Larsen Jensen

All I know is there are a bunch of USA National Team coaches and swimmers out there who speak very highly of Larsen. He's just the right blend of assuredness and humility to be a great athlete. His assuredness may come off another way if you don't know the deal....but the deal is that to be a 14:45 1500 swimmer you have to be a little bit different.

To win that 400 race at this year's OT's and to win the way he did, you have to be a little bit different too. To actually THINK that you are going to beat PVK AND Erik Vendt on the last 50 you have GOT TO BE y, arrogant, an effin jerk, whatever you want to call it you've got to be it.
You've got to know you are the man at that level. Any amount of sissyness gets magnified off the last turn and you're done.
Maybe if you've caught Larsen at a "bad time" he was just practicing being a bad dude who is more right than everyone else and stronger than everyone else around him....because at the biggest moments of his life he's got to be bigger, badder, and better than those around him.
Everybody's got their habits...

he is such a

some of you idiots can try to defend this d-bag, but I was at dinner at OTs and this clown was rude to staff, arrogant with people around.... Hopefully this is his last Olympics

Larsen might be a fine guy but this is another poster who didn't actually listen to Garretts question. There was no disrespect intended, Larsen was just having an insecure day. Hopefully he does well for himself in China. I for one would welcome a world class performance.

To those who think Larsen is arrogant and rude, please watch some of his other interviews, or maybe just hold your comments until you actually have a conversation with the guy. This video may not show him at his best, but hey, we dont always express ourselves the way we want to, especially when completely exhausted...in real life, (not floswimming.com) Larsen is incredibly HUMBLE, classy, considerate, intelligent, hardworking, passionate, and driven. He is one of the best athletes in the world, (NOT an underdog!) and if he were treated with the respect he deserves by this interviewer, and the media in general, the majority of these judgemental comments would not exist.

All of the American swimmers are phenomenal, including Vendt and PVK, but don't be surprised when Jensen delivers in Bejing.

Because they are both equally arrogant.... and rude... and not team players.

uhmmm why would larsen be a good match for ariana?

Funniest video ever

Based on Larsen's personality, he may be a perfect MATCH for Ariana Kukors.

i think he seemed slightly rude... i thought the question was fair game, but his response was kind of vindictive in a way.

maybe he just has a bit of after race aggressiveness - i've experienced something similar to that before - altho I think you learn to grow out of that after a while

I'm not saying that larsen does not deserve to go to the olympics because obviously he does. if your that fast you deserve every bit of it. but he is the biggest ahole i have ever met. he is never grateful and never gracious, and he is always being a jerk. I know a family that housed him for a year in their house and he was the most ungrateful little jerk imaginable. and for all you who say he isn't full of himself and are sticking up to him, look into what happened to him his first year at usc... he got kicked off the team because of he's attitude. basically, he may be fast but he still needs to clean up his act.

not a bad question or response...im sure jensen felt like he had somehing to prove about usc and salo (after the performance at ncaa), you could tell by the way he reacted, hopping out of the pool...i loved it, you could tell he is passionate about trojan swimming!! thats what the sport needs, more passion. i was pulling for vendt, but was happy to see jensen make the team.. i also love how the sport is so competitive now, that ar holders can be considered underdogs

I don't think Larsen looks like a jerk ... I think he makes Garrett look a little foolish ... like he should have done his homework.

Bush with his 20% approval rating has trouble inspiring this vindictiveness.

Many of you in this forum are clowns. Larsen wasn't out of line at all. Why are you hating on him? Hes one of a select few people in the world who is willing to put in the work and combine that with his talent, he is the AMERICAN RECORD HOLDER in the 400, 800, and 1500. Give the man some respect, and keep your jealousy to yourself. While I imagine Garrett might be a little miffed that Larsen didn't give him his full attention, Im sure he still respects him. If you want to vent about your inferiority complex, do us all a favor and do it somewhere else, because this site is uplifting and informative and surprisingly well read by many age groupers. Many young swimmers are going to read your comments about Larsen and others and get the wrong idea.

Larsen is a tough swimmer and shows the attitude it takes to be the best. He'd be a fool to admit himself an underdog, because he is far from being one. It doesn't matter how nice he his, he's got guts and that's what this sport needs.

