Congrats to Ryan Cochrane on his Olympic silver medal today. Ryan set a new Canadian Record in a time of 14:39.63. Most of you have seen this video as well, but I still think its cool that Olympic Medalists know that your small club exists... they sure didn't 5 years ago.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Links of the day with Jocelyn Jay
So many lessons can be learned in watching the Olympics.,..perseverance being the biggest one!!! ~ http://ow.ly/cFFjT
Casey Barrett, being the devil's advocate... "Judging a Champion by Race" ~ http://ow.ly/cFIBs
Gotta love this "Call Me Maybe" Phelps Lochte Parody... http://youtu.be/JZYJa1RowwU
"Vivid images are easier to do....and are sticky, so they stick in your mind"... http://youtu.be/_r0JtjasYCU
Congratulations to Brent Hayden!!
A big congrats to Brent Hayden for finally achieving this goal of an Olympic Medal today with a bronze in the 100FR. He's a very nice guy and a great sport... most of you have seen this before, but its even cooler, now that he's an Olympic Bronze Medalist...
Monday, July 30, 2012
Missed Opportunity!
Begin Rant now...
The 2012 London Games began on Friday July 27th and 1600 athletes gathered in Calgary, Alberta to compete at Canadian Age Group Championships. 1600 athletes; the very level of athlete that Swim Canada (or anyone, for that matter) wants to get excited and inspired by the Olympics. Overall, the meet was pretty well managed and a lot of money was spent to make it look professional; there was an additional "jumbo-tron" rented for advertising... they even used it to show the Opening Ceremonies on Day 1 of the Olympics... but thats where it stopped. Even though the Championship's prelim sessions ran very long (sometimes past 2pm - 6 hour sessions) the meet management did not see if fit to show ANY of the racing on the big screen... but rather, just advertisements.
WHY!!?? Clearly, they had the technology to do it (they showed the Opening Ceremonies earlier in the week). Meet management even met to talk about it and decided not to make it happen. So the question that I need to scream from the rooftops is this: "WHY HOLD A MEET THAT ACTIVELY TAKES THESE SWIMMERS AWAY FROM THE OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE??" It's not like Swim Canada did not know when the Olympic were. Heck, they could have even started the meet a day earlier and minimized the races missed, but they made a decision not to. Maybe it doesn't matter... wait... YES IT DOES... It matters so much to the swimmers, parents, coaches and team mates that helped get those swimmers to that level at meets like this one.
But picture this, if you will... 1600 athletes watching the Olympics together. Getting excited, together. Celebrating, together. Consoling, together. Isn't that what the Olympics experience is all about? Imagine all of the members of the Oakville Aquatic Club (all 55 of them) and all of the swimmers who know Tera Van Beilen, personally, watching her semi-final race AND the rare Olympic Swim-Off to determine the 8th spot in the finals. Imagine all of ESWIM and the swimmers close with Brittany MacLean watching her in her first Olympic Final. Imagine hometown CASCADE going nuts, watching Jill Tyler in her semi-final or PPO watching Charles Francis or Island Swimming watching Julia Wilkinson. This was a massive missed opportunity by Swim Canada and meet management and, I believe, actually jaded the swimmers and coaches. I know that many of them wished that they were somewhere else watching the Olympics and not watching 31 heats of 400FR (12 of them bonus heats, btw).
I understand that its highly unfair to be showing the Olympics on a big screen while people are swimming at prelims as it can be distracting and not make for the ideal prelims atmosphere... but here is what I suggest: STOP THE MEET. Take 10min breaks while the races are happening and encourage people to cheer. Not only would that not be distracting, it would be inspiring. I say it might make for some incredible prelim swims.
I propose this: SNC SHOULD NEVER AGAIN SANCTION A MEET DURING A TELEVISED SWIMMING EVENT or SNC SHOULD ALWAYS MAKE THE VIEWING OF WORLD SWIMMING EVENTS TOP PRIORITY DURING A SWIM MEET, EVEN IF IT MEANS STOPPING THE MEET. Watching swimming on TV is great and can teach a lot. Watching your peers that you played a role in racing, pushing and developing is a great experience. It helps YOU become a part of the Olympics and helps build dreams.
