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Swimming \ Diving

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions: 2004 Aug - Oct: Olympics: Swimming \ Diving users admin

Author Message
Zachyd
Member

03-17-2002

Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 9:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This is a good place to talk about swimming and diving and what happened in the different sports.

Watch out for the Men's 400m IM today. Go to the
***SPOILERS*** Olympic Updates...
thread on the Olympics page that you just came from for info on who won ahead of time! I have posted the winners there.



Marysafan
Member

08-07-2000

Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have to say that I was very impressed with young Michael Phelps after watching him in the preliminary rounds today. They said he has a perfect swimmer's body. He looked so smooth!
He appears to be off to a good start.

I wasn't aware of the unbelievable set of circumstances surrounding Australia's Ian Thorpe. It must have taken a lot of soul searching for his teammate to give up his spot so that Ian could swim in his favorite event. Ian had fallen off the blocks and into the pool disqualifying himself from the competition in the trials. From what I understand all of Australia and much of the swimming world was aghast! It took his teammate two weeks to make the decision to step aside and allow Ian to compete in his place. The whole country must have been buzzing!

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow. I wasn't aware of Ian's story with falling off the blocks. That WAS incredible of his teammate to give up his position so that Ian could compete in the event.

And I also agree about Phelps. He did great in the prelims this morning. Can't wait to see him tonight.

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Also wanted to say, I'm enjoying watching the Synchronized Diving right now. Very cool. :-)

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 12:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Swimming on NBC right now.

Women's Heats 400m IM.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 6:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
There's something about watching hard-bodied, goodlooking, young men getting out of a pool, dripping wet, with very little on.

Oh my, is it getting hot in here?

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 6:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yummmmm, I agree Twinkie! :-)

Marysafan
Member

08-07-2000

Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 6:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just my thought on the 400m relay. When Michael Phelps first won there wasn't a whole lot of emotion, but as I saw it, when he realized that his teammate Eric Vendt got second place he was very excited. He seems to be a real team player.

Was absolutely THRILLED for Kaitlin Saderno. Her silver medal winning performance was fantastic! I was really feeling sorry for anyone who's name wasn't Jenny Thompson last night.

I agree with Whoami and what she said about the gymnastics reporting. Our commentators are spending too much time talking about the people they know from past years than they are spending time giving credit to those out performing them this year. It's lazy reporting in my opinion. Too much relying on the pre-packaged info handed out to you rather than reporting the events as they unfold.

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 3:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Someone to root for in diving.....she grew up right here in Longmont where I live! Cool!

Kimiko Soldati

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 3:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That is cool Who!

Which diving event(s) is she competing in and when are her comps? I want to make sure to keep an eye out for her. A lot of the divers train right around here but I'm not familiar with her.

I can't wait to see Laura Wilkinson.

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 4:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
According to the bio I linked to, she's competing in the 3m Springboard. Interesting bio. She started off in gymnastics, and switched to diving after an injury. Didn't even start diving till she was 20.

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 4:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm such a dork Who! LOL I didn't even catch the words '3M Springboard' when I checked her bio. :-)

After doing some poking around, I found that the 3M Springboard prelims start on Wed, Aug 25th. Semis and finals are on Thur, Aug 26th.

On the side note of diving & gymnastics, I saw an interview The Today Show's Katie Couric did with the Womens gymnastic team one morning either the day before or the day before that of the start of the games. When Katie asked them what their 'other' favorite sport to watch in the Summer Olympics was, 1 girl answered Basketball and all of the others answered diving. :-)

Not1worry
Member

07-30-2002

Monday, August 16, 2004 - 5:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The synchronized diving is fascinating to watch! One dive is amazing, but to basically double all of that and do it at the same time is incredible. My kids, who are 6 & 8, really like to watch it. My only irritation is with the one woman commentator. She has a very annoying voice and as my DD would say, she just yaps too much.

Who, I was on a swim team called the Longmont Skeeters back in the early 80s, LOL.

I do wish they'd stop laying it on so thick about Phelps' quest for Spitz's record. Let the kid compete. I enjoy watching Thorpe much more, that big grin of his is fun to see. I dislike hearing soooo much about Phelps, from the cell phone commercials to the constant reminders of his medal chances. There are a few other athletes in Athens, I believe.

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Monday, August 16, 2004 - 5:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Let me just say. Ian Thorpe is FINE FINE FINE!!!!!

ian

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Monday, August 16, 2004 - 6:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow...did anyone watch the finals to synchronized diving this afternoon? The last couple rounds were tremendously exciting...the top three teams going into the round had mistakes ~ and we're not talking just a little splash!

