H2O: 2 parts Heart, 1 part Obsession

Arena Grand Prix at Santa Clara

finger-onthetrigger — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:30:27 -0700

The 2012-13 Arena Grand Prix Series will wrap up in Northern California once again. The Arena Grand Prix at Santa Clara takes place May 30-June 2 at the George F. Haines International Swim Center in Santa Clara, Calif.

Dana Vollmer Only Training Singles for World Trials, Video Interview

finger-onthetrigger — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:00:42 -0700

Dana Vollmer Only Training Singles for World Trials, Video Interview:

The woman’s 100m fly final featured one of the greatest duals of the meet between Claire Donahue and Dana Vollmer. World record holder Vollmer pushed the second 50 to create a decent lead for herself touching the wall in 58.24 followed by Donahue in 58.83.

Top Tips for Feeding Teen Swimmers

finger-onthetrigger — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:30:13 -0700

USASwimming.org nutrition contributor, Jill Castle, recently published “Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters from High Chair to High School” (Jossey-Bass publisher, 2013), and I asked her to offer her top tips for feeding teen swimmers. Many of our readers are looking for sound nutrition advice with practical tips for families of active swimmers and this book is the go-to source.

With parents and teen athletes on different schedules, how can the family eat meals together so that mom and dad aren’t short order cooks?
“Start by checking everyone’s schedule for the week, and I’ll bet you can find at least two or three meals the whole family can enjoy together,” says Castle.

It might be breakfast or a weekend dinner, but look for opportunities to eat together. Plan the menu and announce the plan to your family. Tell them they are expected to be present, and if plans change, Castle suggests a pre-plated meal for the absent person that can be reheated in the microwave or oven.

How can parents limit fast food consumption?
Castle suggests several strategies to curb unhealthy fast food choices. First, help your teen learn about healthier fast food items so he can make good choices most of the time. Visit the restaurant’s website or download an app to encourage choosing grilled items, yogurt parfaits, wraps or egg sandwiches. Second, have healthy, quick items within easy reach in your fridge. Yogurt, smoothies, low-fat milk, veggies and dip, and mixed fruit cups should be grab-and-go items for teens,” Castle says. In addition, keep trail mix, nuts, and dried fruit available for quick after practice snacks.

What can a parent do to get a teenage girl to get adequate calcium if she won’t drink milk?
If your teen doesn’t drink milk, look for other good sources of calcium that she will include in her diet. Castle suggests calcium-fortified orange juice, yogurt smoothies, cheese, pudding or ice cream. Other calcium-rich foods include almonds, soy nuts, tofu and cooked greens. Also consider why your teen won’t drink milk. Is it lactose intolerance or another issue? Soy milk, rice milk and almond milk are all fortified with calcium, and your teen might like these alternatives better than dairy milk.

With heavy practice schedules and schoolwork, how can parents help swimmers get enough calories?
“Structure a meal and snack plan,” Castle says. The plan should include 3 meals and 3 snacks each day. Experiment with free phone apps that help athletes track food intake, and set the phone to beep for reminders to eat throughout the day. Castle recommends powerhouse foods that contain both carbohydrate and protein for pre- and post-workout snacks to refuel tired muscles. “Peanut butter on whole grain bread, a banana and a cheese stick” contain high quality nutrients for fueling.

For more information on Castle’s book, see http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-111830859X,descCd-buy.html

Chris Rosenbloom is the sports dietitian for Georgia State University Athletics and is the editor of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Sports Nutrition Manual, 5th edition, 2012. She welcomes questions from swimmers, parents and coaches. Email her at chrisrosenbloom@gmail.com.

Drew teDuits Rising Backstroke Star, Video Interview

finger-onthetrigger — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:30:20 -0700

Drew teDuits Rising Backstroke Star, Video Interview:

Ryan Murphy had the lead at the 50 meter mark turning in a time of 26.24, David Plummer and Andrew teDuits both caught Murphy in what was an incredible finish, with only six one-hundredths of a second separating the three men. teDuits took the event in a time of 54.43, Plummer finished second in a time of 54.45 with Murphy finishing in third posting a time of 54.49.

20 Questions with Clark Burckle

finger-onthetrigger — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:33 -0700

Clark Burckle has figured a lot of things out in the past few years. The former University of Florida standout went to the Arizona post-grad program, and finaled at the Olympics in the 200 breaststroke. He talks about that, and the amazing opportunity in front of him this fall, in this week’s 20 Question Tuesday.

1. Where are you and what are you doing?
Clark: I am out in Tucson still. I am swimming. The goal right now is World Champ Trials. I’ll get through this summer and see how I feel.

2. You ended up in the finals at the Olympics – pretty happy with that?
Clark: I thought it went well. I was able to go three best times, so I could not have asked for more – maybe to be a little faster in the finals! But it was a big step forward for me.

3. You and your sister Caroline joined Klete and Kalyn Keller as brother/sister to make the Olympic team – making that elite club with your sister, what’s that like?
Clark: It’s pretty cool. It’s pretty important, and it’s obviously very special because it’s extremely rare. And for us to be close in age and be close friends makes it mean more too. Caroline set a standard and showed me there are no limits, even being from an area (Kentucky) perhaps not as well known as a swimming state. We were able to go to a top Division I school, do the whole international thing with swimming, so that all makes it special for us, and our family.