Anyone who agrees, please re-tweet this and share it through social media. If we really want people to enjoy swimming and excel on a world level, we need to use the world connectivity available to us. 4, 8, 12, 16 years ago it was not possible to show the races to everyone. Today it is... lets get with the times. I'm really disappointed in Swim Canada; this was a huge missed opportunity.
HHBF at Canadian National Championships
It was a LONG 2 weeks for me in Alberta as HHBF took part in Senior Nationals in Edmonton, then Canadian Age Group Championships in Calgary, AB.
Matthew Fox managed a bronze medal in 200BK at Canadian Age Group Championships in Calgary. This was a surprisingly weak race across the board, as Matthew's best time would have won the event by about 2 seconds, but even Markus Thormyer of Vancouver (defending National Champion) was 2 seconds off of his best. The next night Matt finished 2nd in 50BK, breaking Kyle Haas' 13-14 year old club record with a time of 28.72. The next morning, Matt woke up and could not move his neck. It was very bad. I had him see Cascade's team therapist who confirmed it was just tightness, but the meet rules stated that we could not scratch, or would have to pay $50. Matt managed just enough to make it into the final (3rd) and swam through an easy 200FR, to avoid paying the scratch penalty. We did everything we could to make his comfortable but he was in a LOT of pain. That night, Matt came back in for the 100BK final and was unsure what to make of the situation; he was clearly injured and was not at his best, but was that an excuse? When would he have this opportunity again? Matt lead the race out FAST (turning at 29.79) and pushed to his limit. At the 75m mark, Markus Thormyer made his move and pulled a meter ahead. Matt then found another gear and accelerated towards the wall. It all came down to the touch; Markus 1st 1:00.84, Matthew 2nd 1:00.85 (HHBF Club Record, 11th fastest time in Canadian history and 4th in Ontario History). That was honestly one of the toughest races I have seen anyone pull out and I was exceptionally proud of Matt, not only because of the risk he took, but because of the example he set for the rest of his team (in Calgary and at home). Matt broke the HHBF club record in 50FR (25.43) where he placed 6th and he also placed 6th in 100FR. He scratched the 400FR due to injury.
Here are the highlights:
Kyle Haas finished 6th in 50BK at Senior Nationals in 50BK, breaking his own HHBF record with a time of 27.00. It was a great race for Kyle, who is coming off of a non-swimming related injury and is not 100% by far. He was also 10th in the 100BK (winning the B final in a time just faster than he was at Olympic Trials, but still not his best) and 20th in 200BK. Kyle finished 8th in 200BK, 6th in 100BK and 4th in 50BK in Calgary at Canadian Age Group Championships.
Matthew Fox managed a bronze medal in 200BK at Canadian Age Group Championships in Calgary. This was a surprisingly weak race across the board, as Matthew's best time would have won the event by about 2 seconds, but even Markus Thormyer of Vancouver (defending National Champion) was 2 seconds off of his best. The next night Matt finished 2nd in 50BK, breaking Kyle Haas' 13-14 year old club record with a time of 28.72. The next morning, Matt woke up and could not move his neck. It was very bad. I had him see Cascade's team therapist who confirmed it was just tightness, but the meet rules stated that we could not scratch, or would have to pay $50. Matt managed just enough to make it into the final (3rd) and swam through an easy 200FR, to avoid paying the scratch penalty. We did everything we could to make his comfortable but he was in a LOT of pain. That night, Matt came back in for the 100BK final and was unsure what to make of the situation; he was clearly injured and was not at his best, but was that an excuse? When would he have this opportunity again? Matt lead the race out FAST (turning at 29.79) and pushed to his limit. At the 75m mark, Markus Thormyer made his move and pulled a meter ahead. Matt then found another gear and accelerated towards the wall. It all came down to the touch; Markus 1st 1:00.84, Matthew 2nd 1:00.85 (HHBF Club Record, 11th fastest time in Canadian history and 4th in Ontario History). That was honestly one of the toughest races I have seen anyone pull out and I was exceptionally proud of Matt, not only because of the risk he took, but because of the example he set for the rest of his team (in Calgary and at home). Matt broke the HHBF club record in 50FR (25.43) where he placed 6th and he also placed 6th in 100FR. He scratched the 400FR due to injury.
