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LEN Magazine 2010/3 28-28-242-32 LEN of The Return Magazine EUROPEAN AQUATICS HIGHLIGHTS www.lenmagazine.com

ISSN 1998-2151

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Budapest 2010 Records are a part of showcase events like the European Russian razzle-dazzle 40 LEN Official Partners ’s happy returns 4 Swimming Championships. Some people were afraid of not having any this summer but indeed we did have some. We had a partici- Budapest hosted the European WomenÊs events pation record with almost 1,000 athletes coming to Budapest from Championships for the second time 43 countries which proves that aquatics hold a firm position among within a four-year span. Hungarian Common wealth for GB 46 the elite sports of the Old Continent. swimming reaped some fine rewards, Thanks to our wonderful athletes we also had more than a just see the medals tables, writes LEN While Britta was away... 48 handful of Championship Records, a European Record, and just 3 Vice-President and head of the hundredths of a second separated us from the celebration of the Budapest OC, Tamas Gyarfas. “It was crazy. I thought ‘wow’, I didn’t expect to be that quick...“ (Francesca first World Record of the season. Halsall) – “Nevertheless, I am sure that However, if you talk to the swim- EDITORIAL mers they will tell you that everyo- LEN Official Sponsors/Suppliers starting from next season records will ne comes here to win their races, start to fall again.” () going for the medals and proving The one Lotte 52 themselves as they lower their times, striving for perfection – re- “The gold is good to have but the time is “From my mother I inherited the coura- cords do not play a major role in what gives me the confidence to know ge, from my father the strength in my their life. The best ones want to we’re doing the right things.“ (Rebecca legs.” (Tania Cagnotto) – “I enjoy life, become Champions first, not Adlington) – “The special thing is that practise other sports, such as tennis or record-holders. my blood can carry an extremely high skiing and am a family-oriented per- The 30th edition of our Euro- LEN Marketing Agency level of oxygen.” (Lotte Friis) son.“ (Christin Steuer) Swimming pean Championships brought British empire 56 more records. Budapest hosted Back to swimming 10 the event for the fourth time which ”We have a great rivalry and I’ve wat- placed the Hungarian capital at The talk was of athletes, athleticism, ched Gemma achieve so much but it the top of the “all-time host ran- LEN Media Partners technique, torsos and tales fit to feed was my turn tonight.“ (Elizabeth kings”. The organisers did an out- the lore of great sport – Craig Lord’s Simmonds) overview. standing job, the beautiful On a different level 60 Margaret Island, the magnificent facilities, the enthusiastic fans ”The difference is that this year I’ve MenÊs events NORY KRUCHTEN and even the nice weather pre- suffered from a shoulder injury.” (Yulia LEN President Gaul has never had it so good 16 sented the participants with an LEN Legal Consultant Emifova) event to be remembered and with French in the fast lane 18 Swedish High-Flyers 64 such setting an extremely high Synchro For standard for future hosts. “I reacted well. I start well, I am calmer, “It’s going so well for me, so why Half way to the Olympic I am in my element.“ () – should I retire?” () The , of course 86 the Record Games in the champions- “The public pressure is a new situation – “It depends what’s feeling best. If the “We cry, we say ‘that’s impossible‘, we hips generated world wide attenti- butterfly doesn’t feel very good I can LEN Anthem for me but I think I can handle it.” (Paul start to try the new elements and all of on. We welcomed guests from Biedermann) swim freestyle.“ (Sarah Sjoestroem) a sudden we realise that the program other continents who all came to fits.“ () Allez les Bleus! 22 Cheers, leaders 68 see where European Aquatics stand – and I think they were con- vinced that our champions are still among the leading figures of the “I knew that I had the potential to achieve “To do it against the world champion in respective disciplines. something.“ () – “And her home pool is the stuff of dreams.” Another record is expected in the audience and market share when you sweat blood for four years, it () – “This gold medal figures: hundreds of millions were reached thanks to the extensive LEN Magazine feels even better.” (Sebastian Roault) was also important because I proved media coverage – the widest we ever had in the history of the V/3 issue that I’m not a shiny suit-swimmer.“ Published by: Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) Lacourt on Cloud Nine 26 European Championships. Besides the record number of journa- (Katinka Hosszu) lists, radio commentators and photographers attending the event, Editorial Board: “I knew I was talented but a lot of people in more than 40 countries could follow the competitions live The LEN Bureau Hosts in seventh heaven 72 people had to help me to achieve this.” on TV and even more could enjoy daily summaries on other conti- KRUCHTEN Nory (President, LUX) () – “It’s nice to keep ALESHIN Gennady (Vice-President, RUS) nents too. Our host broadcaster, Hungarian Television (MTV) pro- DIATHESOPOULOS Dimitris (Vice-President, GRE) hold of my record but it’s there to be duced one of the best coverage we’ve ever seen: the images in HD GYARFAS Tamas (Vice-President, HUN) broken.” () quality are major tools to make aquatics even more popular throug- LUYCE Francis (Vice-President, FRA) hout the world. We all know that in the 21st Century an event like Van HEIJNINGEN Erik (Vice-President, NED) Golden awakening 30 Open Water FOLVIK Sven Egil (Secretary, NOR) this is a product which has to be sold in a very demanding and THIEL Christa (Treasurer, GER) “Only the Olympic title is missing from From the swimming pool... 92 competitive market but based on the outstanding performances of Bureau Members: the Grand Slam.“ (Daniel Gyurta) – “You don’t just need physical fitness, our athletes, the perfect conditions ensured by the organisers and BARELLI Paolo (ITA), EBEJER Robert (MLT), “There’s a lot to learn and luckily there’s the high standard coverage provided by MTV we offer our product KONINCKX BATALLER Juan (ESP), lots of time left.” () but also a lot of experience.“ (Thomas KOWALSKI Jerzy (POL), MEYER Erich (SUI), Lurz) – I’ve done an awful lot of hard with full confidence and all numbers and data show that it is extre- MIKKOLA Kurt (FIN), SPARKES David (GBR), training, and eat properly and swim mely popular among the “clients”. VARVODIC Ivan (CRO), VLASKOV Andriy (UKR) An exhausted between 60 and 110 kilometres a On the other hand we should also see a championship as an LEN Director: SZAKADATI Laszlo but smiling Russian 34 event which leaves a strong legacy. Yes, today the profit is also “There are many things in my life that week.“ (Linsy Heister) Editor-in-chief: CSURKA Gergely important and with hard work a positive balance can be reached Editor: LORD Craig make me smiling.” (Yevgeny as the sponsors, the media and the fans all love aquatics. But the Design: FABIAN Istvan Korotyshkin) – “I changed my butterfly LEN legacy does not exist only in the books. The memories of a Advertising sales: LEN Magazine Office, Community, Paris technique, I am trying to swim with European Championships will last for a long, long time: thousands Coordinator: NAGY Eva longer and stronger strokes.” (Pawel German Harvest In 76 From the Headquarters 100 of young children might turn to their parents one morning and say Photos: Reuters Korzeniowski) “Everything went quite mechanical, Printing: Realszisztema Dabas Printing House Zrt. “I want to become a swimmer!” This is just as important, if not E-mail: coming home with a medal every day.“ 104 more. I’m sure, will also enjoy the benefits of this event in [email protected] Triple double 38 (Patrick Hausding) – “If you have The first Youth the near future, but the biggest profit will appear on the long term. Website:www.lenmagazine.com “I’m no longer the 20 year-old László sunshine or at least normal daylight Views expressed in articles are those of the authors Singapore 2010 This is why I encourage all our member federations to host the and not necessarily reflect those of the editors, Cseh when forced to recover from a the colour of the water is less dark“ Europe is the best! various LEN Events: you will become more experienced and stron- the LEN Bureau or the LEN. brutal training session.“ (Laszlo Cseh) (Ilya Kvasha) ger – records show this, at last. 2 LEN LEN 3 Magazine Magazine Balance of the 30th LEN European Championships

Unfortunately, I was unable to accom- competitions, but then Europe is not the pany the President to the airport in the world... As far as the major events for end, but I still found out that he left with seniors on the Old Continent are con- the same feelings as those he ex- cerned, among the countries occupying Budapest’s happy pressed on his arrival. He is widely the top seven places in the medal table, known to be a polite man, like all our has gone the longest time other high-level guests, they don’t like without hosting the championships Based on first impressions, to complain to the host. Even in the light (1977, Jönköping), followed by LEN President Nory Kruchten declared at the of this fact we could still draw the rather (1983, , though they have held opening press conference for the 30th LEN encouraging conclusion that the cream European Short Course Champion - returns of European swimming was visiting ships and European and Comparing the European Champion- European Championships that he was certain Hungary for the fourth time in five Diving Championships since then), ships in Budapest with the American the organisers were well prepared, and he was years. Between 2005 and 2010 we in 1987, when Strasbourg was Championships being held at more or have hosted one junior, one short- the host city, Great Britain in 1993, less the same time we have no reason completely satisfied. In reply I told him that course and two senior European Sheffield, while held the to be alarmed: there has been no I would be happy if he were to say the same Championships, and are ready to face event in in 2002. decline since Europe took 17 of the 40 further challenges in the future. At the same time it is almost unbe- swimming gold medals on offer at last thing upon departure. On a separate but important note, it lievable that from 1926 right through to year’s World Championships in Rome, would be a fine thing if , France, today no city in the or though we await news from the Pan Great Britain or Germany, which all pro- Russia has played host to the Euro- Pacific Championships in Irvine, Cali- duced outstanding performances at the pean swimming family – despite being fornia, where the rest of the world was European Championships in Budapest, the only country to have won gold due to gather in late August. were to undertake an organising role medals in all four disciplines at the All in all, we can’t really take pride in that matches their achievements in the Budapest event (not for the first time in the fact that the representatives of the pool by actually hosting the European the history of the sport). 30th hosts were unable to hand over Championships. Of course, this is not meant to be a the LEN flag to the 31st city in the clos- There is no doubt that these major criticism, nor any kind of reprimand, but ing moments of the European Cham- players have played host to a succes- rather an incentive, since these Euro- pionships in Budapest, because al - sion of the highest-ranking world-class pean Championships also proved – de- though encouraging discussions are in spite the absence of world records – progress, no definitive decision has yet that Europe is leading the way. been taken on who will be the next host. No doubt the global economic crisis has affected everyone and there are plenty of reasons for passivity, but we all remain interested in the solution. We are able to confirm, through our own examples, that holding the

Pink Pantheon: Yuliya Efimova (RUS) cuts a dash in a striking cap as she slipstreams back to real swimming on her way to victory in the 50 and 100m 4 LEN LEN 5 Magazine Magazine European Championships constitutes a firmed that it had been well worth hold- we ask the federations’ administrators, big investment in advancing the sport of ing the European Junior Champion- Predicti☺n Pay☺ff outstanding specialists and journalists swimming in the host country: we were ships in 2005, where youngsters such reporting on the sport to predict the only able to celebrate two Hungarian as Katinka Hosszú, Dávid and Evelyn All medals All medals winners of the different competitions. victories in Budapest in 2006 (thanks to Verrasztó, and We summarised the expected results in László Cseh), while Hungarian swim- Gergő Kis made their debuts, with great the 2010/2 edition of LEN Magazine. mers came home from Rome with two success. In accordance with our expecta- World Championship titles in 2009 Holding the European Champion- tions, Russia finished at the (Dániel Gyurta and Katinka Hosszú), ships – and this relates to every country top of the medal table, and the and, with six gold medals in 2010, con- – does not just enable the athletes to RUS 14 11 7 1. RUS 13 7 8 28 duo of Gennady Aleshin and reach for the skies, but also captivates GER 14 8 5 2. GER 8 9 3 20 combined the home crowd, as the 30th Euro- magnificently – with 13 gold peans, just like the one in 2006, were ITA 10 3 15 3. FRA 8 8 7 23 medals instead of the antici- pated 14: the tipsters couldn’t HUN 7 2 3 4. GBR 6 6 7 19 do anything about their GBR 4 8 9 5. ITA 6 5 6 17 women’s medley relay team, having finished first, subse- FRA 3 8 2 6. HUN 6 4 4 14 quently being disqualified for a poor changeover... Everyone SRB 3 0 0 7. SWE 3 4 4 11 expect ed Germany to finish SWE 2 5 2 8. UKR 3 2 4 9 second, without realising for example that they would have UKR 2 3 3 9. DEN 2 2 2 6 to manage without Britta Titans of Gaul: Steffen this time, who was Alain Bernard retained his DEN 1 3 1 10. ESP 1 4 4 9 struggling with illness, and 100m freestyle crown and NED 1 1 4 11. NED 1 2 4 7 there was no way they could cheered teammates to four have anticipated the young other freestyle titles ESP 0 5 4 12. NOR 1 2 0 3 Frenchman Yannick Agnel beating on NOR 0 2 1 13. GRE 1 1 3 5 the first day of the swimming POL 0 1 1 14. BLR 1 1 2 4 events – which was also the prelude to a French victory GRE 0 1 0 15. POL 1 0 1 2 parade, as reflected in the BEL 0 0 1 16. AUT 0 2 0 2 “real” medal table. In other words, people sitting in the CRO 0 0 1 17. FAR 0 1 0 1 VIP box were able to hear the national anthem, La Mar- SLO 0 0 1 IRL 0 1 0 1 seillaise, performed on several From LEN Magazine 2010/2, ROU 0 1 0 1 occasions by the understand- published in June. ably happy FFN President 20. ISR 0 0 2 2 . almost exclusively played out to full The British are coming up houses. * two silver medals in 100 breast women for Rikke Moeller fast as well, and while chief However, one big difference from Pedersen (DEN) and Jennie Johansson (SWE), tied in executive David Sparkes was last time was the weather: it didn’t rain 1:07.36 looking at the island pool, he (beyond a few refreshing drops) this had in mind visions of what time. Right at the start LEN General * two bronze medals in 5km men open water for Spyridon the London 2012 Olympics Secretary Sven Folvik asked me to stay Gianniotis (GRE) and Simone Ruffini (ITA), tied in 59:15.9 pool will look like. Perhaps the in daily contact with St. Peter, who – lo finest compliment from all the and behold – proved merciful. outstanding British athletes came from However, you can’t keep taking polo success at the European Cham- Hannah Miley, who – immediately after advantage of heavenly gifts: Budapest, pionships, since the men’s team – led beating World Champion Katinka and obviously many other swimming by Dénes Kemény – has won three suc- Hosszú in the 400 medley – said she capitals, could only rest assured and cessive Olympics, while the women’s hoped to compete in a similar atmos- happy if they had a world-class indoor team, under the leadership of Tamás phere at the London Olympics. swimming complex. There is no denying Faragó, claimed the world title in By Tamás that the Hungarian Swimming Federa tion . GYÁRFÁS is ready to host the World Champion- In other words, winning a bid to host LEN Vice ships in 2015, but makes no secret of the a competition is not just a two-week President fact that it would bid in order to encour- experience, but may also bring about Chairman age the Government to build the long essential long-term conditions for LEN’s of the Organising desired and deserved pool. 51 member countries. Committee, One of the trump cards in this argu- Happily we have already managed Budapest 2010 ment is that, in addition to the results to persuade the large LEN family to join achieved in the four disciplines, Hun- in our tipping game. In what has now