4. I haven’t been to the Derby in a decade, yet there you and Caroline were last weekend – how cool was that?
Clark: It was fun. This was the first year I have been since high school – maybe I went one time in college. My Dad got a couple of box seats. Even though it was raining we had a good time. Frank Busch and his family were also there, so that was fun. (Girlfriend and Olympic medalist) Alyssa (Anderson) even came, too.

5. You leave and head to Arizona, how hard was that decision?
Clark: I think it was just more kind of sticking with my gut – your intuition is a little better than you think it is. Change is pretty scary. I didn’t think about it at first until I made the change. I just had to deal with it. It was uncomfortable at first – these were uncharted waters for me. But I made this decision and I had to make it work. It was just time to make a change and Tucson seemed a good fit; you don’t always stick around in a situation just for the sake of staying there, and when that is the case you have to have the fortitude to make a change. For me, how it turned out certainly has given me more confidence to trust myself.

6. Being in your sister’s life has been such a pleasure for me, and you know as well as anyone, her goal in life is to help people, isn’t it?
Clark: I think that’s always been her focus. She’s always been incredibly caring and more concerned with other people’s feelings, and that they are happy and fulfilled with what they are doing. Swimming came second to her; she’s very talented and worked hard but it was never her only focus as a person. Her goal has always been to be complete as a person and have it be part of who she is as a person. She became fulfilled with what she’s doing, and she wants people to have to that same feeling.

7. A lot of depth in your event even at the University of Arizona where you train, how odd is that?
Clark: I mean, it’s pretty crazy. It’s shaped up to be quite an interesting place. If you are in the 200 breaststroke and you don’t consider training here, you are just foolish. The guy who holds the American record could not even hold the lane today in practice. It’s a crazy setup we have here for competing, in terms of this event especially. It’s something I can also take a lot of pride in, because we’re helping develop these guys now.

8. That’s part of the big goal, isn’t it, making the U.S. a force in this event again?
Clark: Some places the 200 breaststroke takes a backseat because no one is really focused on it. But we were able to finish 5th and 6th (in London) even though we didn’t win a medal. But we have to build that up and be in the final every time and improve upon that. This is one of those events that is getting faster again, and we have to be out front with developing swimmers in it.

9. Yet this was not your focus even three, four years ago, was it?
Clark: I was not a breaststroker when I got here; I didn’t start my breaststroke career until after college, really. I was mostly an IMer, and that’s where I got my breaststroke work. But I took some time in 2010 and figured some things out, and made some big improvements.

10. Part of that was simply related to your development, right?
Clark: I also matured really late and I was really hard headed so I had a lot to figure out. I peaked in other strokes and I needed to focus on developing something else. Part of the breaststroke is staying fresh, balancing the work with rest and relaxation, and keeping it interesting; you can’t just train it like freestyle to build endurance. There has to be a happy medium there, and that involves trying new things and incorporating different ideas into your training. Here, the people go so fast in practice that you never really get a break in terms of racing, which really helps.

11. You seem more “coachable” than ever, is that accurate?
Clark: Yes and no – like I said, I had some growing up to do and had to answer some hard questions that I had to ask of myself, and that did help me move forward – the additional maturity and perspective. But I think my outlook on coaches at this level is that they are someone to bounce stuff off of; you should not, as a veteran post-grad, needed someone to yell at you or tell you what to do all the time. At this point, if you need someone in your face all the time, you probably should be doing something else. You are developing a lot as a person outside of the pool, developing what you will do the rest of your life, and you should take more ownership in what you are doing as a swimmer – it is all connected.

12. Frank left U of A to direct the National Team, and you had to adapt to new coaches just after making the switch to Tucson – what was that like?
Clark: I did go through five or six coaching changes. But that can be a great thing if you approach it right – you have the opportunity to get the best from six different, established coaches and learn from them. And you have to remember that the coaches are not on the blocks with you – you have to take it and make it your own. So I kicked it into gear, consulted with my coaches, but understood that the swims were on my shoulders, and whatever happened – good or bad – was because of my attitude and approach, and the work I did. For a long time, I lashed out at my coaches and did a lot of immature things that were not helping me – or anyone. Getting past that and growing up really helped me develop, and that is a big part of my improvement; I attribute a big part of any success I have had to finally growing up and being proud now with how I carry myself. And as with anything, there is still (laughs) plenty of room for improvement there as well.

13. You might even have more speed in the breaststroke in front of you than behind you – do you realize that?
Clark: I am trying to figure that out, actually; it’s ironic because some people get good when they are 15, some when they are 32 – it’s all so individual and depends on so many different things.

14. So when I was at the Derby, I couldn’t help but think about what it would be like to ride in it – any thoughts of that?
Clark: I think I might be (laughs) way too big to be a jockey, but yes, I think it’d be pretty sweet. I think horses, especially thoroughbreds, are such interesting animals, just so graceful and absolutely solid muscle. They go all out for two minutes, and then do nothing for weeks but jogs. Any animal in competition – horses, greyhounds – you can learn so much from watching, and thinking about it.

