The Swimming Thread - Pool/OW

The Swimming Thread - Pool/OW

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squareflops

1,808 posts

182 months

Monday 29th July 2019
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Didn't think I'd be commenting in this thread but having spoken with my sisters BF who's into Tri's I've started OW swimming; Jacksons Bay in Cardiff. Been 3 times and yesterday was my first time in my own wetsuit - HUUB Alpha (superb suit for anyone who's interested) and I managed to get out to the buoy and back. It's probably a nothing swim for most people here but I had a great sense of achievement doing it as when he first pointed to it 3 weeks ago from the beach I never thought I'd be able to get out there and back. Really enjoying it and now looking into Tri's for next year most likely.

995m swam in 24 mins. Just need to learn how to swim properly now!

Otispunkmeyer

12,557 posts

154 months

Monday 29th July 2019
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Highway Star said:
Highway Star said:
He's fantastic. I'm excited about the medley relay - he's two seconds faster than the American breaststroker. If Greenbank can pull out the swim of his life, I think with Guy and Scott we've enough to hold off the Americans.
BOOM!
Yeah that was absolutely fantastic.

Had a look at splits, Peaty was much slower on the mixed medley and still 3-4 tenths off his 100 in the mens medley relay and thats with a flying start. I think he's just over-swimming the relays because in theory, you should be quicker over the same distance from a relay start. But its neither here nor there really is it? he's still miles ahead. He took the team from 7th to 1st!

But. Completely overshadowed by Duncan Scott. That guy is just an amazing relay swimmer... his 200 in the 4x200 was faster than the time that won the 200 individual (and he led off so it counts!) and now his 100 at the end of the medley was second fastest ever. Second only to Jason Lezak's 2008 effort in the shiny suits! Absolutely monster relay leg. Bet the Yanks weren't expecting that!!!

I still think Lezak's is more special mind. There was a heck of lot riding on him for that one, not least Phelp's claim to 8 gold medal fame. They were behind the french in an event they normally win and on the last leg Lezak was against the current WR holder for the 100 Alain Bernard (though Aussie Sullivan? had just broke the WR on the first leg of the very same relay). On paper it should have been a done deal. But Lezak just pulled out the biggest effort I've ever seen and showed exactly the power of "team spirit".

Been a great competition. Caeleb Dressel is just something else, especially on starts and turns; literally head, shoulders, body and legs ahead of nearly everyone else over the first 15 m and that just should not be happening at this level! Can see why he got "man of the match"

Not too clear why they gave Sarah Sjostrom "woman of the match". Fina only considers individual performances, not relays... I know the ultimate relay result is a team effort but I don't think you can ignore individual performances within. I think Hoszu (5x400 IM champ now, so crazy points for longevity! that is a hard event to keep on top of) or Simone Manuel (7 medals and won both the 50 and 100 Free) might have been better choices.

Should also mention Regan Smith... this girl, turned up in the 200 back and made everyone look ordinary. She didn't swim the 100 individual but after that 4x100 medley last night maybe they should have put her in. Not only did she again make the rest of the field look pedestrian, she smashed the 100 world record on the first leg of the relay! and the girls continued on to get the 4x100 WR as well. Incredible swimming from them, no doubt fired up by just seeing their male team mates lose out to us.


Highway Star

3,573 posts

230 months

Monday 29th July 2019
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Otispunkmeyer said:
Yeah that was absolutely fantastic.

Had a look at splits, Peaty was much slower on the mixed medley and still 3-4 tenths off his 100 in the mens medley relay and thats with a flying start. I think he's just over-swimming the relays because in theory, you should be quicker over the same distance from a relay start. But its neither here nor there really is it? he's still miles ahead. He took the team from 7th to 1st!
In the BBC interview, Peaty said he clipped the takeover judge with his arm as he wound it up and his dive wasn't great. Also, he'd be diving into a world of wash, which probably doesn't help. If Greenbank can get about .75 or so quicker by next year, I think we'll be really hard to beat in Tokyo. Interesting that the US put Adrian on the free when he didn't make the mixed free final team when Dressel and Apple swam the male legs - Apple was faster than Adrian all week. I think the US underestimated us and wanted to get Adrian on the free leg because he's the team captain/cancer survivor/face of US swimming. Having said that, I've never seen anyone take Adrian on a relay like that!