Photo: REUTERS Photo: gary could also rightly hope for water become a tradition before major events, 6 LEN LEN 7 Magazine Magazine Photo: REUTERS

Predicti☺n Pay☺ff

Swimming Swimming British Bounty: was alongside and Elizabeth Simmonds when the Smart Track squad was chosen for long-term development in their early teens in 2004; in 2010 that programme GER8411. FRA 8 7 6 21 contributed to the Brits winning the HUN 7 2 3 2. RUS 7 4 1 12 meet among women RUS6643. GBR 6 6 6 18 ITA6274. HUN 6 4 3 13 FRA3825. SWE 3 3 4 10 GBR3676. GER 2 5 2 9 SRB3007. DEN 2 2 2 6 SWE2328. ITA 2 0 4 6 DEN1319. NOR 1 2 0 3 NED11410. BLR 1 1 0 2 NOR02111. ESP 1 0 3 4 ESP 0 1 4 12. POL 1 0 1 2 POL01113. NED 0 2 4 6 UKR 0 1 1 14. AUT 0 2 0 2 CRO00115. FAR 0 1 0 1 SLO001 IRL 0 1 0 1 ROU 0 1 0 1 18. ISR 0 0 2 2 19. GRE 0 0 1 1

8 LEN LEN 9 Magazine Magazine result it has ever achieved before. relays, at Olympic Games, World and Russia, with seven titles, was runner-up, European Championships. And the win- while Britain, in third and with 18 medals ner of two silver medals at the 2000 overall, celebrated its best result ever. Olympic Games is not done yet: 33 in Lacourt was the most successful the month of the Budapest battle, she is male swimmer, with three gold medals now aiming for a fifth Olympic campa- (50m and 100m , 4x100m ign, in London 2012. medley relay), a European mark and two Europe closed its summer 2010 championship records to his name. account just before the rest of the world Topping the women was Hungarian took to its blocks at the Pan Pacific Katinka Hosszu for the hosts, her three Championships in California, though Back gold medals (200m butterfly, 200m indivi- Britain, which raced either unrested or dual medley, 4x200m freestyle relay) joi- only partially rested in Budapest, retur- ned by a silver medal in the 400m med- ned home to prepare for its “priority” ley behind a historic first medley victory event of the year, the Commonwealth to swimming for Britain, courtesy of Hannah Miley. Games in October. The Asian Games If Britain’s Francesca Halsall beca- will conclude the big long-course events me the most successful British swim- of 2010. mer in the history of the championships In diving, Germany ruled the boards The Hungarian capital has now athleticism, technique, torsos and tales (with two golds among five medals), with eight medals, among them five hosted the European fit to feed the lore of great sport. then Sweden’s Therese Alshammar’s 2 gold: an outstanding achievement a year gold, a silver and 2 bronzes took her after the drought of Rome, when Ger - Championships four times since Taking all sports into account – swimming, diving, synchro and open international treasury of to 67 medals many failed to visit the podium. As was it got the show underway with water, Russia took the crown, on 13 (14 golds among them), including the case in the pool, when the medley a men’s only event in 1926 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals, (ladies gracing the water the while France, for the first time in history, Home crowd support was spectacular following year). None are was king (its eight gold medals all won as the sport got back to celebrating its around to truly say which by men) of the race pool, Germany athletes and the element they excel in ruled the boards and Italy the lake. Budapest was best but after In swimming, the return to textile 12 days of action on Margaret suits and fair play on January 1 this year Island and out at Lake Balaton dictated that there would be no repeat what we can declare with hand of the 6 world and 18 European records on heart is that the saviours from 2008 – even before the who answered LEN’s S.O.S racing began. Indeed, no global stan- dards were felled but Camille Lacourt in a time of need and financial came closest: 24.07sec in the 50m constraint are owed a debt of backstroke left him 0.03sec shy, by thanks by the Old Continent. which time he had already pulled something special out of the bag for Here was a championship that did not Gaul and Europe when he took down a have the kind of big budget now associ- shiny continental standard in 52.11sec REUTERS Photo: ated with world championships. Yet the over 100m backstroke to send shock 30th championship in history, with athle- waves around the world of swimming. tes from 43 nations competing for glory, The Missile’s blast was suffered not a jot. Indeed, with a nod to one of 31 championship records, 16 set seven days of fabulous racing in the by men, while Europeans ended their pool alone, LEN’s showcase was the big event with 16 places at the top of the first celebration in the world of the return world rankings across all 34 solo events. of swimming beyond the shadow of suits Gaul’s gladiators gate-crashed their way now banned. The talk was of athletes, to 8 titles for the men’s crown, while Britain’s belles kept rivals at bay six times for the women’s crown. France, with 21 medals, won the team trophy for the first time a league ahead of any

10 LEN LEN 11 Magazine Magazine Hausding that also brough the title of after a four-gold success, Russian ners in open water this time round, with Olympic Games in July, while provisio- to the unsung heroes who work in the best male diver of the championships Natalia Ischenko worked hard but was claiming the mixed team prize nal dates for the 2014 championships shadows to make sure that information and the first ever to achieve an incre- untroubled by rivals on her way to mat- over Italy (as a time trials over 5km), have been set at August 6 to 17. flows and the stage is polished and the dible feat: he won a medal in all five ching the achievement of title-winning while among women the result that no- The LEN Bureau was, however, engine well-oiled. The helpfulness and fri- events, two gold topping three silvers. performances in solo, duet, team, and one expected was the victory over able to reveal that the 2011 European endliness of volunteers on Margaret Previous best was seen in free combination. If she was consisten- 25km of ’s Olga Beresnyeva in Championships island was exceptional, the value of their 2000, when Russian living legend and cy personified, then so too was the her debut race over the distance. has been awarded to the Israel contribution impossible to overstate. president of his national diving federati- result in her wake: four silvers for , As Budapest prepared to wave Swimming Association and the City of But the bottom line of Budapest’s on, Dmitry “The Man” Sautin, took four four bronzes for Ukraine, the most goodbye for a fourth time, LEN was una- Eilat on the Red Sea. Make a date with success is as stark as the black line that medals, three gold and a silver. improved nation in the synchro pool in ble for the first time in many a long year, your diary: September 5th to 11th. That swimmer’s follow year in and year out in Worth noting that, as is the case in Budapest. With those four crowns, to celebrate the handing over of the flag event will also represent the first pursuit of excellence. the race pool, the divers of today have a Ischenko won more gold than any other to the next host. The 2012 event and the European Championships in Open Budapest 2010 proved what aquatic relays saw Russian women grant Britain lot more to aim at than those of yestery- athlete at the championships across all timing of that in Olympic year are yet to Water Swimming since the LEN Bureau sports have known since Budapest gold when they were disqualified for a ear in keeping with a growing competiti- four disciplines. be decided, potential hosts thin on the announced independent continental 1926: you don’t need the trappings of faulty takeover before the men of Gaul on schedule. Diving events provided The championships began in a world ground as cities suffer cuts to budgets, championships were to be held in odd wealth to put on a spectacle that will keep Russia at bay, the climax of the one of the biggest controversies of the beyond Budapest, out at Lake Balaton, both self-imposed and mandated by years for open water swimmers. Divers have them on their feet and cheering for diving decided the team trophy. championships as athletes and coa- where Italy extended its rule of the national Governments in the wake of already have their own event. more. The athletes will do that for you. In the very last competition, the ches complained of the poor quality of waves in Europe. The Azzuri took home the global financial crisis. Provisional Potential hosts for 2012 and 2014 will men’s 10m platform, from which defen- the lighting for evening events. no fewer than eight medals, among them dates of May 16 to 27 (around the time doubtless wish to know “what’s in it for ding champion Thomas Daley had In synchronised swimming, Russia, two titles, to in the 5km for that LEN will hold its 2012 Congress in us”. Budapest provides the answer to withdrawn after suffering a tricep injury, the sport’s dominant force not only here men and in the 25km for Troia, near , Portugal) have been some extent. The bi-annual summer By Craig LORD Germany edged a point ahead of in Europe but across the world, sank all men, their treasury helping to deliver the set in a year that see London host the showcase for aquatic sports was not The Times, Russia when and Patrick before her. With Spain’s Gemma Team Trophy by a wide margin. merely a success because great athle- Great Britain Hausding took gold and silver. For Mengual, the star of Eindhoven 2008 If Italy was the team of the lake, the tes, their coaches by their sides, stepped swimmer who caught the eye was up and gave it their best but because Olympic bronze medallist everyone did, from those in the limelight (GER), who in the marathon event clai- med gold to extend the most phenome- nal of open water success stories, his personal trophy cupboard now stacked with more international medals than anyone has ever won beyond the race pool. There were no double gold win-

12 LEN LEN 13 Magazine Magazine SWIMMING Predicti☺n Pay☺ff Medals Medals MEN men men

GER5211. FRA 8 4 5 17 HUN 4 1 2 2. RUS 4 4 1 9 RUS3433. HUN 3 1 1 5 FRA3324. GER 1 3 0 4 ITA2255. ITA 1 0 3 4 SRB2006. POL 1 0 1 2 GBR1217. ESP 1 0 0 1 ESP 0 1 2 8. AUT 0 2 0 2 POL0119. NED 0 1 3 4 UKR 0 1 1 10. GBR 0 1 2 3 DEN01011. SWE 0 1 1 2 NOR01012. FAR 0 1 0 1 SWE010 ROU 0 1 0 1 CRO00114. ISR 0 0 2 2 SLO00115. GRE 0 0 1 1 Photo: REUTERS / WOLFGANG RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo:

Good days, sunshine, without the shiny suits: Samuel Pizzetti of Italy in action during the European Championships 14 LEN LEN 15 Magazine Magazine Barnier at , a club that gy for the bigger swim, Agnel was not Alex Dale Oen (NOR) also repeated his onship record of 1:57.73 and on the last accounted for 11 of France’s 21 me- selected for the 200m, and Biedermann success of Eindhoven, and did so in a day drew cheers fit to drown out the rum- dals. The backstroke ace had been in stepped up to retain the four-lap crown championship record of 59.20 in the ble of distant thunder when he claimed the picture for a while but not the main in style on 1:46.06. Fans were not, as it 100m breaststroke to take the helm of the 400m medley title for a fourth time to focus of world attention. In times of turned out, denied a clash of 200m the 2010 world rankings. keep alive a fine Hungarian tradition and 24.07 and that lone European standard titans: in the 4x200m freestyle relay, The most popular title defenses of match the title tally of legendary compa- Gaul has of 52.11 over 50m and 100m respec- France, Germany and Russia fielded the week, however, as far as the partisan triot Tamas Darnyi. tively, the 25-year-old was a league their fastest first and it was Biedermann crowd was concerned, were the medley Cseh welcomed his latest success in ahead of the rest of the continent in the who handed over first, on 1:45.47, victories of a superb technician called typically modest fashion. The crowd did water, on the clock and in points. Agnel on 1:45.83, on Laszlo Cseh. In a tight battle with Markus not, their frenzy and Darnyi presenting If Lacourt doubled on backstroke, 1:45.93 (a start that led to a 7:06.71 Rogan (AUT) until the last turn, Cseh gold to Cseh a fitting finish to a fine never had it just one gold on freestyle dominated champion-record victory for Russia), all claimed the 200m crown in a champi- championship at the complex named the swim headlines in France and three men inside the German’s title- after the 1988-92 double Olympic cham - around the world like no other in the winning time. pion’s coach, Tamas Szechy – and an week of Budapest. At 18, Yannick Agnel At the deep end of distance, historic aquatic outing for France, of so good was still dripping in the gold of his junior Sebastien Rouault did the double: he which much will be expected when the titles when he rose to his blocks for bat- became the first Frenchman in 76 years clock ticks round to 2011 tle against world champion and record to win the 1,500m crown, and did so in world championships in next year. holder Paul Biedermann (GER) in the 14:55.17, the fastest in the world in No matter which way you points and placed it one gold medal 400m freestyle. The courage of youth 2010 at that point (though Ryan By Craig LORD turned at the Alfred Hajos pool clear of Russia. In all, the French won 8 paid off, Agnel holding off Biedermann Cochrane, of , wasted no time for gold in 3:46.17 and prompting in topping him, with a 14:49.47 victory on Margaret Island, there was gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze, 17 of those 21 prizes won by the men. L’Equipe to devote its entire front page at Pan Pacific Championships in a Frenchman in a rush: 20 The front page headline in L’Equipe to “Agnel – Superstar!” California a week later); then he finals, 15 of them featuring summed up the final relay and the over- Courtesy of a tough selection policy added the 800m title in a champi- France on the podium, eight of all (mainly male) squad result with a aimed at instilling in France’s future onship record of 7:48.28. Here the golds for the best team in scream: “The Golden team”. Le Coq of troops easy speed through qualification was a prime example of an ath- town, with Camille Lacourt the walk was Camille Lacourt, coached rounds in order to ensure passage to lete for whom shiny suits were a by former French international Romain finals in a fashion that conserves ener- nightmare. The FINA decision to cream of the crop through a ban bodysuits and non-textile backstroke breakthrough that was critical. “I asked myself the transcended suits and only question whether it was worth Paul Biedermann (GER) able continuing at all. The bodysuits to break a stranglehold on did not give me an advantage due to my build. I was consider- freestyle events dominated by ing stopping … If they had been the colour blue. kept, if the suits had remained, I

Photo: PETER ANDREWS Photo: would probably have quit...,” said With 16 championship records among Rouault. Two of those who were win- men on the scoreboard, France had ners in a time of polyurethane, Fred reason to be the most cheerful, nine of Bousquet and Alain Bernard stepped the new standards coming its way as up to be winners again in jammers. Gaul celebrated two prizes that had Bousquet took the 50m freestyle in the never come its way before: best male fastest ever title win seen in a textile team and best overall team trophy at suit, 21.49, while Bernard retained the the European showcase. On the transi- 100m crown by just 0.3sec, in 48.49, tion to textile-only suits, the change on ahead of Evgeny Lagunov and French the clock was unavoidably obvious: the teammate , just new meet standards indicate that the 0.07sec behind the champion. continental is gaining in speed, while It was Lagunov who led the Russian Aiming to nail it: just one European record over seven 4x100m freestyle relay to victory over focuses days of racing, to Lacourt on 52.11sec France (and Bernard) on the first day of on the fingertip battle in the 100m backstroke, tells the tale of the championships, Daniil Izotov pass- ahead the performance-enhancement in suits ing Bernard on the way home to claim now banned. Seven of the 20 men’s title the crown in the face of a paper exer- on offer were defended successfully, cise that suggested the French could nine went to new holders, while four not lose. The result contributed to were not defended at all. Bernard being replaced by There was no escaping the success in the medley relay won by France over story of the championships. The French Russia on the last day of the champi- gold rush came to a thumping conclu- onships. sion on the final Sunday of racing when Russia enjoyed two other golden Frederick Bousquet in the 50m freestyle successes, both and the men’s 4x100 medley relay in (RUS), in the 200m backstroke, and which the sprinter swam the ‘fly leg Evgeny Korotyshkin (RUS), in the 100m secure the LEN Trophy for France on Another gold for France: Alain Bernard butterfly, retaining their 2008 crowns. 16 LEN Magazine MEN FREESTYLE

