swimming

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New Swimsuits Unfair; Stick to Birthday Suits

Time to bring back Olympic tradition of competing naked, says columnist

(Newser) - No sporting record lasts forever, but these days, writes Bloomberg columnist Scott Soshnick, athletes are demolishing them with almost ridiculous frequency. At the US Olympic swimming trials this year, no fewer than nine records were broken or equaled—a function less of talent than of technology. Perhaps it's time to...

Why Is 'Supermom' Getting the Bonds Treatment?

If it weren't for McNamee, maybe we'd still be happily naive about sports doping

(Newser) - Some are calling five-time Olympic swimmer Dara Torres "Supermom," but Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star thinks that "Wonder Woman" might be more appropriate. Everyone's wondering how a 41-year-old new mother could come back from retirement and surgery to take first place at her fifth qualifiers....

At 41, Torres Makes 5th Olympics

Ageless US swimmer makes a splash in the record books

(Newser) - Dara Torres swam her way into the history books with a victory in the women's 100-meter freestyle trials last night, reports the New York Times. The 41-year-old will be the first five-time swimmer in Olympic history. She shot past 25-year-old American record holder Natalie Coughlin to finish in 53.78...

Coughlin Gives Up, Regains World Record

Swimmer loses top time in backstroke, for only one heat

(Newser) - The US Olympic swim trials in Omaha, Neb., today looked more like a final in Beijing, as Hayley McGregory took the 100-meter backstroke world record from Natalie Coughlin—who promptly took it back, the Los Angeles Times reports. McGregory swam it in 59.15 seconds, and Coughlin stroked it in...

Phelps, Hoff Smash Records in Omaha

(Newser) - Records fell at the Olympic trials in Omaha yesterday as both Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff triumphed in the 400 IM, USA Today reports. Each swimmer had a personal motivation: Phelps took almost a second of his own world record, and Hoff recaptured the record from Stephanie Rice.

Busy Beard Narrows Focus to Beijing

Three-time Olympian puts endorsements aside to shoot for fourth Games

(Newser) - Three-time Olympian Amanda Beard has endorsements and extracurriculars to worry about, but only one thing really matters right now: this week's Olympic swimming trials. The red-carpet fixture and onetime Playboy cover model is all business as she dives into the pool of hopefuls competing to represent the US in breaststroke...

Suit Circus Threatens to Drown Trials
 Suit Circus Threatens 
 to Drown Trials 
OPINION
Jun 26, 2008 4:05 PM CDT

Suit Circus Threatens to Drown Trials

Would-be Olympians' heads spin as tech sparks arms race in swimming pool

(Newser) - “The last honest Olympic sport” is about to kick the can, Scott Ostler writes in the San Francisco Chronicle, and the culprit is a familiar one: technology. The sport is swimming, and Olympic trials (beginning Sunday) coincide with a brutal competition among swimsuit makers for athletes’ affection. "Swimmers...

World's Best Athlete? Never Heard of Her

Move over, Bo Jackson: Sheila Taormina has conquered 3 sports

(Newser) - The greatest athlete in the world today is 5'3'', 115 pounds, and named Sheila Taormina. You've probably never heard of her, but you should give this "force of nature" your attention now, writes ESPN the Magazine. Poised to become the first woman ever to compete at the Olympics in...

Dolphin Kickers Sink Swimming Records

Revived technique is propelling swimmers to victory

(Newser) - Dozens of world swimming records have fallen in the last 18 months and many credit the explosion in speed to a technique invented by a scientist who worked on the A-Bomb, reports the Washington Post. Swimmers say the underwater dolphin kick, which has been revived and polished in recent years,...

In China, All That Matters Is Gold
In China, All That Matters Is Gold
Jun 1, 2008 12:34 PM CDT

In China, All That Matters Is Gold

Beijing recruits foreign coaches, targets medal-rich sports in quest to win, win, win

(Newser) - China wants to impress the world during this summer's Olympics, and not just by hosting a seamless Games. Determined to finish with more gold medals than any other nation, the country is bringing in foreign coaches like Igor Grinko, reports the New York Times. “Silver? It means nothing here;...

Swimsuit Battle Heads to Court
 Swimsuit Battle Heads to Court 
May 16, 2008 12:24 PM CDT

Swimsuit Battle Heads to Court

Rival company claims Speedo too chummy with sport's leaders

(Newser) - Swimwear maker TYR Sport has filed suit against rival Speedo, alleging that the maker of the much-touted LZR Racer has an inappropriately close relationship with the sport's governing body. "There's a big issue with a lot of the comments out there coming through USA Swimming and (coach) Mark Schubert...

Minority Kids Sink at Swimming
 Minority Kids Sink at Swimming 
May 2, 2008 2:11 AM CDT

Minority Kids Sink at Swimming

Push on to get children in the swim

(Newser) - More than half of black and Latino children never learn to swim, according to the governing body of US competitive swimming, which is trying to encourage more minority involvement in the sport. Nearly 60% of black and Latino children can't swim—compared to a third of white kids—and they're...

New Suit Shakes Up Swim World
 New Suit Shakes Up Swim World 
Mar 28, 2008 12:08 PM CDT

New Suit Shakes Up Swim World

Some complain that high-tech Speedo gives unfair edge

(Newser) - Swimmers in the Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit have been smashing records since it made its debut six weeks ago, and some athletes are beginning to grumble that the high-tech swimming gear gives wearers an unfair advantage, the Los Angeles Times reports. Of the 14 world records to have fallen in...

College Athletes Scrape for Cash for Low-Profile Sports

Cleaning and car washes fill funding gaps

(Newser) - Football and basketball squads are big money makers for colleges, but less popular spectator sports have trouble just staying afloat. How much trouble? Penn State's fencing team clears trash at the football stadium after games to earn funds for the team,  reports the New York Times. Star athletes at...

U.S. Takes Gold in Medley
U.S. Takes Gold in Medley
Apr 1, 2007 3:51 PM CDT

U.S. Takes Gold in Medley

800-meter freestyle medley

(Newser) - The U.S. 800-meter freestyle relay team of Michael Phelps, Klete Keller, Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay won gold and set a world record Friday night. The team's time of 7:03.24 is 1.42 seconds better than the previous mark, set by Australia in 2001 at the world...

Phelps Wins Fourth Gold, Third Record

"Michael is just out of reach." bronze medalist Laszlo Cseh of Hungary said.

(Newser) - Michael Phelps won his fourth gold medal and his third world record at the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne today, this time in the 200-meter individual medley. At  1:54.98, Phelps was .86 seconds under than the old record -- also his.

Phelps Shatters Butterfly Record
Phelps Shatters Butterfly Record
Mar 28, 2007 5:53 PM CDT

Phelps Shatters Butterfly Record

(Newser) - Michael Phelps set another record at the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne today, becoming the first man to break the 1:53 barrier in the 200-meter butterfly, and producing the biggest time drop in the event in 48 years. "I feel like a 12-year-old," the 21-year-old said,"...

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