Women's 400m Freestyle Heats

-transmission interrupted by le country's 'today at the games' :(-

Rebecca Adlington raises hopes for Team GB

Men's 100m Backstroke Heats

Ryosuke Irie! One of the poster boy in my 2008 blog was there (memory refreshed) as well as Arkady Vyatchanin and Yankov Toumarkin (mat him at YOG). Ryosuke "won", for as far as I know, faster than Lochte back in 2008. Here were the results then:

Gold: Ryan Lochte (Usa) world record 

Silver: Aaron Piersol (Usa)

Bronze: Arkady Vyatchanin (Rus) 

However his suit wasn't approved. And although he's 1:08s faster than Lochte, he was disqualified and stripped off his gold! Yikes. So here are the semifinalists:

1. Matthew Grevers (Usa) (he was just a heats-boy for Usa relay team back in 08!) 

2. Cheng Feiyi (Chn)

3. Nick Thoman (Usa)

4. Camile Lacourt (Fra)

5. Ryosuke Irie (Jpn)

6. Nick Driebergen (Ned)

7. Helge Meeuw (Ger)

8. Liam Tancock (Gbr)

9. Hayden Stoecel (Aus)

10. Vladimir Morozov (Rus)

10. Arkady Vyatchanin (Rus)

12. Jan-Phillip Glania (Ger)

13. Charles Francis (Can)

14. Gareth Kean (Nzl)

15. Daniel Arnamnart (Aus)

16. Aschwim Wilderboer Faber (Esp)

Alezandr Tarabrin of Kazahstan swimming for his life here

Women's 100m Breaststroke Heats

What a swim! Many familiar faces and names here, Leisel Jones, defending champion Rebecca Soni who has been dominant in this field since Beijing, 18 year old Tera Van Beilen who got gold and silver at the 100m & 200m breaststroke events back in 2010 YOG. They all made it to the semifinals. But what made my heart warm is really Rūta Meilutytė, who became the fastest qualifier. I thought she emerged out of nowhere, how ignorant of me. This young 15 year old has broke 9 Lithuanian records since making her appearance in the professional scene. She was so overwhelmed that when she emerged out of the water, she broke down. It must have been the fastest she has ever swam and she couldn't believe it. She out-swam Soni to become the fastest qualifier for the events. I hope she continue that speed! It's gonna be a match to look out for!

Semifinals:

1. Rūta Meilutytė (Ltu)

2. Rebecca Soni (Usa)

3. Iuliia Efimova (Rus)

4. Breeja Larson (Usa)

5. Leisel Jones (Aus)

6. Satomi Suzuki (Jpn)

7. Sarah Poewe (Ger)

8. Jennie Johansson (Swe)

9. Pikke Pedersen (Den)

10. Alia Atinson (Jam)

11. Leiston Pickett (Aus)

12. Suzaan van Bilkon (Rsa)

13. Zhao Jin (Chn)

14. Mina Matsushima (Jpn)

15. Jillian Tyler (Can)

16. Tera Van Beilen (Can)

an emotional Ruta

Men's 200m Freestyle Heats

Park Taehwan returns after an (my prediction) emotional race last night, where he failed to defend his title in the 400m Freestyle. Sun Yang returns after a victorious, historical win in the same event. Also in this race is Ryan Lochte, the current IT-boy I dare say, for the swimming events in this games. Paul Beidermann, the 25 year old from Germany, who holds the world record for both 200m & 400m for long and short course; is also here.

1. Sun Yang (Chn) 1:46.24
2. Ryan Lochte (Usa) 1:46.45
3. Yannick Agnel (Fra) 1:46.60
4. Danila Izotov (Rus) 1:46.61
5. Park Taehwan (Kor) 1:46.79
6. Robbie Renwick (Gbr) 1:46.79
7. Kenrick Monk (Aus) 1:46.94
8. Ricky Berens (Usa) 1:47.07
9. Dominik Kozma (Hun) 1:47.18
10. Paul Beidermann (Ger) 1:47.27
11. Sebestian Verschuren (Ned) 1:47.31
12. Gregory Mallet (Fra) 1:47.39
13. Thomas Fraser-Holmes (Aus) 1:47.50
14. Brett Fraser (Cay) 1:47.74
15. Artem Lobuzov (Rus) 1:47.91
16. Dominik Meichtry (Sui) 1:47.97

Yup that's the semifinals. Gruesome as usual. The fastest and slowest qualifying time is within a second difference. It's all about the milliseconds. All about the milliseconds...