Well I guess PVK took Larsen in the mile, but remember, Larsen dropped 13 seconds in '04 between trials and the games. NBC thoroughly convinced me of their lack of respect of these athletes, 2 commercial breaks and a trials recap, we missed a lot of good racing in there somewhere.

Comnputer Science 3- A point well taken, us swim nerds possibly could do something better with our time (but it is the OT's). Also, it takes a big person to admit a mistake, you could have just not responded. That's admirable on anonymous websites like this!

I stand corrected 101, I should have listened to it again I misheard it the first time. But get a life and move on? We're watching swimming videos on this website, there's little to no chance that's going to happen.

Computer Science 3- You better watch the interview again, Garret never said "how does it feel being an underdog?" And like I said, let's all get a life and move on.

Garrett did refer to him as an underdog, 101. He said "how does it feel being an underdog?". Even someone in the general level journalism classes should see that comment takes Larsen's underdog status as a given, presenting it as a fact from the get-go. Larsen was the American record holder in 2 events before the trials, and in 3 at the time of this interview. Larsen was not given the opportunity to respond to the notion, as you stated, but he chose to address a misconception anyway. Perhaps you should look at getting into moderation of CNN democratic debates, your idea of an open question is along the lines of that of George Stephanopoulos'.

Garrett didn't call anyone an underdog. He asked Larsen (after congratulating him and prefacing with the comment "as much as an Olympian can") if he felt like an underdog. That is a big and essential difference. It is obvious by Larsens reaction that he is very sensitive to the topic. Garrett, like good interviewers do, gave Larsen the opportunity to respond to the notion. Larsens had the stage and his response speaks for itself. No matter if you think his response was good or bad, it is what it is. Let's move on. Garrett and Larsen probably already have.

\/\/\/ "NO show why is that disrespect being shown to someone who was seeded 24 coming into the meting and ended 8th".......wow, you have truly mastered the English language......and i have also never heard of "swanning" a breastroke event

The SOB is Garrett for calling the first American in 25 years to hold the American Record in the 400m, 800m, and 1500 free an underdog. Talk about a lack of respect. If you watch all the other interview Larsen has given at Trials (i.e. 400m free press conference) he continues to give accolades to his competitors and discusses the honor of being an Olympian. Would you call Phelps and underdog after he swan a breast stroke event, NO show why is that disrespect being shown to someone who was seeded 24 coming into the meting and ended 8th. Very Classy Garret... NOT

larsen do u feel like an underdog? if u heard the question is a yes or no question, you didnt even answer the question... he didnt ask u if u were aroud the block or if u where in the olympic team.. if u didnt notice he say congratulation at the begining so he knew that... but i guess u didnt notice.. todo un pendejo...

We need more people like Larsen in swimming. The love fest we usually see is just an offshoot of kissing up to sponsors. Larsen's in a position where he can be honest and candid. This is the most genuine interview I've seen come out of the OT.

Larsen, I hope your goggles fall off during the 1500 and the chlorine poisons your eyes so much that you cant make the trip to Beijing.

hey larsen ---- woah, relax kiddo. don't take things so personally. it's just a question, not a statement on what you are. but you made quite a statement about yourself in how you chose to answer the question.

wow, hes a douche... what was up his ass during that interview? seriously garrett has worked REALLY hard to do everything to this site and really deserves respect... as much as i want the USA to win, i'll be enjoying every minute of PVK CRUSHING jensen in bejing...

yes larsen is a good guy but flashing out like that saying dont call me an under dog was kinda mean. the reporter was just asking him if thats how he felt. Larsen didnt need to be so jumpy at him hes a reporter

larsen - 1
floswimming - 0

I just want everyone to know that Larsen, not Ryan, is my best friend.

he's never going to get interviewed if he keeps acting like that. he should be friendlier to media if he wants people to keep talking to him and giving him credit for the awesome times he is swimming

Let's all remember that they waited a day to interview Larsen about his 400 fr. And talking about getting no respect, on NBC after he won the 400 Phelps got another interview, while Larsen was exstactic about his win. What do you want more swimmers giving boring interviews? Let's here more about Phelps and his best friend Lochte.

not only was he incredibly arrogant in this interview but also during his interview on deck with over 12,000 people watching in Omaha. He is not a class act in any way. there is a big difference between confidence and being y. what a jerk! Its to bad he acted like this. HOpefully he will be better in Beijing.