Thirty-one-year-old Italian veteran Emiliano The winners French in the fast lane Brembilla, four-time European 400 freestyle WR: 20.91 (Cesar Cielo Filho) ER: 20.94 (Fred Bousquet) champion, returned 1. BOUSQUET Frederick for another European FRA Frederick Bousquet out-muscled all- finish the evening with another gold in campaign but 21.49 “I came to these comers in the 50m lung-buster, ham- the medley relay. France are so packed finished 20th overall mering home French dominion in men’s with sprinting talent that defending European Championships freestyle at these European champions- champion Alain Bernard and Amaury to win the 50 freestyle in the heats, 50m 2. NYSTRAND Stefan hips. Bousquet, the oldest man in the Leveaux failed to get through the heats and I did it,” said failing to make SWE field at 29, hurtled down the Alfred despite clocking the 4th and 5th fastest 21.69 the semi-finals. Hajos pool in 21.49, hitting the wall two- overall times, with only two swimmers Bousquet, who in the tenths of a second ahead of seasoned from a single nation allowed to go semi-finals clocked 21.36, Swede , the 2007 world through to the semi-finals. Bousquet a championship record 3. GILOT Fabien bronze medallist, who clocked 21.69. won by a clear margin, though the most and the fastest time ever FRA Bousquet’s French teammate Fabien decisive victories in history were those 21.76 War Paint: Gilot took bronze, a fraction behind in of Alex Popov in 2000 and Bernard in by a swimmer wearing a Frederick Bousquet (FRA) 21.76. Bousquet, the 2009 world silver 2008. textile suit. limbers up in readiness to sink his EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF medallist behind Olympic champion rivals in the 50m freestyle 1. Bousquet (FRA) 1. Cielo Cesar (BRA), had gained silver in 2. Gilot (FRA)  3. the 50 butterfly and – with Gilot – was to or Bernard (FRA)  4. (HTS) WR: 46.91 (Cesar Cielo Filho) ER: 47.12 (Alain Bernard) 1. BERNARD Alain at the 2008 Championships in Eindhoven, FRA where he twice lowered the 100m world 48.49 Olympic champion Alain Bernard retained record which had belonged to Olympic his European title by a whisker to mainta- champion Pieter van den Hoogenband in a tremendous run by the French men’s since 2000. Bernard also mashed the freestylers in the Alfred Hajos pool. With 50m world mark. Budapest was a different

100m 2. LAGUNOV Evgeny story on the clock, his effort well outside the 400 (Yannick Agnel), 800 and 1500 LASZLO BALOGH Photo: RUS (Sebastien Rouault) already in French his fast-suits European mark of 47.12 but 48.52 possession, the onus was on Bernard to what mattered was that the crown stayed match them and he set about the task on his head. (ITA), twice boldly, pounding out the pace down the world champion and twice European 3. MEYNARD William first length and clinging on for gold in champion, was fourth. FRA 48.49 to deny the fast-closing pack. 48.56 Russia’s Evgeny Lagunov was just 0.03 seconds adrift in 48.52 and Frenchman “To win the race EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF William Meynard hurtled through from you also need a certain 1. Bernard (FRA) 1. seventh at the turn to snatch bronze in amount of luck.” 2. Nystrand (SWE)  7. 48.56. Bernard had demolished all rivals – Bernard 3. Magnini (ITA)  4. WR: 1:42.00 (Paul Biedermann) ER: 1:42.00 (Paul Biedermann) 1. BIEDERMANN Paul GER 1:46.06 World champion Paul Biedermann tried to begin faster, the time wasn’t bounced back from defeat in the 400 fre- good, but the title is what counts,” estyle to retain his 200 freestyle crown, Biedermann, beaten into second place though he felt he should have swum fas- in Monday’s 400 freestyle by 18-year-old 2. LOBINTSEV Nikita ter. Dominik Meichtry (SUI) took the race Yannick Agnel (FRA), said. “I was faster 200m RUS out at a cracking pace but the German at the German national championships 1:46.51 world record-holder, sixth after the first in Berlin (but) I think I managed the pub- 50m, swept to the front on the third lic pressure well.” Biedermann’s winning length and forged clear to win in time was more than four seconds outsi- 3. VERSCHUREN 1:46.06. Nikita Lobintsev, a gold medal- de the 3:42.00 world mark he set in a Sebastiaan list in Russia’s 4x100 freestyle relay, super-fast non-textile suit at last year’s NED 1:46.91 added a silver to his collection with a World Championships. Daniil Izotov, powerful finish which lifted him on the who outsprinted French Olympic cham- EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF last length from fourth to second in pion Alain Bernard to bring home gold 1. Biedermann (GER) 1. 1:46.51, with for Russia in Monday’s freestyle relay, 2. Izotov (RUS)  4. (NED) capturing bronze in 1:46.91. “I had to settle for fourth place in 1:47.14. 3. Agnel (FRA) DNS

18 LEN Magazine On the winning side

Alain Bernard How a champion The Bounce Paul Biedermann

down on the speed of Rome but there is clearly more to come from the German. prepares for victory in Biedermann He showed as much when racing Agnel in the 4x200m in which the aquat- ic gods granted us the spectacle of a race with Agnel and Nikita Lobintsev He’s got a much more relaxed way mind of the man as he approached the important to attack these 100m in the The most troublesome legacy of the Biedermann acknowledged his (RUS) off the gun. It was the world about him. A reasonable heat, a more final, as our interview immediatrely after heats. I am not finished, far from it. non-textile suits era is expectation. The changed status as a result of last sum- champion who proved the stronger man, convincing semi-final (48.71, 2nd the semi-final reveals: clock has no ears to hear, no eyes to mer’s sizzlers but reckoned: “The public on 1:45.47 to a French record of 1:45.83 behind the Russian Lagunov‘s 48.38) Have you forgotten the relay? see, no asterisks to mark time warped pressure is a new situation for me but I for Agnel and 1:45.93 for Lobintsev. that allowed him to recover his strength How do you feel after this semi- Yes, I have completely put it behind me by circumstance. No surprise then that think I can handle it.” The mark of a Biedermann’s blast was the second-best again – all part of the new feel to final? even if I don’t ever forget anything. It is within an hour of the 400m freestyle great athlete, leading coaches say, is ever relay lead-off split, behind 1:45.36 Olympic champion Alain Bernard. As I reacted well. I start well, I am calmer, important to go forward. Now there is a final for men, the online edition of the an ability to bounce back from disap- for in 2007 (discounting such, the doubts and fears born in a I am in my element. My first 50m were final ahead of me that could go either respected German quality paper Die pointment or setback. It is one of the non-textile suit times). relay that resulted in failure (loss to the good, I relaunched in the third 25m, I just way. Welt was running the headline great strengths of Phelps: to devour the Biedermann noted a target beyond Russians in the 4x100m) vanished on have some difficulty at the finish. My per- “Biedermann wins only silver; Gold For downside and turn it to fuel for the next silver for his team: “I also achieved my the way to the defense of his solo 100m formance suits me well, it is going well, The Russian Lagunov and Grechin Relay”. Silver out in front of gold upturn. In Budapest, Biedermann intention to regain the season’s world freestyle crown. Alain found his smile I can feel that, I have strength, my stroke is seem to be strong. Are you afraid because it carries the drop of “Only”. showed that he has something of that best from Michael Phelps.” The Olympic again - as well as the ambition to strike more efficient. And much more pleasant... I of them? The rub for the German media was trait too. After silver in the 400m, he champion clocked 1:45.61 at US trials big in the blue ribband final and taste got into the final 2nd fastest, I have a good Fear not! They are quite consistent, and clear: Paul Biedermann, national retained his European crown over the week before Budapest. The relay sweet success for the first time since his place – and that’s the most important. they may look impressive, but they are sportsman of the year in 2009 after get- 200m in commanding fashion with a went to the Russians in a championship Olympic title in 2008. Coach Denis not invincible. Nobody is. Neither me, ting well beyond himself on the clock 1:46.06 victory. Agnel was missing from record of 7:06.71, Germany the silver in Auguin was optimistic. “If he swims Are you more confident now? nor them. It will be a fight. and beyond Michael Phelps in the the race, courtesy of a rigid French 7:08.13 and France bronze in 7:09.70, 100m and not 60m like in the semi- Yes. I needed some adjustments and water and on the clock and beyond Ian selection policy, though the crowd on all of that comparing well to the 7:09.60 finals, Alain will be hard to beat,“ conc- reference points. Unfortunately, the William Meynard (48.82) is also in the Thorpe on the clock as he stormed to Margaret Island would yet get to see a at which Italy held the European record luded the coach. “There are only two or relay set me right [gave me a reality final. Does the presence of anoth- 200m and 400m freestyle world Biedermann Vs Agnel clash over 200m. between winning the 2006 European three details to work out, namely the check], if I can say that. er Frenchman change anything? crowns, had been beaten by an 18- After his solo win, Biedermann said: crown at Budapest 2006 and at the last 15. But, in the end, he will just try to No. Except that if we can have a double year-old Frenchman on his senior inter- “It was a tough race ... nothing more than dawn of polyurethane. enjoy himself, that’s essential. During Did you feel more confident before victory, we won’t lose anything. national debut. The surface view was, gold counted. The experience was very Meanwhile, Budapest has allowed the warm-up, he did some awesome the semi-final? as always: victor and vanquished. important and I hope I’ve learned from Biedermann, now the boyfriend of stuff with ease. We are getting there.“ Yes and more free, too. This morning in Are you the favourite again? You are In France L’Equipe topped the scale that. In Rome I knew in the last 25m that sprint queen , to move on, Just 24 hours later, Bernard was cham- the heats I forced it a bit. I wasn’t rela- the title holder... of hailing the new hero of Gaul with a I would win. here I didn’t know and I was a new level set. He will next race at the pion of Europe once more in a very tight xed enough. There was a bit too much (interrupting the question) I can win this full-front page picture under a banner breathing on the wrong side.” His effort Berlin and world cups in final. What followed was many happy time between the relay and this morning title. But I don’t have to preserve any- headline: Agnel SuperStar! The photo was 4sec down on Rome 2009 world october and November before the world

words of a winner. More insightful is the (a day before). It wasn’t that easy. It was thing, neither this title, nor the others. of the young Agnel looking heavenward pace, just as his 400m had been 7sec REUTERSPhoto: RATTAY WOLFGANG / short-course championships in Dubai. Nobody can take away what I have. As in thanks to Jesus Christ Superstar or for the rest, all is down to what happens perhaps an aquatic God who may have [in the final]. helped him keep his fingertips ahead of Biededermann had an iconic feel about Before coming here, you suggested it. Gaul had a new aquatic God. Inside a sub-48sec swim? Is it possi- the paper, the main headline on a dou- ble? ble-page spread reads “Tomorrow’s Why not? But in the final, I don’t want to arrived”. It always does. chase a big clock and do things back- Biedermann had done his best - he wards. had never been quicker in a textile suit - but that, because of all that came to Are you itching to get to the blocks? pass in Rome, appeared to be a pale Even though I would love to relax and reflection of expectations held in the sleep well, I am looking forward to this main by those who want the headline final. but have no time for or interest in the explanation or analysis. Graceful in Will it be some form of revenge for defeat, just as he had been in victory, the relay? Biedermann said of Agnel: “He Especially a revenge for myself. As for deserved to win ... he led all the time. the rest, we will see afterwards. But I am The 400m is not my thing this year. But not finished, far from it! Don’t you worry! I’m happy with how I performed and very glad with the silver. I started out An interview by Benoit LALLEMANT, too slowly, perhaps, and left my late

Photo: REUTERSPhoto: LASZLO BALOGH / published in L‘Equipe spurt too late.” 20 LEN LEN 21 Magazine Magazine MEN FREESTYLE

The eyes have it: Yannick Agnel (FRA), left, and The winners Paul Biedermann (GER) soak in the Allez les Bleus! Frenchman’s 400m freestyle victory WR: 1:42.00 (Paul Biedermann) ER: 1:42.00 (Paul Biedermaann) Biedermann 1. AGNEL Yannick FRA shaved 0.01sec off the 3:46.17 Yannick Agnel (FRA), 18, fought off the Lobintsev (RUS) had edged in front by world record of the challenge of world record-holder Paul the 100m mark, the Frenchman great at last Biedermann (GER) to clinch the first regained control swiftly. Gergo Kis gave swimming gold in the Alfred Hajos pool the Hungarian fans an early opportuni- REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH Photo: year’s World 2. BIEDERMANN Paul on Margaret Island and the first major ty to cheer a home medal winner with a Championships in 400m GER international senior title of his career. storming last length which took him 3:46.30 Biedermann, back in fourth for the first from sixth to bronze in 3:48.14 over Rome when wearing an half of the race, stepped up his attack in Lobintsev, the 2008 bronze medalist. X-Glide for a 3:40.07 the last 100m and narrowed the gap in “Great! I wanted a perfect race for my standard, one of 43 in 3. KIS Gergo a gripping duel down the final length. first final at this level,” Agnel said. “The HUN But he could not catch Agnel, the eight days. 3:48.14 competition was tough throughout the European junior champion, who held race. I had only an inkling of an idea his nerve to win in 3:46.17, with that I could win.” The German paid gen- EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Biedermann 0.13 seconds behind in erous tribute to Agnel. “He was better,” 1. Biedermann (GER)  2. 3:46.30. Agnel had seized the lead on Biedermann said. “I probably increased 2. Glaesner (DEN)  9. the first length and, although Nikita the pace too late.” 3. Sciocchetti (ITA)  8. WR: 7:32.12 (Zhang Lin) ER: 7:43.84 (Federico Colbertado) 1. ROUAULT Sebastien FRA “Before this final I had 7:48.28 CR Sebastien Rouault (FRA) pulled off a his lead and was just ahead at the final already completed 4,600 metres, so I great distance freestyle double, battling turn but Rouault was accelerating and felt a bit tired.” said Rouault, who fin- through against German rival Christian stormed through on the final length to Kubusch on the last length to secure win in 7:48.28, with Kubusch taking the ished fifth in the 400 freestyle as well 2. KUBUSCH Christian the 800 metres title and maintain a silver (7:49.12) and Samuel Pizzetti as winning the 800 and 1500, making 800m GER great French run at these champi- (ITA), the 1500 bronze medallist, com- 7:49.12 onships. Rouault, who had already won ing through strongly in the second half that an under-estimate by 800 the 1500 gold, bided his time as 1500 for another bronze in 7:49.94. metres in six heats and final races. silver medallist Pal Joensen of the Defending champion Gergo Kis (HUN), “I was totally exhausted at the end 3. PIZZETTI Samuel Faroe Islands and Mads Glaesner bronze medallist in the 400 freestyle, ITA (DEN) set the pace through the first finished fourth, a second ahead of but it’s fantastic that I still clocked 7:49.94 quarter of the race. The Frenchman had Joensen. a German national record.” – taken the lead by the 300-metre mark Kubusch EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF but Kubusch was closing steadily and 1. Colbertado (ITA)  6. grabbed a slender advantage at 500. 2. Pizzetti (ITA)  3. The Magdeburg-based soldier clung to 3. Kis (HUN)  4. WR: 14:34.56 () ER: 14:43.21 (Yuri Prilukov) 1. ROUAULT Sebastien FRA “I think that’s the 14:55.17 Pal Joensen, 19, claimed a historic year-old history of the European cham- first international medal silver medal for the Faroe Islands and pionships. Samuel Pizzetti claimed in any sport for my came desperately close to making it bronze in 14:59.76 ahead of fellow gold in pool swimming’s longest race. Italian Federico Colbertaldo (15:06.92), country, but in swim- 2. JOENSEN Pal Sebastien Rouault (FRA) denied with Poland‘s 2007 world champion ming that’s a fact,” 1500m FAR Joensen the 1500 freestyle title when Mateusz Sawrymowicz back in the fifth 14:56.90 he overhauled him in the final stages of place. Joensen announced his potential Joensen said. “I don’t a gruelling battle, edging past his rival at the 2008 European Junior Cham- yet know whether I’ll Island Race: less than three lengths from home after pionships when he completed a golden stay long term in the Pal Joensen, 3. PIZZETTI Samuel Joensen had led the way for most of the hat-trick in the 400, 800 and 1500m of the Faroes, claimed ITA previous 1,350m. Rouault, European freestyle. And he gave the experienced Faroes because the an historic silver in the 14:59.76 silver medallist in this same Alfred Rouault a few anxious moments after conditions are not very 1,500m free final Hajos pool in 2006, swept through to the 24-year-old Frenchman chose to good. I can only train win in 14:55.17. Joensen swung on for hold back a bit in the knowledge that he EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF on short course.” 1. Colbertado (ITA)  4. the silver in 14:56.90 to clinch the first had a strong finish. 2. Stanczyk (POL)  8. medal for the Faroe Islands in the 84- 3. Pizzetti (ITA) 3.