Lochte captured by robotic cam

Rūta Meilutytė Beats Rebecca Soni as Fastest Qualifier

Soni, who has been dominant since Beijing 2008, has been beaten by 15 year old Lithuanian Rūta Meilutytė as the fastest qualifier for the Women's 100m Breastroke. Meilutytė has been deemed the a swimming prodigy, having broke 9 Lithuanian women's swimming records and winning gold at the 2011 Youth summer Olympics.

End of Day 1

*Yawns* It's end of day 1 and it's 4:45am here in sunny Singapore. No worries, it's a sunday and I only need to be up at about...11am. Abit delusional here but would like to get some of my feelings out.

le google icon of le day

I still am awestruck by Olympics and especially swimming. I am amazed by the resilience of the swimmers, and how some could shine under pressure and deliver such incredible results. These people meet each other about twice every year, and they better themselves each year, train while thinking about their fiercest opponent on the other side of the world. Don't you think its just amazing? I was checking their track record but then I got tired of it. Almost all of the athletes you see at the pool held the world record some point in their career. Some are current holders. Some are new, fresh holders. I love how the commentator say "...and the world record holder in right there in the pool in lane..." He or she maybe the idol of his/her competitors in the other lanes, trained against his/her timing for years. It's all about the split seconds, +0.18, +0.02...it could make or break a swimmer. It could cause you your chance in the finals, it will make you lose your gold. 


Yup, the best in the world; they are compatriots, rivals, maybe friends. Without each other they won't be spurred on to swim their best.Sports is beautiful.  Sports is life! Can't live without it. Can't live without sleep, either. Adios my dear friends. Until tomorrow! 


xoxo,
olympic fish

Danny, Get Some Sleep

This was Danny in 2008, back when he was centre of the world's attention.

And this is Danny 24 hours ago, at 55 years of age. I wonder how many nights had he gone without sleeping, how many meals had he skipped. How many brain cells had he over-excercised throughout these 4 years, slogging hard just for this day. I remember seeing Zhang Yimou in 2008 and my sister said he looked like he hadn't sleep for months.

Danny, it's fantastic. Now get some sleep!

Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay

From the China team, I saw a familiar face! Tang Yi, the wonder child from 2010 YOG, who swept away 5 gold medals! She kicked start team China, finishing second. But afterwards her teammates failed to keep up with her efforts, that or the other teams placed their weakest member in the first, I don't know, but in the end China finished fourth. Not bad, it'll be better in 2016. :)

Australia and Usa led the whole way but Netherlands dashed to finish second in the end. It was said that Usa used their B-team for the heats, reserving the A-team for the finals. The results:

1. Australia Olympics Record
(Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie, Melanie Schlanger)
2. Netherlands (Inge Dekker, Marleen Veldhuis, Femke Heemskerk, Ranomi Kromowidjojo)
3. Usa (Missy Franklin, Jessica Hardy, Lia Neal, Allison Schmitt)
4. China (Tang Yi, Qiu Yuhan, Wang Haibing, Pang Jiaying)
5. Great Britain (Amy Smith, Francesca Halsall, Jess Lloyd, Caitlin McClatchey)
6. Denmark (Pernille Blume, Mie Nielsen, Lotte Friis, Jeanette Ottesen Gray)
7. Japan (Haruka Ueda, Yayoi Matsumoto, Miki Uchida, Hanae Ito)
8. Sweden Disqualified

Men's 100m Breaststroke Semifinals

Defending Champion Kitajima finished fourth at the first semifinals, which was abit worrying - but as competition was too fierce in the first round (the world record was almost challenged), he got in into the finals in the end. :) 29 years of age, he meet his usual rivals Brendan Hansen and Brenton Rickard for the past 10 years in the same event. They reset each other's world records, beat each other at championships...and now they're here again for the same old game. South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh won in the first semifinals and Christian Sprenger won in the second.

