres, 42, set American records in sprint events.
Shanteau Gets U.S. Record in Morning Swim
Saturday, July 11th, 2009He had already qualified for the world championships in two events; on Saturday morning, cancer-survivor Eric Shanteau took down a two-year-old American record in the 200-meter breaststroke.
Pelton, 15, Is Swimming Toward Rome, Stardom
Friday, July 10th, 2009Elizabeth Pelton, 15, won her third silver medal at the U.S. swimming championships. Her second-place finish in the 200-meter backstroke earned her the right to compete in four individual events at the world championships in Rome, a distinction that, with one day of competition remaining, only one other U.S. swimmer — Michael Phelps — can claim.
Adrian Emerges Out of Phelps’s Shadow
Friday, July 10th, 2009Nathan Adrian claimed his second sprint title of the week, winning the men’s 100-meter freestyle final in 48.00 seconds. Adrian topped a field that did not include American-record holder Michael Phelps, who had withdrawn from the field Friday morning because of neck soreness. In other events at the U.S. swimming championships, Ryan Lochte won the men’s 200 individual medley and cancer-survivor Eric Shanteau earned his second world-team spot.
Pelton Shines Again; Many Locals Compete
Friday, July 10th, 2009There was plenty of news after Michael Phelps pulled out of the 100 freestyle Friday morning: Towson’s Elizabeth Pelton, 15, set herself up to contend for a third spot on her first world championship team in the 200 backstroke; Curl-Burke’s Mei Christensen also qualified for Friday night’s final. Dara Torres said she planned to skip the 100 free but shoot for a world record in a 50 butterfly time trial. USA National Team Director Mark Schubert railed against the latest high-tech suits, and a handful of locals posted great times Friday morning.
Phelps Pulls Out of 100 Free
Friday, July 10th, 2009Michael Phelps pulled out of the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. swimming championships Friday morning because of neck soreness.
Phelps Gets Long-Sought World Record in Butterfly
Thursday, July 9th, 2009Michael Phelps is back to his old form. His time in the fly was 0.18 faster than the 50.40 that has stood up since Ian Crocker set the record in 2005. His record-breaking performance was followed by another remarkable victory from Dara Torres, who at 42 won the 50 free and clinched a spot in this summer’s world championships.
Neck Spasm Keeps Cullen Jones From U.S. Record
Thursday, July 9th, 2009Cullen Jones blamed neck spasm for second-place finish. Now he faces a swim off versus Garrett Weber-Gale on Saturday for a berth in the world championships. Also, Kate Ziegler said she had not recovered from her bout with the flu and would not compete in the 800 freestyle Friday.
Torres, 42, Makes Final; Phelps Eyes World Record
Thursday, July 9th, 2009Even at 42 and with a bum knee, Dara Torres can dominate women half her age. Torres easily moved to Thursday’s final in the 50-meter freestyle by posting the fastest time in the morning heats, finishing in 24.72 seconds. Earlier, Michael Phelps advanced in the 100 butterfly with the fastest qualifying time (51.17 seconds), then turned his attention to getting the world record in that event Thursday night.
Despite Two Wins, Phelps Irked
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009On Wednesday night Michael Phelps officially overcame a tumultuous offseason. He went two for two on his first night back of serious swimming at the U.S. championships, winning the 200 free in 1 minute 44.23 seconds and the 200 fly in 1:52.76. Yet Phelps was not at all pleased.
Pelton Nabs Second Worlds Spot
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009Towson’s Elizabeth Pelton, 15, perhaps cemented her status as the biggest young star at the U.S. swimming championships when she earned her second berth in this summer’s world championships, finishing second in the 100 back.
Phelps, Hoff and Two Locals Advance
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009Reston’s Mei Christensen, 20, surprisingly posted the third-best time Wednesday morning in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. swimming championships in Indianapolis, followed closely by Towson’s Elizabeth Pelton, 15, who earned the fourth seed just hours after winning a spot on the world championship team in the 200 individual medley. Later, Katie Hoff made it into the 200 free final—barely. And Michael Phelps posted the fastest time in the 200 fly and 200 freestyle heats, but the top six finishers in the free were separated by a mere 0.28 seconds, suggesting a super-competitive final Wednesday night.
Pelton Surprises, Hoff Disappoints
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009Just 15, Elizabeth Pelton of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club scored a world championship team spot with her surprising second-place finish in a stacked 200 individual medley field as NBAC’s Katie Hoff–who was once that 15-year-old sensation–didn’t make the team in the 400 free, an event in which she holds the American record. Now 20 and struggling, Hoff finished a dismal sixth in that event at the national championships in Indianapolis.