Mitchell Krafczek had a great meet in Calgary where he set a season best in 200BK (2:22.38), equaled his best in 100BK, and broke the 30 second barrier in 50BK for the first time (29.96). Mitchell's HUGE races though were 100BR (1:13.91, PB by about 2.8 seconds) and 200BR (2:43.81, which is the 2nd fastest HHBF time EVER). Great finish to the season for Mitchell!
Keri-Lyn Copeland (in her Canadian Age Group Championships debut) had best times in 100FR and 100BK. Aysia Leckie (also in her debut) finished 13th in 50FR, 100FR and 200FR. For these 2, the meet was very overwhelming and was about experience more than anything else. They both have many years left at the National Age Group level and will make their marks in years to come.
In their National Age Group Championship Finales (they will be too old next season), Elizabeth Skuriat broke her own HHBF record in 100BK and finished right on top of her time in 200BK. Aaron Brautigam was just on top of his 50FR and 100FR times and best times in 50BR, 100BR and 200BR. Aaron will begin school at the University of Ottawa in September (hopefully swimming) and Elizabeth will return to Wolfville, NS to continue her studies at Acadia where she will continue to swim.
HHBF finished the meet in 54th place out of 189 teams that participated. While it was not as high as we finished last season (when we were not riddled by injuries), we did finish very close to Newmarket (53rd) and Club Warriors (54th) and ahead of many teams that beat us at Division 2 Team Champs in April. I am very happy about the season and am proud of every Blue Fin. See you in a month!
Final results for the meet can be found here.
Canada announces Junior Pan Pac Roster... finally!
Swim Canada announced the roaster for Junior Pan Pacific Championships on Thursday. Notable members on the women's side include Noemie Thomas of Vancouver, BC, Victoria Chan of Richmond Hill, ON, Kierra Smith of Kelowna, BC and rising IM star, Ottawa's Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson. The youngest women to be accepted to the team are 14 year okds, Sophia Saroukian and Lilli Margatai, both representing the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club, taken over this season by Derrick Schoof.
The men's side include former Etobicoke Swim Club team mates Aly Abdel-Khalik and Omar Arafa (now with Oakville Aquatic Club) and the Brothers brothers; William and Peter Brothers of Victoria BC. 17 year old Jon Brown is someone to watch in the IMs as well as 15 year old Teddy Kelp of North York Aquatic Club in the distance Freestyle events.
Canada will have their work cut out for them, as the USA and Australia recently released very strong rosters. Link to the Canadian roster can be found here.
The men's side include former Etobicoke Swim Club team mates Aly Abdel-Khalik and Omar Arafa (now with Oakville Aquatic Club) and the Brothers brothers; William and Peter Brothers of Victoria BC. 17 year old Jon Brown is someone to watch in the IMs as well as 15 year old Teddy Kelp of North York Aquatic Club in the distance Freestyle events.
Canada will have their work cut out for them, as the USA and Australia recently released very strong rosters. Link to the Canadian roster can be found here.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Link of the Day with Jocelyn Jay
A proud Canadian athlete, Jon Montgomery reflects on how the Olympics changed our Country forever, sends his best to Canada's summer athletes and encourages Canadians to get behind their athletes in London 2012.
Ryan Lochte sounding off about all sorts of different topics. David Marsh recommends young swimmers listen to his answer to the final question. ~ http://ow.ly/ciSvB
FAST SWIMMING = PREMIUM FUEL & TAMING FUN FOODS - a great article about young swimmers being naturally drawn to sweets and convenient items, and how to allow those, but make sure they are getting the "premium fuel" foods. ~ http://ow.ly/ciTBm
Can a vegan diet fuel a high-performance athlete? ~ http://ow.ly/ciUjB
Ryan Lochte sounding off about all sorts of different topics. David Marsh recommends young swimmers listen to his answer to the final question. ~ http://ow.ly/ciSvB
FAST SWIMMING = PREMIUM FUEL & TAMING FUN FOODS - a great article about young swimmers being naturally drawn to sweets and convenient items, and how to allow those, but make sure they are getting the "premium fuel" foods. ~ http://ow.ly/ciTBm
Can a vegan diet fuel a high-performance athlete? ~ http://ow.ly/ciUjB
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