COUNTRY TIDBITS Editor’s Note: Other than splitting the Americas into north and south regions, Swimming World follows the FINA region and national federation structure as part of its regional spotlights. Unless otherwise indicated, the performances for each of the following swimmers were swum at last year’s World Championships in Shanghai, China (July 24-31, 2011).
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As of May 1, there are 88 days until the start of the XXXth Olympic Games. Beginning in its January issue and running through
American Samoa (ASA) ER
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Megan Fonteno had the top performances for her country with a 35thplace 26.46 in the women’s 50 free and a 43rd-place 57.85 in the 100.
James Magnussen, known as “The Missile” in Australia, dominated the sprint free events at the Australian Olympic Trials. First, he lowered his textile best time with a 47.10 in the men’s 100 free, then he moved to the top of the world in the men’s 50 with a 21.74. Meanwhile, veteran Olympians Ian Thorpe, Geoff Huegill and Michael Klim failed to qualify for London. Libby Trickett’s comeback, however, was successful, as she earned a spot on the Aussie team as a relay member.
Cook Islands (COK) Celeste Brown paced her country with a 58th-place 29.59 in the women’s 50 free and a 65th-place 1:05.76 in the 100 free.
Fiji Islands (FIJ) Matelita Buadromo clocked a 32nd-place 2:44.01 in the women’s 200 breast and a 38th-place 1:14.70 in the 100 breast.
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Kerson Hadley led his nation with a 33rd-place 30.46 in the men’s 50 back, and a 69th-place 25.72 in the 50 free.
Guam (GUM) Pilar Shimizu turned in a 41st-place 1:21.19 in the women’s 100 breast and a 55th-place 28.71 in the 50 free.
Marshall Islands (MHL) Ann-Marie Hepler posted a 39th-place 30.69 in the women’s 50 fly for her nation’s best effort. She also finished 53rd in the 50 free with a 28.43.
New Zealand (NZL) New Zealand finished 19th in the team standings, led by the likes of Glenn Snyders and Lauren Boyle. Boyle finished sixth in the women’s 400 free (4:06.11), eighth in the 800 (8:32.72) and 12th in the 200 (1:58.09). Snyders placed ninth in the men’s 50 breast (27.64), 10th in the 200 breast (2:11.68) and 13th in the 100 breast (1:00.59). Additionally, Gareth Kean clocked a 53.50 for eighth in the men’s 100 back.
Northern Mariana Islands (NMA) Victoria Chentsova hit the wall in 5:18.67 to finish 36th in the women’s 400 free. She also placed 47th in the 200 free with a 2:27.86. — continued on 24 22
May 2012
[PHOTO BY TIM WIMBORNE, REUTERS]
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auren Boyle, a threetime All-American swimmer during her senior season at the University of California in 2010, finished last year ranked No. 11 in the women’s 400 meter free (4:05.86) and 13th in the 800 (8:26.30). Two years ago, she helped New Zealand win the silver medal in the women’s 800 free relay at the Commonwealth Games, along with Penelope Marshall, Amaka Gessler and Natasha Hind. She also was a member of the 2006 Commonwealth Games relay squad—with Helen Norfolk, Alison Fitch and Melissa Ingram—that captured the bronze medal in the same event. The 24-year-old will face a formidable challenge at this summer’s Olympics in the 400 and 800 free, as both events are loaded with topflight distance swimmers, including the likes of Italy’s Federica Pellegrini, Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington, France’s Camille Muffat and Denmark’s Lotte Friis. ❖
» Lauren Boyle, a 2008 Olympian, finished sixth in the women’s 400 free at last year’s World Championships in Shanghai. She also placed eighth in the 800 and 12th in the 200.
ABOVE
May 2012
DARKHORSE MEDAL CONTENDERS
New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle had a breakthrough summer at the World Championships in Shanghai, and has an outside shot of becoming her country’s first Olympic medalist since Danyon Loader at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
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● BRONZE (4:11.22) ● SILVER (8:30.34) ● BRONZE (2:10.20) ● BRONZE (1:09.25) ● BRONZE (2:09.03)
400 FREE 1500 FREE 1500 FREE 100 BREAST 200 FLY
KIEREN PERKINS, AUS KIEREN PERKINS, AUS GLEN HOUSMAN, AUS PHILIP ROGERS, AUS DANYON LOADER, NZL
