USA Swimming tops medal count at Paris 2024

Photo by Skylar Walker, Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

PARIS, FRANCE (August 5, 2024) USA Swimming had an incredible finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics, ending the pool competition with two world records and three medals on the final night. In an amazing performance, Bobby Finke from Clearwater, Florida, won the men's 1500-meter freestyle. He led the race from start to finish, earning a gold medal and setting a new world record with a time of 14:30.67.

Shortly after, the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay team added a silver medal to the tally. The team, consisting of Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Caeleb Dressel, and Hunter Armstrong, worked together to secure second place in a thrilling race.

The women’s 4x100-meter medley relay was the final event of the competition, and the American team did not disappoint. Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske dominated the race, finishing over three seconds ahead of the Australian team. Their time of 3:49.63 set a new world record, highlighting the exceptional talent of USA Swimming.

USA Swimming finished the Olympics at the top of the medal table with a total of 28 medals—ten more than any other country. Here are some key highlights from their performance:

Total Medals: 28 (8 gold, 13 silver, 7 bronze)

World Records: 3

Olympic Records: 2

American Records: 3

Double Podiums: USA had two athletes on the podium in four races: women's 100m backstroke, women's 100m butterfly, women's 400m individual medley, and women's 800m freestyle

Katie Ledecky: With four medals, became the most decorated American female Olympian in history.

Torri Huske: She secured the most medals of any American swimmer in Paris with five (3 gold, 2 silver).

Other Standout Swimmers: Kate Douglass, Katie Ledecky, and Regan Smith each earned four medals.

Relay Success: USA Swimming won gold or silver in all seven relay events, with two relays setting new world records and one setting a new American record.

Milestone Achievement: USA Swimming surpassed 600 Olympic medals on day four and finished with 615.

USWNT faces challenges ahead of 2024 Paria Olympics

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

PASADENA, TEXAS (June 15, 2024) The United States women's national soccer team is going through a big change as they get ready for the 2024 Olympics. With new head coach Emma Hayes, the team is facing some tough challenges. They have fallen to their lowest-ever FIFA ranking, now sitting at No. 5.

The updated FIFA rankings released on Friday show that the U.S. dropped one spot from their previous rank in March. This is the lowest ranking for Team USA since FIFA started ranking women’s teams in 2003. It also marks a drop of three spots since the beginning of the year.

The decline began last year when the U.S. lost to Sweden in the Round of 16 at the World Cup. This was the first time the Americans failed to finish in the top three at the tournament since it started in 1991. That defeat pushed them down to No. 3 in the standings, behind Sweden and 2023 World Cup champion Spain.

Despite this, the team showed some strength by winning the SheBelieves Cup recently, beating Japan in the semifinals and Canada in the final.

The Olympics will be Emma Hayes' first major event as the head coach. Hayes, who had a very successful 12-year run with Chelsea, was named U.S. head coach in November. She has a record of 261 wins, 42 losses, and 64 draws, along with seven Super League titles and five FA Cup titles.

For the upcoming friendlies against Korea Republic, Hayes selected a 23-player roster with only 11 players from the 2023 World Cup team. She made some surprising choices, like picking defender Sam Staab over the more experienced Abby Dahlkemper.

Hayes told reporters:

"If we can perform at our best level, then we have a chance of doing things. But we've got work to do. The realities are that the world game is where it is, and the rest of the world do not fear the USA in the way that they once did and that's valid. It's our job to grasp quite quickly what we need to do to get close again to those levels."

Team USA will start their Olympic journey in Group B with Zambia, Germany, and Australia. Their first game is on July 25 against Zambia. 

IOC, WHO move to vaccinate athletes prior to Tokyo 2020

By Chris Price

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND  (January 23, 2021) It is being reported by various media outlets, including Reuters, that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is planning to vaccinate all athletes in order to avoid another postponement, or a possible cancelation of the Tokyo Games due to COVID-19.

Sources have stated that the IOC will work with the World Health Organization (WHO) to fast-tract the vaccine to athletes whose countries are experiencing difficulties in administering vaccinations.

The rescheduled Games of the XXXII Olympiad will occur from July 23 to August 8, 2021.