15. So since I’m assuming it’s okay to ask about one of my favorite people in the world – Alyssa Anderson – tell me what it’s like to date a swimmer for the last few years?
Clark: It’s hard in some ways because a lot of times it’s kind of like dating someone from work, and that puts more stress on you and the relationship. At the same time, swimming is so unique, and you have so much in common with the other person, that it can help you through a lot.

16. I thought about Alyssa and Caroline, and how similar their careers were – Caroline missing in 2004 and making it on the relay in 2008, and Alyssa doing the exact same thing; how odd?
Clark: That was crazy, almost exactly the same. Now, of course, I remember it (laughs) as it relates to what I was feeling, because I had the exact same setup in 2008 and 2012, except this time it was my girlfriend and not my sister I was rooting for. I am there in Omaha getting ready to race, and I am watching Alyssa on the monitor hoping she makes it – just like Caroline in 2008, so much so that it was hard for me to handle all of that in one night! Alyssa had a couple of rough performances at NCAAs where she wasn’t completely satisfied with how she went out, but she came back and really broke through, and I was so proud of her. It was funny because I had to go find her and congratulate her, but I also had to swim, so it was quite a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. But I also have to keep in mind how fortunate I am even to be in this situation, and to have been able to be so close to two amazing women who I care so much for – to see them up close making the Olympic team and realizing their own dreams.

17. I always worried about your younger brother Collin, and what shoes he would have to follow through – even though he seems perfectly happy as the proud younger brother – and then I see him become such a good golfer, how cool is that for you?
Clark: I know, and that that is his absolute dream, to be as successful, or more successful in golf than me and Caroline have been in swimming. He knows all about the best golfers, from the techniques to the clubs they use, even the brand of clothes they wear. It’s pretty cool to see him so focused. They are putting golf in the Olympics, so it would be neat to see him there. Another cool part for us (Caroline and Clark) is the whole family thing; our family is such a big part of all this. My Dad has no time and doesn’t allow himself to do much, but for the Olympics and everything, he and my Mom have been able to go to some really cool places, and having them there has always made it mean so much more to both my sister and I.

18. Even though you were thrilled for your sister making the team in 2008, how disappointed were you to just miss making the team?
Clark: I just wasn’t ready and I just didn’t deserve it. I felt like I should be given things at that point in my life, and I didn’t earn it yet, so not making it was for the better. It made this most recent leg of the journey mean much more to me. I learned lessons applicable to life, not just swimming lessons, but stuff that can actually teach me something and make me a better person moving forward.

19. So I bury my lead – I actually tracked you down through your sister because I heard you are starting an MBA at Stanford this fall – holy cow! How excited are you for that?
Clark: It’s an opportunity I can’t pass up, that’s for sure; I am so lucky to get into the program. Being a passionate person, it puts me in a position to study among some of the brightest minds in the world and learn from the most respected business professors on the planet. So this fits in well with to trying to better myself not just in the pool, but in all aspects of life. Even though I just made the Olympics, this whole path made me realize that swimming, while a huge part of my life, has to be about…it has to be about more than swimming. And that is why this sport is so great, because if you have the right mindset and surround yourself with the right people – and you are able to look in the mirror and be honest with yourself about who you are and what you have to do to get better in and out of the pool – you can achieve goals you’d never think are possible. So I will head to Stanford humbly and learn all I can from the amazing students and faculty there at that amazing university.

20. What a challenge – sort of a business version of the Olympics, because there is some competition in higher education, especially at a top school – but you are ready for that, right?
Clark: I try to be the best at what I want to do. I want to set that high standard for myself because I don’t want to ever accept mediocrity. Before last year and the run-up to Trials, I had always been missing that one piece, just something that was holding me back, and I figured it out – It was me. I would not learn from bad experiences. I would blame other people, harp on it, and let it hold me back. Even with good experiences, you can’t rest on that. This is all just a matter of taking all these experiences, and using them to grow as a person, and develop as a thinker. I still have an incredible amount to learn, and I am doing my best to figure it out every single day.

By Bob Schaller

Ryan Murphy rips a 25 Butterfly at the end of workout

finger-onthetrigger — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:30:20 -0700

Ryan Murphy rips a 25 Butterfly at the end of workout:

After a longer aerobic workout, Bolles School Super Star Ryan Murphy steps up to see what he’s got in a 25 fly. (Photo Courtesy Â© Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)

Swimming hall of fame could move next to 49ers' new Santa Clara stadium

finger-onthetrigger — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:30:19 -0700

SANTA CLARA — Fresh off luring the San Francisco 49ers and on the verge of scoring hosting rights for the 50th Super Bowl, Santa Clara is setting its sights on a new sports target: The International Swimming Hall of Fame.

A team of Silicon Valley financial and sports luminaries endorsed by city leaders has raised $6 million in an attempt to move swimming’s hall of fame next to the Hilton Santa Clara, a few backstrokes from the new NFL stadium.

Since 1965, the hall of fame has been in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., but its lease expires in 2015 and the private nonprofit that operates the swimming shrine and museum is fed up with terms imposed by local officials in Florida. So hall of fame officials have signed a nonbinding deal agreeing in principle to move to Santa Clara should Silicon Valley raise $10 million for construction and a $2 million endowment.

“There are a lot of reasons why Santa Clara makes terrific sense,” said Bruce Wigo, the hall of fame’s CEO, noting the prime location and the proud history of swimming in Santa Clara, whose swim club has produced more hall of famers — 18 — than any other club in the nation. “This will be a great spot.”

