The Perfect Race

Mike Barrowman's 2:10.16 'perfect race' from 1992 was bumped off the all-time top 10 list in the 200 breaststroke heats in Beijing.

Questions, Questions, Questions

The Los Angeles Times has an article questioning how the swimming performances have advanced so far and so fast. It shows an interesting graphic illustrating the new suits and another analysing what's likely to happen in the M200BF. Their advice that Phelps should 'contend for a medal' seems solid enough to be trusted!

Bouyant Pellegrini

Laurel is pretty sure Pellegrini is wearing two suits. I'm sure Manaudou did that in Melbourne last year as her body position was so high. If you look at the video of Ziegler's 1,500 world record she may have been also.

Points update

Men's 200 Freestyle - 1,025 is now the average of the all-time top 10. Across the completed events so far 1,027.7.

Women's 100 Backstroke - 1,050!! Across the completed events so far 1,030.5

Men's 100 Backstroke - 1,051!! Across the completed events so far 1,032.8

Women's 100 Breaststroke- 1,030. Across the completed events so far 1,032.5

Men's 200 BF after semis - 1027

Women's 200 IM after semis - 1031

Zipper Malfunction

The Sydney Morning Herald has a good article here about the trials and tribulations of the 'ready room', and a follow-up article here.

US 4x100m Freestyle

Here's the video of that US 4x100m Freestyle.

Jason Lezak comment - "when I saw how far I was behind and he was the world's fastest I thought I am not going to make it - then in a flash thought, this is for America and this is the Olympic Games and I don't care how much it hurts"

Bringing it home

Last 50m splits from the women's 400 freestyle:

• Adlington 29.18
  
• Hoff 30.71
  
• Jackson 29.86
  
• Balmy 29.88
  

Now here's a little story - Joanne Jackson's sister, Nichola, was probably the most talented female swimmer I have ever seen. She was a member of the GBR women's 4 x 200 which won World gold and broke the World SC record. About nine years ago I was driving both sisters to training across the north Yorkshire moors in winter and remember saying to Joanne that she could be better than her big sister and she'd better start believing it.