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Michael Phelps: 99 seconds with 99 days to go for the 2010 Youth OG (Video)
With the occasion of the 99 days to go for the start of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore (August 14-26), Michael Phelps (USA), one of the ambassadors for this competition, gives a 99 second-interview, where he briefly talks about his success, the keys to shine in the pool and addresses a special message to all those participating in Singapore. His words will certainly inspire the future champions, knowing that Phelps is the best swimmer in history, with 14 Olympic gold medals, eight of them conquered in one single edition of the Games, in 2008 in Beijing (an unparalleled feat).
When he was appointed 2010 Youth Olympic Games ambassador, Phelps had declared: “The Youth Olympic Games is an excellent initiative, not only for the athletes competing, but also those who are inspired to get into sport and be more active. I am delighted that I have been given the opportunity to become the first official Ambassador of the Youth Olympic Games, and can’t wait to get working with the YOG team to promote the first event this summer!”
World Swim Against Malaria
After supporting the project on its launch in 2005, FINA is once more associated to the “World Swim Against Malaria”, a global initiative to bring swimmers together, in order to raise money to fight malaria. The aim is to achieve one million people swimming on the same day all around the world, on June 25, 2010.
FINA committed to support, in close association with Speedo, this project because this was a real opportunity for the swimming community around the world to do something very simple, but very substantial, for a humanitarian cause which could save thousands of lives.
Spectacular Dubai venue on track to welcome the world
FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)
Dubai is well on course to host the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). That’s according to the FINA delegation that visited the venue set to host what will be the largest swimming event in the region from December 15–19.
FINA President, Dr. Julio C. Maglione, FINA Honorary Secretary Paolo Barelli and FINA Executive Director, Cornel Marculescu, met recently with the Local Organising Committee of the Championships and were given a tour of the new Dubai Sports Complex. Their visit to Dubai coincided with the SportAccord International Convention (a five-day gathering of 1500 leading representatives from international sport).
Paraguay announces swimming team for XXIV Latin Cup
The Paraguayan Federation of Swimming has revealed the list of swimmers to participate in the XXIV Latin Cup which takes place in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on May 18-23, 2010.
Here is the list below:
Women: Ma. Laura Mongelos Benítez, Paloma Moserrath Rivera, María López Nery Huerta, Karen Natalia Riveros Shulz and Lujan Amarilla Vargas.
Men: Benjamín Thomas Hockin Brusquetti, Renato David Prono Fernández, Bruno Daniel Benítez, Carlos Alfredo Orihuela Gianotti, Francisco Javier Díaz Urunaga, Ricardo Gregor Ramírez and Hugo Andrés Riera Pastore.
2nd Annual Jamaican International Synchronised Swimming Championships (JISSC)
FINA and the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica / Synchro Stars Jamaica invite all Federations to participate in the 2nd Annual Jamaican International Synchronized Swimming Championships (JISSC) to be held from 7-9 October 2010 in Kingston, Jamaica.
Aquatics honoured at the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards
South African open water swimmer Natalie du Toit, who is breaking down the barriers between disabled and able-bodied sport, recently received the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award, in a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
A delighted Natalie said: "It is a great honour to be receiving this prestigious Award. It is the third time that I've been to the Laureus Awards and the second time that I've been nominated. In 2010 we will be holding the soccer World Cup, and to hold South Africa's name high is very special for me. Being a Friend & Ambassador for Laureus makes it very special for me to see what sport can do, how sports people can go into communities and really uplift them. I've seen those community projects, so to Laureus 'well done'."
Diving Mexican legend Joaquin Capilla passed away
Mexico’s most medalled athlete in the Olympics, diver Joaquin Capilla died on May 8, 2010 in Mexico City, at the age of 81. Capilla, an inspiring idol for the divers and all sportsmen in the country, has been gold medallist in the 10m platform at the 1956 Games in Melbourne (AUS), silver medallist in the same event in 1952 (Helsinki, FIN), and bronze medallist twice (1948, London, 10m platform; 1956, Melbourne, 3m springboard).
After this unparalleled successes in Mexico’s sports history, Capilla, born on December 23, 1928 became very popular in his country and was even invited to participate in some movies.
FINA President welcomes you to the new website
I have the pleasure to invite all the members of the FINA Family and fans of our Sport to discover the new FINA website, aimed at better providing services to our 202 National Federations, athletes, officials, coaches, commercial partners, organisers and bidders, media and public at large. Thanks to a new image and improved navigation tools, the promotion of our aquatic disciplines of Swimming, Water Polo, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and Open Water Swimming is also significantly enhanced. With this “refreshed” version of our site, FINA improves its communication with the protagonists of our Sport and certainly provides a better showcase of our activities in the five continents.
News round-up from Germany
After more than three years of renovation and an amount of 16.6m € spent, the so-called “Schwimmoper” has been reopened in Wuppertal. The symbolic “baptism” was named after Peter Nocke, the nine-time European champion (1974 and 1977) who also got the gold in 1975 in the 4x200m freestyle representing West Germany at the World Championships in Cali, Colombia.
Mind over Matter
The success of Junya Koga, a Japanese backstroke star, owes more to the strength of mind than to hard work. His experiences of karate practice have given him new strength and led him to new heights in swimming.
The 22-year-old sprinter, who won the gold medal in the men’s 100m backstroke at the FINA World Championships Rome 2009, began to attend Karate practice in December last year after his acupuncturist, Hiroshi Shiraishi, introduced him to karate master Kenji Ushiro. “Thank all the people around you and do not forget it,” told him Shiraishi, who is known for taking care of many top athletes, such as former athletics’ super star Carl Lewis at Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and Daichi Suzuki, who won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Ushiro, who learnt the old-style karate of Okinawa, had advised him, “Be prepared in your mind”.
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