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Pool and Open Water Swimming: Do Not Swallow the Water


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23 minutes ago, Mittengirl said:

Last night the announcers seemed utterly positive that Le Clos' antics were aimed at psyching out Phelps.  Isn't it slightly possible that he was trying to psych himself up and was giving no mind to Phelps?

Possible? Yes. However, while watching that bit of "drama" unfold, one immediate thought I had was how convenient it was that (eventually) Le Clos was going through his warm-up/mental prep close enough to Phelps that the camera didn't have to constantly pan back-and-forth between them, as they were both in-frame. Phelps sat in his spot while Le Clos moved closer, yes? Maybe NBC gestured Le Clos over (I wouldn't put it past one of their producers)? Maybe someone out-of-frame did something to make Phelps give that bitchface right as Le Clos was in front of him by a few feet.

I'm such a cynic when it comes to NBC's Olympic's coverage.

ETA: Amy Van Dyken (remember her?) was also someone who was outspoken regarding who she believed to be a drug cheat.

Edited by SrPab
  • Love 2

Watching the ready-room last night, and after commenting on Le Clos' poor sportsmanship (and having my head torn off for my opinion) I also wanted to expand a little on what COULD have been happening there, that we didn't see.  I saw "jiggling" around the pants area, both facing Phelps and facing away from him.  I know how men can be with their peens and this particular scenario seemed to almost CALL for it.  He also could have been farting in his face, or wiggling his butt in his face.  I am pretty sure he did none of that, but he COULD HAVE.  I was rooting for Le Clos on his first swims, I thought he was phenomenal, up til this foolishness in the ready-room.

  • Love 1

At first I didn't think much about Le Clos' antics, but then he continued it with this smirk that suggested to me he knew exactly what he was doing.  I think Rowdy at one point used the phrase "milking it" and I assumed that was exactly what it was-get in the camera frame and do stuff that gets the press talking about how you beat him once and hope it rattles Phelps.  Phelps all but eye-rolled when asked about it and said essentially everyone has their own way of getting ready.  Le Clos' way was stupid and didn't work if the semi final results are considered.

I hate Le Clos now just for giving the media a new something shiny to focus on instead of reporting the events.

Edited by Crs97
  • Love 4

I think it's funny nobody said anything about the guy in the red warmup suit who was flapping his arms around Phelps.  Of course, I know that's what all swimmers do to loosen up, but it's strange to focus just on Le Clos.  But, of course, the Olympics wouldn't be complete without "drama."  *rolls eyes*

Also, NBC is loving it leading up to the "showdown."  *rolls eyes again*

Basically, I say "much ado about nothing."

  • Love 4

I think it's a lot of nothing.  People are allowed to get ready the way they want.  Le Clos jumps around and shadow boxes.  Phelps sits in a corner and tries to ignore everyone.  Yes, Le Clos stared at Phelps.  So what?  Maybe that's how he is amping himself up, he knows Phelps is his big competition and maybe by staring at him he is picturing himself beating him.  If it didn't involve NBC's Darling Michael Phelps, we wouldn't even have gotten coverage.  

Who is going to swim the 4x200 relay finals tonight?  I don't think Phelps' times gave him a place on the team, right?  I hope Lochte gets to swim it.  I know he did the prelim this morning but I thought at trials they said he has a place on the team.  I hope he gets his moment in the spotlight and doesn't get Natalie Coughlinned, she only got to swim in prelims in London and privately received her medal in her hotel room.

Take a drink tonight every time Bob Costas mentions Phelpsface or they show a clip of Le Clos shadowboxing or they mention "the rivalry".  You'll be drunk in 10 minutes.  It's a veritable Phelpsapalooza tonight!

  • Love 10
22 minutes ago, Aliconehead said:

Here's hoping Katinka didn't show up because of a drug test :).  I doubt that is the reason, but I would personally love it.  She and her husband annoy me 

I figured it was because the finals of that event would occur not too long before the finals of the 200 IM, and she didn't want to overextend herself and be all tired for her signature event.  I agree that her husband and his stupid little sumo man bun irritates the crap out of me.

  • Love 3
6 hours ago, againstthewind said:

Aaron Peirsol was my inaugural Olympic boyfriend. I miss him.

Ditto on the Adrian love.

I've always had a soft spot for Phelps - we grew up in the same area and have ended up at a few parties together over the years. And Katie Ladecky grew up a few miles from my office. Go DMV!

You mean Aaron was cheating on me with you? :-o

My obsession with Aaron was pretty bad though, especially in '04. I think my desktop screen frequently alternated between him and Michael Vartan (of Alias). Yummy.

1 hour ago, Aliconehead said:

Here's hoping Katinka didn't show up because of a drug test :).  I doubt that is the reason, but I would personally love it.  She and her husband annoy me 

I just now put my finger on who her husband reminds me of - a really beefy Shia LeBeouf with a manbun. 

  • Love 1
(edited)

I think O'Connor's 2:07 in the 200 IM semifinals was enough that Katinka wanted to play it a little safer in terms of being rested for one of her primary events. Last summer in Kazan, she tried an overly ambitious schedule and, while she had great success in some events, there were times where even the Iron Lady seemed to suffer from fatigue and her swim in,say the 200 free semis left her not quite ready in another event where she had better odds.

Edited by selkie

I think nothing will ever top my love of the '00 and '04 Olympics when it comes to swimming. I can barely remember '08 and '12. The first probably because I was finishing up college the latter probably because baseball was more entertaining and Peirsol wasn't there. 

What events is Lochte participating in? I feel like I haven't heard anything from/about him since his weird reality show on E!.

4 hours ago, Mittengirl said:

Last night the announcers seemed utterly positive that Le Clos' antics were aimed at psyching out Phelps.  Isn't it slightly possible that he was trying to psych himself up and was giving no mind to Phelps?

With how much they focus on Phelps, some random in the crowd scratching his nose would be news if they can get  him in frame with Phelps. 

  • Love 5
51 minutes ago, MattDuffysCat said:

I think nothing will ever top my love of the '00 and '04 Olympics when it comes to swimming. I can barely remember '08 and '12. The first probably because I was finishing up college the latter probably because baseball was more entertaining and Peirsol wasn't there. 

What events is Lochte participating in? I feel like I haven't heard anything from/about him since his weird reality show on E!.

2004 was a great year for swimming.  Phelps hitting his stride, Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Pieter Van den Hoogenband so many more.  The talent was so deep in so many countries.

  • Love 8
3 hours ago, MattDuffysCat said:

I think nothing will ever top my love of the '00 and '04 Olympics when it comes to swimming. I can barely remember '08 and '12. The first probably because I was finishing up college the latter probably because baseball was more entertaining and Peirsol wasn't there. 

I totally agree. I looooooved the US/Australian rivalry of 2000. I still miss Michael Klim!

And FYI, the le Clos family is now being interviewed on the BBC.

(edited)

Ledecky has dabbled a bit in the 400IM, but her breaststroke isn't quite good enough for her to get an international team spot in the event.  I do think she could get the occasional 100 free individual spot in rotation with Simone Manuel and Abby Wentzel if she tapered for the selection meet, but the plan was for her to only partly rest at Olympic Trials and she was, IIRC, 7th in the event in Omaha.

Edited by selkie
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