● SILVER (3:45.16) ● GOLD (14:43.48) ● SILVER (14:55.29) ● BRONZE (1:01.76) ● SILVER (1:57.93)
1996 ATLANTA 100 BREAST 200 FLY 200 FLY 400 MR 800 FR 200 FREE 200 FREE 400 FREE 400 FREE 1500 FREE 1500 FREE 100 FLY 200 FLY 400 MR
SAMANTHA RILEY, AUS SUSIE O’NEILL, AUS PETRIA THOMAS, AUS AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA
● BRONZE (1:09.18) ● GOLD (2:07.76) ● SILVER (2:09.82) ● SILVER (4:05.08) ● BRONZE (8:05.47)
DANYON LOADER, NZL DANIEL KOWALSKI, AUS DANYON LOADER, NZL DANIEL KOWALSKI, AUS KIEREN PERKINS, AUS DANIEL KOWALSKI, AUS SCOTT MILLER, AUS SCOTT GOODMAN, AUS AUSTRALIA
● GOLD (1:47.63) ● BRONZE (1:48.25) ● GOLD (3:47.97) ● BRONZE (3:49.39) ● GOLD (14:56.40) ● SILVER (15:02.43) ● SILVER (52.53) ● BRONZE (1:57.48) ● BRONZE (3:39.56)
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SUSIE O’NEILL, AUS LEISEL JONES, AUS SUSIE O’NEILL, AUS PETRIA THOMAS, AUS AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA
● GOLD (1:58.24) ● SILVER (1:07.49) ● SILVER (2:06.58) ● BRONZE (2:07.12) ● SILVER (4:01.59) ● SILVER (7:58.52)
IAN THORPE, AUS IAN THORPE, AUS GRANT HACKETT, AUS KIEREN PERKINS, AUS MATT WELSH, AUS MATT WELSH, AUS MICHAEL KLIM, AUS GEOFF HUEGILL, AUS JUSTIN NORRIS, AUS AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA
● SILVER (1:45.83) ● GOLD (3:40.59) ● GOLD (14:48.33) ● SILVER (14:53.59) ● SILVER (54.07) ● BRONZE (1:57.59) ● SILVER (52.18) ● BRONZE (52.22) ● BRONZE (1:56.17) ● SILVER (3:35.27) ● GOLD (3:13.67) ● GOLD (7:07.05)
LIBBY TRICKETT, AUS LEISEL JONES, AUS LEISEL JONES, AUS LIBBY TRICKETT, AUS JESSICAH SCHIPPER, AUS JESSICAH SCHIPPER, AUS STEPHANIE RICE, AUS STEPHANIE RICE, AUS AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA
● SILVER (53.16) ● GOLD (1:05.17) ● SILVER (2:22.05) ● GOLD (56.73) ● BRONZE (57.25) ● BRONZE (2:06.26) ● GOLD (2:08.45) ● GOLD (4:29.45) ● GOLD (3:52.69) ● BRONZE (3:35.05) ● GOLD (7:44.31)
100 FREE 1500 FREE 200 BREAST 100 FLY 400 MR 400 FR 800 FR
EAMON SULLIVAN, AUS GRANT HACKETT, AUS BRENTON RICKARD, AUS A. LAUTERSTEIN, AUS AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA
● SILVER (47.32) ● SILVER (14:41.53) ● SILVER (2:08.88) ● BRONZE (51.12) ● SILVER (3:30.04) ● BRONZE (3:09.91) ● BRONZE (7:04.98)
OLYMPIC PREVIEW - OCEANIA — continued from 22
Palau (PLW) Keesha Keane stopped the clock in 29.33 in the women’s 50 free to take 57th. She also finished 67th in the 100 free in 1:06.15.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) Veteran Ryan Pini continued to lead Papua New Guinea in swimming at last summer’s World Championships, finishing 20th in the men’s 100 fly (52.69). He also took 25th in the 50 fly (24.26), 38th in the 200 free (1:52.23) and 41st in the 100 free (50.34).
Tahiti (TAH) Kuheilani Snow checked in with a 44th-place 32.27 in the women’s 50 fly. She also clocked a 1:05.99 in the 100 free for 66th.
Kingdom of Tonga (TGA) Amini Fonua placed 25th in the men’s 50 breast (28.23) and 59th in the 100 breast (1:04.02).
Did Not Compete Samoa did not compete at last year’s World Championships. [PHOTO BY BOBBY YIP, REUTERS]
HAYLEY LEWIS, AUS HAYLEY LEWIS, AUS NICOLE STEVENSON, AUS SAMANTHA RILEY, AUS SUSIE O’NEILL, AUS
MEN
400 FREE 800 FREE 200 BACK 100 BREAST 200 FLY
100 FREE 100 BREAST 200 BREAST 100 FLY 100 FLY 200 FLY 200 IM 400 IM 400 MR 400 FR 800 FR
WOMEN
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2008 BEIJING
1992 BARCELONA
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WOMEN
2004 ATHENS
24
50 FREE 100 FREE 100 BREAST 100 BREAST 200 BREAST 100 FLY 200 FLY 400 MR 400 FR
LIBBY LENTON, AUS JODIE HENRY, AUS BROOKE HANSON, AUS LEISEL JONES, AUS LEISEL JONES, AUS PETRIA THOMAS, AUS PETRIA THOMAS, AUS AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA
● BRONZE (24.91) ● GOLD (53.84) ● SILVER (1:07.15) ● BRONZE (1:07.16) ● SILVER (2:23.60) ● GOLD (57.72) ● SILVER (2:06.36) ● GOLD (3:57.32) ● GOLD (3:35.94)
100 FREE 200 FREE 400 FREE 400 FREE 1500 FREE 800 FR
IAN THORPE, AUS IAN THORPE, AUS IAN THORPE, AUS GRANT HACKETT, AUS GRANT HACKETT, AUS AUSTRALIA
● BRONZE (48.56) ● GOLD (1:44.71) ● GOLD (3:43.10) ● SILVER (3:43.36) ● GOLD (14:43.40) ● SILVER (7:07.46)
May 2012
PICTURED » Australia’s James Magnussen will be one of the favorites at London in sprint freestyle.