On this day in Olympic History, August 1

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 1, 2020) August 1 is a unique day in Olympic history. Many newsworthy Olympic events have happened on August 1; dating back 92 years to the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. On that day, the United States sweep the medals in a rainy pole vault final with Sabin Carr capturing the gold medal, followed by William Droegemuller (silver) and Charles McGinnis (bronze).

Below are more events from Olympic history of August 1.

1936: The Games of the IX Olympiad open in Berlin.

1976: The Games of the XXL Olympiad officially close in Montreal, Canada

1980: Gerd Wessig of East Germany becomes the first male to set a high jump world record at the Olympics with a jump of 2.36 meters (7 feet, 9 inches) in Moscow.

1980: East German runner Waldemar Cierpinski wins his second consecutive Olympic Games marathon in 12:11:03 in Moscow.

1992: American sprinter Gail Devers wins an incredibly close blanket finish in the women's 100 meters with the time of 10.82 seconds in Barcelona, with five athletes within 0.06 seconds of Devers.

1996: Dan O'Brien wins the decathlon gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics to become the first American since Bruce Jenner in 1976 to win the event.

2012: American Nathan Adrian clocks 47.52 in winning the 100-meter freestyle gold at the London Olympics; his first swim under 48 seconds.

Dates for 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics set

Logo courtesy  of
International Olympic Committee

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (March 30, 2020)  The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, along with the Government of Japan have agreed to the rescheduled 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be held July 23 to August 8, 2021, while the Paralympic Games are rescheduled to August 24 to September 5, 2021.

Further detailed will be shared as the become available.

2020 Summer Olympics, Paralympics postponed

By Chris Price
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved
Video courtsey of CGTN via YouTube.com 

TOKYO, JAPAN (March 25, 2020) It has been decided by the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Organizing Committee that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and the 16th Summer Paralympic Games will be postponed due to the worldwide COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The Games will be delayed to 2021, and held no later than summer 2021. The Games will still be publicly branded and marketed as Tokyo 2020 and 2020 Summer Paralympics, even with the change in scheduling.

Tokyo was selected as the host city during the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 7 September 2013.^[1] This will be the second time that Japan, and specifically Tokyo has hosted the Summer Olympic Games, the first being in 1964, making it the first city in Asia to host the summer Games twice. Overall, these will be the fourth Olympic Games to be held in Japan, which also hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 (Sapporo) and 1998 (Nagano). The 2020 Games will be the second of three consecutive Olympics to be held in East Asia, the first being the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang County, South Korea, and the next being the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

As part of a formal agreement between the International Paralympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee first established in 2001, the winner of the bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics must also host the 2020 Summer Paralympics.

TexSport Publications will post further information as it becomes available.

Sapporo, Japan expresses interest to host 2030 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games

By Chris Price

Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

TOKYO, JAPAN (December 26, 2019)  Sapporo, Japan is set to enter the race to host the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games after expressing an interest in hosting the Games a second time. Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1972. Read more here.

Texan Virgina Fuchs wins U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials in 112-pound division

Virginia Fuchs speaks with
ring announcer Jeremiah Gallegos
after her victory.
Photo by
Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (December 15, 2019) After four years of waiting, Texan Virginia Fuchs is one step closer to her Olympic dream in winning the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing. Facing off against Christina Cruz (New York, New York) in the finals, the native of Kemah, Texas took the unanimous decision in the 112-pound weight class. 

Earlier in the week, Fuchs downed Stephanie Chavez (Orange, California) on Monday, December 9 and Heaven Garcia (El Monte, California) on Friday, December 13 in unanimos decisions. Between these two bouts, she squared off against Cruz on Wednesday, December 11, and also took a unanimous decision.

Both Fuchs and Cruz will advance to the final stage of the selection process, which will take place January 2-26, 2020 at the U.S Olympic and Paralymic Training Center (USOPC) in Colorado Springs, Colorado and at the Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. USA Boxing will annoucement the final 13 boxers that will represent Team USA at the International Qualification Tournaments following the conclusion of these events. The first opportunity for the 13 American boxers to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in April, with the second and final opportunity taking place in Paris, France in May.