Still, there remain issues over the land rights required for the new museum and raising the last $6 million dollars needed to advance the agreement from a handshake to a reality. Wigo noted that while “Santa Clara has put a premium on us,” there are several other cities and states around the world that are interested and could swoop in with a better offer.

The latest cross-country battle comes just days before NFL owners on Tuesday vote between Santa Clara and South Florida to host the 2016 Super Bowl. South Florida officials, who were unable to get the Legislature to put a measure on the ballot to renovate their aging Sun Life Stadium to match the brand-new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, are now pushing to keep the swimming hall of fame but have proposed what Wigo calls an “unattractive” offer.

Patrick Yam, a Menlo Park-based venture capitalist and mentor to Wigo’s two sons — who were All-American water polo players at Stanford — is joining 49ers president and former Facebook CFO Gideon Yu to co-chair a new committee aiming to bring the hall of fame to Santa Clara. The group also includes former Oakland Athletics co-owner Steve Schott, local swimmers and city leaders, and has secured $6 million in commitments so far, led by a $1 million donation from Lawrence Lui, president of Stanford Hotels, which owns the Santa Clara Hyatt.

“It will be very technology-engaged,” said Yam, who says he’s meeting with Silicon Valley tech CEOs seeking help. “They all want to be involved.”

The hall of fame houses shrines to the best 700 aquatic athletes in history, including historic gold medals, swimsuits and other equipment, plus unique pools and diving wells. There are also historical artifacts dating back hundreds of years, such as Benjamin Franklin’s swimming paddles, as well as swimming art displays and rotating exhibits.

Before it became a football town, Santa Clara’s sports identity was largely shaped by the 62-year-old Santa Clara Swim Center across town from the new stadium. The swim club has trained dozens of Olympic medal winners, including Mark Spitz, and has held 45 international competitions featuring superstars such as Michael Phelps.

“We were known as the swim capital of the world,” said former City Councilman Kevin Moore, who sits on the local committee trying to land the hall of fame. “The best thing we can do to recapture that is to bring all the history to our town. It’s such an attraction for us to get it.”

Moore, whose letter to the 49ers started the process of moving the NFL team south last decade, has been working behind the scenes to bring the swimming hall of fame to Santa Clara for the last seven years, Wigo said. But interest really picked up after construction on the $1.2 billion stadium began a year ago and the hall of fame’s 50-year lease in Florida inched toward expiring.

City leaders say the hall of fame would fit nicely in what they hope will be a burgeoning north-side tourist center that also includes Great America, Hilton and Hyatt hotels, as well as plans for a Joe Montana hotel and restaurant and a huge Santana Row-style entertainment center.

“I think they won’t have a problem being able to sustain the foot traffic and attendance that they’re looking” for, said John Bitter, head coach and CEO of the Santa Clara Swim Club, predicting his club could team up with the hall of fame for events. “As much as football’s been the headlines of our city right now … it won’t be football; it will be aquatics. It’s another way to rally civic pride in the aquatic community that’s already here.”

By Mike Rosenberg

Following Routine: Should I Do a Wake-Up Swim?

finger-onthetrigger — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:34 -0700

With the summer championship meets just around the corner, a lot of athletes and coaches are working to finalize the details of their race-day plans. Nutrition, recovery and race strategy are all key elements in these plans. Another important race-day consideration is when and how to warm-up for competition. In a sport so focused on repetition and routine, I think a lot of athletes get caught up in going through the motions because it is what they have always done, or it’s what they are supposed to do. While there is something to be said about the calm and confidence that can be gained through following a routine, the ability to be flexible and adapt to situations is something that gives elite athletes an edge.

One of the best illustrations of this is the traditional wake-up swim. The idea behind a wake-up swim is to get blood flowing and increase core body temperature, but all too often I see swimmers get stuck on the idea that they have to do this in the pool. This is usually easy to do at domestic competitions because teams stay near the competition pool and meet hosts open facilities early to accommodate this routine. However, having travelled to a number of international competitions, I have come to realize that long commutes and limited facility hours often make wake-up swims impossible.

This is where the flexibility comes into play. If an athlete believes that they have to “wake-up” in the pool, this obstacle can throw a real wrench in their routine, which can have a significant effect on their mental state leading into a competition. If the goal of a wake-up swim is to increase core body temperature by getting blood flowing, why not look at alternative ways to accomplish this goal? Things like jumping rope, riding a stationary bike, and doing jumping jacks can all accomplish similar results, and can be done in any hotel.

Headed to College Next Fall So Maybe I Need a Break This Summer

finger-onthetrigger — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:30:12 -0700

Headed to College Next Fall So Maybe I Need a Break This Summer:

“You have signed your NLI and scholarship papers and are headed off to college next fall. Now you are contemplating your summer plans. You are thinking the next four years in college swimming will be a real challenge and a lot of work and dedication so maybe I should take a little break this summer and just train and not compete.”

Like/reblog if you're competing at NCS

finger-onthetrigger — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:30:24 -0700

*North Coast Section swimming

Concord Community Pool, May 17-18

See you there!