The resulting line-up for the finals:

1. Cameron van der Burgh (Rsa) Olympic Record
2. Fabio Scozzoli (Ita)
3. Brenton Rickard (Aus)
4. Christian Sprenger (Aus)
5. Giedrius Titenis (Ltu)
6. Kosuke Kitajima (Jpn)
7. Daniel Gyurta (Hun)
8. Brendan Hansen (Usa)

defending champion kitajima

Women's 400m Individual Medley Finals

Another gold for China in one night!

Gold: Ye Shiwen (Chn)
Silver: Elizabeth Biesel (Usa)
Bronze: Hao (Chn)

2008's defending champion Stephanie Rice is in the game as well, but the spotlight was on Elizabeth Biesel, who's the dark horse of the game. Biesel led the way at first, but like Sun Yang before her, Ye Shiwen shot up at the last 100m. She waited and waited to pounce on the finish line and was 3 body lengths ahead of Biesel. What a feat. I am forever amazed by their incredible ability to shine under immense pressure. Only 16 years of age, Ye Shiwen

first Asian Games champion
now Olympic Games champion
& World Record holder!

And she's the first that broke WR in this year's games. :) Go girl!

Men's 400m Freestyle Finals

1. Sun Yang (Chn) Olympic Record
2. Park Taehwan (Kor)
3. Peter Venderkaay (Usa)

Defending champion Park led the race until the last lap, where Sun shot and sprinted 2 body lengths ahead of him! Park was able to participate after appealing to the committee, but I guess that has got to affect his mood somehow. :( However, Sun was way too fast to be within any mood swings advantage. He is a good 2 seconds ahead of Park and too far to be caught up! The commentator describe Sun as the best long distance swimmer since Grant Hackett. 21 year-old Sun specializes in the 1500km (madness!) and has has championship titles in that event since 2010.

He was 28th in this very event back in 2008 in Beijing. Within 4 years - he's numero uno! :o

Oh the roar he gave when he emerged from the pool. He has never beaten Park in any competition that they competed together, ever. And now he has finally done it!! And he became the first Chinese to ever win an Olympic title in swimming and set a new olympic record on the way! What pride. What glory. Congrats Sun Yang!

the first swimming medal for china - a shoutout to the world for their arrival. 

Women's 100m Butterfly Semifinals

Alas, Tao Li didn't make it. She finished fourth in the first semis but competition proved too fierce in the second round (even the 6th finished 2s ahead of Tao) hence Tao Li is out of the game. It will be a fierce one between Vollmer, Coutts and Sjostrom. One is a world record holder, another a new olympics record holder, and the other simply a medal regular. They did equally brilliant, Volmmer outshining them a little, but we'll see at the finals. With such fierce competition, it'll definitely be interesting! Who knows, maybe China will surprise the world again!

The finalists:

1. Dara Vollmer (Usa)
2. Alicia Coutts (Aus)
3. Jeanette Ottesen Gray (Den)
4. Sarah Sjostrom (Swe)
5. Claire Donahue (Usa)
6. Lu ying (Chn)
7. Ellen Gandy (Gbr)
8. Ilaria Bianchi (Ita)

Men's 400m Individual Medley Finals

Gold: Ryan Lochte (Usa)

Silver: Thiago Pereira (Bra)

Bronze: Hagino (Jpn)

I was really rooting for Chad for this one but I guess like he said, 2016 will be his real Olympics. He finished after Phelps at fifth. But it was a real triumph for Lochte, I really love to see the World Record bar coming up, meaning that these athletes are really pushing just for the games. Pereira, 27, blogged about him before, former world record holder and Male World Cup Overall Winner. But Chad le Clos succeeded him! (Proud)

And Kosuke Higano, just 17 years old and managed to break the Asian Record at the heats.

after years under the shadow of Phelps; Lochte finally got his well-deserved gold :)

Men's 400m Freestyle Heats

I missed the Men's 400m Freestyle because the live broadcast has to be interrupted for the encore telecast of the Opening Ceremony. Apparently defending champion Park Taehwan started a fraction early and had to be disqualified. Ahhh...I do feel sad for this young lad. Peter Venderkaay! We meet again! I look forward to the finals happening just a few minutes away. :))

Women's 100m Butterfly Heats

Volmer (USA) broke the Olympic Record during the heats! She's definitely one to watch...I predict it will be a fight between her and Halsall. But to be fair, I was genuinely proud when fellow countrymen Tao Li emerges out of nowhere to qualify for the semi-finals. 

