Swimming Blogs - Jeff Grace

Because I spent the last week in Tucson I was able to watch ESPN Sports Centre (we up in the great white north don’t get ESPN unless we are willing to sacrifice an arm or a leg). Two things astonished me about their telecasts; the first was that hockey was included in their programming and the second was I had the ability to follow the Charlotte Ultra Swim, on ESPN!!!

I know most of you will not care about the first (except for certain Carolina Hurricanes fans that live in Tucson and yes I am still devastated seeing the Bruins lose) so let’s discuss the second. After the Olympics there was much debate whether Phelpsmania could have staying power, it was an even bigger debate whether it would after ‘The Picture’ was published.

After watching the coverage of the Ultraswim I think it can be stated that Phelpsmania has had the staying power that all of us in the sport had hoped it would, at least for now. Really when is the last time that you heard the anchors on Sports Centre talk about straight arm freestyle?

When is the last time you saw that many reporters on deck? Phelps stated that he felt like there were more cameras pointed at him in Charlotte than there were in Beijing (with a bit of sarcasm I am sure). Even if there was an obvious lack of knowledge by those reporting on the event, they were reporting on the event!!

One year after the Olympic Games Phelps continues to bring attention to the sport and overall has been a great ambassador for swimming.

So for now Phelpsmania is alive and well, let’s keep our fingers crossed that it continues.