NCS swimming: The brilliant class of 2013 makes one last assault on the section record book

finger-onthetrigger — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:40 -0700

A special group of athletes arrived on the North Coast Section swimming scene four years ago, and the assault on the record books was on.

They schooled their elders from the start of their high school careers and cheered each other on through some impressive showings at last June’s Olympic trials.

Indeed, the class of 2013 is something special in the pool.

“It’s maybe the best class in North Coast history,” said Ron Heidary, Campolindo’s longtime coach. “It’s incredibly fast, and there’s so much talent. I think kids feed off of it, and it makes everyone better.”

This weekend’s NCS championships will serve as the final high school meet for the decorated class. Trials are Friday and finals begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Concord Community Pool.

Heidary’s dynamic senior duo of Sven Campbell and Steven Stumph, the combined owners of five section records in individual events, will represent Campolindo one last time.

Carondelet has senior star power of its own in Chelsea Chenault and Madison White, who have each won four individual section titles in their careers and helped set a national record in the 200-yard medley relay two years ago.

Then there’s Foothill’s Celina Li and Las Lomas’ Jackson Miller, who have also done their part in their class’ rewrite of the NCS and league record books.

Between Stumph, Campbell and Miller, the only individual boys NCS records that have yet to be broken by this group of seniors are the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle. And those could be in jeopardy, too.

After winning the past three 200 individual medley titles, Stumph is forgoing that event to test himself in the 100 butterfly. His seed time of 48.84 seconds surely makes him a candidate to topple Max Horrell’s 2009 mark of 48.38.

De La Salle’s David Morgan, Miramonte’s Charlie Wiser, Amador Valley’s Bryan Hughes and Acalanes’ Brett Usinger also have been making NCS championship races since their freshman year.

“I came in as a freshman and knew my class was heavily loaded,” Miller said. “It’s always exciting because I come to meets like this and I see these guys putting down times that I think everyone’s really impressed with. It’s cool to be a part of that, and we’re all real good friends.”

On the girls side, Chenault, Li and White are among the top high school swimmers in the country. Chenault and Li even came close to making the Olympic team last summer, each qualifying for a final at the pressure-packed Olympic trials.

Li was sixth in the 200-meter I.M., and Chenault was just two tenths of a second away from a sixth-place finish in the 200 freestyle, which would have sent her to London as part of a relay team.

Unfortunately for spectators, these elite swimmers all specialize in different events, and the only time any of them may go head-to-head in the pool this weekend would be in a relay.

So if Campbell and Miller, longtime friendly rivals, find themselves racing against each other in one of the freestyle relays, they’ll treasure the moment. And don’t be surprised if they produce scorching times.

“It’s really been an honor, if anything, to by chance be in this class,” Campbell said. “You want that, you want to be against these guys. You want to be racing against people that are going to make you try.”

By Stephanie Hammon

Claire Donahue: Hungry for More

finger-onthetrigger — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:30:25 -0700

This weekend, Claire Donahue returns to the pool where she saw the first sign of what was to come last summer – making her first Olympic Team.

At the Arena Grand Prix at Charlotte presented by UltraSwim last May, she finished second to eventual Olympic champion Dana Vollmer in the 100 fly, but swam a time much faster than she was expecting. Her performance showed her that she was capable of going fast and even faster as the months quickly passed leading up to Olympic Trials in Omaha.

“I went mid-58 last year (in Charlotte), and I was pretty much hoping to go that fast but wasn’t sure I was ready to,” Donahue said. “I went into the meet actually expecting to go mid- to high-59, but going as fast as I did was a big confidence boost for me.

“I finished third behind Dana and Natalie (Coughlin), but was only .10 behind Natalie, so I knew I was really close. That race proved a great practice run for me as I continued to prepare for Trials. It was an opportunity to swim and fix things before Trials.”

She broke through that 59-second barrier a couple of weeks later at the Santa Clara Invitational – and then went even faster in the finals of the 100 fly at Olympic Trials. Her time proved good enough to place second and make the 2012 Olympic Team – an honor she often still has trouble believing and accepting.

Her result was a vast improvement from what she calls “a very nervous meet” four years earlier at Trials when she didn’t get out of prelims in either of her butterfly events.

“I had one of the fastest first-50s in the meet but ended up fading down the last 50 (in the 100 fly),” said Donahue, and All-American at Western Kentucky University. “I was really nervous – I freaked out – at (2008) Trials mostly because it was my first big meet ever and the enormity of the event got the best of me.

“I knew getting nervous was a possibility in 2012, but I had spent the previous year working with a sports psychologist, and that really made a big difference. I was still very excited, but it was a good excitement, a controlled excitement. Trials were the most calm I’ve ever been at a meet, and once I made the team, I just kept telling myself (in the warm down pool) ‘I’m an Olympian!’ It was great that I was able to channel that extra energy toward swimming fast and making my nervousness a positive.”

In London, Donahue made the finals in the 100 fly but didn’t medal. She said she went in, obviously, with high hopes of placing in the top 3 and winning a medal, but, with it being her first Olympics, she was just happy to be swimming on the world’s biggest stage.

She didn’t leave London empty handed, however, as she swam the butterfly leg in morning prelims for the U.S. 400 medley relay team and shared in the gold medal outcome when her teammates won later that night.