I wonder if Duncan wonders if his decision to do the 200IM instead of the 100 free was the right one now?

I agree about 'Man/Women of the Meet'. Hosszu is no favourite of FINA so probably a good reason why they didn't give it to her, Manuel would have meant both were American?

Some brilliant swimming all in all, though GB's lack of women showing any kind of medal winning form or potential for Tokyo is worrying - possibly only Freya Anderson as a young up and comer?

Burwood

18,709 posts

245 months

Monday 29th July 2019
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The Aussies do look like a collective `douche. Not a drug found in medicines. It’s a full blown anabolic. Guilty as sin. Nah mate, it was in my corn flakes

Otispunkmeyer

12,557 posts

154 months

Friday 13th September 2019
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Anyone watching the sink or swim stand up to Cancer thing?

Pretty good...can see Mr Edgley getting some more TV out of this. He's quite good on camera as well as swimming!

I have to say though I am both unsurprised and surprised at the level of shoulder injuries. Not surprised that people who aren't swimmers, who suddenly do lots of swimming with bad technique get shoulder troubles...but surprised they kinda didn't forsee that and tailor the training and recovery better. Sounded like some of them went a bit gung ho at it. Which is admirable, but ultimately not useful!

I've been swimming since I was 5 and at 33 I've had two pretty bad shoulder impingement injuries. It's super painful and I couldn't even move my arms to do day to day stuff like reaching for a tea cup from the cupboard! Never mind pull on it in the water. It took a full year to heal!! And I'm still paying the price.

Highway Star

3,573 posts

230 months

Saturday 14th September 2019
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Otispunkmeyer said:
Anyone watching the sink or swim stand up to Cancer thing?

Pretty good...can see Mr Edgley getting some more TV out of this. He's quite good on camera as well as swimming!

I have to say though I am both unsurprised and surprised at the level of shoulder injuries. Not surprised that people who aren't swimmers, who suddenly do lots of swimming with bad technique get shoulder troubles...but surprised they kinda didn't forsee that and tailor the training and recovery better. Sounded like some of them went a bit gung ho at it. Which is admirable, but ultimately not useful!

I've been swimming since I was 5 and at 33 I've had two pretty bad shoulder impingement injuries. It's super painful and I couldn't even move my arms to do day to day stuff like reaching for a tea cup from the cupboard! Never mind pull on it in the water. It took a full year to heal!! And I'm still paying the price.
Not watched it, but have also seen so many new swimmers smash it and then get shoulder issues. I can't do any more than four sessions a week or so or otherwise I get jip from my shoulders and neck. I might watch the programme as three of us at our club are mulling a Channel relay in 2021 or thereabouts. I've done a lot of OW before but know realistically I can't find the time and my body can't stand up to training for a solo, so a relay with two of the best Masters swimmers in the country (one of whom did a 9hr solo a couple of years back and is multiple British record holder) is probably my best shot at doing anything like the Channel.

First things though, trying to get some training in before Nationals in 6 weeks!

SVS

3,824 posts

270 months

Saturday 14th September 2019
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I’ve also been enjoying Sink or Swim on Channel 4 and agree that Ross Edgley deserves more TV airtime. It’s great viewing!

Last year’s Stand Up to Cancer was trekking up Kilimanjaro, but lots of people have done that. Whereas an English Channel relay is in a different league: far fewer viewers will be thinking “I could do that”. I hope this means more money’s raised for cancer research.

Scabutz

7,480 posts

79 months

Saturday 14th September 2019
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I've been following Ross on social media for a while. He as an infectious enthusiasm which seems genuine and comes across as a good egg. I like him and would like to see more of him on telly.

I struggled with the Sink or Swim programme though because the celebrities were really getting on my tits. I've only watched the first episode.

PomBstard

6,729 posts

241 months

Saturday 21st September 2019
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Last weekend my daughter went to a freestyle development class. I hadn’t really paid much attention to who was running the show as it had come to us as an invite. And it was at a top clubsmile

Ten mins before the start in walks James Magnusson, Aus 100m freestyle champ, and announces he’s running the class.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Magnussen

If you ever get the chance to watch a swimmer of this level up close, do take it. The hints and tips were one thing, but the demonstration of technique had all the parents watching closely too!