22 LEN Magazine On the winning side

Yannick Agnel Racing Fame inside Sébastien Rouault

At the end of the most impor- in his own little world tant 15 minutes of his career, a 15 min frame Sébastien Rouault finally clinched the gold medal over 1,500m – and he did so in the How did you feel when hearing the first “Marseillaise” when standing fastest time in the world to that among the big names either side point in 2010. It was a race in of you? which his qualities of fighter and It was really awesome. I always have his tactical intelligence came to the same feeling on the rostrum. I al- the fore. And to imagine that most had tears in my eyes – also when this man of Mulhouse, “made in I touched the wall, saw the time and the USA” and four years ago heard the crowd shouting. I was extremely happy and relieved at the a silver medallist, almost quit same time. the sport in 2009 ...

Relieved? You, the outsider? As Andy Warhol once said: “in the futu- Yes. Because with what I did in Helsinki re everyone will be world-famous for fif- (junior European champion with 3’46”26, teen minutes”. Yesterday in Budapest, French national record, im proved on in 24-year-old Sébastien Rouault didn’t Budapest), I knew that I had the poten- ask for that much: 14:55.17 sufficed. At tial to achieve something. That was my the end of his golden 1,500m, Rouault, only individual event. It is one burden off coached by Lionel Horter at Mulhouse, my shoulder; now I can go on holiday was even glad not to have surpassed lightheartedly and with a smile on my the symbolic limit of fifteen minutes. He face (after having raced in the 4x200 m) had done it only once before, in this very place in 2006, when he won a silver Is your tactic to begin fast? medal at the Europeans (14:55.73). At the Games, without the Philippe was a relief. Since then, it’s Yes, to hold out and try to race through- “It would have stuck in my throat, right suit and, most importantly, out of been happiness itself. A club with a true out the competition in the lead from be - had I never swum within that time shape, he drowns (27th, the last of his club life, a calm atmosphere, a coach ginning to end. I did my race in my own again,” sighed the champion once the heat on 1500m). “This kind of failure (Horter) who listens to you and discus- little world without looking at the others. passions aroused by his first internatio- traumatizes you,” he says. He took a ses things with you.” nal title calm down. His emotions are four-month break when the era of the And this coach recognized how Is it easy to do? palpable. The lips of the former student bodysuits began. “I asked myself the important it was for this “charming and With old goggles and steam, unable to of , Georgia (USA), are trem- question whether it was worth continu- human” guy to continue his route bet- see anything, yes, it is! Also, I drew on bling. “They speak a lot about sprinters ing at all. The bodysuits did not give me ween the United States – where he my experience in Helsinki, and then I just and less about middle-distance swim- an advantage due to my build. I was returns in September – and France. “In had to “live” the competition. I took an mers, so when we can have our little considering stopping… If they had been the water, he is an American,” explains immense pleasure in swimming those moment and show that we exist as well, upheld, that’s what I probably would the coach. “A fighter who likes playing Photo: REUTERS / WOLFGANG RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo: 400m races! Especially, the last one. I it’s nice”, observes Horter’s protégé. have done…” with the other swimmers,” he adds. had been looking forward to a tough bat- “Will” and I, we were all smiles, as it Maybe not. I am ten years younger than “And when you sweat blood for four In fact, his withdrawal – he swims Those qualities were on display in tle with Biedermann, and it did happen. was quite a big thing: a pleasure. them. It would not be appropriate. years, it feels even better.” only four times a week – did him good. Budapest. “Over there,” added the When I saw him coming back at me, it These are our first international Nonetheless, we will live this silver Four years that he modestly qualifi- He took advantage of it in order to “bre- swimmer on the eve of adding the 800m was really cool, I was extremely happy. medals (among the seniors). For them, medal together. This time the Russians es as ‘instructive’. Looking back, the ath and have a normal student’s life, wit- crown to his treasury in Budapest. “work it was difficult. They have had quite a were better. There are still quite a few swimmer of Saint-Germain, coached in hout pressure”. But a decision had to be is about surpassing your limits in your How did you approach the 4x100m few upsets and now the silver leaves a things to work on. I hope that they will France by Jérôme Dimitri, continued to made. “Swimming is not a profession, head. You have to be as strong there as relay then? bitter taste in their mouth. I understand fully recover. With this immense con- develop in the United States under and I wanted to pursue my studies. But in competition. In France, you don’t have Singing and dancing, that’s how! The them… I felt bad for them. But you centration of sprinters in France, it is Harvey Humphries’s guidance from I didn’t feel like quitting with a failure to surpass yourself so as not to burst. In relay is always a kind of party to live as have to stop getting worked up and possible to put together a nice relay. December 2004 (on his way to a BA in behind my back.” A club member of the end, it’s all the same, you have to a group. I competed with a smile on my making a big deal of that 4x100! A Business and Administration). However, Mulhouse, last year he started “the work hard.” Often 90km a week. face and with the concentration needed. relay is, in fact, a celebration, a thing After this day, your presence will be in the American system, university com- reconstruction on the ruins” with Horter Grounding for the battle of Budapest, in that you have to do smiling all the time, awaited in the pool... petitions often preside over all else, so it before he left with Philippe Lucas to spite of “having his heart in his boots” On the rostrum, there was a real dis- regardless of the outcome. That is how RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo: That is not something to give me a com- is the day before the World Champion- Saint-Germain in September, mainly to after 5th place in the 400m at the start crepancy between your joy and I saw it. plex or put me under pressure. Quite the ships of (24th of the 1500 m be closer to his family. It was an episo- of the racing week. (5th). The only way William Meynard’s happiness and contrary, it is a pleasure for me!” heats) that see Rouault leave for de of five months that Rouault struggles was up, he concluded. the despair of Fabien Gilot and Is that what you are going to tell An interview by Pascal GLO, in the aftermath of the NCAA to find the right words for. “I wouldn’t say An article by Pascal GLO, Alain Bernard! them? published in L’Equipe finals. it was regrettable… Yet, parting with published in L’Equipe 24 LEN LEN 25 Magazine Magazine MEN BACKSTROKE

Tancock on defeat: The winners Lacourt on cloud nine “I got another medal WR: 24.04 (Liam Tancock) and I’m not even fully ER: 24.04 (Liam Tancock) 1. LACOURT Camille prepared for this event FRA because of the 24.07 CR Camille Lacourt (FRA), who broke the Budapest 100m final, had to settle for European record in winning the 100 silver at a respectful distance in 24.70. backstroke, came within an ace of cap- Guy Barnea plucked Israel’s first medal in October. If someone ping that with a world record, missing of the championships, moving up from

50m told me a couple of 2. TANCOCK Liam the 50 backstroke mark by just 0.03 fourth in 2008 to claim bronze in 25.04. GBR seconds as he sped to his second Defending champion Aristeidis Grigori- months back that I’d 24.70 European title of the week. Lacourt, fifth adis (GRE) failed to make the final, pick up a couple of in the 2009 World Championships, having finished 11th overall in the semi- whisked down the pool in 24.07, finals. medals without being 3. BARNEA Guy 0.03sec away from the world mark set fully ready I’d have jum- ISR in fast-suited days by Liam Tancock RATTAY WOLFGANG / REUTERS Photo: 25.04 ped at it. I can’t wait for (GBR) on his way to gold at the 2009 A head above the waves: the Commonwealths World Championships in Rome. “I must in a blanket finish for the EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF admit I was aiming for the world record medals, Stanislav Donets now,” he said. “Camille 1. Tancock (GBR)  2. but 24.07 is a very decent time,” Lafour (RUS) grasped gold Lacourt did a very good 2. Lacourt (FRA)  1. said. Tancock, bronze medallist in the in the 200m 3. Meeuw (GER) DNS job but my world record WR: 51.94 () still stands. It’s nice to ER: 52.27 () 1. LACOURT Camille keep hold of my record FRA but it’s there to be bro- 52.11 ER It was arguably the performance of the last year. Lacourt had established championships. Camille Lacourt (FRA) himself as overwhelming favourite by ken and Lacourt is pus- posted the first European record of the setting championship records in both the hing the boundaries. meet and the second-fastest time ever, heats (53.27) and semi-finals (52.58) When I’m fully ready to

100m 2. STRAVIUS Jeremy 52.11, that marking the first big breakt- and he had built up a commanding lead FRA hrough in the rankings since high-tech on the first length, which he increased go it gives you someone 53.44 suits were outlawed on January 1, 2010. inexorably on the return. Jeremy Stravius to aim at.” The rangy 25-year-old scored a runaway made it a French one-two, taking the sil- win in a time bettered only by Olympic ver in 53.44 and Britain’s Liam Tancock, 3. TANCOCK Liam champion Aaron Peirsol (USA). Lacourt who thought he had been eliminated in GBR won by more than a second, his 52.11 the semi-finals, claimed a surprise bron- 53.86 inside the 52.27 mark set by Helge ze in 53.86. Tancock, the world short- “It’s magic. I don’t Meeuw (GER) at the 2009 World course champion, swam only because want to come down EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Championships and falling not far short Austrian qualifier pulled from my little cloud. 1. Meeuw (GER) DNS of Peirsol’s 51.94 world mark set in out to concentrate on the 200m medley 2. Tancock (GBR)  3. Indianapolis at the US Nationals in July semi-finals later in the session. Before coming here 3. Lacourt (FRA)  1. I didn’t even know what WR: 1:51.92 (Aaron Peirsol) the European record ER: 1:54.75 () 1. DONETS Stanislav was. Then I put it in the RUS 1:57.18 Russian engineering student Stanislav his way ahead of Kawecki, with corner of my mind. Donets mined gold in a riveting 200 Stasiulis returning to the fray. But the I wanted to swim a backstroke final. Donets dug deep into tall Russian, 4th in the 100m, refused to beautiful race to win, his resources of body and mind to be beaten: in a blanket finish he rea- 2. ROGAN Markus extract a performance that defied the ched for gold in 1:57.18. Rogan, I knew that the time 200m AUT formidable charge of burly Austrian European champion in 2004 and 2008, 1:57.31 would follow. After the Markus Rogan. There was never much grabbed silver in 1:57.31 to match his Rogan said: “The preliminaries I thought in it as the lead passed from Benjamin silver in the 200 medley. Stasiulis pluc- Stasiulis (FRA) to Donets, who had the ked the bronze in 1:57.37. Kawecki, race was so close that I could win the race but 3. STASIULIS edge on the second and third lengths. who would turn 19 two days after the I could well have been a European record was Benjamin But Radolsaw Kawecki (POL), the fas- final, touched a mere 0.27 behind the FRA fourth. I’m not at all not a goal. What a fast 1:57.37 test final qualifier, was closing fast and winner but that meant 4th place. “I’m former Olympic and world silver medal- very tired,” said Donets, after racing all disappointed, even race,” Lacourt said. On the edge: EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF list Rogan, last for the first half of the three backstroke distances. “I’m just though I didn’t manage Markus Rogan (AUT) scraped into the 1. Vyatchanin (RUS) DNS race, had stirred himself for the attack. It pleased that I had enough left to hold on to win the title.” 2. Donets (RUS) 2. was still anyone’s race as Rogan forced and win the title.” 200m final to try to regain the crown but 3. Wildeboer (ESP)  9. his prize was a silver lining

26 LEN Magazine On the winning side

Liam Tancock of Britain swims during the 100m backstroke heats

Camille Lacourt (bottom) from France starts to win the men's backstroke Camille Lacourt A missile made final

he told LEN Magazine after his swim- kilos in weight, had been “really skinny”