USABS statement regarding BCS's release of Kaillie Humphries

Photo courtesy of
International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation

LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK (September 28, 2019) It was announced today that Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) released Kaillie Humphries (shown right), making her eligible to compete for a spot on the USA Bobsled/Skeleton (USABS) team.

Please find a statement from USABS Chairman Emeritus and Interim CEO John Rosen below:

"Today, USA Bobsled/Skeleton learned of the decision by Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton to release Kaillie Humphries. With this release, Kaillie is now eligible to become a member of USABS and compete on equal standing with our athletes for a position on the USA National Team. USABS is honored by her desire to continue her sliding career with the USA.  USABS recognizes this was not an easy decision for BCS. We believe, however, that ultimately they made the correct decision to honor the desires of this athlete over the interests of the federation. USABS has, on multiple occasions, faced similar decisions in dealing with athletes who have requested release from our program.  In each and every case we reached the same conclusion as BCS did with Kaillie. We wish Kaillie, and BCS, continued success in the finest traditions of Olympic sport."

First Olympic Winter Games begins 95 years ago today

Photo courtsey of imgur.com (dQw4w9WgXcQ)

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

PASADENA, TEXAS (January 25, 2019) Today, January 25, is the 95th anniversary of the first Olympic Winter Games, held in Chamonix, France, from January 25 to February 5, 1924. Two hundred, fifty-four athelets from 16 countries competed in six sports, consisting of 16 events.

The United States brought home four medals, including the first medal awarded in Winter Olympic Games history. Charles Jewtraw, from Clinton County, New York, bested thirty other skaters to win the gold medal in the men's 500-meter speedskating. His time of 44.0 seconds also established an Olympic record. 

Beatrix Loughran (Mount Vernon, New York) took silver in ladies figue skating. She also took the bronze medal in the event in 1928 ans another silve in pairs in 1932. The United States also took silver in men's ice hockey, while Anders Haugen earned bronze in the ski jumping. Thorleif Haug was awarded third place at the event's conclusion, but a clerical error in calculating Haug's score was discovered in 1974 by Jacob Vaage, who further determined  Haugen of the United States, who had finished fourth, had actually scored 0.095 points more than Haug. The International Olympic Committee verified this, and in Oslo in September 1974, Haug's daughter presented the medal to the 86-year-old Haugen.

Canadian Olympian Dave Duncan, others arrested in South Korea

Photo courtesy of the Canadian Olympic Committee 

By Chris Price
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA (February 25, 2018) It is being reported by the Houston Chronicle and Sporting News that Canadian cross ski team member Dave Duncan (shown right), his wife Maja and Willy Raine, who is the director of the Canadian Ski Cross High Performance program, were arrested on Saturday for car theft.

Police in South Korea stated they have charged all three and Raine, who was behind the wheel, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.16, which is more than three-times the legal limit in South Korea.

All three have been released, but are required to remain in the country. The Canadian Olympic Committee is also looking into the charges.

North Korea may compete in Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved
Video courtesy YouTube.com

PASADENA-DEER PARK, TEXAS (January 1, 2018) News reports out of Pyongyang indicate that North Korea leader Kim Jong-un is open to the idea of his country's athletes competing in the upcoming Winter Olympics. Pairs skaters Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik are the only North Korean athletes that have qualified for Pyeongchang 2018. The pair is the bronze medalists from the 2017 Asian Winter Games.

Kim stated during his 30-minute New Year's Day address, as quoted by the Associated Press:

"The Winter Olympic Games that will be held soon in the South will be a good opportunity to display the status of the Korean nation and we sincerely wish that the event will be held with good results,"

North Korea missed last month's deadline to accept their spot, however they could still be allowed to participate. It also remains possible that other North Korea winter sports competitors could be given wildcards entries to the Games. 

Another vault. Another disaster. Another Olympic dream ended.

By AD Jewell

Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

(Video courtesy of Everything Sports via YouTube.com)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (August 7, 2016) For the second time in four years, French gymnast Samir Ait Said's Olympic dreams came to a crash landing while vaulting. While attempting a double somersault off the vault at the Rio Olympic Arena on Saturday, August 6, 2016, Said landed forcefully on his right knee causing the tibia and fibuia bones in his calf to snap. Spectators and commentators have reported being able to hear the snap throughout the arena, while ultimately the world was watching and saw one of the most gruesome injuries in the sport on live television.

