Guest editorial by David Rieder
PHOENIX, Arizona, July 1. SWIMMING World superfan David Rieder, who blogs on his site at swimdr549.blogspot.com, provided us with the following analysis of recent groundbreaking swims from throughout the world.
Steffen and the World of Women's Sprinting
Even though Britta Steffen was the Olympic gold medalist in both sprint events before this weekend, the 100 looked like all Australia's Libby Trickett, and the 50 a race between Trickett and The Netherlands' Marleen Veldhuis.
Not anymore. No longer is Trickett the world record holder in the 100 free. Steffen has Hydrofoiled (adidas) her way into contention once again.
While it was clear that she would be in the final, and would most likely medal, she clearly has an advantage over Trickett and others. All along, it has been Trickett, Steffen, and Veldhuis in the 100, while those three will race American Dara Torres, Australian Cate Campbell, and Sweden's Therese Alshammar in the 50.
While one can expect Trickett to be faster than 52.88, can she keep up with the buoyancy and endurance provided by Steffen's fast suit?
The British Women's 800 Free Relay
Much was expected out of the British women in this relay in Beijing. Gold was not out of the question. But, in the end, they made a tactical error and finished ninth in the prelims.
Now, many regard them as the favorite to take this year's title. They have Joanne Jackson (1:56.47), Rebecca Adlington (1:56.66 in 2008, 1:57.15 this year unrested), Caitlin McClatchey (1:56.97 2008, 1:57.58 2009), and Jazmin Carlin (1:58.34).
We will have to wait and see what the Americans manage at Nationals next week to consider them the favorites, but this could be a real boost for the British team with a home Olympics on the horizon.
Ous Mellouli: So many chances…
A longtime staple on the international scene, this Tunisian returned from an 18-month suspension from taking a stimulant with a vengeance. After winning the 1500 in Beijing, he went on the World Cup tour and then competed in several meets in the States, and his times were world class. The World Cup highlighted Mellouli's versatility. He swam and won races in the 200, 400, and 1500 free, as well as both IMs.
In a country without much domestic competition on his level, he is his continent's top swimmer in at least six World Championship events (also 800 free). At the Mediterranean Games, he once again proved his ascendance. He swam personal bests in all of his events: 200 free (1:46.44), 400 free (3:42.71), 1500 free (14:38.01), 200 IM (1:58.38), and 400 IM (4:10.53).
In the Olympics, he only made the 400 and 1500 free finals, but with these times, he would have made every top eight in Beijing. His 400 free time would have given him a bronze medal (he placed fifth). His 1500 time from today beat not only his Olympic winning time, but it was the second-fastest time in history, within four seconds of Grant Hackett's world record.
In Rome, he is the overwhelming favorite in the 1500, a medal certainty in the 800, and has a great chance to medal in the 400. A big challenge will be deciding which of the other events to swim. The 400 IM is out, as it is on the same day as the 1500. The 200 free and 200 IM both conflict in some way with the 800. I don't believe he was fully rested with these times, so he could really chase the big names in these events if he is in them.
Today's Universe of Men's Sprinting
It is the World of Female Sprinting, but the Universe of Men's. The 50 and 100 free are such deep events internationally that 17 men have already broken 22 in the 50, 8 have broken 48 in the 100, and 40 men have been under 49 in that event. And on top of that list is the nation of France.
Of the top 25 performances of the 50 and 100 free combined, a mind-boggling 31 out of 50 (as of June 30) are held by one of five Frenchmen (Alain Bernard, Fred Bousquet, Amaury Leveaux, William Meynard, and Fabien Gilot). With each passing moment, they look more and more ready to dominate the events in Rome.
At the Mediterranean Games, an unrested Bousquet clocked 21.17 in the 50, the second-fastest time in history, and 48.30 in the 100. Bernard took the 100 in 47.83, a time which, up until March 2008, would have been a world record.
Right now, the 50 looks to be a battle between Bousquet and his Auburn training partner Cesar Cielo, with both men under 21, while Bernard looks to have complete control of the 100. In the 100, there are probably 16 men who could, in some scenario, make the finals. And in a sprint, where a little something makes a lot of difference, expect even more swimmers to jump out onto the scene from nowhere.
