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World’s best young talents step up in Tucson (USA)

website@fina.org (Administrator) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:26:36 GMT

The world will be introduced to some of the next generation of diving greats at the 18th edition of the FINA World Junior Diving Championships, taking place from September 1-6, 2010, in Tucson, Ari. (USA).

Some 180 divers, with a slightly higher number of female competitors, coming from 29 countries, will either make their debut or re-affirm their place among the world’s best on the boards of the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center – Kasser Family Pool, University of Arizona.

Boys and girls compete in both “A” (born 1990/1991/1992) and “B” (born 1993/1994) age groups. This competition, organised in even years, comprises 14 events: 1m, 3m springboard and 10m platform for A and B as well as a 3m springboard synchro event mixing A and B.

In the last edition in Aachen (GER), China blitzed to win all but one title (earned by Russia) on offer. Competition will most certainly be tough, as Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Ukraine, USA and Russia also have strong contenders to claim a podium spot.

Since the 2008 edition, a sixth day was added to the competition, following the ever-growing number of divers participating in the event.

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"Retirement Was Something I Was Ready For"

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:01:09 GMT

At two, she starts to swim, at 16 she breaks her first world records, at 17 she gets three Olympic gold medals, at 25 she retires from the pool, and at almost 39 she has two children and continues to be an inspirational idol in the United States. Janet Evans, the smiling young swimmer who raced to victory in the most demanding events of the 1988 Games in Seoul – the 400m and 800m free, and the 400m individual medley – is a happy woman, one with plenty of energy and always eager to give back to the sport what she got out of it.

Despite being a short (1.67m) and light (54kg) athlete, Janet has been one of the most iconic swimmers of the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a career that comprised five Olympic and five World Championship medals, seven world records, and more than 40 national titles. Purveyor of a peculiar “windmill” stroke, the Californian star – she was born on August 28, 1971 in Fullerton – had a very successful career from 1987 to 1996, the year in which she announced her retirement at the end of an Olympic Games in Atlanta at which she started out by handing the Flame over to Muhammad Ali at the Opening Ceremony before going on to finish 9th in the 400m freestyle and 6th in the 800m.

Winner from lane 8 and 1

webassistant@fina.org (Camillo Cametti, FINA Press Commission Chairman) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:05:06 GMT

The history of sport, including swimming, is full of surprise winners: unpredicted (sometimes “unpredictable”) winners. Although their number does not match that of those who predictably won the competition where they were favourites, those who won from lane 8 or lane 1 are not exactly rare. Now that the time seems to have come for swimming to be contested in 10- lane pools, we recall a few of the special feats accomplished from an outside lane.

WINNERS FROM LANE 8

In swimming, the most glamorous win from an outside lane is that by a swimmer who had been counted among the favourites on the eve of racing but then made a serious error of judgment and missed the cut-off for the final. Salvation came in the form of a teammate who stepped aside to allow a goldmedal prospect access to the final eight by the skin of her teeth. The case in point is that of 16-year-old, classy and beautiful German Franziska van Almsick, who at the 1994 FINA World Championships in Rome won the 200 metres freestyle from lane 8.

A Swimmer Leading a Football Nation

webassistant@fina.org (Eliana Alves, FINA Press Commission Member) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:42:35 GMT

The Football World Cup in South Africa is the main attraction in world sports in 2010, but what has swimming in common with this sport in Brazil, the most successful soccer nation on the planet? The answer can be found at the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, a club that boasts one of the biggest army of fans of the Beautiful Game around the world – and since January one that is presided over by a woman: the former Brazilian Olympic swimmer Patricia Filler Amorim.
This 41 year-old mother of four boys wore the colours of the yellow and green flag at the Olympic Games in Seoul 1988. Today, she is in charge of a club with about 35 million fans – and that’s just in Brazil. The passion for Flamengo is so strong that it is called the “Red and Black Nation” and to be President of this “state” pushed Amorim into the realms of celebrities: she is in constant media focus. In spite of being confident in this new position, Amorim is still uncomfortable with her newfound celebrity status. “When I was a candidate I didn’t think about that! It was better, because if I realised it I would have given up!” she jokes. “More seriously, I’m trying to appear only when it is essential.”

Building beauty

webassistant@fina.org (Sarah Chiarello, FINA Communications Department) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:57:01 GMT

In synchronised swimming, what do the Olympic gold performance and the 24th place of the duet event have in common? What is the shared experience of the winner of a World Championships’ medal and an athlete coming from an emerging country? Two things: many hours of endless work and choreography in the water. For many years known as “aquatic ballet”, synchronised swimming’s main addedvalue is the display of a complicated figure routine in an element that makes things more difficult to achieve, namely the water.

Many who have once watched a synchronised swimming routine, either on TV or at an international competition, recall the moment as amazing. It all looks so effortless, while the fitness of the swimmers and their radiant smiles stand out as an important prelude to their stunning performance in the water.
If synchronised swimming is often seen as a breath-taking expression of artistic beauty, one often overlooks the technical skills and hard work that athletes endure to achieve excellence.