She admitted being there and soaking up “the Olympic experience” was a bit overwhelming, but she truly enjoyed living it with her teammates. She kept a daily journal chronicling her experiences, observations and memories so that she could go back months later and reflect upon what a great time she had at her first Olympic Games.

“Once you reach that level, it really doesn’t matter what you do because you’re there and so many others aren’t,” Donahue said. “If I make the team for Rio in 2016, I might have a different outlook about being there because I’ll have done it once already. But in London, I was ecstatic to just be there competing against the best swimmers in the world.”

Almost a year removed from Trials and the Games, Donahue said her life has definitely changed. She is recognized at school (she continues to train at Western Kentucky) and in her hometown – even though most people don’t know her by name.

They just know her face and that “she’s that girl who swam in the Olympics,” and they gather and clamor for her autograph and the frequent photo.

Deep down, however, Donahue said she knows she’s the same person she’s always been, and her coaches, family and friends still see her as the same old Claire.

“I still feel the same, but overall, my life has completely changed from a year ago when I was relatively unknown outside of the swimming world,” Donahue said. “Now, I’m traveling, doing clinics and speaking in front of huge groups of kids and parents. Sharing in the excitement of seeing young kids excited about swimming is great and helps continue to drive my passion for the sport.”

And now that she’s fulfilled her lifelong dream of being an Olympian, what’s next for one of Western Kentucky’s most famous alumni?

“Before Trials, I was prepared to stop swimming and move on with the next phase of my life if I didn’t make the team,” Donahue said. “But now that I’ve swum at the Olympics and experienced that part of the sport, I want more of it.

“I want to see how much faster I can go and continue to represent the U.S. at meets around the world. Being a part of this swimming family is 10 times better than I ever dreamed, and I’m not ready to stop yet. I’m shooting for Rio in 2016 – so we’ll see what happens between now and then.”

By Mike Watkins

We're back!

finger-onthetrigger — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:50:30 -0700

Posts are queued, but be patient!

Good luck to everyone coming up on the end of their seasons!

finger-onthetrigger — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:49:53 -0700

Enjoy that taper

Please like/reblog this post if you actively follow swimthefly

finger-onthetrigger — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:57:54 -0700

Hang in there, we’ll be posting regularly again within a couple weeks!

Kick-only Set

finger-onthetrigger — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:05:00 -0700

1) 20x50s Alternating Kick on 55 seconds (streamline with fins)
Swimmers must simply swim 50’s streamlined on their back, working their kick. They should alternate between flutter kick and butterfly kick every 50.

2) 10x100s Alternating Kick on 1:30 (streamline with fins)
The exact same set as above, only 100s instead of 50s (more turns/pushoffs).

3) 10x100’s Breaststroke Kick on 1:40 (with kickboard)
When swimming, do not get lazy: Pull your legs out wide (not quite as wide as you can go, but emphasize the width), and then snap them back together as fast as you can.

4) 10x100’s Butterfly Kick on 1:35 (with kickboard)
When doing these, exaggerate the movement of your hips. Your knees should NOT be doing the kick, and that is the hardest part. You should be moving up and down very fast, and water should be getting in your face.

5) 10 Minute Continuous Kick Sprints (with kickboard)
Start off your swimmers with a 2 minute continuous kick - it should not be fast, but not slow either, just consistent. At the 3 minute mark, blow your whistle, and have swimmers start kicking as hard as they can. Swimmers should continue their strong kick sprint until the 4 minute mark (blow your whistle again), in which you can give them 1 minute consistent kick. At the 5 minute mark, blow your whistle again and have swimmers sprint for 1 minute and 30 seconds. At the 6:30, blow your whistle and have swimmers do a consistent kick until the 8:00. Then, have swimmers sprint 1 minute and 30 seconds again and finally finish off with 30 seconds of easy kick.

6) 10x100s Breaststroke with Butterfly Kick (with fins) on 1:40
The purpose of this set is to help swimmers realize that there is in fact an up and down motion, and that Breaststroke is not a flat stroke. The dive down should be exaggerated, and it should be done fast.

7) 10x100s Breaststroke Double Kick on 1:40
Work on getting your arms as far in front, and emphasize the kick.

8) 20x25s Blast Sprints on 40 seconds
Have swimmers start out in a deadman’s float (arms spread out, facing down) about 2 feet away from the wall. On your whistle, the swimmer will start kicking as fast as they can for 3 seconds before finishing the 25 with an all out sprint.

Kaitlyn Jones and the National Independent School Record

finger-onthetrigger — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:00:34 -0700

A few weeks before the 2013 Delaware High School State Championships, senior Kaitlyn Jones wasn’t even sure she would swim the 200 IM. She was thinking about swimming other events. Then, when Missy Franklin broke the national independent school record, Tatnall High’s Jones told her coach about Missy’s new record, “I could get that.” Her coach agreed.

Flash-forward a few weeks later to the state championships. Kaitlyn had to swim the 200 medley relay minutes before the 200 IM. She stepped up and split a 24.2 50 butterfly. She had ten minutes before her 200 IM, but Kaitlyn reflected that the short amount of rest time actually helped her.

“I didn’t even get a chance to warm down,” Kaitlyn said about her meet schedule. “I think in a way it helped my race. I finished, saw I went 24.2 in the 50 fly, and thought, ‘This is pretty fast.’ It got me hyped.”