59/2:08 Becoming Routine in Breaststroke
The sport of swimming has changed dramatically over the last year and a half with the new suit technology, and in no area has there been more change than men's breaststroke. At the end of 2007, only three men had been inside the 1:00 and 2:10 barriers each. The continued impact of the suits is still felt today, as none of the seven men under 1:00 in the 100 or 10 men under 2:10 in the 200 had broken the barriers before this year.
Now, Brendan Hansen, who was for several years so dominant, has slipped from second to fifth in the 200 this year. He has been surpassed by Ryo Tateishi, Marco Koch, and Henrique Barbosa. Names sound familiar? Not really. Any of them make the Olympic final? No. Semifinal? No. It's not even big news anymore when three guys from one country suddenly break 1:00 in the 100, let alone one.
When you look at the World rankings, you will see familiar names such as Brenton Rickard ranked 24th this year in the 100 and tied for 14th in the 200, with 2004 silver medalist Daniel Gyurta.
Then there are the four Japanese guys (Tateishi, Yuta Suenaga, Naoya Tomita, Kazuki Otsuka), none of whom is named Kitajima, under 2:10. All these swims are coming from nowhere, and each passing day makes it more and more clear that the suits cut serious time and help some more than others. This World Championship will be far more unpredictable than any other.
Thomas Rupprath?
This German swimmer has hung around for a long time. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as a sprint backstroke/butterflyer. The only long course world record he ever set was a 24.80 in the 50 back in 2003, when he won his first and only world title.
That record lasted as the "magical standard" in the event for five years, with no one touching the mark. All that changed in the spring of 2008, when Liam Tancock swam a 24.47. Soon after, Randall Bal swam 24.33, and since then, a total of nine men have swum under Rupprath's once-untouchable standard.
At this weekend's German Nationals, Rupprath himself broke the 24.80 mark. While Helge Meeuw claimed the German record, Rupprath went his best time for the first time in six years. He also finished just off his best in the 50 fly, in which he finished second and lost his German record.
After six years, he's suddenly back to his best? All due respect for a guy that's been in the sport for so long, but how can this just happen? Rupprath is not the only person in the swimming world who is suddenly back at their best times with the new suit technology, but he is a perfect example. In comparison to the past, times mean almost nothing anymore.
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July 1, 2009 I agree with your very last sentence. Very powerful. Very stirring. Very thought provoking. "In comparison to the past, times mean almost nothing anymore." Submitted by: paddles
July 1, 2009 I wrote this for the most part before Wildeboer's 52.38. Here's what I have to say about that: 1 week. Give it one week. Have a feeling it will be no more. Submitted by: SwimDER94
July 1, 2009 hey, what ever happened to you guys featuring a blog of the week? Submitted by: The Screaming Viking!
July 1, 2009 We'll probably get back to recognizing blogs again at some point soon, but covering all the craziness with the tech suits really pulled our resources in a different direction since we do our best to provide a balanced approach to our coverage. Submitted by: Jason Marsteller
July 2, 2009 "I agree with your very last sentence. Very powerful. Very stirring. Very thought provoking. "In comparison to the past, times mean almost nothing anymore."
Submitted by: paddles"
So, when did "a comparison to the past" ever really mean anything? Compared to when? Can you compare the 90's to the 70's in any meaningful way? Or the 60's or 50's? Wake up. Everything changes. Your argument is irrational. Time to stop living in your nostalgic time capsule of "the good old days" and let swimming evolve...naturally. Submitted by: fluidg
July 2, 2009 fluidg, you get a grip. This has nothing to do with living in the past but with the fact that something is WRONG when after every world record someone asks WHAT SUIT WAS HE OR SHE WEARING! In the "GOOD OLD DAYS" no one ever asked that question. Got it? Got a grip? Are you now in reality?
By the way, why are you always looking for something or someone or someone's point of view to attack? Hey, Jason, I thought you had written something about being less aggressive and being more respectful of others non-attacking viewpoints? This is getting ridiculous. I refuse to post here any longer because some of the readers seem to always be looking for something or someone to attack! Submitted by: paddles
July 2, 2009 Yes, Paddles, I have been on record as saying we need to maintain civil discourse and remain on topic about disagreements.