mer’s record triumph in the 100. “So and it had taken time for his body to SAGOLJ DAMIR / REUTERS Photo: in Marseilles when he came to us, basically he had adjust, which was why he had come the talent, the technical work and the through so late. The lean physique may hard race (training). The most fun part to account for the fact that, as Barnier said, do is to put it all together and I think he swam pretty much the same times It has taken a long time but, at 25, rent coach feels the dif- that’s truly what came tonight. It’s not with or without the fast-suit. Camille Lacourt now finds swimming’s ferent stages of the swimmer’s journey one day, it’s not one year, it’s a whole life. “The talent was there but it took him biggest prizes within his grasp. The long, played a very positive role in this. All these choices, basically tonight they quite a while to get to that level. He wasn’t lean Frenchman, once considered skin- Born in Narbonne in southern France, started to make sense now.” ready at 18, I hope he is going to be ready ny by his coach, illuminated the Euro - Lacourt’s first coach was Richard Lacourt said he had begun to swim at 25,” he said. “In Olympic year he was pean championships when he swam the Martinez in Font Romeu, a mountain well when he was with Lucas but that his grown up but he got really sick the whole second-fastest 100 metres backstroke resort in the Pyrenees which, among decision to join Barnier in Marseille had year, so he didn’t swim up to his potential. ever and obliterated the European other things, served in days gone by as a been the key to his breakthrough. “I’d He was just waiting for someone to make record. Two days later he nearly pulled high-altitude training camp for the French been swimming for a long time but never him believe in himself a bit more.” off a world record in the 50 backstroke, national football team before the World found the link with the coach that I found Lacourt joined him at the start of 2009 missing the 24.04 mark by just 0.03 sec- Cup. From Font Romeu he moved to with Romain Barnier,” he said. Lacourt and this year he posted a personal best of onds, as he nailed his second European Canet where his coach was Philippe said he had lacked maturity but over the 53.29 at the French Nationals in March. gold medal. Few at these championships Lucas, who has guided an array of cham- years had learned to adapt and take a Now he is on the brink of breaking the 52- had great record expectations on their pions, including former world and Olympic more serious approach to training. Even second mark. Barnier has long thought minds following the ban on non-textile gold medallist . Barnier now, he was here to learn and cope with the highest potential was there: “The final fast-suits which led to an enormous praised Martinez as an excellent coach the pressure of being the marked man in of the World Championships was the record splurge in 2008 and 2009. who had instilled Lacourt with a fine tech- lane 4 in the race. “I knew I was talented defining moment, when we sat down and Lacourt broke through in magnificent nique, and Lucas, who helped his mental but a lot of people had to help me to I said: ‘You can become the best back- style, combining elegant style with a toughness and gave him the hard training achieve this,” Lacourt said. He was still stroker in the world.’ He said ‘Do you truly powerful turn of speed to hit the wall in yardage. However, Barnier said Lacourt talking about learning and improvement believe that?’ And (I said) ‘What I saw the 100 final in 52.11 seconds, carving developed a shoulder strain at Canet. after his bravura 50 backstroke display, today, that told me it is a matter of time.’ 0.16 seconds from the European mark “He did lots of kilometres, ending up when he admitted he had had Tancock’s And I think that moment was one of the set by Germany’s Helge Meeuw at last not too well. He had to change clubs world mark in his sights. “I’ll discuss the defining moments on the way to today... The new Liam Tancock year’s World Championships in Rome again. His injury came from over-train- areas where I still can improve with my And we’ll see if we can do better one day.” and leaving only the 51.94 of his hero, ing,” he said. But Barnier, a freestyle coach. There’s for sure a lot to be done By Derek PARR American Olympic champion Aaron sprinter who competed at the 2000 and to better my start,” he said. Barnier said of the storm ahead of him: Camille Peirsol, to resist his challenge. He 2004 Olympics, prefers to see the posi- Lacourt, a lofty 2m tall and a modest 85 Lacourt. If the Frenchman’s 51.22 victo- attacked the record again as lead-off tives. “Everywhere he’s been he’s been target ry in the 100m was well inside the 52.85 swimmer in the medley relay final on the able to take the best out of the training,” at which the world record had stood final evening of the championships and before the advent of non-textile suits, went through the 50 inside Peirsol’s then his 24.07 win over 50m fell just world record schedule, on 25.24. But he Liam Tancock (GBR), world champion 0.03sec shy of Tancock at best in shiny could not sustain that pace and handed and record holder in the 50m backstroke pants last summer. over at 52.46, having made the decisive in Rome last year, made a great start to Far from gulping, Tancock welcomed contribution to the French team’s victory the new textile-only suits season in the the new target, saying after the 50m: “It and earning himself his third European spring when he sped to the helm of the was a very good swim from a very tal- gold medal in three finals. world rankings. In Budapest his results ented swimmer. He’s pushing the bound- Lacourt did not even contest the 100 were always going to be couched in the aries and its nice to have someone to backstroke in Rome, where ’s colours of his season: Britain duty in aim at. His time tonight was pretty spe- and Meeuw pocketed gold Budapest would play second fiddle to fly- cial. I can’t wait for the Commonwealths and silver. Having missed the 2008 ing the flag at the Commonwealth Games now. It’s nice to keep hold of my record Olympics in a year plagued by illness, for England in Delhi come October, in but it’s there to be broken.” Lacourt caused few ripples – except in accordance with national-team priorities. He would be trying to do just that in the eyes of his coach – with fifth place in As such, the 25-year-old from Essex Delhi, where his loyalties will be put to the 50 backstroke final, more than half a and coached by Ben Titley at test. From the red corner of England, he second behind British victor Liam Loughborough University, was delighted will peer across the pool to the blue cor- Tancock. A national title at the 2007 with bronze (100m) and silver (50m) ner of with a tender eye: Caitlin French championships had been fol- medals in Budapest, saying: “If someone McClatchey, defending champion over lowed by slots lower than 20th in the told me a couple of months back that I’d 200m and 400m freestyle, will fly the backstroke events at the European pick up a couple of medals without being Saltire (the St Andrew’s Cross) as she short-course championships of that fully ready, I’d have jumped at it.” goes. year. But there were more twists to come Whatever stage he is at in his prepa- in Lacourt’s path to the top and his cur- rations, he understood the full-on nature By Craig LORD 28 LEN Photo: REUTERS / PETER ANDREWS LEN 29 Magazine Magazine MEN BREASTSTROKE

The winners Golden awakening Photo: REUTERS / WOLFGANG RATTAY WR: 26.67 () ER: 26.83 () 1. SCOZZOLI Fabio “The first surprise Best man, never the groom: ITA (FRA) 27.38 made the 6th session of much to do to catch the leaders. He to me was my time in extended his big medals finals a double-gold day for Italy, win- almost made it but finished 4th, 0.04sec the semi-finals (27.46), tally to 12 – none yet gold ning the breaststroke sprint after team- away from adding a bronze to the 100 mate Federica Pellegrini had won the gold and 200 silver he had already ear- the second is today’s 50m 2. AGACHE Dragos women’s 200 freestyle. Scozzoli, bronze ned in Budapest. For silver medallist victory,” Scozzoli said. ROU medallist in the 100, was fastest off the Agache, it was quite a comeback. “After 27.47 blocks and prevailed in a final in which the 2002 European Junior Champion - “This morning I woke just 0.61sec separated first from last, a ships, which were a disappointment for up at 5.30 and thought most unprecedented of narrow margins me, I wasn’t in the mood for swimming what would happen if 3. STEKELENBURG in a major championship race. Scozzoli for quite some while. It’s the first time I Lennart won in 27.38, with Dragos Agache trained really hard this year.” I won today – now I’m NED 27.51 (ROU) claiming silver (27.47) and experiencing it.” (NED), the fas- EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF test qualfier, bronze (27.51). Alexander 1. Feldwehr (GER)  12. Dale Oen (NOR) did not get away cle- 2. Terrin (ITA)  9. anly at the start, leaving himself too 3. Dugonjic (SLO)  7. Russia’s Roman WR: 58.58 () Sludnov, a former world ER: 58.65 (Hugues Duboscq) 1. DALE OEN and European champi- Alexander on and first man ever to NOR Olympic silver medallist Alexander Dale on that,” Dale Oen said. Gold in this 59.20 CR Oen (NOR) dominated the final, his vic- event continued to elude Duboscq, who break 1min, in 2001, tory never really in doubt as he stret- was turning 29 before the end of failed to make the ched clear of his nearest rival by nearly August. The Frenchman’s tally for the Budapest final,

100m 2. DUBOSCQ Hugues a second to retain his European title. 100 breaststroke now comprises two FRA The first Norwegian to win a European Olympic bronze medals, a world silver touching 0.02 seconds 1:00.15 title in 2008, he had lowered his own and bronze, and three European silvers behind the eighth championship record to 59.29 in the and one bronze. “Today Alexander was qualifier in the semi-finals before taking the mark down simply unbeatable, he is in great 3. SCOZZOLI Fabio to 59.20 for the crown. In his wake, shape,” Duboscq, European record hol- semi-finals. ITA Frenchman Hugues Duboscq (1:00.15) 1:00.41 der on 58.64 in a fast suit and silver and Fabio Scozzoli (ITA), third in medallist at the 2009 World Cham- 1:00.41. “Prior to the European pionships behind Australia’s Brenton EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Championships I wanted to swim under Rickard. 1. Duboscq (FRA)  2. one minute. After yesterday’s good 2. Dale Oen (NOR)  1. result in the heats I wanted to improve “After the world and 3. Borysik (UKR)  8. European titles I of WR: 2:07.31 () course want the triple in ER: 2:07.64 (Daniel Gyurta) 1. GYURTA Daniel London 2012 (Olympic HUN 2:08.95 CR Daniel Gyurta extended his rule in the days. Dale Oen led for the first length Games) to make the pool, rousingly acclaimed by the but Gyurta surged past, leaving the Grand Slam of swim- Hungarian crowd as he gathered in the Norwegian, who had already retained ming. I think I’m on a European title a year after winning the his 100 breaststroke title, with the silver 2. DALE OEN world crown. Gyurta, comfortably fastest in 2:09.68. French hardy perennial good road,” Gyurta said. 200m Alexander in heats and semi-finals, made his Hugues Duboscq, silver medallist in the “I had to swim the first Twenty-year-old Laurent Carnol became the first NOR strength tell in the middle stages of the 2:09.68 100, added another bronze to his medal 100m faster than before, race to beat 100 breaststroke master collection in 2:11.03 ahead of defending swimmer from Luxembourg to reach a European Alexander Dale Oen, his only close champion of Russia. Dale I’m always strongest on championship final and finished fifth in 2:11.93. Carnol, 3. DUBOSCQ Hugues challenger, by the best part of a second. Oen and Duboscq were also second a the last lap anyway.” a chemistry student from Ettelbruck, has been training FRA An Olympic silver medallist at only 15 third last time. 2:11.03 Dale Oen paid due back in 2004, Gyurta has matured into with British coach Ian Arminger at Loughborough in a mighty muscleman and charged tribute: “Daniel is the England since last September. The Luxembourg coach is EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF through to win in a championship record king of 200m breast,” he Miloslav Rolko, European 100m backstroke champion in 1. Gyurta (HUN) 1. 2:08.95, though outside his European said. “He is so strong 2. Borysik (UKR) DNS record of 2:07.64 from the old fast-suit 1977 for the former Czechoslovakia. 3. Falko (RUS)  4. and was simply unbeatable today.” 30 LEN Magazine On the winning side

Daniel Gyurta On the right track Alexander’s Alexander Dale Oen

One World Championship title, one people say nobody knows an Olympic distance – do you have short-course and then a “nor- athlete’s mind better than the any similar plans? great challenge ahead mal” European Championships coach, and others believe their My 100 is continually improving, I value gold medal all within one year - it presence is essential. my fourth place here very highly, becau- looks like your career is heading There is no doubt that nothing can se this was the first major final of my in the right direction. replace physical preparation. Until you adult life at a world-class competition in Alexander Dale Oen was one of the big “The start was awful. I crossed my clocking 2:09.68. The rest were more I think so too. I already have three of the get that right, no psychologist anywhe- a 50-metre pool. I think I held my own winners in Budapest but he feels he still arms when I dove in, head came up than two seconds behind the winner. most important gold medals and only re can help an athlete to victory – eve- and will soon be capable of competing has plenty to learn. The 25-year-old and I lost everything there. Swimming, “Daniel is the king of 200 metres the Olympic title is missing from the rything is decided in the pool as far as with the elite over the shorter distance Norwegian retained his 100 breast- technically the last race was very good. breast,” Dale Oen said after the race. Grand Slam, but there can’t be any we are concerned, so the main empha- as well. stroke title in style and gave second- I felt I swam really strong... but the 50 is “He is so strong and was simply complaints in this respect, and I believe sis is on power. Along with my coach we best only to the mighty Daniel Gyurta in all in the dive and the pull-out, so I lost unbeatable today. I have to train differ- we’re on the right track. have finally found the right balance, cre- What is the difference between the the 200, repeating his silver medal today, that’s the way it is,” Dale Oen told ently for the 200 event in order to ating the ideal training schedule and Dániel Gyurta who underper- achievement of 2008. The 50 breast- LEN Magazine. But, all in all, it had improve my times. The 200 is always Your swimming was still a little hec- eventually managing to carry everyt- formed at the 2006 Europeans in stroke scramble was the only race which been a very good week. “We’re very the beast for me.” tic in the 200 at the Beijing hing out. Naturally this is not enough for Budapest and the 2010 champi- went wrong, when he left himself too happy, except for today’s race (the 50). The 100 remains favourite for the Olympics and the Rome World victory, you also need to have a clear on? much to do after a botched start. He I was hoping to be on the podium,” he Norwegian but he also has ambitions for Championships: although it’s dif- mind, you have to focus properly – and Back then I swam 2:16, and now at the caught the pack and looked as if he said. “The 100 was good, semis were the 200, having twice gained silver in ficult to swim the same race this is where the psychologist, who I’ve top end of 2:08. In other words, more or might win on the roll but was foiled at the very good. Finals, in the 100 - strong Europe. “I need the 200 to be one of my three times at one event, but you been working with a lot recently, comes less seven seconds. I think that tells you touch and finished out of the medals in last 50 but a little messed up the first favourites,” he laughs. “Gyurta has been managed this in and in, to complete a uniform picture. everything. fourth place, just 0.18 seconds behind 50, so I hope I’m dropping under 59 very, very fast. The 200 was his race, he Budapest, perhaps showing a By Gergely CSURKA victorious Italian Fabio Scozzoli. (seconds) but I guess I need to have had the home crowd, home arena. I just continuously improving trend. The great Kitajima dominated both something for next time too.” heard, when I swam, the response (which) True, I felt everything came together as breaststroke events over the Dale Oen took the 50 breaststroke came from the stands, that was really well, and if you’re asking whether there silver medal behind all-conquering cool. Yes, it was really, really fun. And this was some kind of technical fault, my Ukrainian Oleg Lisogor at the European guy is very, very fast and he’s going to be answer would be that it’s difficult to say. Seven seconds... Daniel Championships in Eindhoven in 2008 very strong in the Olympics, I think.” Of course you always have to correct Gyurta failed in 2006 but the 100 has been his most success- So what’s next for Dale Oen? “Now and improve things, but the whole thing when he swam 2:16; now ful event and he showed early promise I think we’re just going to do one month really came right this time. he won the gold medal when he made the finals and finished of base training,” he said. “Then we’re with less than 2:08 min seventh at the 2005 World Cham - going to do hard competition work-outs Until now you’ve always won by fin- pionships. European silver in 2006 was all the way through World Cup and ishing strongly from behind, but followed by gold in 2008 and now, again, European Short-Course and the World the Europeans could only see in 2010. But his most significant moment Short-Course, so this year’s so short your back and even then from an so far came in Beijing in 2008 when he and the next season’s so short, so uncommon distance – but at the became the first Norwegian to win an there’s no point in doing a long base. Worlds and the Olympics the sit- Olympic swimming medal, taking the We’re just going to do major power stuff uation might be different be cause 100 breaststroke silver in 59.20 behind and hopefully be fast throughout all the of the Australians and Ame- REUTERS / LASYLO BALOGH Photo: defending champion competitions.” ricans, and of course Kitajima. (JPN). “I give my respect to Dale Oen,” And then on the worlds and How can you prepare for such Kitajima said at the time. “This time I got Olympics: “Exactly. From January to the close battles? to the wall first but on another day it World Championships in Shanghai is As time moves on, I’m becoming incre- could have been him. He is a great going to be very, very tough. It’s going asingly experienced - and if we’re bre- threat to me.” to be a lot of hard training. Of course, athing down each other’s necks everyo- Dale Oen completely dominated the that’s where I will meet Kitajima again ne will know for sure that I won’t panic. 100 breaststroke final in Budapest, win- and hopefully some others and we‘ll After all I’m the World Champion, at ning by nearly a second from the ever- have a pretty good match. London least until 2011, and as far as I know, green Hugues Duboscq (FRA) in a (Olympics) is a long way to go still, so I not too many people have swum inside championship record 59.20, matching need to keep my head focused on the 2:09 this year, so I don’t think I need to his Olympic silver medal time and bet- next competitions and what I need to fear anyone. tering the 59.29 championship mark he work with. In the 50 I have a lot to learn had set in the semi-finals. “Today and coming down on my stroke count a Healthy self-confidence: a rare phe- Alexander was simply unbeatable, he is little bit on the first 50 on the 100 and be nomenon for a Hungarian athlete. in great shape,” Duboscq said. strong on the last 100 on the 200, so A psychologist has also been Dale Oen mounted the only serious there’s a lot to learn and luckily there’s helping you to prepare in recent challenge to home favourite Gyurta in lots of time left.” Lots of incentive too as times – it’s an eternal subject, but the 200 breaststroke and was the only Norway still awaits its first Olympic how big a role do they play in an finalist to finish within a second of the swimming champion. elite athlete’s preparation? Some Hungarian world champion’s 2:08.95, By Derek PARR 32 LEN LEN 33 Magazine Magazine MEN BUTTERFLY