She couldn’t warm down. Instead, she prepared for what would be one of the biggest races of her life. She had some nerves, but she was ready to have the swim of a lifetime.

“When it came time to race, I was kind of nervous. I went after it.”

By the time Kaitlyn hit the wall in the 200 IM, the crowd roared. Kaitlyn’s family – lifelong supporters of her swimming though not swimmers themselves – cheered in the stands. Kaitlyn smashed her own personal best by two seconds. And, along the way, she bested Missy Franklin’s former national independent school record. Kaitlyn’s time? A sizzling 1:56.31.

“I wouldn’t call it a perfect race,” Kaitlyn reflects. “There are always a few things you can do better. But it was as close to perfect as I could have gone on that day.”

When I asked what the reaction was among high school friends:

“Oh my gosh,” Kaitlyn laughed. “My whole high school thinks I’m an Olympian. It’s insane. They were really happy for me. They’re very supportive.”

But it wasn’t an easy road getting to this success. Just several months before this epic performance, Kaitlyn’s coach departed and there was a coaching change – something potentially disastrous for any high school senior. Her new coach, Sean Dougherty, took over the reins. Obviously, the coaching change didn’t detract from Kaitlyn’s successful trajectory. When I asked what one word a coach might describe Kaitlyn by, she responded with “perseverance.”

It’s been a long road coming, but it’s one that resulted in a new national high school record.

She Used To Hate The Water
So many times you hear stories about elite swimmers and their instant connection with the water. Not so for Kaitlyn Jones. When she was little, she hated putting her face in the water. She wouldn’t do it at the pool. She didn’t even like getting her face wet in the shower or bathtub.

“I hated swimming,” Kaitlyn says. “I hated getting my face wet.”

She quickly got over that. At age 7, Kaitlyn signed up for her club swimming program and has loved the water ever since. She trains with her club team, Delaware Swim Team. After having a learning experience at the Olympic Trials this past summer – including swimming in the final heat in the 200 backstroke – Kaitlyn had more goals for this season.

“I had a great summer of training. I didn’t get the results I wanted. I didn’t stop. I kept going. I didn’t take a break between seasons.”

Interestingly, Kaitlyn does not swim on Fridays. Her program dictates that Fridays are swimmers’ day off while practice is mandatory on Saturday and Sunday mornings. That’s probably the first club program that I’ve heard doing that. It makes sense. It allows swimmers to recover after practice on the weekends and enjoy a Friday afternoon with friends.

“We like going home from school on Friday and not having to go to practice.”

Kaitlyn has matured throughout her brief career. She has traveled internationally. She’s competed against swimmers from other countries as part of the Junior Pan Pac team. She’s already experienced so much, and she hasn’t even attended her first college class yet.

“I met so many people and made so many friends,” Kaitlyn says. “I went to Moscow and Berlin. All these experiences teach you something every time. I’ve matured a lot as an athlete.”

Never Give Up
Kaitlyn is headed to Virginia. She values the school’s academic excellence as well as Virginia’s history as a successful swim program. She fell in love with the school as soon as she visited, and she’s been keeping up with some of the collegiate times. But she also wants to be successful in the classroom.

“Academics is extremely important to me,” Kaitlyn says. “I’m not going to be swimming my whole life. I want to go into medicine. I want to be a doctor. Choosing Virginia will help me get there.”

If there is one thing Kaitlyn has learned over the years, it is to never give up. She learned that by watching one of her teammates and role models of hers, Andrew Gemmell, qualify this summer for the Olympics.

“I’ve been swimming with [Andrew] since I was 9,” Kaitlyn says. “I’ve watched what he did in the pool every day. It almost taught me, you have a person you look up to. He was a big leader for me. I learned a lot from him. It was cool watching him train every day then go make the Olympic team. Never giving up is coming from him.”

She also looks up to friend and fellow competitor, Missy Franklin. Though Kaitlyn competes against Missy – and sometimes breaks Missy’s records – she still sees Missy as a role model and person to emulate in all facets of life.

“[Missy] is an awesome swimmer and awesome person.”

When I asked about if it was odd about beating a role model’s records, Kaitlyn quickly and humbly responded:

“She has a lot of gold medals. I don’t.”

At least, not yet.

Mike Gustafson is a freelance reporter for USA Swimming and Splash Magazine. Follow him on Twitter @MikeLGustafson.

Swimmer Missy Franklin in a new film: Touch the Wall

finger-onthetrigger — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:54:00 -0700

We really like your blog and know how much you love swimming. We are making a film about swimmers, Missy Franklin and Kara Lynn Joyce called www.touchthewall.com. We need fans like you and would love your support for our kickstarter campaign. I know this sounds like a plea and you don’t know us but this film will promote swimming to the world with a real likable hero and story. We believe in swimming just as much as you do and want to see this story told.

Please feel free to email us with any questions and suggestions.

