Column by John Lohn
CRANBURY, New Jersey, June 22. AS the summer begins to heat up, and with the World Championships in Rome just around the corner, it seemed an appropriate time for some random musings about the sport.
**As successful as Richard Quick was as a coach, evident in his Olympic guidance and the record 13 NCAA championships he collected at the helm of Texas, Stanford and Auburn, his impact as a man was even more meaningful. That much was clear last week, as many of those influenced by Quick, remembered their mentor in the days following his death from an inoperable brain tumor.
Days before Quick's passing, Rowdy Gaines took time to discuss his coach's immeasurable impact. Said Gaines, the three-time Olympic gold medalist from Los Angeles in 1984: "He cared so much about his swimmers and picked up so many little things to make his swimmers better. More than that, he was a father figure to a lot of people."
**Well, the first sub-50 second 100 butterfly seems to be around the corner, considering what Michael Phelps uncorked at the Canada Cup on Saturday. Phelps blazed through the water for a clocking of 50.48, just off Ian Crocker's world mark of 50.40 from the 2005 World Championships.
A 49-point performance in the 100 fly would be a magical swim, so it's appropriate that the greatest swimmer in history is the man who seems destined to make it happen. Look for the fireworks to pop at the United States World Champs Trials.
**Long known for producing top-flight teenage stars, a crop that includes Tracy Caulkins and Janet Evans, it seems the United States has its next big gun in North Dakota's Dagny Knutson. While she has yet to have starred on a major international stage, namely the World Champs and Olympics, her time to emerge on the global stage is almost here.
While Knutson must answer the call at next month's United States World Championships Trials in Indianapolis, there's a chance she could be the talk of the competition – non-Michael Phelps Division. Her 4:36 clocking in the 400 individual medley at the Santa Clara International was a major statement, and an indicator that bigger things are to come sooner than later.
**While Miss Knutson seems destined for stardom, so does Jimmy Feigen. Having just completed his freshman year at the University of Texas, Feigen tuned up for the World Champs Trials with a pair of quality performances in the 50 and 100 freestyles at the Texas Senior Circuit Champs at his home pool in Austin.
When Feigen competed at the 2008 Olympic Trials, he was a non-factor in the chase for Beijing berths. One of the reasons was his lack of long-course training, a fact that has changed since Feigen began working under Eddie Reese. Now that his training has been better geared toward the long-course realm, don't be surprised if Feigen lands a spot on the United States squad headed to Rome in a few weeks.
**Could we really go an entire column without mentioning the swimsuit issue? Nope. Once the World Championships come to a close, and countless more world records are undoubtedly taken down, the sport will be even more muddled. For what will probably be a long time, global standards will remain on the books that truthfully have no right to occupy a page in an almanac.
**The World Championships won't be the same without Australian Leisel Jones, who has decided to skip the event in Rome. An amazing talent, Jones' absence would be tough to accept had she opted to take the year off. But, it's even harder to swallow with the impressive performances she has recently delivered in Santa Clara and at the Paris Open.
Jones is a walking highlight film and her pursuit of a sub-1:05 effort in the 100 breaststroke would have been a major storyline in Rome. So, too, would have been her rematch with the United States' Rebecca Soni in the 200 breast. Oh well, guess we'll have to wait a little longer for another epic showdown between the world-record holders.
**Finally, who can't wait to see if Dara Torres will win the world title in the 50 freestyle? The 42-year-old continues to dazzle and inspire. Hopefully, she'll swim until 50.
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June 21, 2009 I'm also eager to see how low Michael Phelps can go in the 100m butterly. I believe he can do it, but it will take a perfect race. What more can you say about Knutson? I think the Beisel/Knutson rivalry will be exciting in the coming years. But I have to say, even though Beisel made it to the Olympics, Knutson just looks like a powerful swimmer. More powerful than Beisel and I have my money on her. But still, it's exciting to see who will come out on top. Submitted by: philipmj24
June 22, 2009 Put Phelps in a Jaked or Arena X-Glide and lets skip that 49 seconds, go straight to a 48... Submitted by: mdewildt
June 22, 2009 Interesting list and it should be fun watching trials and worlds. Curious that while we grow tiresome of suit technology-fueled records, we look forward to sub(whatever) swims that will be at least partially enabled by the suit. It raises the question--Would we enjoy Rome as much if the times were dialed back to the times with the old suits? Can we bring ourselves to be less awed and not enjoy the fast times? Submitted by: Swimjim
June 22, 2009 I think we completely overlooked that Spanish swimmer who has an even better time than Phelps in the 100 fly. Also, what's the word with Mike Cavic? Can't wait 'til next weekend. Submitted by: mario2007
June 22, 2009 Good point "swimjim". Sounds to me like a love hate relationship. Submitted by: speedboat1990
June 23, 2009 Great read as usual.
We'll have to wait ages for a Soni v Jones showdown! Next year is Commies and so we'll have to wait til 2011 for a proper battle. Last time we had Commonwealth Games though, Leisel swam her PB's so we might be able to see her go sub-1:05 there. It's weird she's opted out of Rome considering she swam this month and was in Europe - she may as well have stayed on for a few more weeks and done Worlds.
I'm hoping Dagny Knutson does awesome things. She's been kickin' it all year. I compare her to Ellen Fullerton, her Australian equivalent, but hopefully she has better luck than Ellen did at our Trials.