Said laid silently in pain, covering his face, while his right leg dangled awkwardly. His coaches and teammates also covering their faces after seeing the 26-year-old's injury. Said is said to be "the friendliest teammate" by his fellow French gymnasts  and his injury is a great loss to the whole team.

Unfortunately, Said has been in this spot before. While preparing for the 2012 Olympics in London at the Men's European Championship in Montpellier, France, Said broke his left leg on a similar vault, ending that Olympic run.

In a Facebook video posted by Said from his hospital bed, he vows to be back in the stands cheering on his teammates shortly while sporting a blue and red cast! In his video, Said is grateful for all the support fans and teammates are giving him and vows to win gold in Tokyo 2020.

USA downs Canada 2-0 to take CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship

Both teams advance to the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

By Robert H Kelly

Photo by Robert H Kelly-TexSport Publications
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (Sunday, February 21, 2016) The United States capped their fourth consecutive CONCACAFWomen’s Olympic Qualifying Championship at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas with a 2-0 win over Canada in the final match of the tournament. Both the United States and Canada will advance to the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July-August, 2016.

The game started out with both teams trying to find the weakness in each other’s defense. It was a battle, moving from one end of the pitch to the other with neither team able to get an advantage. The game continued as a defensive battle without either team finding the goal in the first half.  The only event in the first half was Canada’s Josee Belanger receiving a yellow card. The starting defender, who plays professionally for the Orlando Pride was cited for aggressive play.

The USA finally found a way round the stubborn Canadian defense in the 53^rd minute. Midfielder Lindsay Horan beat goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe to the ball and sent it out to defender Becky Sauerbrunn. She immediately sent the ball back to Horan, who headed the ball pass Labbe for the score. They added an insurance goal in the 61^st minute when starting midfielder Tobin Heath connected from 25 yards out on the right side.

Both teams will advance to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two teams met twice previously in the finals of the Olympic qualifying tournament. In 2008, the United States came out on top, as a result of penalty kicks. With no score after regulation, they played two overtime periods with Carli Lloyd scoring for the USA in the 108^th minute and Melissa Tancredi scoring the equalizer in the 116^th minute. The game went to penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play with the USA coming out on top 6-5. In 2012, the USA shocked Canada 4-0 with Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach each scoring two goals in the win.

Ariana Kukors Wins Gold as Santa Clara International Grand Prix Concludes

Missy Franklin is the 2010-2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series Champion

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA (June 20, 2011) Ariana Kukors (Auburn, Wash.) turned in the world’s fastest time of the year in the 200m IM on the final day of competition at the 2011 Santa Clara International Grand Prix. Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) picked up his fourth medal of the meet Sunday night while Missy Franklin (Centennial, Colo.) was named the champion of the 2010-2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series.

In addition to Franklin’s win as the Grand Prix Series Champion, she also took home the meet’s high-point award for female swimmers in Santa Clara. Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) was named the high-point award winner on the men’s side. Franklin will be presented with the Grand Prix Series trophy at USA Swimming ConocoPhillips National Championship which will take place August 2-6 in Palo Alto, Calif. As a high school student with collegiate eligibility, Franklin is unable to receive the Grand Prix Series prize money.

In the 200m IM, Kukors broke her own meet record set in 2009 by swimming a 2:09.53. Her time was also the fastest time in the 200m IM this year. Stephanie Rice from Australia took the silver medal by swimming a 2:11.39 and Caitlin Leverenz (Tucson, Ariz.) won the bronze with a 2:13.24.

Kathleen Hersey (Atlanta, Ga.) set a meet record in the first event of the night, the women’s 200m fly. Her time of 2:06.89 was nearly a second faster than the old record set by Mary Descenza in 2008. Stephanie Rice from Australia had the second fastest time at 2:07.54 and 2008 Olympian Elaine Breeden (Lexington, Ky.) placed third with a 2:08.14.

