Even though we can’t see the wall-to-wall coverage of the games on ESPN Deportes, regular SportsCenter airs a 60 second update during the show. So, my nightly obsession with SportsCenter lead to seeing a swimmer on TV. It’s a good thing people! Check out the video below:
Catching up on the games also provided another revelation: Jessica Rodriquez really is spelled with a ‘q’ and not a ‘g’. All this time we thought it was a typo, but it is not. Our bad!
Other news out of Rio saw Mattie P. swim a best time to win the men’s 400 Free. We’re so proud. We could cry. But we’ll be strong. We’ll just find some way to scare the crap out of him in Indy. We’ll probably just say “Hi, Matt” again. That scared him the last time. Don’t see why it wouldn’t again. At least he didn’t run away from us like The Asian did. Yea, we’ll get him too.
Anyway, in honor of Matt’s 400 Free win, we present a gallery of shots we took in Santa Clara. Oh yes. We are everywhere, folks! Nevermind that he swims so many of the events that we are shooting anyway…minor detail.
ETA: SportsCenter’s ESPN Deportes video showing Matt’s win
Now you all know the Swim Aids are “Team Beard”, right? Just remember that as you continue to read this post.
Amanda walked the red carpet at the 2007 ESPY Awards last night. It’s obvious she’s training full-time again, because the bod was on point! Having said that, I’m not sure what she was wearing. A more flattering dress could have been a home run, but she wore this “interesting” orange number (See pic to the left).
We’re not sure what was going on, and why she chose this particular dress; the only acceptable excuse would be that she lost a bet. In any case, we hope she went home and immediately burned the dress.
In other news, Phelps actually wore shoes, not flip-flops, to the show. Yes, we are just as shocked as you.
ETA: Suz, the super sleuth, has done a bit of digging and learned that Amanda’s “dress” was designed by Jenny Packham. And it’s just as unfortunate looking on the runway model as on Amanda. There’s a black/white version that looks better, but that’s not much of a consolation.
USA Swimming’s executive director Chuck Wielgus is not a fan of Amanda’s decision to pose for Playboy
As a membership organization that caters primarily to children and teenagers, I don’t feel that the appearance by Ms. Beard in the July issue of Playboy Magazine is an appropriate portrayal of our sport. While we recognize the rights of all athletes to choose how to represent themselves in the media, USA Swimming is committed to promoting a different image of our organization. …
Maybe I missed the memo, but when did Amanda ever declare that her cover was supposed to be an accurate portrayal of the sport of swimming? Oh that’s right. She didn’t. I also don’t believe that Amanda’s intentions were to plant the seed in American age group swimmers’ minds that when they grow up, they should aim for a spot in Playboy. Amanda is making her own path, and any individual with even the slightest shred of common sense should see that what works for one does not necessarily work for others.
We stand by our earlier declarations that Amanda’s cover was amazing for the sport. It got the sports world talking about a swimmer. That is hard to do. After Kate Z. destroyed Janet’s 1500 WR, there was hardly a single mention of it on ESPN. My brother said he saw something, but I didn’t. A Playboy cover may not be the choice act to achieve water cooler discussion, but the sport of swimming in the United States is not in a position to make that call. In short, beggars can’t be choosy! Amanda is knocking that door down the best way she knows how. Swimmers will later on reap the benefits of her actions. Thank the lord for Amanda Beard, the trail blazer!
This post is dedicated to our girl Kaitlin Sandeno. Without even knowing it, she makes us laugh a LOT…much like her man, T-Dub!! Coincidence? We think not.
In any case, we got to chat with her quite regularly at the Santa Clara meet and we noticed a pattern of comments from ‘The Sandeno’: she apparently thinks she has a fat ass. No, we are serious. She shared with us that she ripped several of her Nike suits at the meet, but anyone could rip those things! Have you seen how tiny competition suits are?
So, to help Kaitlin see that she does not, in fact, have a “fat ass”, we decided a Swim Aids post was in order. It’s because we care so much, really. So, see that pic to the left? That is what we here at the Swim Aids consider a fat ass.
Kaitlin, girl, you look good! Do you realize how many women would kill for your “fat ass”!? Keep workin it, mama!
The Aussie swimmer with the most engaging and eletric smile is Brooke Hanson. And though she’s a newlywed of just 7 weeks, I have a feeling after this weekend, she probably isn’t doing a whole lot of smiling.
After hosting a spa and pool show Sunday night, Brooke suffered an apparent electrical shock and was immediately hospitalized. She was discharged Sunday night and now focuses on her recovery. The fierce competitor in Brooke can only think about getting well and returning to the pool, but she knows it may be some time before that happens.
So, we Swim Aids are keeping her in our thoughts and wishing her a speedy recovery!
I just know y’all have heard about Kate Ziegler absolutely destroying the oldest World Record on the books, right? If not, allow me to educate you.
The Scene: 2007 TYR Swim Meet of Champions, hosted annually by Mission Viejo Nadadores The Previous Wins: 200, 400, 800 Free The Victim: The 1500 Freestyle World Record, previously held by Janet Evans The Real Deal: 15:42.54
All I have to say is WOW!
Go Kate! Work it out, girl!
MORE: Our girl, lala, attended this meet and told me all about it when she got in last night! She was so excited as any of us would be had we been able to witness such an exhilirating race! She said that it was her favorite race ever! (And keep in mind that she was in Melbourne during the “Phelps Show”). She also shared that the crowd was on its feet from the 200m mark of the race until the end; cheering Kate on every stroke of the way! Here is a video of the last 3 minutes of Kate’s race. Thanks, lala, for the details of this historical race! We can’t wait to see you in 10 days!
Okay, so I’m all for Amanda’s playboy cover. And I don’t mind defending my view (if you want that, hit me up!). But, I swear, if I ever met this guy who wrote this blog/article, there would be more than debating going on! Put up your dukes and read some pieces of the article!
So gold medal swimmer Amanda Beard has posed nude in Playboy, and is featured on the cover of the July edition of the men’s magazine. Big deal. If she weren’t an Olympian she’d be just another girl willing to take her clothes off for the camera.
ANNNND
Beard is a successful athlete and is relatively good looking, but other than the fact that she is an Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer, there’s nothing about her posing nude - or her looks - that is noteworthy.
Catching up on the games also provided another revelation: Jessica Rodriquez really is spelled with a ‘q’ and not a ‘g’. All this time we thought it was a typo, but it is not. Our bad!
Now you all know the Swim Aids are “Team Beard”, right? Just remember that as you continue to read this post.
This post is dedicated to our girl 
The Aussie swimmer with the most engaging and eletric smile is Brooke Hanson. And though she’s a newlywed of just 7 weeks, I have a feeling after this weekend, she probably isn’t doing a whole lot of smiling.