The winners An exhausted but smiling Russian WR: 22.43 (Rafael Munoz Perez) ER: 22.43 (Rafael Munoz Perez) “After a few weeks 1. MUNOZ PEREZ Rafael of worries I am happy ESP World record-holder Rafael Munoz, had been “psychologically vulnerable” that today everything 23.17 lucky to escape a ban after missing at the time of the first missed test. three out-of-competition dope tests in However, a ban will be imposed if he went so well,” the past year, swung through for misses another test in an 18-month Munoz said. 50m 2. BOUSQUET European gold with an emphatic win in period, which ends in August next year. Frederick the 50m butterfly final. The 22-year-old The winning 23.17 just missed the FRA 23.41 Spaniard clocked 23.17, to win from 23.11 championship record of world and Frenchman Frederick Bousquet (23.41) 2008 European gold medallist Milorad and Russia’s Evgeny Korotyshkin Cavic of , an absentee from 3. KOROTYSHKIN (23.43) but was well outside the 22.43 Budapest following back surgery. Evgeny world mark he set in Malaga in April RUS 23.43 2009 when the high-tech non-textile bodysuits were still legal. Munoz was EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF allowed to swim after FINA, world swim- 1. Cavic (SRB) DNS ming’s governing body, accepted the 2. Munoz (ESP)  1. testimony of his doctor that the swimmer 3. Korotyshkin (RUS) 3. WR: 48.92 (Michael Phelps) ER: 49.95 (Milorad Cavic) 1. KOROTYSHKIN Evgeny RUS Fast off the mark, Evgeny Korotyshkin (POL) bronze in 52.16. “My plan was to 51.73 CR (RUS) made his swift start count and swim a fast first lap, about 24 flat. I finis- romped away with the 100 butterfly gold hed as well as I could because I was as his pursuers closed on him in vain. completely exhausted on the last 10

100m 2. VERLINDEN Joeri Defending champion Korotyshkin tore metres,” Korotyshkin said. Ten years NED through the first length in 23.91 to build after his Olympic triumph in , 36- 51.82 the lead he needed to keep the pack at year-old Lars Froelander (SWE) came bay down the return. Flying Dutchman desperately close to bronze, just 0.08 , the fastest qualifier, all seconds adrift of Czerniak in 52.24. 3. CZERNIAK Konrad but devoured the gap on the second Froelander won this title three times – POL length but Korotyshkin clung on to reta- the first in 1997 – and was world cham- “It was very hard 52.16 in his title by just 0.09 seconds in 51.73, pion in 2001. Though he was denied in for me, not only physi- beating the championship record of the butterfly, he had already taken away cally but also mentally, EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF 51.89 he shared with former champion a bronze medal in Sweden’s 4x100 fre- 1. Cavic (SRB) DNS (UKR). Verlinden bag- estyle relay. because I haven’t been 2. Korotyshkin (RUS)  1. ged silver in 51.82 and racing at this level for a 3. Munoz (ESP)  17. long time,” Drymonakos WR: 1:51.51 (Michael Phelps) ER: 1:52.70 (Laszlo Cseh) said. “After this long 1. KORZENIOWSKI Pawel period I am very happy POL Former world champion Pawel so tough for me, I almost blacked out,” Korzeniowski felt to have gained this 1:55.00 Korzeniowski once again proved himself Skvortsov said, having dug out a silver pleased with his effort medal and to be back Europe’s best when he completed a gol- to go with his European bronze of 2006 den European hat-trick in the 200 but- and silver of 2008. Drymonakos, silver but said he also had among the top 2. SKVORTSOV terfly, beating into third place Ioannis medallist between Korzeniowski and other ambitions. “That’s European athletes.” 200m Nikolay Drymonakos, the Greek who was strip- Skvortsov in 2006, took the bronze in RUS ped of the title in 2008 after testing posi- the second-best time in 1:56.13 1:57.10. He was competing internatio- tive for a steroid. The 25-year-old Pole, nally for the first time since he was ban- the world this year,” he world champion in 2005 and silver ned for two years in May 2008, when a said. “This year I fully 3. DRYMONAKOS medallist behind Michael Phelps in failed out-of-competition drug test from REUTERS / PETER ANDREWS Photo: Ioannis 2009, took the lead from 18-year-old before the European championships in focused on the 200 fly GRE compatriot Marcin Cieslak on the Eindhoven in March was revealed. but next year I also 1:57.10 Thinking cap on: second length and swooped on to victo- Drymonakos stopped the clock in a want to try the 150 Rafael Munoz (ESP) prepares to fight ry in 1:55.00 ahead of 2007 world bron- European record 1:54.16 in 2008 but EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF again, for the 50m ‘fly title after an ze medallist Nikolay Skvortsov of the result was annulled, the record freestyle.” 1. Cseh (HUN) DNS anti-doping hearing delivered a final 2. Skvortsov (RUS) 2. Russia (1:56.13). “The last 25m were never ratified. 3. Korzeniowski (POL)  1. warning over missed tests

34 LEN Magazine On the winning side

Yevgeny Korotyshkin “Man, you’re Back to the Pawel Korzeniowski a sprinter!” grindstone

His way to success was too long for the Frankly speaking I intended to be back hurts him. He doesn’t like to feel The most medalled swimmer swimming child. Korotyshkin’s mother 0.1sec faster. Anyway my time wasn’t uncomfortable. I think it is not easy for in Polish swimming history, was a member of the national team in the bad. My main event now is the 100m. I him to have me on the neighbouring world and newly crowned 70s, so Yevgeny started to swim quite was very happy to win there – to prove lane in the pool all the time. early. His mother was his first coach then that my victory in Eindhoven wasn’t “by European Champion from he swam with Vladimir Ermakov for a long chance”. We worked a lot this season. Do you feel pressure from the side of Budapest in the 200m butterfly time. In the past two years, Korotyshkin My coach Andrea Di Nino suggested Russian fans and coaches who is reinventing himself after lives in Italy and trains with coach Andrea that we go to the for a want to see you winning all the a period in which he replaced time now? di Nino in a group with Milorad Cavic training camp. You can use a special his long-term coach. (SRB) and (KEN). equipment there which allows you to I used to think that this is normal. You measure different swimming qualities, should accept victory as the predictable You changed your long-term coach How difficult was it to change your the start speed, the angle of the body result of your work. It shouldn’t be unex- just a year ago, stabilised your life? while entering the water, etc. I know for pected. personal life. There is one thing I didn’t think about it at the beginning. My instance that this angle should be 32 you did not change: you still win swimming didn’t satisfy me for a long degrees in my case. You look so happy every time I see international titles. time. The results stopped. More accurate you. My first decision was made in Beijing. to say my training stopped. I knew exact- Milorad Cavic didn’t come to Buda - I feel happy. Of course, I miss my fami- Perhaps I was the only one that did not ly what I would do in the pool tomorrow, pest, why? ly a lot, my country, my friends. But swim 15m underwater. I kicked thrice the day after tomorrow, next week, next He had surgery not so long ago. there are many things in my life that and broke the surface of the water a few month. It was so boring… I changed Everything was well but one day he makes me smile. metres off the wall. I closed the gap coach and started to swim the 200m stopped swimming and said that his By Elena VAITSEKHOVSKAIA while swimming and lost a lot again because the other student of this coach while swimming underwater. Swimming was also doing it. It was terrible. In Italy I like that in the 50m pool means loss stroking and kicking. I swim much more burning me. If I am in good shape I win was examined by swimming experts, that cannot be made up. I had to sprints. The yardage is lower but intensi- fuelled by my emotions but afterwards I they just watched the results of my tests rescheduled my training program, con- ty of training is much higher. I swim many always have to fight with them. and said: “Man, you’re a sprinter!” centrate more on strength and swim- VO2max workouts, many 25 and 50m ming technique. For the last few months repeats. I wanted to work on my speed Do you think it was good a champi- But who suggested you should swim I worked with coach Robert Bialecki. and it seems to be the right decision. I onship? in Italy? There were a lot of changes in my per- scored a personal best in the 100m ‘fly There was no world record, only one Milorad Cavic. We did a couple of com- sonal life. I am more aware of the impor- twice in Budapest leading up to the final. European mark but we have to be petitions together, maybe he likes me as tance of mental preparation in sport It was a well-considered decision to aware that we swim in the new, old suits. a rival. I wrote a letter to his coach, he since I am with Marta Domachowska replace my old coach. I needed more Many results achieved in Budapest are answered that I could come to Italy. Then (Polish tennis player, used to be ranked mutual understanding from the poolside the best in the world this year.

I informed the Russian Swimming top 30 in the WTA ranks). One can say as it is the only way leading to success. REUTERS / PETER ANDREWS Photo: Federation about my plans in order to get that psychology in swimming is not as My new coach controls what I am doing What is needed to win an interna- a kind of support from them, but they let important as it is in tennis but it is at each training session. I always can tional medal? me know that I could go abroad at my absolutely not the truth. expect good feedback from him and he Do what your coach planned for you own expense. I felt that I got a lucky tick- has got a lot of very interesting com- and what you accepted. You cannot et with an opportunity to go to Italy - that’s To change a coach who was behind ments. He looks after my style and think about particular success. If you why I decided that I would pay my own your international successes forces me to care about details. win a medal and you want to win it way, ‘till I have earned some. Actually, this seemed a rather extreme deci- again the best way to do it is to forget is a different way of swimming. I don’t sion. You gained more than one second your medals as soon as possible and want to hurt Russian coaches, but every- My current coach pays a lot of attention over silver medallist Nikolay get back to hard work. thing is more progressive: the attitude to swimming technique, we work on Skvortsov. It’s quite a lot. towards swimmers, training conditions, details that are decisive in important One can think it’s a lot, one can think it’s How would you describe your idea of training methods, food… I do a lot of races. I improve my start and turns but not. It could always be more. what it is to be a champion? work in the gym where I work with anoth- still have a lot to do on that front. I don’t Never be satisfied with his results. Try to er specialist – he is working as well with lose as much distance during turns and Could you go to sleep easily after get better all the time. Always set new, the Russian basketball team ZSKA. underwater kicks as I used to. I changed such race? more demanding tasks. And the most my butterfly technique. I am trying to I couldn’t sleep until 3 o’clock in the important is persistence, pertinacity, You were upset after the first final in swim with longer and stronger strokes. I morning. You have no chance until your pursuance and self confidence. Budapest – the 50 m butterfly stopped swimming with a high frequen- emotions calm down. I always try to By Leszek SCISLY where you finished 3rd. Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH cy. I work a lot on timing to balance control my emotions, to stop them from Plywanie, Poland 36 LEN LEN 37 Magazine Magazine MEN INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY Cseh’s victory produced more than a push in the ticket sales: during the night after his The winners 400m medley win, both on Triple double the website and later at WR: 1:54.10 () the counters between the ER: 1:55.08 (Laszlo Cseh) 1. CSEH Laszlo morning after and start of HUN finals, enthusiastic fans 1:57.73 CR Home hero Laszlo Cseh triggered a medallist behind Michael Phelps in frenzy of rejoicing amongst the massed 2008, and the crowd roared their spent 8.5 million HUF – Hungarian fans when he scooped the approval after the disappointment of 20% of the whole income gold medal they had craved for three defeat for their world champion Katinka generated at the gates. 2. ROGAN Markus long days. But the shaven-headed pow- Hosszu in Monday’s women’s 400 indi-

200m And they got what they AUT erhouse kept the crowd on tenterhooks vidual medley. “This was not my best 1:58.03 as he fought to stave off a ferocious late performance but it was enough to win,” had paid for: three challenge from 2004 champion Markus Cseh said. “I knew that I had to turn in Hungarian gold medals Rogan (AUT). Cseh, second to Markus front of Rogan at the 150-metre mark. within 90 minutes, 3. ROEBUCK Joe Deibler (GER) after the opening butter- The last lap was very hot.” Rogan, dou- GBR fly leg, seized the lead on the back- ble Olympic backstroke silver medallist the best single-day 1:59.46 stroke and clung on to complete a hat- in 2004, took the silver in 1:58.03 and effort ever by Magyar trick of successive European victories Britain’s Joe Roebuck bronze in a per- swimmers at the conti- EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF in the event in a championship record sonal best 1:59.46. nental showcase. 1. Cseh (HUN) 1. 1:57.73. It was the seventh European 2. Goddard (GBR) DNS gold medal for Cseh, Olympic silver 3. Kis (HUN) DNS WR: 4:03.84 (Michael Phelps) ER: 4:06.16 (Laszlo Cseh) 1. CSEH Laszlo HUN “I knew that I would 4:10.95 Indefatigable Laszlo Cseh (HUN) com- away to what all along was marked out not have too much to do pleted his third consecutive European as an inevitable victory, clocking to win this race. This is individual medley double and his fourth 4:10.95. Verraszto, whose father Zoltan why I swam very relaxed 400 medley triumph and was hailed as a was 200 backstroke world champion in 2. VERRASZTO David mighty invincible in Budapest by adoring 1975 and European champion in 1977, on the last 10 metres.” - 400m HUN home fans. Cseh, thrice denied Olympic came through for silver in 4:12.96 and Cseh, who received his 4:12.96 gold by the peerless Michael Phelps Gal Nevo (ISR), fourth in the 200 med- medal from Hungarian (USA) in 2008, reasserted his suprema- ley, struck bronze in 4:15.10. Verraszto cy in Europe and led fellow-Hungarian said: “I clocked a personal best. It is not medley immortal Tamas 3. NEVO Gal David Verraszto to a one-two in the 400 easy to defeat Laszlo Cseh, he’s simply Darnyi. Cseh actually ISR medley after winning the 200 event, the best.” Nevo thought so too: “Always 4:15.10 broke Darnyi’s Hungarian repeating his doubles of 2006 and 2008. the same people, always the Euro-record for most gold Cseh, who also won the 400 medley in Hungarians in the top positions. I finally 2004, took the lead from Thomas want to get closer to them, that’s my medals in the continental EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF th 1. Cseh HUN) 1. Lebherz (GER) on the second length of great goal for the coming years, but it events (it was his 8 2. Kis (HUN) (HTS) 3. the opening butterfly leg and pulled will be damned difficult.” REUTERS / PETER ANDREWS Photo: European title, and he or Verraszto (HUN)  2. managed to double down the two medley events for the third consecutive European champi- onships).