What steps are necessary for such excellence and success? We put that question to experts in the field. Experienced coaches Denise Sauvé (CAN) and Anna Tarrés (ESP) have placed their teams at the top of the synchro world hierarchy, with Canada winning two bronze medals (Solo Technical and Combination) and Spain sweeping one gold (Combination) and six silvers (Solo, Duet and Team events both Technical and Free) at the 2009 FINA

World Championships in Rome.
The coaches join Virginia Jasontek, FINA Technical Synchronised Swimming Committee (TSSC) Honorary Secretary, and Jenna Randall, the British synchro swimmer, in sharing their keys to success and commenting on the recent evolution of the competition format.

YOG Singapore 2010: Closing Ceremony highlights success of the Games

press@fina.org (Pedro Adrega) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:55:01 GMT

The Closing Ceremony of the inaugural edition of the Youth Olympic Games brought a spectacular and emotional end to 12 days of world-class sporting competition and cultural and educational activities in Singapore on August 26, 2010. While addressing to the athletes, the IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “You thrilled us with your splendid performances. But, more than that, you inspired us with your enthusiasm, your spirit and the sheer joy you brought to the task of competing, learning and living with fellow athletes from around the world. You have learnt what it means to be a true champion, not simply a winner. You have shown us that a new generation is ready to embrace and share Olympic values.”

FINA World Swimming Championships launches volunteer programme

webassistant@fina.org (Natalie) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:38:20 GMT

December’s 10th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) has launched its volunteer programme on August 23, 2010, as part of the quest to bring an event of excellence to Dubai and the world.

Volunteers are needed to assist in all aspects of the Championships, which take place from December 15 to 19 at the new, state-of-the-art Dubai Sports Complex.

The launch of the volunteer programme was announced at the Dubai Sports Council by Dr Ahmad Al Sharif, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, and Championships Director Obaid Salem Al Shamsi.

They were introduced to the first two volunteers, Ms Eugenie Bestic, a 31-year-old mother of two from Dubai and 29-year-old Obaid Ahmed Obaid Al Jasimi, a two-time Olympic swimmer for the United Arab Emirates.

Discover Masters Worlds: Bernice Orwig (USA)

sarah@fina.org (Sarah Chiarello, Assistant editor) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

2000 Sydney Olympics. Women’s water polo is played for the first time at the Olympic Games. Atop the podium stands Australia, second is the USA and third Russia. American silver-medallist Bernice Orwig was among those to write the first page of water polo Olympic history.

Ten years later, we meet her at the FINA Masters World Championships in Boras (SWE, for water polo only), where she takes some time to talk about her fantastic Olympic experience and how her passion for the sport has continued to exist since.

What was your feeling at the time, being at the Olympics and reaching the finals?
The Sydney Olympics overall experience was amazing since it was the first Olympics for women’s water polo; it was a tremendous honour to be a part of that first Olympics and as the US team, we were not expecting to do very well. They were other teams much more decorated and much more experienced than us. That we were able to come together as a strong team and to advance so far and make it to the gold-medal game, that was amazing!

Discover Masters Worlds: Lori Crawford & Penny De Meules (USA)

sarah@fina.org (Sarah Chiarello, Assistant editor) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

“I learned to swim on the Internet”

Five years ago, Lori Crawford did not know how to swim. Today she is 33 and is competing in synchronised swimming at a World Masters championship for the second time! How did she go from zero swimming skills to performing synchro routines? Here is the story.

It all started with a free gym membership. Where Lori used to live at the time there was a gym with a pool. One day, she decides to take it to the water and soon realise that she does not know how to swim. “Ok, I have to fix this,” she tells herself.

“I always loved water; I just did not know how to swim,” admits Lori. She grew up in Ohio and unlike California, “there was no pool around,” she explains.

Discover Masters Worlds: Olga Larissa Vargas (MEX)

sarah@fina.org (Sarah Chiarello, Assistant editor) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Two months ago, Olga Vargas from Mexico did not know whether she would be able to compete at the FINA Masters World championships or not. Like some others, the economical aspect almost jeopardised her Masters participation. Today, the 30-year-old leaves with happy memories from Gothenburg having bagged two gold medals, one in Solo and another in Duet, with swimming partner and long-time friend Nara Lorena Falcon.

Background: an early start

As a matter of fact, Olga’s success finds its roots in a former elite career, which stretches from 1997 to 2004. Before getting started with synchro at 11, Olga had already six years of gymnastics under her belt!

One day, a synchro coach sees her at the gymnastics club and invites her to the pool. The pool is far from her home so she starts going only on Saturdays. Her mother is a little reluctant because she is still young. The coach keeps on insisting and eventually, Olga’s mother accepts to have her daughter training full time.