GREAT show, and the place went wild when the Greeks won Gold.



Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Monday, August 16, 2004 - 6:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm hoping they show it again tonight on NBC Teach. I wasn't able to see it when y'all saw it. Diving is scheduled to be on for tonight but I'm afraid that that was about the women's synch diving they showed at the beginning of their coverage this evening.

I want to see what y'all are talking about!

Kappy
Member

06-29-2002

Monday, August 16, 2004 - 11:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow ~ I just have to say that while I will continue to root for Phelps to win as many golds as he can, I am so impressed with Ian Thorpe. That man is amazing! And not bad to look at either. Thanks for the photo, Hamster!

I saw a bit of the synchronized diving and enjoyed it. These people are such amazing athletes. I mean I know that's why they're there (duh) but they still amaze me with their abilities.

Hamsterlady
Member

07-03-2003

Friday, August 20, 2004 - 5:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wooohoooo! Diving's on!

Go Laura! :-)

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Friday, August 20, 2004 - 9:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow...hope Laura and Sarah both "kick it up a notch" for the semis!

Jan
Member

08-01-2000

Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 10:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
YAY!!! we have two divers in the finals!!! ("we" being Canada in this instance although the USA has two as well, doesn't it?)

I hope we can finally get another medal. As one of our host commentators (Brian Williams) said the other day..it's not that we need to increase our funding to sports in Canada, it's that we have to change how it is allocated. Canada has more SUPPORT staff in Greece that we have ATHLETES!!!!!! (The USA, apparently, has less than 1 support person for every 2 athletes).

Like everything else in Canada..it's bureaucracy at work ,I guess. Bureaucracy thy name is Canada.

Allietex
Member

08-16-2002

Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 2:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Have you ever seen anything like Phelps giving up his place in the last race to Crocker so he would have a chance at a gold. Sure Phelps knew he would get one too because he was in the semi finals, but hey, most atheletes want that exposure and glory of actually dong the race. I thought it was a great gesture to a teammate. I love Pelps. He is such a mixture of confidence and humility. A great example for American atheletes.

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 2:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I thought that was one of the classier moments of these Games Allietex!

I have a question about the swimmers. When they are preparing for the race, they splash water from the pool all over themselves. I'm assuming that's to acclimate their bodies to the water and temperature. But why do some of them put it in their mouths? Most of them I see spit it back out, but I swear some of them swallow it!

Beachcomber
Member

08-26-2003

Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 2:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Who, you are reading my thoughts!! I was wondering the same thing (and grossing out about it at the same time!).

Any swimmers out there to answer this burning question?

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 3:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i asked this question of my daughter (the swimmer). the splashing of water is to acclimate their bodies to the temperature of the water, so that it isn't a shock when they dive into the pool. as for the water in the mouth, since they breathe out of their mouths when they race, it is to keep their mouths moist, as they dry out. as to why some swallow the water, my daughter said "it's gross, but some do it, guess they are just thirsty, besides there are no little kids in it, so noone has peed in it!" i had to laugh when she said that.

Midlifer
Member

04-16-2003

Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 3:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
To you Canadian posters, I say "congrats" for your diver making a silver. Not only did I enjoy watching him dive, but I also enjoyed watching his parents' reactions!

Djgirl
Member

07-17-2002

Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 6:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Midlifer! After hurdles, it was nice to see!

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 8:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Landi, for the explanation!

And I too was glad for the Canadian diver! And his parents! That's what I like to see in these competitions, true elation for an accomplishment. Those who come to the Games expecting and accepting nothing less than gold not only set themselves up for a big disappointment, they end up not appreciating the Gold as much, since its "as it should be."

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 4:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
OK. Now I have two questions about diving......

1. I noticed various levels of platforms and springboards at the diving venue. Understandable course, since there are various levels of diving events. One platform though is just a foot or two over the pool. I'm no diving expert, but I seriously doubt they have a "1 foot platform" event. Is this platform maybe just one used to warm up off of? It must have a purpose, since its a solid enough structure, it would be silly to cover the cost of building it if it served no purpose.

2. Well, I have a picture to illustrate my next question......What with the velocity these men hit the water. Um, just how do they keep those speedos from getting yanked off?



Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 8:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
1. the "1" foot platform is for practicing and learning new dives. you don't learn how to do those handstand dives from 10 meters up!

2. first - those speedos are tight tight tight. my daughter normally wears a 28 - 30 in practice and a 24 in competitions (and she is just a swimmer). also the men's have waist ties, that they tie SUPER TIGHT.

hope this answers your questions