2012 Readers' Choice Awards - Swimming

Everyone has something to say about their favorites. I received a lot of interesting nominations, but have narrowed them down to several finalists for your consideration. As a result, some great candidates didn't get quite enough nominations to make to the finals. Vote for your favorite from the following finalists, which are listed alphabetically. You can vote one time per day in each category: 2012 Swimming Readers' Choice Awards Categories. Voting will open on 22 Feb and close on 21 Mar 2012. The winners will be announced on 30 Mar.

• Vote: Top Swim Shop
• Vote: Top Swimsuit Brand
• Vote: Top Twitter Tweets
• Vote: Top Training Fins
• Vote: Top Blog
• Vote: Top Hand Paddles
• Vote: Top Goggles

The finalists are:

• Arena
• Finis
• Nike
• Speedo
• TYR

Vote: Top Swimsuit Brand

More on The Top Swimsuit Brands

What's your favorite swimsuit brand or manufacturer? In the USA, Speedo is the first brand that might come to mind, but there are many others, like TYR, Arena, BlueSeventy, Dolfin, and Nike. Around the rest of the world, other companies are in the lead. Swimsuits have come a long way from the ones worn by Johnny Weissmuller. I wonder how fast he would have been in a more modern style of swim suit?

The finalists are:

• Finis Energy Goggle
• Speedo Vanquisher
• Swedish Pro Goggles Original
• TYR Racetech

Vote: Top Goggles

More on the Top Swimming Goggles

Swim goggles are a very individual choice. Foam gasket, silicone, Swedish - everyone has their own favorite. Most swimmers are not using the type show to the left... but I bet a few still are. Once you find your favorite brand of swim goggles, you may want to keep using them, no matter how they look. I still use the same model of swimming goggles I started using in high school 35 years ago.

The finalists are:

• Finis Freestyler Hand Paddles
• Hans Paddles
• Speedo Training Paddles
• Strokemakers
• TYR Catalyst Hand Paddles

Vote: Top Hand Paddles

More on the Top Hand Paddles

Little, big, holes, no holes, curved, flat, finger strap or more. What is it? Swimmer's hand paddles! There are hundreds of brands of swim paddles in use by swimmers today. I might use two or three different kinds in a single swim practice sometimes, but only one is my true favorite.

The finalists are:

• Aqua Sphere Alpha Fins
• Speedo Optimus Training Fins
• TYR Crossblade
• Z2 Zoomers
• Traditional Zoomers

Vote: Top Training Fins

More on the Top Swim Training Fins

Just like hand paddles, swim training fins or flippers come in many varieties. Long, short, stiff, flexible, split blades and monofins.Some swimmers use swim fins as a part of every workout, and some swimmers avoid ever using fins. I fall toward the not-so-much end of that scale. Do you have a favorite brand or type of swim fin?

The finalists are:

• Kiefer
• Metro Swim Shop
• NorCal Swim Shop
• Swim 2000
• Swim Outlet

Vote: Top Swim Shop

More on the Top Swim Shops

We all have to get our swimming gear from someplace. Some swimmers might buy their gear at the swimming pool's swim shop; others might use a local swimming gear store. Many now (of course) buy their swim gear via on-line swimming gear suppliers. Nominate your favorite swim gear suppler for the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards.

The finalists are:

• Dara Torres
• Mel Stewart
• Michael Phelps
• Natalie Coughlin
• Ryan Lochte

Vote: Top Twitter Tweets

More on the Top Swim Twitter Tweeters

This is the second year for this About Swimming Readers' Choice category. The 2011 Readers' Choice Twitter Feed Award went to The Swim Professor. Do you have a favorite a swim tweeter?

The finalists are:

• GoSwim
• Southern California Aquatics Blog
• The 17th Man
• The Swim Brief
• The Swimmers Circle

Vote: Top Blog

More on the Top Swimming Blogs

This is the second year for this About Swimming Readers' Choice category, too. The 2011 Readers' Choice Swimming Blog Award went to Swimmer Joe. Do you have a favorite a swimming blog?