Streamlined News: Junior Nationals Day 1 Highlights; Rewards for Chinese Gold Medalists

PHOENIX, Arizona, August 14. ON yesterday's Streamlined News, I mentioned that we might see one or two future swimming stars come from this week's junior nationals in Indianapolis. It appears we already have one in the making. Allie Szekely won the 200 breast last night in a very fast 2:26.35, which was six tenths off Amanda Beard's national age group record for the 13-14 age group. Beard swam that time on her way to a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics. You may remember Szekely from the Olympic Trials, where she tied for 17th in the 200 breast, then won the swimoff and had a long line of admirers waiting for her autograph. Szekely, just 14 years old, will also swim in the finals of the 400 IM tonight.

Michelle Cefal dropped three seconds from her lifetime best last night to win the 200 fly in 2:10.35. Cefal placed 29th in the event at Olympic Trials, but her time last night would have been sixth in Omaha. Also swimming well was Clark Smith in the men's 200 fly with a 1:58.64, and 800 free national champion Gillian Ryan was without peer in the junior national final last night, winning with an 8:30.84.

The Chinese are looking to shower heaps of financial rewards on its two Olympic champions. We've already reported on SwimmingWorld.com that Sun Yang is set to get about $18 million for his two gold medals in London, and now we're learning that Sun and Ye Shiwen could be getting free houses in their hometown of Hangzhou, and statues erected in their honor outside a stadium there. While no one is opposing the free homes, which would total about $500,000 each, controversy is arising about the statues, which opponents say will put immense pressure on the swimmers. As for the houses, it's unclear how much Sun will be living in his, since he spends a great deal of time training in Australia with coach Denis Cotterell.

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