Larsen can never live up to Vendt

Give this guy a break. Nobody in the states gives a crap about the distance freestyle events and he feels he has to have this nobody cares about us attitude in order to compete with hackett and others for gold in beijing. plus he's a swimmer not an NFL player who deals with media all the time.

Giving an athlete the opportunity to respond to a widely held perception that was percieved all over the media pool is not asking a "stupid ass" question. How many people were talking about Larsen being the prime mover in the 400 before the event? Garrett prefaced the comment saying "as much as an olympian can be considered an underdog" how ?etc... Asking the question gave Larsen a stage to address the issue however he wanted to. We obviously saw how he wanted to. A viewer asked about Larsens reaction on-line during Garrett's live show later that afternoon. Garrett responded that he thought it was great for Larsen to be passionate about the mis-perception (I can't remember his exact words but the Live Shows are archived on the Main page of this site). This is simply Journalism 101. And if "The Magic Man" wants to hear really "stupid ass questions" he should listen to NBC coverage or many of the other web-sites trying to cover this event.

Swim1970 obviously does not know the guy. you're the prick.

Larsen is the man quit hating on him because of that loser asking him stupid ass questions. Thats ridiculous! He is the fastest AMERICAN ALIVE in the distance events.

What a PRICK! Your ass will be humbled by the Aussies in Bejing!

Hope everyone's enjoying their haterade while they ride in the back of the whaaaaaambulance. Did someone say he "didn't deserve to go," as in, to Beijing? Because he acted like a big meanie in an interview? He is the FASTEST AMERICAN DISTANCE FREESTYLER EVER. It's not a "nice guy" competition--otherwise that dude from HR who brings in brownies would be going to the olympics. Vendt is awesome. So is Larsen. GO USA!

tight interview, i like the attitude. larsen is the man

cant wait to watch hackett and vendt (two class acts) absolutely annihalate jensen at the olympics.

I'm not not the best in the world. I'm not not arrogant. I'm not not going to lose to Vendt in the 1500.

- Not Larsen Jensen

what a tool. honestly, have some class. he is acting like a thug football player.

YEAH 9-0!!!!

Well, I read the comments before I watched the video and sure Larsen was pretty curt with Gareth, but I actually thought he held back on what he wanted to say....wouldnt that be tick a few people off if he really let rip! Being an aussie, even I am a fan of Erik Vendt after seeing his videos....his courage and diplomacy are 2nd to none. It takes a hell of a person to speak like that after missing the team in the 400. I vote for Vendt crushing the arrogant Jensen and a dead heat at the Olympics with Hackett in a new world record time! A fitting end to two awesome warriers of distance swimming!

I can't wait to watch Grant Hackett dominate Larsen! Larsen is so full of himself and i can't wait to watch a REAL swimmer put him in his place. Go Hackett

also ( to waaaaaahbulance) they have fireworks...or at least huge flames when the first 2 touch at finals

this guy is a tool... thank god he is representing the US.. he is going to solidify the peoples perceptions of Americans abroad...

A**holes

larsen does not deserve to go with this attitude, even if he didnt like the underdog question, he should have answered it with just a little dignity, vendt deserves to be on the team much more than this coward

Hey Waaaaahmbulance, they are selling beer at the Trials believe it or not

vendtfan: well said

To even be able to GIVE an interview after missing the Olympic team by such a little amount (arguably because he's so small and doesn't have as long as a reach for the finish) says a lot about Vendt as a swimmer and a person. Erik Vendt is a swimmer that little kids can look up to. What about Jensen? First of all everybody making excuses for him should realize that he had the power to say exactly what they're saying, politely. Instead of his condescending/belittling remarks to Garret who-A. Knows what he's talking about, and B. Is far from a mainstream interviewer like the ones at NBC-He could have been a bit more articulate and given some thoughtful comments in respect to a great question which had no harsh intentions. I'm highly disappointed that somebody in such a classy sport would react this defensively to a legitimate question. Would you rather your children look up to Erik Vendt or Larsen Jensen?

vendt is a classy guy. another guy to look out for to make the final 8 is tom koucheravy.

