 | | The Con of Michelle Smith: How the Irish Lass Cheated the Swimming World |
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The Con of Michelle Smith: How the Irish Lass Cheated the Swimming World
Her presence on the international stage was inconsequential. She didnât affect the makeup of podiums. She didnât influence any championship finals. At least, thatâs the way the career of Michelle Smith unfolded for most of the years she represented Ireland in global competition.
But at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, Smith shined as one of the most successful athletes in Atlanta. To some, her story was about a meteoric rise, a late bloomer rewarded for patience and persistence. Others, though, knew better. This sudden surge was about something entirely different â and suspicious |
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|  | Race Of the Century: When Three Titans Of the Sport Clashed For History (Video)
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The 200 freestyle had enough substance at the 2004 Olympics, thanks to a repeat clash between the Netherlandsâ Pieter van den Hoogenband and Australiaâs Ian Thorpe. But when Michael Phelps entered the fray, too, the race became something special, and one of the most-anticipated events in Olympic history.
How many times has this refrain been uttered by sports fans and experts: Wouldnât it be great if (fill in the blank) and (fill in the blank) had the chance to battle? Yet, in many instances, the desired matchup is left only to the imagination, timing usually the most significant factor in the blockage of what could be an epic duel.
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 | | Annie Lazor Joins University of Florida as Assistant Coach; âTransition From One Side of the Pool Deck to the Otherâ |
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| Olympic bronze medalist Annie Lazor has joined the Florida swimming and diving program as an assistant coach, head coach Anthony Nesty announced Tuesday. After years of swimming competitively at the international level, Lazor will transition to coaching.
âI want to thank Coach Nesty, Mike Spiegler, and the swimming and diving staff for giving me this opportunity to coach at the University of Florida,â Lazor said. âThis historic program continues to push the boundaries of greatness both at the NCAA and international level of the sport, and I cannot wait to work with and learn from high achieving athletes and coaches on a day-to-day basis. I canât think of a better way to make my transition from one side of the pool deck to the other. Go Gators!!â |
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 | | Australian Trials: Ariarne Titmus Cruises To a 4:05.43 And Sam Short drops a 3:47.32 In Opening 400m Freestyle Heats in Melbourne |
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Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western, QLD) has kicked started her World Championship campaign for Fukuoka with a comfortable 400m freestyle heat swim this morning, clocking 4:05.43 on the opening session of the Australian Trials in Melbourne.
Australiaâs best swimmers have converged on the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre for the six-day Trials with the Dolphins team to be announced on Sunday night.
Titmus, who lost her world record (3:56.40) to Canadian wunderkind Summer McIntosh (3:56.08) in April this year, led the heat from start to finish, going through the 200 metres in 2:01.24 and swam away from her second placed club mate Kiah Melverton (4:09.30) to swim under the Swimming Australia qualifying time of 4:06.44. |
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 | | Australian Trials: Kai Taylor Steals 200m Freestyle From Lane Eight, Just Like Mum Hayley Lewis 32 Years Ago |
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| History certainly does have a habit of repeating itself so no wonder Kai Taylorâs fairytale victory from lane eight in tonightâs 200m freestyle final at the Australian Trials had his mother, the legendary Hayley Lewis in tears after cheering him on wildly from the grandstand.
Nineteen-year-old Taylor (St Peters Western, QLD) received a late call up to swim in lane eight after fastest qualifier, Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers withdrew from the final and sent him a text telling him he was in the final.
Taylor, the Australian champion a month ago, had missed the top eight cut by 0.11 â ruining any chance he had of making his first World Championship team and Australiaâs 4x200m freestyle relay â a likely medal hope.
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| | ISHOF SaferSwimmers - Be Seen and Be Safe! |  |
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