I wonder how Beisel will go (I find her Australian equivalent to be 400IM/200 flyer Samantha Hamill) as well as the return of Hayley McGregory! Will she finally make a US National A Team?! Throw in the open spots in the 400IM now, hopefully Ariana Kukors gets in for either IM position. And lastly, Katie Hoff on the bounce back from Beijing, since we haven't seen much of her this year! Submitted by: Priyant
June 24, 2009 Priyant: Can't comment about the Knutson/Fullerton comparison as I don't know Fullerton's times or much about her, and Knutson only finaled at trials last year so this trials will hopefully be her "coming out". Did Fullerton make the team? Beisel was way ahead of Hamill in the 400 IM; went 4:32 at trials last year, and within 2 seconds of current WR in 200 back, she's not a major factor in 200 fly yet.
Jones is the most dominant swimmer in any event all-time 100 breast, including Phelps. Disappointed she won't be at Rome, both for chance at sub 1:05 and another shot at Soni, et. al.
McGregory and Kukors will be crowd favorites because of their recent good swims and narrow misses last year and previously....Hoff is a question mark, I think we are all hoping that she's just been feeling the heavy training adjusting to the brutal workouts and regime of Phelps coach, Bob Bowman.
In answer to SwimJim, even with all the craziness about the suits, should be some good races!!
Aussies no longer odds on favorite in the medley relay without Jones, should be close call, but still favored in the other two women's relays I think.. Submitted by: liquidassets
June 24, 2009 Ah, I know Beisel isn't a 200 flyer but I saw the comparison in Beisel = 400 IM / 200 Back with SamHam = 400 IM / 200 Fly. But yeah Beisel is the more experienced and faster swimmer. Was just finding a quirky comparison.
Howevs, Fullerton did make our team. She was our 200 / 400 ; free / IM swimmer which is pretty much what Knutson is. She was expected to make the team in all those events (especially the IM's - but suprisingly finished behind Emily Seebohm - wtf - in the 200IM). She instead made the 4x2 and 400 free.
Thanks for that stat about Jones, that's awesome to know! I would've thought Thorpe in the 400 free or Phelps in the 200 fly, so that's amazing to me.
Hoff may have trouble with the Olympics, but let's not forget she's what, a 6 time World Champion?
Seeing as the American women split the fastest back, fly and free splits in history and still lost the Medley Relay to Jones, erm I mean Australia, I think they should be able to win for...the first time in 9 years. The last time they won was with Jendrick and Torres so if Jendo somehow manages to pip Soni, it would be quite amusing. I think the Australian backstroke leg will be swum by Belinda Hocking who will, I predict, be faster than Seebohm. I think the Aussie men can win the 4x100 medley relay.
I think the Women's 4x200m Free relay is the most unpredictable of all the relays.
Submitted by: Priyant
June 24, 2009 Women's Medley relay: Torres said she wasn't sure about swimming the 100 on a relay. That said, if she does, she (or whoever may be faster than her in Rome) will have to split 52-low. I think that for the US to win, McGregory (probably) will have to build up a lead of a few tenths on Seebohm/Hocking. Soni is clearly the top US Breaststroker right now, with Hardy suspended, Kirk retired, and Jendrick injured. She hasn't looked too great this season, but hopefully she can really step it up; at the very least, she can keep pace with White/Katsoulis. Magnuson same with Schipper. Torres (or Weir or whoever) will have to hold off Trickett. Not easy for either team.
On the men's side, it should be Peirsol vs. Delaney (or maybe Stoeckel). Peirsol should have a decent advantage. Then you've got Shanteau or Gangloff, who will lose some ground to Rickard or Sprenger. US should still be slightly in front. Then Phelps should gain about 1 sec on Lauterstein. It all comes down to how much Weber-Gale or Nathan Adrian can step it up compared to Sullivan (or Targett perhaps). Adrian was faster than Sullivan this past weekend. This relay really comes down to Sullivan's health.
Women's 4x2: Seems to me it's GB (Jackson, Adlington, McClatchey, and someone else) vs. US (4 of the following: Hoff, Vollmer, Schmitt, Smit, Knuston, etc.). Aussies will have Barratt, Rice, Nay, and Fullerton or Galvez, China has Pang, France has Balmy, Italy has Pellegrini. Those 4 should battle for bronze.
Pri, I am the guy who writes DR549. Submitted by: SwimDER94
June 24, 2009 I was surprised too that Jones was most dominant but one of the announcers recently pointed out she is the only one who had the top 10 times ever in the 100 breast; and her margins of victory for a 100 m race are unusually long. You would think Phelps in the 200 fly but he's always had guys nipping at his heels including 2 other guys at 1:52 in Beijing (where he had his goggles issue though). He's probably more dominant in the 200 free right now.
SwimDer94, what happened to Kylie Palmer on the 4x200 for AUS? Did she not make the team?
It's true Jendrick broke her leg in March, but did you know she was already going 31/1:09 less than two months later? She may be running out of time to make the team but I still thought that was pretty amazing... Submitted by: liquidassets
June 24, 2009 I think Phelps is so dominant in the 200 Free/Fly and both IMs, just because of how far in front his times are.
After an outstanding year (relay gold, 2 sc world titles), Kylie Palmer had shoulder reconstruction after Beijing and missed the trials. She just recently swam the 100/200/400 at the Paris Open (she went with some younger kids from Australia), and I think was sixth in the 400 (4:24). She'll be back in 2010. She should be no. 1 in the 800 in Australia, no. 1 or 2 in the 400, and in the top 4 (maybe top 2) in the 200.
According to Hoff's twitter (twitter.com/khoff09), "things are slowly starting to look up." I expect great things from this young lady, such as 3:59. Submitted by: SwimDER94
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