Swimming Blogs - Chris DeSantis

I'm doubling up today because we are very far behind. Its likely that half my picks will take place after preliminaries have begun in Beijing. Some people will cry foul- "You have to make all your picks before the games start!" they'll say. Well to them, I really have no defense. My picks won't be done before the start. and if you don't think I'm going to take full advantage of the first few days of results to make my picks then you don't know me at all.

Day 4 Quebec Quietin' Picks:

Women's 200 Free:

1. Federica Pellegrini

2. Katie Hoff

3. Sara Isakovic

Rationale: Went with Pellegrini in the 400 and I believe she has a good race in her here as well. I see Hoff developmentally very close to where Phelps was in 2004. She has really filled out her event program since making the team at a very young age and has made a lot of ground particularly freestyle events. I like what she's doing in not specializing too much in freestyle- after all she's just 19. As she matures I look for her to possibly hone in on the 200/400, but for now she's just a gold medal threat and not an overwhelming favorite. Also feisty in this field is the youngster from Croatia, Isakovic. Her improvement arc has been somewhat similar to that of Allison Schmitt. I left former world record holder Annika Lurz off because frankly I'm too spooked by the past of Franziska Van Almsick.

200 Butterfly Men:

1. Michael Phelps

2. Pawel Korzenowski

3. Gil Stovall

Rationale: Do I need to explain my gold medal pick? Didn't think so. I like Korzenowski because he's been such a consistent swimmer in this event at big meets. Plus, Denis Pankratov medaled in this event 12 years ago in Atlanta by abusing a highly questionable dolphin kick. Check it out:

Why do I bring this up? Well, for centuries Russia held parts of Poland in subjugation. What better way for a modern day pole to get revenge than to defeat Nikolai Skvortsov in this event. Stovall should win a tight battle with another consistent veteran, Takeshi Matsuda, for bronze.

200 IM Women:

1. Stephanie Rice

2. Katie Hoff

3. Kirsty Coventry

Rationale: I think it would be reasonable to assume since my day 1 picks that Mish has put in a call to Stephanie Rice's "camp" and let her know some idiot didn't pick her in the 400 IM. Rice is going to send a statement. She also has way too much speed and its hard to go against the only woman to have been 2:08. Hoff has four great strokes but not as much raw speed. Its well documented how much I love Coventry, and I don't like Coughlin in this particular event. I don't think its a race she looks forward to.

4x200 Freestyle Relay Men:

1. USA

2. Australia

3. Canada (As much as I hate to admit it)

Rationale: This one is actually going to be more of a rant. I just thought of one more reason I hate the Aussie men. Four years ago this was the most exciting race in the whole damn meet. Now Ian Thorpe up and retires and this one won't even be close. If Ian is still at his best, this is still a race that Australia could be in. But when they don't have one leg that is faster than America's third best, they are in trouble. Canada will threaten but is a little weak after the trio of Brent Hayden, Colin Russell and Rick Say. Still, remember that the Canadians have yet to race in the newest generation of suits. Maybe they could even beat the Aussies.