Kickstarter campaign: http://t.co/5XN6hiOWeF

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Touch-the-Wall/342879755730458?ref=hl

NY Times article. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/29/sports/catching-missy-franklin-a-champion-swimmer-on-film.html

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Rob Dew

www.touchthewall.com

The Revenge of the Jammer

finger-onthetrigger — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:00:19 -0700

A few years ago, when the “suit era” officially ended after FINA banned full-length polyurethane swimsuits, many swimmers, fans, coaches, and media members asked the following questions: “Would we ever see incredible times like these again? Would swimmers ever approach these times achieved in ‘tech suits’?” The times and records seemed too incredible. Too fast. Too impossible to achieve. After breaking literally hundreds of world records, some thought that we’d never see swimmers approach those times. Not in regular ol’ jammers.

This weekend, a few NCAA swimmers answered those questions: Yes, swimming is getting faster without the “tech suits.”

Much faster.

Lesson one: Vlad Morozov. On the very first night of the NCAA Championships, USC’s Morozov sent a message to the rest of the swimming world that these “in-between” years from the London Olympics to Rio will feature incredible performances and broken barriers.

Morozov split a 17.86 in his 50 freestyle during the 200 freestyle relay. The time – 17.86 – has now become infamous in the swimming community. People who haven’t followed swimming since the London Olympics wrote on Facebook walls, “Just heard someone split a 17-point in the 50 freestyle!!!” Others took to Twitter. I received a plethora of texts and a few phone calls. The buzz was as significant as when Michael Phelps was in the swimming pool a year ago. Morozov even made it onto ESPN’s “Top Ten” plays-of-the-day recap. Never before has any swimmer in history slipped under the 18-second barrier in a relay split. Women even Tweeted to me: “17 seconds is what my son goes in the 25 free.”

Few people imagined that a 17-point was possible. Nathan Adrian came close a few years ago, but that was during the era of tech suits. Morozov, who swims for Russia, proved to the world that barriers are meant to be broken. He proved that there are time drops yet to be had in a highly contested event such as the 50 freestyle. He opened imaginations.

Maybe, one day, we’ll see a 16-point?

Lesson two: Kevin Cordes. The Arizona Wildcat split :49 in the 100 breaststroke. This is no April Fool’s joke: Cordes split 49.5 in his 100 breaststroke during Arizona’s 400 medley relay on the NCAA’s opening night. He became the first person in history to break :50 point barrier, thus merging breaststroke with freestyle, butterfly and backstroke in the “40-second club.” Cordes’ :49 sent shockwaves through the swimming community. Brendan Hansen and Eric Shanteau Tweeted messages of awe and support for Cordes’ incredible swims. Mixed with Morozov’s 17-point, even casual swim fans perked up their ears. Maybe something was in the water at the IUPUI Natatorium last weekend.

But Cordes wasn’t done yet.

On the final night of the meet, Cordes stamped an exclamation point on the end of the fast weekend during his 200 breaststroke by popping a sizzling, forehead-slapping 1:48.6. (That’s coming home in :56 for the final 100 for those keeping score at home.) Of all the performances at NCAAs, this was the most incredible. Never before had a swimmer dipped under 1:50-point. Cordes smashed 1:50-point barrier. Destroyed it. He finished a full three seconds ahead of his teammate, Carl Mickelson. And Mickelson’s time was incredible in its own right (1:51.9.)

Even Bob Bowman Tweeted in agreement that Cordes’ time was the greatest yards swim in history.

It would be tough to argue otherwise.

There were other unbelievable swims, too. Like Tom Shields’ NCAA record-breaking 1:39.6 200 butterfly, and Michigan’s NCAA record-breaking 200 medley relay, and Morozov’s NCAA record-breaking 40.76 100 freestyle. The list goes on. Even the depth of the men’s 200 IM was incredible. (1:43.6 didn’t even quality for Top-8!)

The take-away from last weekend?

In the year after Michael Phelps ended a career defined by breaking barriers, more barriers continue to be broken. Fast swimming continues. Tech-suit times are slowly fading into memory, while new records are achieved in jammers. New times, non-techsuit times like “17.86” and “1:48.6,” are infamous.

Welcome to a new era of swimming. It’s fast. It’s jaw-dropping.

And it will continue all the way to Rio.

Mike Gustafson is a freelance writer with USA Swimming and Splash Magazine. Follow him on Twitter @MikeLGustafson.

Cordes, Shields take down more records at NCAAs

finger-onthetrigger — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:00:27 -0700

National Teamer Kevin Cordes of the University of Arizona set the U.S. Open, American, NCAA and NCAA Championship meet records in the 200-yard breaststroke twice Saturday at the NCAA Men’s Division I Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis. He set the first set of records in prelims in 1:49.79, then broke those marks again in finals in 1:48.68.

It was the second straight day in which Cordes accomplished this feat, breaking the same set of records in the prelims and finals of the 100y breast on Friday.

Fellow National Teamer Tom Shields of the University of California broke the NCAA and NCAA Championship meet records in the 200y fly, his time of 1:39.65 also tying the American and U.S. Open records set by Michael Phelps in 2010.

Also shattering records on the third and final day of competition was Vladimir Morozov of USC, who took down the U.S. Open, NCAA and NCAA Championship meet records in the 100 free in 40.76.

In other National Team news, Olympian Connor Jaeger of the University of Michigan won the 1650y free in 14:27.18. It was his second individual win of the meet after taking the 500y free on the first night of competition.

Michigan took the team title with 480 points, followed by Cal with 406.5 points and Arizona with 313.5 points. For complete results, click here.