Swimming World Providing Go-To Expert Opinion to World’s Media Heading Into World Championships

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 14. SWIMMING World has been providing expert opinion and analysis to media from around the world heading into the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai.

Senior writer John Lohn, who will be representing Swimming World in Shanghai for the swimming portion of the championships, recently spoke with the Associated Foreign Press. In an article published from the AFP in AsiaOne News, Lohn spoke about a variety of issues surrounding the lack of techsuits this year.

"When they were in play, I thought the tech suits gave the sport a huge black eye," Lohn told AFP. "The 2009 world championships were a joke with the more than 40 world records. None of that was pure. But we've moved on and the sport is where it should be these days, based on talent and work ethic."

The AFP also cited that Swimming World "has taken the unusual step of listing both the official and ‘textile' records on its website." We wanted to clarify this claim. We list both the FINA World Records, and the top time swum in a textile swimsuit, for a variety of reasons including historical context and popular demand. We do not, however, recognize the term "textile world record," which is why we specifically call top textile times "textile bests." FINA is the organization that owns the duty and right to recognize "records." Until, and unless, FINA decides to recognize a separate set of records, we will continue to reference "textile bests."

Lohn stated his personal opinion regarding this issue in the AFP article.

"I'm not a fan of wiping out the records set in tech suits. They were times that were recorded and to wipe them out would suggest they never happened," Lohn told the AFP. "However, I am a proponent of having two sets of world records for each event, one listing the all-time mark and another listing the best time produced in a textile suit."

The international sports media also is intrigued by Lohn's predictions prior to the World Championships.

Lohn spoke with the Beijing Mirror regarding his thoughts on the potential success of Chinese swimmer Sun Yang.

"I think Sun Yang is the future of distance swimming," Lohn told the Beijing Mirror. "We saw him scare the longest-standing record on the books when he nearly broke Grant Hackett's 1500 free mark earlier this year. He has such versatility from the 200 through the 1500 and his combination of speed and endurance will serve him extremely well."

The Beijing Mirrror also asked Lohn what he thought about Michael Phelps' chances in Shanghai.

"Phelps has always produced his biggest performances when the pressure is on and I see him coming through again," Lohn told the Beijing Mirror. "While he is not in the shape he was in Beijing for the Olympics, Phelps is nearing the end of his career and he will be intent on going out in impressive fashion. This is the start of the farewell tour that will come to an end in London next summer."

Swimming World always enjoys serving as The Record of the Sport, especially when the mainstream media focuses on the sport during large international events such as the FINA World Championships.

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