Never say Nevo (top): The Israeli medley ace (pictured behind Laszlo Cseh) is chasing a Hungarian tradition that will be ‘damned difficult’ to match

Back to Breast: the backstroke ace Markus Rogan (AUT) was level with Laszlo Cseh (HUN) until the last lap of the 200IM

38 LEN Magazine On the winning side

all and whatever will be will be”. I was cer- perfect back then, and everything went Beijing races on my iPhone and have tain that if I could reach the turn after the right. I needed four months’ rest to re- watched the 200 butterfly footage most breaststroke ahead of Rogan, then I charge my batteries afterwards, because often – but the reasons mentioned would win – the trouble was I had still I used an awful lot of energy to acquire above are exactly why I can’t take on Laszlo Cseh “You can’t encountered some problems with this the three silver medals and in the lead- this third event. The preliminary rounds stroke the previous day. In the race itself up, especially given that I was still study- and semis were on the day as the 200 however the switch from backstroke to ing at university in the meantime. I had a medley final and clearly if I had swum breaststroke went very badly, but luckily I rest, but find it very difficult to develop my the 200 butterfly before then, there is no managed to correct it immediately. muscles to the same level again – time way I would have been able to cope turn back the clock” Markus attacked several times in the moves on and I find it more difficult to with the final sprint against Rogan. But freestyle leg, but I managed to hold him recover after a tough training session. I’d like to point out that I haven’t yet off, though I sensed that in the last 15 given up on this event, if the schedule is metres I couldn’t push myself forward You have mentioned several times right I’ll definitely be competing again. Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH with my legs, and my pulse went through recently that you are getting the roof, but I kept thinking I would do older, and are no longer what you After the 200 and before the 400 I whatever it took to touch home first. used to be. Do you still hold this asked you what it felt like to have view even after such a victory? beaten the European Champion Can you hear the roar of the crowd Yes, you can’t turn back the clock. Don’t record of legendary Hungarian during the race? misunderstand me, I don’t feel old in the Tamás Darnyi, in terms of the To be honest, at most I pick up snatch- sense of hardly being able to move my number of gold medals? es of conversation, as you’re solely arms. My coach György Turi also And I replied that that this was the first focussed on swimming at the time, believes my condition is perfect, and we time I had heard this fact. To be honest, while deep down you are aware that do an awful lot of mental preparation for I don’t keep a tally of these records. It’s thousands of people are rooting for you, an important race, it’s just that I feel that really great to be mentioned in the same and this thought helps you to redouble I’m no longer the 20 year-old László breath as Tamás in any context, but I your efforts. I could describe it as a joint Cseh when forced to recover from a don’t train and compete to beat these victory with the fans. brutal training session. records, but rather to prove continuous- ly, especially to myself, that I’m capable Are you swimming as you would like Is that partly why you only entered of surpassing my previous best times. to? the two medley events? No, not yet. I really hope to produce my Exactly right. Although I really loved the Beijing form again – my condition was 200 butterfly, I still have the film of my By Gergely CSURKA

Was your victory in the 200 medley next day, after I’d set the world record at What was the key to your success? your closest ever? 400, an Austrian journalist asked what I Clearly the breaststroke was decisive. I think so. I’ve always won comfortably thought about Rogan having left already Although I’ve heard that he said I started at the European Championships in the and therefore having two extra days to very hard on the backstroke and butterfly past and this was the first time I’ve been train for the European Championships in legs, and this was too much for him, I pushed hard at the end. Budapest. And then came the other little didn’t particularly feel that I had put bits of muck-raking – Markus is basically everything into the start, as I always swim Markus Rogan trained specifically to a guy with a nice smile, but you need to at a similar rhythm here. There might beat you on Margaret Island. be on your guard with him. He really have been one occasion, at the 2005 That’s right, and he prepared for quite knows how to disturb your peace of mind. World Championships, when I set off some time. After winning at the European even faster and reached the turn after the Short-Course Championships in butterfly ahead of Phelps, but then I went Istanbul, he went straight home, and the into the race on the basis of “give it your 40 LEN LEN 41 Magazine Magazine MEN RELAYS

The winners Russian razzle-dazzle “Our only aim WR: 3:08.24 (United States) was to beat the French – ER: 3:08.32 (France) 1. Russia and that’s what we did,” 3:12.46 CR Russia reclaimed the European crown suffered disqualification at the last – (RUS) they last won in 2000 as Daniil Izotov European Championships. France took outsprinted French Olympic champion silver in 3:13.29 and Sweden, featuring 2. France Alain Bernard to bring home the gold in 36-year-old former Olympic and world “We lost at the Olympic 3:13.29 a championship record 3:12.46. Evgeny 100m butterfly champion Lars Lagunov gave the Russian quartet the Froelander, bronze in 3:15.07. “When I Games, we lost at the lead on the first leg and Andrey Grechin look at the starting-list I feel really old World Championships just held off newly crowned European with these young swimmers around,” and thought this time it 400m freestyle champion Yannick Agnel Froelander said. “However, as long as 3. Sweden would be our time to win. 3:15.07 on the second before William Meynard I’m good enough for a medal, I’ll go on. pulled the French dead-level on the It’s still real fun.” Unfortunately we didn’t. third. Izotov proved more than equal to

4X100m free 4X100m The whole team is not too the challenge and produced the fastest happy.” split of the race of 47.87 to finish nearly EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF – Fabien Gilot (FRA). 1. Russia 1. a second ahead of Bernard and give 2. France 2. Russia gold two years after they had 3. Italy  4. WR: 6:58.55 (United States) ER: 6:59.15 (Russia) 1. Russia “It was interesting to 7:06.71 CR Russia, the 4x100m freestyle crown second leg and Sergey Perunin and race 200 metres against already in their possession, made no Alexander Sukhorukov finished the job Paul Biedermann but the mistake in acquiring another, retaining for the Olympic and world silver medal- purpose was to launch 2. Germany the long relay title in a championship lists. Germany claimed silver (7:08.13) the relay well. I think we 7:08.13 record of 7:06.71 and leaving the rest and Jeremy Stravius, 3sec inside his well in their wake. World champion Paul best 200m, overhauled Britain’s Robert have a good team, especi- Biedermann, who had retained his Bale on the last length to give France ally for the future, becau- European 200 freestyle title, turned the the bronze (7:09.70). Italy, winners at se our average age is just 3. France tables on 18-year-old Yannick Agnel, his the last five European championships, 20.” – Yannick Agnel 7:09.70 French conqueror in the 400 freestyle, were fifth. “This was a really good relay. and put Germany in front on the first That’s how we like it,” Izotov said. “The leg, with Nikita Lobintsev third for French had Yannick Agnel in their team

4X200m free 4X200m Russia. But Daniil Izotov, who had but that didn’t bother us.” EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF anchored Russia to victory over France 1. Russia 1. in a gripping 4x100 freestyle relay, hois- 2. Germany 2. ted his team into a clear lead on the 3. Italy  5. WR: 3:27.28 (United States) ER: 3:28.58 (Germany) 1. France “My obligation was 3:31.32 CR to retain the lead given France dropped world record holder lands gained bronze in 3:33.99. Fourth- Alain Bernard but still had all the fire finishing Germany were disqualified for me by Lacourt, because power they needed to win the medley a premature take-over by anchor man Bousquet and Gilot had relay. Camille Lacourt gave the French . Bernard retained his 2. Russia already competed in the 3:33.29 an explosive start, going inside Aaron European 100 freestyle title during the Peirsol’s world record pace at 50 metres week but was left out of the French 50 final this afternoon. for the solo 100 backstroke before han- squad following a crushing defeat in Our entire French swim- ding over outside the American’s world 4x100 freestyle relay when he was well ming team could not have 3. Netherlands mark but still very quick in 52.46. beaten on the anchor leg by Russia’s dreamed of a better conc- 3:33.99 Hugues Duboscq, Frederick Bousquet Daniil Izotov. and Fabien Gilot upheld the French lusion.” – Hugues advantage over the chasing Russian Duboscq after France’s defending champions to give France last gold of eight in seven EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF victory in 3:31.32, beating Russia’s days championship record of 3:34.25. Russia 1. Germany DSQ. took silver in 3:33.29 and the Nether- 4X100m medley 4X100m 2. France  1. 3. Russia  5.

42 LEN Magazine SWIMMING Predicti☺n Pay☺ff Medals Medals WOMEN women women

ITA4021. GBR 65 4 15 RUS3212. HUN 3 3 2 8 GER3203. SWE 3 2 3 8 HUN 3 1 1 4. RUS 3 0 0 3 GBR2465. DEN 2 2 2 6 SWE2226. GER 1 2 2 5 DEN1217. BLR 1 1 0 2 NED1148. ITA 1 0 1 2 SRB1009. FRA 0 3 1 4 FRA05010. NED 0 1 1 2 NOR01111. IRE 0 1 0 1 ESP 0 0 2 12. NOR 0 1 0 1 13. ESP 0 0 3 3 Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH Photo:

Modest show: illness prevented Federica Pellegrini from the iusual 200-400m double 44 LEN LEN 45 Magazine Magazine yielded an unprecedented the week with five apiece in the Alfred European bounty for Britain of six titles, Hajos pool, Halsall achieving this feat – twice the total compiled among the unmatched by any other Briton in the Common women by hosts Hungary, whose rap- 84-year history of these championships turously received golden treble was – with gold in the 100 freestyle and matched by Sweden and Russia. 4x100 medley relay, silver in the 100 World champion Katinka Hosszu butterfly and 4x100 freestyle relay and established herself as the most prolific bronze in the 50 freestyle. wealth for GB PETER ANDREWS Photo: women’s gold medallist, roared home Simmonds and Spofforth asserted by a deliriously ecstatic local crowd to British rule in women’s backstroke, with lead Hungarian one-two triumphs in the each winning once in emphatic one-two 200 individual medley and 200 butterfly triumphs, Simmonds in the 200 and For a team proclaiming their This appeared to do little to shackle the – first with Evelyn Verraszto and second world champion Spofforth in the 100, sights were set on another likes of Francesca Halsall, Hannah with Zsuzsanna Jakabos – and play her and Adlington banished the distress of meet two months away, Britain Miley, and Elizabeth part in the 4x200 freestyle relay which defeat in the 800, the event in which Simmonds, while double Olympic cham- did a remarkable job in topping pulled off a stunning last-gasp victory she had made her international mark pion awoke from the over France. But Britain, giving an with a silver medal in the same pool in the women’s medal table at the nightmare of an 800 to a new golden inkling of what was to come, thwarted 2006, bouncing back with a morale- European Championships, dawn in the 400 freestyle. That quintet Hosszu and Jakabos in the first boosting victory in the 400. Italian rival winning twice as many titles as plus Spofforth’s and Halsall’s medley women’s final of the championships Federica Pellegrini, the world champion their nearest rivals. The ulti- relay colleagues and when Miley upstaged the home and world record-holder, pulled out of mate goal is obviously the favourites in the 400 individual medley, the 400 with a fever but had already the event won by Hosszu at the 2009 stamped her mark with a powerful win 2012 London Olympics but this World Championships in Rome. in the 200 freestyle and a bronze medal year’s target for Britain’s World champion Yuliya Efimova on her first big championship outing in swimmers was set for the proved in a class of her own in the 50 the 800 freestyle. There was also gold Commonwealth Games in New and 100 breaststroke but was denied for (BLR) in Delhi in October and the team triple gold when she took over a fraction the 50 backstroke, along with silver in swam these championships in too soon in the concluding medley the 100 freestyle. relay, provoking the disqualification of These were good championships for the midst of varying stages of first-finishers Russia and providing older swimmers but a handful of younger heavy training, relatively Britain with their sixth title. contenders made their presence felt too. unrested and untapered. Lotte Friis (DEN) dominated the 800 Sjoestroem, who turned 17 two days and 1500 freestyle and bagged a after the championships, added the bronze in the 400, despite insisting that European 100 butterfly title to the world the lower distance was too short for her, crown she won last year and also and evergreen sprinter Therese revealed her growing potential in the 100 Alshammar (SWE), a double Olympic freestyle and 50 butterfly, even though silver medallist in 2000, also claimed two fourth places left her off the podium. double gold, winning the 50 butterfly Anastasia Chaun (RUS), 21, won the and 50 freestyle as well as claiming 200 breaststroke in the absence of bronze in the 100 butterfly, won by fel- Efimova, who did not contest the longer low-Swedish world record-holder Sarah event because of shoulder trouble. Sjoestroem, a rival half her age. Sixteen-year-old (GER), Alshammar also collected a silver in who won five gold medals at this year’s the 4x100 medley relay and bronze in the European Junior Championships, gave 4x100 freestyle relay to hoist her overall Pellegrini a run for her money with the medal tally in Olympic Games and World silver medal in the 200 freestyle. and European Championships to a Nineteen-year-old Ophelie Etienne Back-to-back: Elizabeth Simmonds meningitis – were also missing. The record 67, one above the previous sum- (FRA) collected three silver medals in (top) and Gemma Spofforth gave fourth member of that illustrious quartet, mit of Martina Moravcova (SVK). the 400 and 800 freestyle and 4x200 Britain two gold-silver finishes, , claimed bronze in Alshammar and Halsall were the freestyle relay and 17-year-old Grainne Simmonds taking the 200m crown, the 100 freestyle, while team-mate most prolific women’s medal-winners of Murphy (IRE), a former triple European her debut international victory, took the silver in junior champion, also made waves in the Spofforth the 100m to back up her the 50 freestyle. There has also been distance freestyle events, scooping the world title of 2009 talk of a comeback by former Olympic silver in the 1500. and world champion , There were several significant ab- their Dutch compatriot, to add another sentees, most notably world and element to the mix as the swimming Olympic champion Britta Steffen (GER), world looks forward to the 2011 World who has had a year complicated by ill- Championships in Shanghai and the ness and injury. Three of the Dutch 2012 Olympics in London, when the Olympic and world 4x100 freestyle relay United States, Australia and the rest Another first for Britain: gold medallists – , who rejoin the fray and the battles reach their Achieng Ajulu-Bushell became the first had a baby in June, , who highest intensity. black African to race for the land had a shoulder injury, and Ranomi of her mother Kromowidjojo, who was recovering from By Derek PARR 46 LEN Magazine WOMEN FREE

Photo: REUTERS / WOLFGANG RATTAY The winners While Britta was away... WR: 23.73 (Britta Steffen) ER: 23.73 (Britta Steffen) 1. ALSHAMMAR Therese SWE 24.45 Therese Alshammar (SWE) defied the ked 24.66 for silver and Halsall 24.67 for years and scattered her younger rivals, bronze. Alshammar, who had already sprinting to her second gold medal of regained the 50 butterfly title, claimed

50m 2. SCHREUDER the championships in the 50 freestyle, the 50 freestyle crown for the fourth Hinkelien the event in which she had claimed time, having previously won in 2000, NED Olympic silver 10 years before at the 2002 and 2004, and was later to finish 24.66 Sydney Games. Alshammar, days away with a silver in the medley relay to follow from her 33rd birthday, held the edge bronzes in the 100 butterfly and 4x100 3. HALSALL throughout the one-length dash and freestyle relay. Alshammar has now Francesca never looked like being caught. Swift but appeared in the last eight championship GBR controlled, she swept home in 24.45, 50m free finals – and won a medal 24.67 well clear, as Hinkelien Schreuder every time. (NED) pipped Francesca Halsall (GBR) EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF for the silver by just 0.01 seconds, with 1. Steffen (GER) DNS (GER) just 0.04 away 2. Alshammar (SWE)  1. 3. Kromowidjojo (NED) DNS but outside the medals. Schreuder cloc- WR: 52.07 (Britta Steffen) ER: 52.07 (Britta Steffen) 1. HALSALL Francesca unrested in the midst of preparations for GBR October’s Commonwealth Games in 53.58 Francesca Halsall kept Britain’s women New Delhi. Olympic and world champion on track with a third title for her team in Steffen decided against competing in as many days after Hannah Miley (400 Budapest after a year troubled by illness