No it wasn't you tard. It was about the 400 free from the night before

The question was in relation to the 200 free where he is the Underdog

He could have handled the situation better but as i said that underdog question should not be the first one asked to him the day after he gets the AR in the 400 and wins and drops 2 secs of his 200 free. Garret in my opinion didn't ask the questions in the right order. If he would have asked that question later, it probably would have been fine. With that first question it screwed up the rest of the interview and put jensen in a horrible mood.

A few thoughts re: Waaaaahmbulance & Brian:

I think it's interesting that the phrase 'telling it how it is' often tends to be a euphemism for rude or discourteous behavior. And I don't think the majority of people think Vendt "walks on water" -- they probably just recognize that he always seems completely courteous and polite, even minutes after finishing 3rd at Trials. Larsen can certainly be upset about a perceived lack of respect, but he doesn't have to take it out on Garret (whose questions were not at all disrespectful). I don't think he's a bad guy or an 'a-hole', I just think he probably could've handled the situation a little better.

"Much more faster". Wow. I first got angry with Jensen when he ran his mouth about Hackett, who had just kicked taken it to him with one lung, now this. I hope he guts crushed in the mile.

Somebody call the waaaaahmbulance. Larsen says it how it is. A lot of people get really butt hurt about that. Erik is a class act, no doubt. Everybody wants swimming to go "mainstream" and be successful. The truth is if everybody is as bland as Michael Phelp's personality, the sport will never be financially successful.

Larsen's already got the sport off to a good start. Maybe some bitter rivalries MIGHT BE A GOOD THING.
Here's a few other suggestions to bring swimming in to the mainstream:
1. Sell alcohol at the meets. Nothing is more dull than a swim meet. Why not make it more entertaining with some drinks.
2. Have like fireworks and entrance songs for each swimmer. Give them nicknames. Think WWE.
3. Get a better announcer than Rowdy Gaines. I'm thinking somebody like Michael Buffer (The guy who does let's get ready to rumble).
4. Bring in some hot cheerleaders.

You guys need to stop acting like a bunch of 8th graders. Larsen has a right to be pissed because everyone thought he was "washed up" or "hasn't dropped a good time since athens" Everyone seems to have a short memory. Remember Larsen finished 4th in the 400 in athens behind Thorpe, Hackett, and Keller, not exactly a slouch. and he has become much more faster. And also Larsen came within a second of breaking the 500 and 1650 records his last year at NCAA's not to mention a 3:45 low at duel in the pool. Am I missing something here? Are these not smoking times? Not don't get me wrong, I think the world of Erik Vendt, but everyone thinks he walks on water. Larsen before the race was the AR holder in the 800 and 1500, and now has the 400, so it is not that Larsen is a prick, you would be mad to if you had that resume, and were treated like a pogue and got zero credit. He always has to defend himself (and Salo) and I just think the question was the wrong one to ask him

Hey moron your the douche bag for knocking on larsen. get a grip on your life fag. also, erik vendt won't be swimming the 400 free. I'm pretty sure larsen is content on swimming the 400 over the 200 any day. So, my point is you sir are an ass

hey everybody, i wont even be swimming the 200 free at the olympics, yet i have the audacity to act like an when asked if i feel like an underdog. apparently i'm a huge douche bag.

The timing of the interview is horrible. I swam just before him and walking down those stairs after a race is probably the worst pain imaginable. He obviously still has the juices flowing. The questions asked are kind of starting to sound like the guy who interviews the Olympians on the deck after the award ceremony.

was cheering for vendt, but i was excited for Jensen none the less, until now. I cant wait for vendt to put him in his place during the mile

dan velez: keep in mind that right before vendts interview he had just finished THIRD by around .2 at the trials....vendt is the one who should have been acting like a total ashole like larsen did but instead vendt was gracious and showed an unbelieveable amount of class like he always does....Jensen is a joke i hope vendt smokes him in the mile.