SVS

3,824 posts

270 months

Saturday 21st September 2019
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Scabutz said:
I struggled with the Sink or Swim programme though because the celebrities were really getting on my tits. I've only watched the first episode.
I found it depended which celeb. I liked watching the Olympic champions who’d come from other sports.

As well as Ross, I thought Keri-Anne Payne came across as a good egg too.

Otispunkmeyer

12,557 posts

154 months

Sunday 24th November 2019
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Heads up, BBC iPlayer is showing the London leg of the ISL, international swimming league. After this it’s a grand final in Vegas I think. But this, for me, is about one of the best things to happen to competitive swimming. Mixed nationality teams, big prize money, and a proper show... it’s rapid fire, 2 hour event, getting through a lot of events and a skins (knockout) race at the end.

Means you get to see some of the worlds best, really suffering as they do events they don’t train for and are sometimes only a few mins between swims.

Scabutz

7,480 posts

79 months

Sunday 24th November 2019
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Otispunkmeyer said:
Heads up, BBC iPlayer is showing the London leg of the ISL, international swimming league. After this it’s a grand final in Vegas I think. But this, for me, is about one of the best things to happen to competitive swimming. Mixed nationality teams, big prize money, and a proper show... it’s rapid fire, 2 hour event, getting through a lot of events and a skins (knockout) race at the end.

Means you get to see some of the worlds best, really suffering as they do events they don’t train for and are sometimes only a few mins between swims.
I really wanted to like this but the first event I watched just lacked any excitement, it was dark, quiet and emotionless. Not sure if the others have been better, I haven't watched. The premise is great as you say but not sure about the execution so far.

Highway Star

3,573 posts

230 months

Sunday 24th November 2019
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I watched about 20 minutes of the first one, then the entire Budapest round and also last night and felt it has improved since the first round. I still feel its a little contrived, I can't get behind any one franchise more than another, especially as the franchises probably mean little to the swimmers, no matter what they say. I don't feel any attachment to London as there's as many Aussies and other non-GB swimmers as GB swimmers. And then you get some GB swimmers randomly popping up for other franchises - Ben Proud for Energy Standard I can understand as he trains there, but Hannah Miley for the Italian Aqua Centurions and Ross Murdoch for Hosszu's Team Iron was just weird. Other criticisms I'd have (as an old school swimming viewer and still competing swimmer) are that we don't get to see everyone's times, you have very little if no idea of who is swimming in the relays unless the commentator mentions them or you recognise their strokes and some of camera work is pretty poor.

That said, I'm enjoying the swimming, especially the Skins event (really looking forward to Dressel v Manaudou v Chalmers in the Vegas final). The team format (bar what I've said above) is interesting and has in some matches had a good ebb and flow to it and introduces a level of tactics unseen in swimming, even at club league level. I like seeing some swimmers pushed out of their comfort zone, doing multiple events in a short amount of time or events they don't swim in big meets - it shows how we forget that these guys are pretty amazing swimmers at multiple strokes even if you only ever see them doing one stroke at the Worlds or Olympics. For example I thought Duncan Scott's 4.04 400 IM was a pretty awesome swim (I know he's great at the 200IM too) and Kristof Milak is pretty decent 400 freestyler.

All in all, I like it and think it deserves a further airing next year. Many other posters on this thread will be too young to remember the Channel 4 show in the late 80s or early 90s that sought to do something similar but on a UK only scale. Similar floodlights, graphics (though properly 80s), swimmer interviews etc., but it didn't really take off - unsurprisingly.

Can't stand the American commentator on the BBC coverage though - he makes me want Drew from Eurosport back!

Scabutz

7,480 posts

79 months

Sunday 24th November 2019
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Given next year is an Olympic year will it get much interest from the swimmers? Guess if its later in the year it's a bit of fun to round of the season for a break.

Highway Star

3,573 posts

230 months

Sunday 24th November 2019
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I assume it'll be the same time of year and the money will get a fair few out - isn't it something like $9k for a win, so string together a few of those, plus some relay cash and you can get $50k pretty easily over the series - that's a lot for any swimmer. Think I heard the entire prize fund for the series was something like $4m.