Phelps and Nicholas D’Arcy from Australia were neck-and-neck in the men’s 200m butterfly but in the end, D’Arcy touched the wall first by one-one hundredth of a second in 1:55.39. Phelps finished in 1:55.40 and Robert Bollier (Mission Hills, Kan.) came in third at 1:57.92.

In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Jessica Hardy (Long Beach, Calif.) took home the gold medal with a 1:07.45. Ashley Wanland (Long Grove, Ill.) beat out Amanda Beard (Irvine, Calif.) for second place with a time of 1:09.25. Beard finished in 1:09.46. During morning prelims Sunday, Rebecca Soni (Plainsboro, N.J.) swam the fastest time of the day, setting a meet record with a time of 1:05.83. Soni opted to not swim in Sunday’s finals.

In the women’s 100m back, Australia’s Emily Seebohm swam the fifth fastest time in the world this year with a 59.77. Franklin finished second to Seebohm in 59.98 while fellow Australian Meagen Nay swam a 1:00.96 for third.

Daniel Bell from New Zealand had a strong showing in the men’s 100m backstroke. His time of 54.70 beat Lochte’s 55.22 and Eugene Godsoe’s (Greensboro, N.C) 55.63. Lochte and Godsoe finished second and third, respectively.

Thiago Pereira from Brazil broke the third meet record of the night with a time of 1:57.63. The victory was Pereira’s second of the four-day meet. Lochte came into the wall next at 1:58.99 and Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.) finished third at 2:01.88.

In the women’s 800m free, Wendy Trott of South Africa finished first with a time of 8:32.27. Camryne Morris (Baltimore, Md.) was second in 8:35.14. Alexa Komarnycky of Canada finished third in 8:35.27. The men’s 1500m free was won by Michael McBroom in 15:23.43. Jackson Wilcox (Hixson, Tenn.) finished second in 15:32.11 and Mark Randall was third in 15:33.07.

The Santa Clara International Grand Prix was the seventh and final stop of the 2010-2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series.

OLYMPIC RINGS TO BE DISPLAYED OUTSIDE INTERNATIONAL TRAINING AND RESEARCH CENTER

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (June 16, 2009) The U.S. Olympic Committee has given the United States Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America permission to display the Olympic rings on the outside of the International Training and Research Center, which is currently under construction at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas.

"It is an honor for USBC to be a part of representing the Olympic efforts of the
United States," USBC Vice President-National Governing Body Neil Stremmel said.
"The USOC understands the significance of this training center and the fact that
we will be utilizing new technologies in the training arena as well as designing
bowling specific exercise regimes that will impact the future of our sport."

The USOC decision gives the International Training and Research Center - a joint
venture between the USBC and BPAA - the distinction of being the lone testing
and athlete-development facility in the sport of bowling to feature the Olympic
rings.

"This further validates the vision of bringing together the efficiencies of BPAA
and the USBC under one roof to promote the sport," BPAA President Jim Sturm
said. "With bowling's history and worldwide appeal, hanging the Olympic rings in
Arlington can only enhance the bowling industry and its partners within the
international community."

The new training facility in Arlington adds to the city's already-impressive
collection of elite sporting venues, which include the Rangers Ballpark in
Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers, and Cowboys Stadium, the new $1.15 billion
home of the Dallas Cowboys.

"The City of Arlington is extremely proud to welcome the U.S. Bowling Congress
and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America to our community," Arlington
Mayor Robert Cluck said. "Both organizations are very important additions to our
sports-oriented community."

Upon completion, which is forecast for fall 2009, the International Training and
Research Center will include 14 lanes for training and six for research and
testing of bowling equipment. Four lanes will be specially designed and equipped
for broadcast television finals. High-tech tools in the test center's research
area will include a robotic ball thrower, C.A.T.S. (computer-aided tracking
system) and state-of-the-art biomechanics technology that includes grip
pressure, foot pressure and motion capture, which uses a sensor array and
computer system to precisely track a bowler's bodily movements.

Plans call for USBC coaches to use the test center lanes to coach Team USA,
Junior Team USA, national teams from World Tenpin Bowling Association countries
as well as other coaches who want to train in the facility. In addition, the
center will host International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association and
BPAA seminars and be available for a fee to bowlers who want to take high-tech
coaching lessons.

