Streamlined News

PHOENIX, Arizona, December 7. YESTERDAY in San Antonio, a few Olympic legends returned to competition for one race only, to help a fellow swimmer.

The so-called Fastest Man in Texas event brought several University of Texas alumni back to the pool, including Aaron Peirsol and Ian Crocker, to raise money for the mother of another Texas legend, Josh Davis. Davis’ mother is undergoing treatment for cancer. The facility was packed with spectators who saw eight swimmers line up for a very fast 50 yard free. The winner? Texas senior Jimmy Feigen, who swam 19.34 against such notables as Peirsol, Crocker, Davis, Brendan Hansen, Garrett Weber-Gale, Dave Walters and Dax Hill – though we understand Peirsol and Crocker wore suits that are no longer legal under FINA rules. Feigen’s time is important because it’s two tenths faster than Feigen swam last weekend at the Texas Invite.

After the race, Hansen, Crocker and Peirsol stepped up for 50-yard exhibition races in their specialty strokes. Hansen, who’s well on his way to making the 2012 Olympic team, swam a quick 24.6 in the 50 breast. Peirsol, who officially announced his retirement earlier this year but hadn’t raced since Pan Pacs last summer, went 22.4 in the 50 back. Crocker, who has been retired since the 2008 Olympics, went 21.4 in the 50 fly.

Ous Mellouli might not get to participate in the Arab Games next week after tweeting that he popped a rib, causing major pain that could affect him in racing. Mellouli is part of the Trojan Swim Club elite training group that could win multiple Olympic medals next year, but first on Mellouli’s docket is recovery. Mellouli was likely looking to finish 2012 in a big way with some fast swims in Qatar.

Stephanie Rice officially announced that she’ll retire after the 2012 Olympics. Rice is the reigning Olympic champion in the 200 and 400 individual medleys as well as the 800 free relay, and she said she’s planning to start a program in Australia where she’ll personally mentor about 10 young swimmers as they work to achieve success in the pool. Rice will only be 24 next year, a little young by current standards for retirement, but she said she knows she wouldn’t have the desire to put in the work needed to be at or near the top in 2016.

Yesterday on Streamlined News we told you that Australian butterfyler Nick Darcy has filed for bankruptcy to avoid paying damages to Simon Cowley, the man he assaulted in 2008, after losing a civil suit. We’re learning more about the barriers D’Arcy could face in his quest to make the Australian Olympic team as a result of filing for bankruptcy. Australian federal government laws require anyone who files for bankruptcy to surrender their passport to a trustee, who must then submit written permission for overseas travel. That would be the case for D’Arcy if he’s selected to go to London, but his trustee told the media that he won’t bar D’Arcy from going to London for the Olympics. Any money D’Arcy makes from competing there would go directly to pay for legal costs from the criminal and civil cases against him.

Watch today’s episode of Streamlined News

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x