It's basically going up against the FINA World Cup which was a bunch of crap anyway and its not as if many/any of the swimmers are altering their training to peak for it. If I were a pro and had the chance of a few weekends away with my mates, a few fun races and a few grand thrown in without changing much to do it, I wouldn't say no!

dirty boy

14,688 posts

208 months

Monday 25th November 2019
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Well...here's my view...

Try and get tickets next time it's in town.

If you're swimming fan and done the whole swimming meet thing countless time, this is literally a swim meet on steroids.

The DJ hits play the second the start gun goes, the crowds were going mad cheering on the swimmers. The swimmers in the team 'pits' are turning round and rousing the crowds, the racing is tight.

When London Roar took the lead in the overall standings yesterday, the crowd reaction was amazing (and I spend a lot of time at football) shame they couldn't hold on for the win.

I've watched each round on TV and I get that it's not hugely exciting, but I think the camera work could be better and the times are important and should be shown, even though it's a team sport (the times come up on the big screen in the venue though, so completely different)

Atmosphere was amazing.

Was speaking to Adam Peaty briefly yesterday morning and he's absolutely loving it. It'll get better, it's the first one so they'll learn each season on what works and what doesn't.

One of the physios was saying the swimmers love it from the team point of view, but it needs to pay more to work alongside the Olympics.


ETA Peaty did the 100 freestyle last night.....taking one for the team to save Scott, however he died big time on the second 50 hehe ...still faster than most though

Edited by dirty boy on Monday 25th November 12:07

onedsla

1,114 posts

255 months

Saturday 7th December 2019
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I enjoyed watching, especially those competing over their non specialist strokes / distances.

I'm still swimming, albeit only once weekly on average. I've joined a local club which has a small masters team, coincidentally with one of the UK's top V45 breaststrokers.

There's usually 2 or 3 of us in the lane. Not the best pool (very choppy with only very basic lane dividers) but only a half mile away.

Having done some race practice off the blocks, I've entered my first race since 1999. It will be the same event - a 50m LC br/s. Depending on motivation / ability to train over the next 3 months, aiming to get in the 35-40s range. I'm able to do 39-40s 50SCM in my current 'untrained' state. Feel my swimming is OK, just have a weak pull and a weak kick - which is a limiting combination!

So much for my original desire to come back as a 400 freestyler...!

BoRED S2upid

19,643 posts

239 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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I’m down to 19:32 give or take for 1000m freestyle but have very little idea if that’s any good? It’s the quickest I’ve been in years but swimming in a council pool at lunchtime I have very little to compare against there was 1 other person there today.

Highway Star

3,573 posts

230 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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BoRED S2upid said:
I’m down to 19:32 give or take for 1000m freestyle but have very little idea if that’s any good? It’s the quickest I’ve been in years but swimming in a council pool at lunchtime I have very little to compare against there was 1 other person there today.
I guess the question is what are you comparing yourself to and what are your aims?

I recently did a 1500 in 19.15, but I'm a 'competitive' swimmer (albeit Masters at the age of 41). However I compare myself to my club mate, who holds the British record in my 40-44 age group and he does about 16.30 for 1500 so would lap me 3 times. But against the best swimmers in the world in any age group he'd be lapped several times and I'd be 5 and a half minutes behind over 1500!



BoRED S2upid

19,643 posts

239 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
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Highway Star said:
BoRED S2upid said:
I’m down to 19:32 give or take for 1000m freestyle but have very little idea if that’s any good? It’s the quickest I’ve been in years but swimming in a council pool at lunchtime I have very little to compare against there was 1 other person there today.
I guess the question is what are you comparing yourself to and what are your aims?

I recently did a 1500 in 19.15, but I'm a 'competitive' swimmer (albeit Masters at the age of 41). However I compare myself to my club mate, who holds the British record in my 40-44 age group and he does about 16.30 for 1500 so would lap me 3 times. But against the best swimmers in the world in any age group he'd be lapped several times and I'd be 5 and a half minutes behind over 1500!
Good grief. I will console myself with being the quickest in the council pool rather than competing in masters swimming the spectators would have left by the time I finished a 1500m some 9 minutes behind you!