It’s been in the back of our minds for a while. Don’t front, it’s been in the back of yours as well. What am I talking about?
I’m talking about who is and isn’t going to retire after Beijing.
The Swim Aids are on pins and needles about this topic. It’s a good thing we aren’t the betting type. Judging from our signing sweepstakes predictions, we’d probably end up devastatingly broke at summer’s end.
There are some we know are 100% done after Beijing. Our dear Kaitlin is amongst this group. Every time we see her, we try to put on the “brave face”. But in reality, we’re holding back tears.
There is another group we are unsure of, but our hunches are leaning towards the pessimistic. We’re in denial. PVK, we’re talking to you, buddy!
Then, finally, there are the ones we know are nowhere near finished. The Lochtenator, The Hoff, J. Hardy, our fave young’uns etc. They keep us going through this time of uncertainty.
We kind of expected Natalie to hang up the suit after Beijing. But she has recently gone on record that she will continue until the London Games in 2012!
Everytime I head to the grocery store, I take a short detour through the magazine aisle. During today’s trip, I spotted Dara Torres, so I thought I’d share the news.
She is gracing the cover of the April 2008 issue of Experience Life Magazine, on newsstands now. I don’t know if anyone else has heard of this magazine, but I hadn’t. Seems like everyone and their mama has a magazine these days!
For a preview that may or may not be the entire magazine feature, visit the mag’s website.
So here we go! Now, be forewarned that I didn’t end up doing much predicting this year. Mostly thinking/rambling out loud. You love it. I’m sure that’s why you come here anyway. What few predictions I did make stand a chance at being 95% wrong. But I don’t care. It’s fun for me!
SENIORS
#1. Lacey Nymeyer (Arizona)
This is a no brainer. I would be absolutely shocked if Lacey didn’t continue her swimming career. For the longest time I thought she was a senior last year with Whitney. Anyway, there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that she signs with Nike. Nike scooped up Whitney last year and pretty much sucks at scooping up major talent. They’re set up perfectly what with Zona being a Nike school. However, she could sign since the Swoosh is losing their 2 longest signed females Kaitlin and Maritza) after this summer. I’ll put it this way: I’d be surprised if she went Nike, but not shocked. As for agents, who knows. Octagon only seems to sign “superstars”, and while Lacey rocks, I don’t know if she fits the mold they have or whatever. I’d guess PMG, but so many are signing with agents I’ve never heard of that I should probably give up guessing agents.
#2. Caroline Burckle (Florida)
Ahh, the Lochtenator’s better half. I’d like to think including her here is more than wishful thinking. I’m dying to see how Caro does when she can focus exclusively on swimming as a professional. She was a member of the 2005 World Champs squad, so the talent is obviously there. The events she swims are deep, but I still think she can make some noise. Should she sign, I’m chalking one up for Speedo. Congrats to Caro for being awarded the Honda Award for Swimming.
There’s a host of other swimmers who, should they make the decision to continue, could have quite a long career. I mean, take a look at Randall Bal. His events (backstroke) are so loaded that he didn’t make last year’s World Champs or any Olympic team, but he still pushes the competition and does very well for himself. He won this season’s World Cup men’s title which came with a hefty $100,000 prize. If he swam for any other country, he’d be a super star! Same goes for those like Robert Margalis. So, I guess for many, it’s just a decision of how much they enjoy competing in the sport and if they wish to continue or move on to other things in life. I’m not familiar with enough of this year’s class to make that call well. Emily Silver, Emily Kukors, Andrea Hupman, Christine Magnuson, Kara Denby…they have all earned swimwear contracts with their work in the pool. It’s just a matter on if that’s what they want! Continue Reading »
After being denied the WR from Duel in the Pool last year, Libby vowed to claim the 100 Free WR and dip below 53 seconds. Well, that she did. And because we love Libby, and her beautiful smile, we wanted to share the video with all of you.
And check out Bee’s YouTube Channel here. Lots of Aussie Trials goodness over there!
P.S. I challenge anyone to upload a race from the US Trials this summer and see how long it lasts on YouTube…
Already posted the Phelps scans on MGoSwim, and have been sitting on these for a few days. My bad.
Because of all the attention I’ve been giving Miss Ziegler these days, I was reminded that these needed to be shared ASAP. I’m working on her official website, so any excuse to give her some shine I’ll take!
My only gripe is that this may quite possibly be the most unflattering picture of her ever. This is the best Annie Leibovitz could do? Really? I find that hard to believe. I lovedwhat she did with the gymnasts. No love for Kate?
The Honda Award honors the top women collegiate athletes in all sports. The winner of the swimming and diving honor will become a candidate for The Honda-Broderick Cup awarded annually to the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
Southern Cal’s Rebecca Soni, Florida’s Caroline Burckle and Gemma Spofforth and Arizona’s Lacey Nymeyer are nominated for the award.
Voting is done by NCAA senior women administrators. Balloting closes March 31 at 5 p.m. PDT.
Congrats to Rebecca, Caroline, Gemma, and Lacey for their nominations. I’m not even going to bother making predictions. KLJ won last year and that could have been easily predicted given her performances throughout her collegiate swimming career. This year is far more difficult. I’ll save my predictions for the Signings Sweepstakes instead!
P.S. Does anyone else love the name Gemma as much as I do? It’s no Spindrift, but I still love it!
Especially after these 2 World-record breaking swims. I am a little shocked by Stephanie Rice’s 400IM performance. Don’t get me wrong. I knew she’d win, and win big, but I didn’t think she’d take down the World Record. Congrats to her for achieving her childhood goal! I look forward to seeing her battle The Hoff in Beijing.
Disclaimer: We’re extremely pro-Hoff around here. Probably to the point where it completely clouds our judgement. Yes, she’s that cool. So forgive our bias when reading the next line.
Katie will take back her WR this year. Just watch.
And as for Emily Seebohm…she just might be the cutest thing ever! Congrats to her on the 50 Back WR. That record just doesn’t seem to last very long anymore! Hayley McGregory only held that WR for 13 days!
I also would like to say that I wish that the US Trials were earlier in the year. Maybe not right now since NCAAs always occupy the late March slot. Having them that close to the Olympics just doesn’t seem like a good idea. It’s almost as if the US athletes peak for Trials and some have a hard time re-tapering for the Games themselves. The turnaround is really quick. I think a mid-May Olympic Trials date would work better.
Then again, what do I know? I don’t swim. I’m just an outsider looking in and making observations.
It’s been in the back of our minds for a while. Don’t front, it’s been in the back of yours as well. What am I talking about?
Everytime I head to the grocery store, I take a short detour through the magazine aisle. During today’s trip, I spotted Dara Torres, so I thought I’d share the news.