Great interview Jensen - NOT
what a joke, show some class for the US.

jesus, his attitude is terrible. even if you are tired and mad you can sitll show some respect for your fans

Sometimes a chip on the shoulder is correlated with a competitive drive and a will to win--not necessarily a bad thing. Vendt is probably my favorite swimmer--but he got third. Jensen won a battle and he has more throughout the week: let him have an aggressive attitude. Half the men's freestyle AR's? Act like you know, son!

it would be nice to see how vendt would react to the same such aggression presented to larsen. the questions were completely different including tone and content

wow. what a humble person. notttt

i hope vendt crushes him in the 1500!

vendt is a true class act. he shows how distance should be carried out in this country. didnt know we wanted an ignorant SOB going around being our top distance man. watch vendt's interview and tell me that jensen is a true class act....please!! GO VENDT! i hope he kills him in the 1500

finally someone standing against yet another form of media trying to play favorites. congrats on embarassing flo and giving the interviewer something to think about. REAL.

I don't care who he is or what his standing in distance swimming is.... if you can't give a gracious interview you don't belong in the spotlight.

i can understand why he wouldnt like the underdog question but he needs to learn to be classier. I hope Vendt kicks his ass in the 1500

what a jerk... he needs to learn some humility and how to roll with it when the press asks him questions he doesnt like

It was a simple yes or no question. Obviously his answer was "no.' Couldn't he have just said that and not gotten all pissy about it?

This guy is a joke... Vendt would have represented the US so much better. I wish PVK destroyed him last night.

You have to understand a couple things here. 1) Larsen, by the sound of being out of breath, just finished his 200 free swimming a best time ever. He was a little tired and edgy, probably. 2) To be the the premier distance swimmer in the US and one of the top in the world, but still considered an underdog...that is a little disappointing. And thirdly, maybe most importantly, he swims events that get nearly no respect from our country. As a sprinter, I hear comments about how exciting races were to watch and whatnot. And honestly, last nights 400 free was the most exciting race I have ever seen in my life. Not just because how close it was, but to think that we have four guys on the national team that can swim that fast is just amazing. Larsen is such an intense guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve. Maybe our country should start paying more respect to the distance swimmers.

What a y SOB, who does he think he is. Nobody talks like that, not even phelps when he deserves to. Vendt is such a better representitive for America and probably a better swimmer

VENDT!!! VENDT!!!!!!! VENDT!!!!!!! VENDT!!!!!!!!! VENDT!!!!!.....Erik vendt is a class act all the way.......unlike jensen from what this interview shows.

I've never been a fan of Larsen. Just watching the way he acts around meets, he looks like a y a**. As much as I don't like his personality, I'll give him credit for being the top distance swimmer in America. He trains like an animal and is a tough racer. With that being said, I hope Vendt takes him in the mile.

Full of himself..... geez. are you serious? he is soo tired of people not giving him enough credit for his distance swimming. He has the AR in the 400, 800, 1500 free. Goes to show he is our premier U.S. distance swimmer, but hardly anyone gives him credit and this interview the first question being asked if he was an underdog just ticks him off after making the team and winning the 400.

He broke the american record in the 800 free and was darn close in the 1500 at world in 2005. plus the way he swam in california just before these trials also showed how he was doing. he is not as much under the radar as hall jr. Gary did go to world in 05' or 07' and didnt go to pan pacs in 06'.

He was an underdog the same way GHJ is always an underdog. He's swims for the big show and he hasn't been incredibly fast since the Olympics.

I dont understand how you can consider him an underdog after making the olympics in that event in 2004. After PVK it was pretty much up in the air in my opinion between vendt and Larsen. The way I saw klete swim in practice against Ous and Larsen kind of showed me he wasn't back into his 2004 shape. I mean yes it was one practice, but in order to be at the level these guys are at, your practices have to be stellar everyday.

I LOVE LARSEN

dang larsen seriously didn't like that underdog question. I have been telling people that he will make the team in the 400 and mile and im so glad he did last night and proved a lot of people wrong. so many people were saying that he hasn't swam well since athens, but this proves that he is in even better shape that 2004. Larsen all the way

Oh, no love from larsen huh?

don't think he liked that underdog question very much...but i don't blame him