Michael Phelps A Sprinter? Perhaps for London 2012

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2009 TexSport Publications

Is Michael Phelps trying to make himself into a sprinter in preparation for the 2012 Olympics? He may just be doing so.

Phelps qualified for the finals in both the100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix?

His time in the freestyle event was 50.07 seconds, placing him as the seventh seed in the finals. He is only .73 second behind the top qualifier; Canada’s Brent Hayden.

In the 100-meter backstroke, he goes into the finals with the fourth fastest time (55.46). Fellow Olympian Matt Grevers has the top preliminary time (:55.15) in the finals.

Phelps is not known as a sprinter, but may attempt to make the 2012 Olympic team in the sprint events. He has stated previously he would not attempt to swim eight events in London. Opting to chance his events list may make for a better chance of multiple Olympic medals.

On Saturday, Phelps held off a late charge by Canada’s Ryan Cochrane to win the 400-meter freestyle, an event he had not competed in since 2005.

Cochran, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist in the 1500-meter freestyle, pushed Phelps over the final 100 meters, but Phelps held on for the win. Phelps also won the 200-meter butterfly on Friday.

Controversy has followed Phelps since his eight gold medals in Beijing. Photos surfaced earlier this year showing him inhaling from a marijuana pipe. He was suspended from competition by USA Swimming this past February. He returned to competition last month at the Charlotte UltraSwim.

In Charlotte, he won both the 200-meter freestyle (1:46.02) and 100-meter butterfly (:51.72) while taking second place in the 100-meter backstroke.

Around the Rings: Dress Rehearsal for Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony

BEIJING, CHINA (August 5, 2008) Below is a clip from CCTV about the dress rehersal for the Opening Ceremonies of the Games of the 29th Olympiad in Bejing.

CharlieInBeijing: August 5, 2008

BEIJING, CHINA (August 5, 2008) Below is a video clip from CharlieInBeijing. He is posting video from Beijing and showing the happenings at the Games of the 29th Olympiad.

1932 Olympic Swimmer Still Involved in Her Sport

(photo courtesy of the Library and Archives Division, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pa.)

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

PASADENA, TEXAS (August 3, 2008) The Summer Olympic Games come around every four years. I have been an avid fan, follower, and devotee of the Games since I was a child. I can remember my family gathering around the television and watching the old ABC broadcasts of the Games from far away places such as Tokyo, Mexico City, and Munich.

While searching the Internet on this warm and muggy evening for a story idea, I came across a piece that really exemplifies what the Olympic Games should be about.

It is a story about 92-year-old Anna Mae Gorman. She lives in Homestead, Pennsylvania and was a member of the 1932 USA Olympic swimming team. She qualified for the Los Angeles Games as an alternate and swam in the early heats on the United States' relay team.

Gorman, who now goes by her married name, Lindberg, still works out; swimming a half-mile three days a week, covering the 40 lengths in a half-hour. She also drives herself to the pool.

This is the Olympics and Olympians I knew from my youth. Not the high paid professional athletes of today. She was simply a 16-year-old girl who had a talent that took her to the Olympic Games.

She did not return from the Olympics with any high dollar endorsements. In fact, the few "perks" she received was given to her family.

When she and teammate Lenore Kight returned home after the Games, they joined town officials and the president of U.S. Steel's Homestead Works for a parade. Each woman received enough movie tickets for a year and $150 from local merchants.

"I didn't spend any of it," Lindberg said. "I gave that all to my mother. That was like a fortune to her in the Depression, to take care of the rent."

Lindberg says she will be watching US Olympic swimmer Dara Torres' performances in Beijing, but rejects the notion of a comeback of her own. "I'd go in the 90-and-over Olympics," she said.

She swims strictly for fun and fitness now. That is how a true Olympic should view their sport. A lifetime commitment born out of a young girl's talent. A talent that took her to the Olympics over 70 years ago.

There is a video clip on the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review website. You can access the clip by clicking here. The complete article in the Tribute-Review by Andrew Conte can be viewed by clicking here.