Ziegler Out of 400, 200 Due to Illness
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009Great Falls’s Kate Ziegler withdrew from the women’s 400-meter event at the U.S. Swimming Championships at Indiana University on Tuesday morning because of the flu. Ziegler told The Washington Post that she developed flu-like symptoms last Friday with a fever that peaked at 103 degrees, and was so hobbled she did not bother attempting to travel Indianapolis to compete. She will not compete in Wednesday’s 200 and has only faint hopes of being ready for Friday’s heats of the 800.
How’d They Do? Local Swimmers At Nationals
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009There are dozens of local swimmers participating in the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships this year. Keep abreast of their results with this chart.
At U.S. Championships, Controversy Follows Suit
Monday, July 6th, 2009U.S. swimmers are assembling in Indianapolis for this week’s national championships, and swimming, which reached a peak of popularity through the nightly drama Michael Phelps provided in Beijing last year, has endured a far bumpier story line in 2009. New, technologically advanced suits, not swimmers, have dominated the headlines and threaten to make a mockery of this summer’s world championships in Rome.
More Than 30 Local Stars Compete at USA Champs
Monday, July 6th, 2009More than three dozen athletes from Curl-Burke, Rockville-Montgomery, The Fish and other clubs or schools in the Greater Washington and Baltimore regions will compete at the U.S. championships in Indianapolis that begin Tuesday.
Cullen Jones Condemns Alleged Racism
Sunday, July 5th, 2009In response to allegations of racism against 65 African-American and Hispanic summer campers at a private swim club outside of Philadelphia, U.S. swimmer Cullen Jones, who will compete in the 50-meter freestyle final Thursday night, and USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus spoke out Thursday afternoon. “The acts of blatant racism shown towards the young kids with [...]
Adidas Skips USAs; No WR Suit In Indy
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009As if they weren’t confused enough, U.S. swimmers can forget about trying out the coveted new adidas Hydrofoil suit — which has been responsible for a host of recent records — at the U.S. championships in Indianapolis next week.
The German-based adidas did not submit an application by Wednesday’s deadline to have its suits available at the event, which serves as the trials for the world championships at the end of this month, a USA Swimming spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
U.S. Swimmers Agonize Over Tech Suits
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009U.S. swimmers are frantically preparing for the world championship trials that begin next Tuesday in Indianapolis. For many, however, the focus of that preparation has nothing to do with actual swimming. It is on determining which of the now-legal — but still controversial — high-tech swimsuits will provide the most performance-enhancement.
Dara Torres’s Coach Ill Again
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009Dara Torres’s coach Michael Lohberg, 59, has been hospitalized again with complications relating to his year-long battle with aplastic anemia, but the 42-year-old five-time Olympian hopes Lohberg will be out of the hospital in time to attend the U.S. championships next week in Indianapolis.
20 Questions: Chris Stevenson
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009Swimming isn’t just a kids’ game. Chris Stevenson, 44, proves that. The University of Richmond environmental studies professor holds U.S. Masters Swimming records in the 40-44 age group 50-, 100- and 200-meter backstroke. His swimming itinerary goes back to the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, where he swam for Greece, and to the University of North Carolina, where he went to school with the most famous Tar Heel.
Swimming Through Troubled Waters
Thursday, June 25th, 2009Olympian Eric Shanteau, 26, is certain he is bigger, stronger and faster than he’s ever been. And, most important, this summer, unlike last, he is cancer-free.
USA Swimming Disappointed in FINA
Monday, June 15th, 2009USA Swimming President Jim Wood expressed disappointment in FINA’s decision to approve an additional 198 swimsuits Monday, bringing the total of allowable suits for the summer world championships in Rome to 400. USA Swimming, however, adopted FINA’s list. Wood’s statement is attached. USA Swimming stands firm in its desire to preserve the integrity of the [...]
The Dakota Pool Shark
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009A teenager who trains by herself with a personal coach and trainer in the Canadian border town of Minot, N.D., is considered the fastest-rising star in U.S. swimming. Used to driving around snowbanks to get to solo practice sessions, Dagney Knutson, 17, swam a time in the 200-meter individual medley last January in a junior swimming event that would have won her fifth place at the Beijing Olympics. She is seeking a spot on the U.S. team that will compete at this summer’s world championships in Rome. “I don’t have any limits,” Knutson says.
Bowman And Phelps Make Beautiful Music Together
Friday, January 23rd, 2009Bob Bowman occasionally muses about the unlikelihood of it all: that he and Michael Phelps have fused into a historically successful and cohesive team, despite — or perhaps because of — daily drama, occasional full-bore clashes and Bowman’s original lack of interest in taking on a temperamental star.