Taking a critical eye at Fluidg's response:
So, when did "a comparison to the past" ever really mean anything? Compared to when? Can you compare the 90's to the 70's in any meaningful way? Or the 60's or 50's? Wake up. Everything changes. Your argument is irrational. Time to stop living in your nostalgic time capsule of "the good old days" and let swimming evolve...naturally.
The only parts of the response that I believe are directed personally are "wake up"...and..."your nostalgic time capsule." Those points look to me as directed at you as a person. However, "your argument is irrational" does not state that "you are irrational." It is focused on your side of the argument.
We need to keep arguments civil, but that doesn't mean we can't have arguments here. Submitted by: Jason Marsteller
July 2, 2009 Your call, Jason. If you feel it is ok to allow personal attacks which DO inhibit the free exchange then this isn't the place for me. By the way, go and read Schuberts comments about the suits on "the other site". This has nothing to do with "swimming evolving naturally" but CHEATING for the sake of gain. Submitted by: paddles
July 2, 2009 I would be willing to say that this year it's the Brits to lose the Women's 4x200 - but one could've said that last year about them and moreso, the USA (good lord they were almost a lock). For me it will be extremely depressing to see the British women win this relay when Mel Marshall has retired especially after last year, I might not even watch. USA should be safely in 2nd (if not, challenge first place) while it's extremely slim pickings for bronze. But again, there's a good chance I won't watch this relay. Submitted by: Priyant
July 2, 2009 The American Women's 800 Free Relay last year was just a bunch of mistakes on their parts and a really, really good swim by Australia (and China). Schmitt was almost two seconds off her PB, Coughlin was slower on a relay start then she was flat start in 2007, and Burckle, while she had a great swim, wasn't as fast as Julia Smit had been. Hoff did great, but not enough.
Other than the men's 800 free relay (that should be a no-brainer), all the relays really depend on what happens at US Nationals. The Americans have a chance to sweep the relays. Do I think that will happen? No, definitely not. They could also lose five of them. Do I think that will happen? Once again, no? Submitted by: SwimDER94
July 2, 2009 what are the dates for worlds? will there be a US broadcast? Submitted by: ucswim
July 2, 2009 Anyone else find it a sad commentary of our sport that the lead headline on the USA Swimming webpage basically on the eve of World Champs Trials is this:
"Availability and Contact Info for Suits at Nationals"
??????
No headline highlights of the athletes taking part. No front and center link to the meet information or psych sheets. No hype about the meet or the ATHLETES!!! No forward looks to what might be in store for Worlds as we head into it's Trials.
What a shame.
Submitted by: rcoach
July 2, 2009 Response to "fluidg"'s comments above: "So, when did "a comparison to the past" ever really mean anything? Compared to when?"
Well in answer to that: the previous best times, world records etc These are all comparisons to the past. A time set today is tomorrows history. So really your arguement is to shelve all aspects of the past and only live in the present? (soon to become the past) The whole point of the sport is based on times and comparison of times. Now this is less relevant than at any other time in the history of the sport.
The swimmers wearing the performance enhancing suits accept their world record don't they? They don't say ""So, when did "a comparison to the past" ever really mean anything?"
The swim suits have now created a situation where times can't even be compared from day to day let alone to times that were achieved 1,2,5 years or earlier.
Many who have been associated with the sport for many years are not happy with this situation.
There is nothing natural about performance enhancing suits, quite the opposite in fact. They enhance the speed and devalue the result, not a very happy combination in my view. The loss of credibility in the desire for speed, is rather sad. Those that say the suits are no better than legalised cheating are correct in my humble opinion.
If a new drug is produced to enhance the speed power and endurance of a swimmer it immediatly goes on the band list, the suits are no different. FINA having started this mess by allowing the LZR into the pool have created a monster which will prove very difficult to contain. Submitted by: scotswim
July 3, 2009 Just regarding swimmmers many, many years later going PB's - Fran Van Almsick set a WR in the 200m Free in 1994, which stood until 2002...which she broke herself. That of course stood til 2007. Submitted by: Priyant
Reaction Time responses do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions
of Swimming World Magazine or SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.
Reaction Time is provided as a service to our readers.
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