Streamlined News: Armstrong’s Masters Ban, Speedy Swimming, Wedding Preparations


PHOENIX, Arizona, April 5. SHORTLY after taping yesterday's Streamlined News, we learned that Lance Armstrong was officially banned from competing in Masters swimming competition, after U.S. Masters Swimming received a letter from FINA recommending that USMS follow the World Anti-Doping Code that stipulates that Armstrong's lifetime ban from other competitive sports must apply to Masters swimming as well. Armstrong spoke publicly in an article in the New York Times today, saying he was “extremely disappointed” that he wasn't able to race this weekend.

Thursday was a great day in the pool, as Olympic champions and Paralympic gold medalists had their day in the sun. Ranomi Kromowidjojo put up a fast time in the 50 free at the Eindhoven Swim Cup with a 24.30, just three tenths slower than she swam at the Olympics. And Paralympic champion Ian Silverman broke the 33-year-old world record in the S9 division in the 1500 free at the CanAm championships in Minneapolis with a 16:24.63, his first world record. Silverman said he's looking ahead to the rest of the meet and possibly more world records. Kayla Wheeler broke her own world record in the S1 division in the 50 fly with a 1:30.27, dropping eight seconds.

At the Canadian world championship trials, Richard Funk missed the 100 breast automatic qualifying time for worlds by one hundredth of a second, winning with a 1:00.87. Funk was third in last week's 100 breast at the NCAA championships and helped Michigan greatly in their team title crusade. Canada has some work to do in the sprint freestyles, as no one was able to breaks 50 seconds in the men's 100 free or 55 seconds in the women's event. Joel Greenshields, a former standout at the University of Arizona, won the men's race in 50.36, while Victoria Poon won the women's event with a 55.31. We'll see today how well Sinead Russell performs in the 200 back, the event in which she made the final at the Olympics, and what kind of time Ryan Cochrane puts up in the 400 freestyle.

Before we go today, we want to wish Matt Grevers and Annie Chandler all the best tomorrow at their wedding in San Antonio, Texas. As you can see from this photo, they have their marriage license in hand, with wedding guests flying in from all over the country. From what we've heard, pretty much all the entire Olympic swim team has been invited, as well as close friends, family and former teammates, to witness the wedding of the year in Chandler's hometown. Let's just hope Grevers' coaches were lenient enough to let him have Saturday off from workout, though Grevers does have the Arena Grand Prix in Mesa on Thursday.

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