Men's 400m Individual Medley Heats

Kosuke Hagino breaks Asian Record & won heat 3!

[photo credits: london 2012 official website]

Men's 400m Individual Medley Heats

I got home late because I wasn't well informed on what exactly they're broadcasting in the afternoon. (Shame on me!) But as soon as I turned on the TV, imagine my joy when Phelps is on screen, ready to set off for his 400m IM. I knew my current favourite athlete Chad le Clos will be in the same event and was waiting for him...and wish granted - he finished first in heat 5, ahead of Lochte. More familiar faces are Lazslo and Pereira. Feels like home when I see them (drama queen).

Ryan chilling with a Kenrick Monk below during training...I have no recollection of him but he has won World Championships and participated in Beijing. Have I not written about him? Didn't want to go back and check...

Olympic Fish: Then & Now

Phelps training before Opening I suppose; judging by that mane..

[photo credit: official london 2012 website]

Anywho, as I'm waiting for the live telecast for the swimming finals/semis, (and battling my tired eyelids at 1:46am) I was setting up my 2012 olympic blog. And then I wondered who took my desired url. I went and saw none other than my 18 year old self, blogging and fangirl-ling, hot blooded and on a high about Beijing 2008. Extensive reviews and commentaries. I even made banners for Phelps. I'm definitely crazier then. No, I think I was in love then. Uh-huh no doubt. 

Older and wiser now ( I hope ), I want to continue my crazy tradition. Of course there's alot of things I would like to complain and compare about (how I was better with words then, more creative, more passionate etc.), but I won't do them here. At least for now. 

Phelps isn't that heavenly figure that I perceive him then. He's more down to earth. Probably because part of his image went down with news of his drugs usage. And the swim suit thing...swimmers are now banned from using that long suit.  He's still a legend though, and me, together with the world, will be forever admiring his extraordinary story and success. 

Oh yea, you can check out my 2008 blog here. Or at the sidebars --> ; you'll find my 2010 YOG swimming blog too. Whoever you are, dear stranger. Let's get inspired by the games together! :D

good luck fish

Phelps Preparing for Emotional Swansong

Source:London2012 official
Fourteen-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps is expecting to feel plenty of emotion when he enters the final stages of his competitive career at London 2012.


The crowd at the Aquatics Centre on 4 August will bear witness to the final race of one of the greatest Olympians when Phelps competes in the 4 x 100m Medley Relay.

The 27-year-old's career has spanned four Olympic Games, starting as a 15-year-old at Sydney 2000, where he finished fifth in the 200m Butterfly.

In the intervening 12 years, the USA athlete has won 14 gold and two bronze medals, as well as 26 world titles.

Despite having attended so many Olympics and World Championships, Phelps is absorbing everything about his final Games.

'I'm having fun, this is something I enjoy,' he said. 'It's kind of cool walking through the village and seeing the athletes from everywhere.'

Keen to start his programme, which begins on Saturday in the 400m Individual Medley - where he will go head to head with team-mate Ryan Lochte - Phelps has been spending time alone resting or watching TV.

Experience has taught him how to channel his emotional energy, although he admits it will be a challenge at London 2012.

'I wouldn't say I get choked up but I've been more emotional because these are the last competitive moments I will have in my career. It's big, it's something,' he said.

'I think there are going to be a lot of firsts and a lot of lasts this week, and I think over the last couple of years and I guess throughout my career I've been able to manage my emotional energy fairly well.'

Phelps' first meeting with Lochte comes on the opening day of Swimming action in the 400m Individual Medley, with heats on Saturday morning progressing to a straight final that same night.

He had vowed not to return to the event after his gold medal in Beijing and if he is successful, Phelps would make history as the first male swimmer ever to twice successfully defend a title following victory in both 2004 and 2008.

Phelps said: 'Everything we've done has never been easy, it’s always a challenge. It's going to be a very challenging race, an exciting race.

'It's something I've been looking forward to for a while - you can guarantee it's going to be loud on opening night. And this will be the last one!'

--------------------
maybe he's not gonna make it tonight. :(