July 2008 Swimming Articles

July 9, 2008Havertown rapper Skip-Dawg has just unveiled the official anthem (and music video) for U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist and World Record holder, Brendan Hansen, as excitement builds for the fast approaching 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.  The music video is on YouTube and the song “We Will Rise” is available on iTunes. Skip-Dawg penned “We Will Rise” as a tribute to his former teammate and longtime friend, Brendan Hansen, and has dedicated the song “to Brendan and to all the fans who love, support, and cheer him on in his quest for gold in the 100M Breastroke and 4x100… more »

Georgia Press Release: Former Lady Bulldog Kara Lynn Joyce has been named to the U.S. Olympic team after USA Swimming announced Monday that Dara Torres will not swim the 100m individual event in Beijing. Kara Lynn finished seventh in the 100m free with a 55.02, posting her fastest time of the meet (54.66) in the prelims. So, she's made a quick turn-around in her travel arrangements to join the U.S. training camp in Palo Alto, Calif. "Kara Lynn is very excited despite the logistics, and she's thrilled to be on the team," said Jack Bauerle, head coach of the U.S. women's squad.… more »

Women's 50 Free For the second morning in a row the American Record fell in the 50 free.Tuscon Ford's Lara Jackson riped a 24.50 to become the fastest American woman ever. Qualifying 2nd was breaststroker... I mean freestyler Jessica Hardy. After qualifying for the 4x100 Free Relay last night, Jessica swam a 24.63. Also dropping under the 25 second mark was Dara Torres (24.72). Men's 1500 Cruising to a 14:50.24 makes one think Erik Vendt's a threat for some records tomorrow night. Erik hung around 29 high per 50 the entire swim. Chad La Tourette qualified 2nd with a 15:02.78,… more »

Men's 50 Free Gary Hall Jr swam his fastest 50 freestyle since he set the American record in 2000. He is seeded third. Cullen Jones swam like a man who already had a spot on the team in tow and looks to be the class of the field after his 21.58. Women's 800 Freestyle: Remember when Kate Zeigler was America's next distance star? A wrench in her ascendance came when Katie Hoff decided to compete in this event. Still, the big stars have looked vulnerable while this trials meet starts to take a bit of a spooky feel. Do not… more »

Women's 100 free: Downstairs the rabid media waited. Then they waited some more. Then the word came- "Dara will be out in thirty minutes". Torres was one of the biggest stories coming into the meet but all the attention so far has been on the world record performances by younger stars. Today she posted the third fastest time and seems poised to make the team amid a slew of mediocre swims. Only Natalie Coughlin seemed ready to make a statement in the event with her 53.69 while others, many of whom are competing in their third or fourth event, paced… more »

Men's 100 free This event maybe more than other just has too many good swimmers in it. Ricky Berens, fresh off his third place finish in the 200 last night and toting a 48.0 relay split from last summer, finished in 17th. Adam Ritter, 19th, will also be watching the semi-finals tonight. The crowd was mostly composed through the first heats as swimmers struggled to go under 50. Then Jason Lezak cruised to a 48.15 to break his own American record. Before he could recover his breath, Garret Weber-Gale had further lowered the record to 47.78. Both felt as if… more »

Women's 200 Free:In 2004, 1:59 put you on the Olympic 4x200 relay. In 2008 you needed a 1:59 to qualify in the top 16. The morning swims today were for the most part fairly uneventful as the majority of the top competitors swam measured races. Expect more action from the swimmers who are not Katie Hoff or Allison Schmitt as they fight for a spot in the finals and the subsequent 75% chance to make the team. Men's 200 FlyPhelps, as expected, swam an effortless 1:55. In an event where only the number two spot is up for grabs, both… more »