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Mat's Swimming Blog

By Mat Luebbers, About.com Guide to Swimming since 1999

Olympic Swimmer Rebecca Soni Sets Second Meet Record at 2009 Minneapolis Grand Prix Swim Meet - Second Night

Saturday November 14, 2009
Thiago Pereira and Olympian Rebecca Soni each won two events and set a meet record Saturday on the second night of the 2009 Minneapolis Grand Prix Swim Meet. Soni won the women's 400-yard IM in 4:14.41 and set the meet record in the women's 200y breaststroke in 2:07.68. Pereira set the meet record in the men's 400y IM in 3:43.72 and won the men's 200y breast in 1:56.44.

First Night of 2009 Minneapolis Grand Prix Swim Meet

Saturday November 14, 2009

Rebecca Soni, by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty ImagesOlympians Chloe Sutton and Rebecca Soni both won two medals and set meet records Friday on the first night of the 2009 Minneapolis Grand Prix Swim Meet. Sutton, of Mission Viejo Nadadores, won gold in the women's 1000-yard freestyle with a meet record of 9:33.72, and also took silver in the women's 200y free in 1:48.18. Soni, of Trojan Swim Club, set the meet record in the finals of the women's 100y breast in 59.69 and later took silver in the 200y IM in 2:01.75.

(Photo of Rebecca Soni by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

USA Swimmers Hardy, Marshall and Myers Silver - 2009 FINA World Cup Swim Meet

Saturday November 14, 2009
US Swimmers took home three silver medals Saturday, on the first day of competition at the 2009 FINA World Cup Swim Meet in Berlin. Jessica Hardy, Peter Marshall and Whitney Myers each took home hardware, while Michael Phelps finished fourth, just outside of medal contention, in the men's 200m fly with a time of 1:52.26.

Olympic Swimmer Rebecca Soni to Compete at 2009 USA Swimming Minnesota Grand Prix Swim Meet

Saturday November 14, 2009
Top U.S. swimmers, including Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Soni and World Championship silver medalist Tyler Clary, will compete today in the first USA Swimming Grand Prix Swim Meet of the 2009-10 season - the Minnesota Grand Prix. The event will take place at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis, November 13-15.

Young Woman and the Sea - How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel - The Story of Gertrude Ederle's English Channel Swim

Friday November 13, 2009

Gertrude Ederle - George Grantham Bain Collection/Library of Congress

Young Woman & the Sea, by Glen Stout, started slowly (like an easy swim warm-up). Honestly, I was not hooked by the first few pages of the book. I was not looking forward to reading the rest of it. But as I kept reading, it drew me in to the world of a young Gertrude (Trudy) Ederle, and how she went from a non-swimmer to the greatest swimmers of her time, the first woman to swim the English Channel. I recommend this book for swimmers and for those interested in learning more about the early struggle of women and sports. The story of Gertrude Ederle's swim across the English Channel is well worth reading; it is an important chapter in the history of swimming, and Glenn Stoudt captures it in an exciting and revealing way.

(Photo of Gertrude Ederle from George Grantham Bain Collection/Library of Congress)

Phelps Silver, 8 USA Swimming Junior Teamers in Finals - 09 Stockholm World Cup Swim Meet

Wednesday November 11, 2009

On the final day of competition at the 2009 FINA World Cup Swim Meet in Stockholm, USA swimmers took home two gold, one silver and one bronze medal. Michael Phelps earned a silver medal in the men's 200m IM, while National Teamers Jessica Hardy and Peter Marshall each took home gold medals and broke world records in their respective events. In addition, the 2009 National Youth World Cup Team advanced eight swimmers to finals. The National Youth World Cup Team and Michael Phelps will now head to Berlin for the next stop of the 2009 FINA World Cup Swim Meet series. The two-day competition begins on Saturday, November 14.

USA Swimming Junior Team Wins Medals - First Night FINA 2009 World Cup Stockholm

Wednesday November 11, 2009
The 2009 USA Swimming National Youth World Cup Team took home one silver medal and two bronze medals on the first day of competition at the 2009 FINA World Cup Swim Meet in Stockholm. Melissa Franklin earned the silver, while Amber McDermott and Kyle Whitaker both won bronze medals. Michael Phelps, competing in Stockholm as a National Team representative to the Youth Team, also took home a bronze medal.

National Youth World Cup Team Begins FINA 2009-2010 World Cup Competition

Tuesday November 10, 2009
Swimmers on USA Swimming's 2009 National Youth World Cup Team will begin competition at the FINA World Cup event in Stockholm, Sweden on Tuesday, November 10. The two-day event will feature 46 of the top youth swimmers in the U.S. as well as 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, who is traveling and competing with the team as the USA Swimming National Team athlete representative.

Swim Workout: 8 x 200, Faster as You Swim

Monday November 9, 2009

Warm-up as desired, remember to include some swimming technique or drill work, then do this set twice:

  • 200 Swim at a comfortable, easy pace, rest 30"-40"
  • 200 Swim at a moderate pace, rest 20"-30"
  • 200 Swim at a fast pace, rest 20"-30"
  • 200 swim at a very fast pace, rest 20"-30"

Cool-down

US Swim Stars Take On European Team at 2009 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool

Sunday November 8, 2009
The top swimmers from three European nations will gather to take on Team USA in the 2009 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool, December 18-19 in Manchester, England. The bi-annual Duel in the Pool is a made-for-TV event, designed to showcase the sport's most exciting swimmers in non-Olympic years. This year's Duel takes on a new format with Team USA facing a team comprised of the top swimmers from Great Britain, Germany and Italy. The event will be held at the Manchester Aquatic Centre.
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