100m 2. HERASIMENIA individual medley) and Elizabeth and injury but her championship record Aliaksandra Simmonds (200 backstroke) had raced 53.30, set here in 2006, just remained BLR 53.82 to gold. Halsall, silver medallist behind intact. Aliaksandra Herasimenia, who world record-holder Britta Steffen at the served a doping ban from 2003-05, gave Roma2009 World Championships, led a first outing on the podium, in 3. HEEMSKERK throughout and zipped home in 53.58 to 53.82 for silver. Femke Heemskerk, Femke shouldering Dutch hopes in the absence NED bring back the European 100 freestyle 54.12 crown to Britain 11 years after Susan of fellow Dutch relay world beaters Rolph won it at Istanbul 1999. “I knew Marleen Veldhuis, EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF that I had to get out very fast because and Inge Dekker, pipped Sweden’s 1. Steffen (GER) DNS this is my strength,” said Halsall, who Sarah Sjoestroem by 0.04 seconds to That last 10m really 2. Halsall (GBR)  1. like others in the British team swam snatch the bronze in 54.12. hurt. As a world medallist Dutch danger: 3. Kromowidjojo (NED) DNS “I am not ruling a Therese Alshammar, left, has history with I felt a bit of pressure out WR: 1:52.98 (Federica Pellegrini) comeback in nor out,” the Orange squad but this time she kept ER: 1:52.98 (Federica Pellegrini) there tonight but I think I Hinkelien Schreuder at bay 1. PELLEGRINI 2000 and 2004 Olympic Federica champion Inge de Bruijn channeled it well and to ITA get that first individual 1:55.45 CR Olympic and world champion Federica earlier in the week, poured past and hit (NED) told the Dutch Pellegrini (ITA) added her first the wall more than 1.5sec in front, bea- media while working as a title bodes really well for European 200 freestyle gold to her ting her own championship record from “My legs were alrea- commentator in the rest of the season.” Olympic and world crowns by cutting the semi-finals to win in 1:55.45. Lippok dy shaking at the start 2. LIPPOK Silke Budapest. Missing too – Hallsall 200m GER short the brave efforts of Silke Lippok, was fading but held on for silver in and now I’m totally after the 16-year-old German had made 1:56.98 and Agnes Mutina (HUN) over- from the 2010 race were 1:56.98 exhausted. I gave it eve- all the pace from the outside lane one. took the luckless (FRA) world and Olympic cham- “Since we had to replace European junior champion Lippok car- for her second European 200 bronze in rything. I started the race pion Britta Steffen (GER), three swimmers I had to ved out a 1-sec advantage down the 1:57.12. Muffat, fourth in the 200 med- very fast, which I clearly 3. MUTINA Agnes troubled by illness and save the Dutch honour. I HUN first length but the experienced world ley behind a Hungarian one-two and felt in the last 25 metres. 1:57.12 record holder inexorably whittled away denied gold by the Hungarians in the injury, and 2008 European think I did that well But it’s incredible to have at her lead. The gap was half a second 4x200 freestyle relay, must have felt the champion Marleen because it’s my first indi- at the last turn but it already looked hosts had it in for her. got a medal.” – Silke Veldhuis (NED), who had vidual medal on long EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF plain that the Italian would hunt Lippok Lippok, tipped for a great 1. Pellegrini (ITA) 1. down. Pellegrini, bronze medallist in her a baby in June. course.” – Heemskerk 2. Mutina (HUN)  3. first major championship 800 freestyle future by Pellegrini. 3. Verraszto (HUN)  5.

48 LEN LEN 49 Magazine Magazine On the winning side

Francesca Halsall 5-Haul Halsall Into the Federica Pellegrini Tops Titley’s Troops lioness’ den

At 14 years of age, Francesca Halsall, University. Indeed, his charges accrued best and to win the gold is quite a fan- Federica Pellegrini, a model of beauty, expectation, ready to accept any verdict born in Southport and raised in the two gold, five silver and three bronze tastic feeling. As a world medallist I felt poise and performance, in and out of from the pool. “I’ve won a bronze nearby home town of The Beatles, medals on Margaret Island. Halsall and a bit of pressure out there ... but I think the water. The native of Venice (to be medal, I didn’t expect that,” she said Liverpool, set out on an incredible jour- Simmonds, eight medals to their names I channelled it well and to get that first precise Mirano, a small town nearby) is after finishing behind Lotte Friis (DEN) ney as a member of Britain’s Smart in all, shared a room in Budapest, their individual title bodes really well for the the queen of the 200m freestyle, a class and Ophelie Etienne (FRA) and Track squad formed by Australian success prompting one team member to rest of the season.” apart as Olympic champion, world title 0.05sec ahead of 17-year-old Grainne coach Bill Sweetenham. It was more joke: “They’ve put a star on their door now Later in the week, she came close to and record holder and now European Murphy (IRL). “I’m very happy also than a year before London would know and we all have to bow as we pass it.” a second solo gold, falling just 0.08sec champion for the first time, that result because I have improved on my best that it had won the right to host the Halsall was lost for words over her shy of causing upset in a battle with world coming her way in a week in Budapest time by over 3 seconds.” 2012 Olympic Games but the journey to five-medal haul, describing it as “amaz- champion Sarah Sjoestroem (SWE) in in which she won her first major prize As she registered the result, Fede- that destiny had already begun for the ing... incredible”. She dominated the the 100m butterfly, 57.32 to 57.40. The over 800m, a bronze (later she added a rica blew a kiss with both hands to the 20-year-old who returned home from

100m freestyle in 53.58. Silver medallist consolation: the first British record to be gold medal on 200m but withdrew from sky: a personal tribute to Castagnetti, RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo: Budapest as the most successful behind Britta Steffen (GER) at world set since the return to textile suits. “I the 400m due to illness). who wanted her to try this new event. British swimmer in European Cha pion- titles in 2009, she was never led. In tex- wanted the gold very much but I’ve got to On August 5th, the Italian star cele- “Mission accomplished”, she whis- ship history in a single year. tile suits season, many have said that be happy,” said Halsall, who took bronze brated her 22nd birthday with family pered, a pledge honoured. Atop the five medals won by Halsall times are not significant. Oh, yes they in the 50m freestyle and silver in the (her parents and her younger brother), Next year, she may extend her pro- were two golds, one reaped on her own are, said Halsall, who described her 4x100m freestyle. “It was a personal fiancé, teammate and medley interna- gramme the other way, taking in the in the 100m freestyle, the other as the feelings after looking up at the score- best, a British Record and a really good tional , and a few friends. 100m, though 200m and 400m will butterfly quarter of the 4x100m medley board thus: “It was crazy. I thought swim but I still feel I could have taken the Days later she was in Budapest for the remain her priority as she looks forward relay that was out-touched by a ‘wow’, I didn’t expect to be that quick. I gold - maybe next time. Losing by start of the most important meet of her to building on a reputation as No1 mid- Russian hand but elevated when the was nervous going in ... I haven’t had a 0.08sec - I’ll feel that for the next year’s 2010 season. She appeared utterly at dle-distance freestyler in the the world timing system confirmed that one good year on freestyle because of small training, that’ll be a lot of motivation.” ease with herself, her teammates, the untainted by performance-enhancing among the would-be champions had injuries and so on. To do a season’s By Craig LORD public, media ... and with life. suits now banned. How much did jumped too early from her blocks. The change in her 2010 to 2006, Federica like the current FINA ruling on Back in the first two seasons on the the last time Budapest hosted the suits? She says: “We are now back to Smart Track squad with the likes of championships, was not lost on the real swimming and I am very pleased has fallen to Stefano Morini, a former Elizabeth Simmonds, 200m backstroke freestyle ace: “Four years ago I went with it; others may be suffering, I’m not. assistant to Castagnetti’s and a man champion in Budapest, and Ellen through a very difficult period; it was my For the time being I do not see how the familiar with Federica and her training Gandy, bronze medallist in the 200m worst year; now things are different, I world records set in the latest two years habits under Alberto. butterfly, Halsall found herself on a feel very much in control of my life.” can be beaten, not certainly the one on Beyond the pool, the swimmer likes to world tour with Sweetenham, other In 2009, Federica reached maturity, the 200 freestyle; nevertheless, I am keep up with the latest news, is interested coaches and tutors in tow: an altitude both as an athlete and as a woman. sure that starting from next season in fashion, music, culture, politics and camp in Mexico; racing as a junior in Under the guidance of her late coach records will start to fall again.” many other topics. Out of training and rac- senior waters at the US Open; then Alberto Castagnetti she claimed the She believes that swimmers must ing season she likes to dress fashionably down to the swim paradise for a stretch 200m and 400m world titles in world- re-adapt their physiology to swimming – Armani is one of her top sponsors – and in Australia. At the time, Sweetenham record times. Sadly, Alberto, a second skills and the element of their sport, wear high heels. She says: “I’m a woman, said that his mission was to leave Britain father and an inspiration to her, passed with a concentration of lactic acid high- and like to dress like a woman”. Socia - with the best coaching team in the away prematurely last October follow- er than that they were used when wear- lising and ex changes messages with her world. When he returned to Australia in ing heart surgery. Federica was devas- ing non-textile bodysuits: adaptation will many fans on her blog (http://www.feder- 2007, he noted that “Ben Titley has the tated by his loss but, helped by her fam- take a while but the sport will settle at icapellegrini.com/blog/) also comes nat- makings of a truly great coach.” ily, her fiancé, and the Italian Swimming its new rate and eventually move into urally. A woman of strong moral values Titley is now guide to Halsall, Federation, she managed to overcome uncharted waters once more. Precisely and a big heart, she is often involved in Simmonds and two others among the the tragedy and to convert her spiritual when in which events, no-one knows. fund-raising for charitable concerns and medallists in Budapest, Liam Tancock relationship with her former coach into Federica, labelled early in her solidarity programmes. and Kate Haywood, at Loughborough a motivating force to make progress career ‘the lioness of Verona’, will work Federica has clear-cut ideas about towards the achievements that are towards the best she can be. Last life and about what she would like to do ahead of her. autumn, in harmony with the Italian in life, beyond what she has already That was what lay behind her deci- Federation, she decided to continue to achieved. Recently she said: “I want a sion to add the 800m to her traditional live and train in Verona, the town of family of my own and to raise my own race schedule in Budapest. She raced Romeo and Juliet, the seat of the Italian children. I might quit swimming after the 16 laps for the first time in international Swimming Federation Elite Training 2012 Olympics and marry Luca (Marin)”. The fastest female in Britain: Francesca competition at the Alfred Hajos swim- Centre, and a city she loves and one By Camillo CAMETTI Halsall ming complex and did so without that adores her. Coaching responsibility FINA Press Comission Chairman 50 LEN LEN 51 Magazine Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH Magazine WOMEN FREE

A whole Lotte trouble goin’ on: “After an awful per- Friis (DEN) prepares “I was still tired from formance in the 800, this for a 30-lap victory the 800. I think it’s stupid The winners The one Lotte race was very important to schedule these long- to me. I was mentally distance events without a WR: 3:59.15 (Federica Pellegrini) ER: 3:59.15 (Federica Pellegrini) strong enough to come one-day break. Today I 1. ADLINGTON knew I would be able to Rebecca back. That meant so much GBR to me, it’s better to come win the 1500 but thought 4:04.55 Double Olympic champion Rebecca gradually reeling Etienne in. Adlington it would be closer.” Adlington (GBR) made glorious amends had hit the front by the final turn and back here smiling than for her disappointment in the Budapest swam away to gold in 4:04.55. Etienne, crying, like I did after the – Friis 2. ETIENNE Ophelie 800 freestyle with a well-judged win in silver medallist in the 800 and 4x200 disappointment of the 400m Cyriell the 400 final. Adlington, in the midst of freestyle relay, collected her third silver 800. Everyone’s expecting FRA heavy training for the Commonwealth in 4:05.40 and Friis added a bronze to 4:05.40 Games, trailed a sad seventh in the 800 her collection in 4:07.10. World champi- so much of me. I don’t but came back three days later in deter- on and European title-holder Federica want to let people down 3. FRIIS Lotte mined style to rescue her week. Pellegrini (ITA) pulled out after feeling ill but I let myself down DEN Seventeen-year-old Ophelie Etienne following her victory in the 200 freestyle 4:07.10 (FRA), who had only just made the the previous evening. when I think about every- final, set a cracking pace out in lane one else being let down.” one, followed by Lotte Friis (DEN), alre- – Adlington EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF ady a double gold medallist from the 1. Pellegrini (ITA) DNS 800 and 1500. Adlington bided her time, 2. Balmy (FRA)  6. 3. Adlington (GBR)  1. moving past Friis on the third length and WR: 8:14.10 (Rebecca Adlington) ER: 8:14.10 (Rebecca Adlington) 1. FRIIS Lotte “Today I was as fast

DEN RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo: 8:23.27 as when I won Olympic World champion Lotte Friis subdued the 17-year-old Grainne Murphy (IRL), the bronze in Beijing – and challenge of two teenage rivals to add fastest final qualifier, in hot pursuit. But that after the return to the European 800 freestyle crown to her Friis, Olympic bronze medallist in 2008, textile swimsuits.” – Friis 2. ETIENNE Ophelie collection, with the action all unfolding in had taken charge again by the 500m 800m Cyriell front of Olympic gold medallist Rebecca mark and resisted further attacks to FRA “I still have a few pro- 8:24.00 Adlington, who came to Budapest in the clinch gold in 8:23.27. Etienne seized midst of heavy training and was conse- the silver in 8:24.00 and Italy’s Federica blems with the pace, quently completely out of the picture in Pellegrini, stepping up a distance, sur- which is completely diffe- 3. PELLEGRINI the pool where she had made her big ged through on the last length to take Federica rent from that in the international breakthrough with silver in the bronze in 8:24.99, pipping Murphy ITA 200m” – Pellegrini 8:24.99 2006. Friis led through the first 200m by just 0.05 seconds. but was then caught by 19-year-old EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Ophelie Etienne, the French former 1. Friis (DEN) 1. world junior 200 freestyle champion 2. Adlington (GBR)  7. swimming in the outside lane one, with 3. Filippi (ITA) DNS WR: 15:42.54 () ER: 15:44.93 () 1. FRIIS Lotte DEN 15:59.13 Lotte Friis (DEN) achieved a bold distan- Friis, Murphy and Villaecija stretched ce double, leading all the way to add the away from the pack. Murphy, the fastest 1500 title to the 800 freestyle crown she final qualifier and a former triple had retained two days earlier. Friis, European junior champion, battled to get 2. MURPHY Grainne 800m world champion and silver medal- on terms with the relentless Friis but

1500m IRL 16:02.29 list over 1,500m in Rome last year, was could not reduce the gap, which hovered followed by world bronze medallist around two seconds for most of the race. (ROM) down the first Friis duly secured her second gold of the length but then 17-year-old Grainne meet in 15:59.13, with Murphy, denied 3. VILLAECIJA GARCIA Erika Murphy (IRE) took over the challenge to bronze by just 0.05 seconds in the 800, ESP the Dane and was the one who chased stepping up to silver in 16:02.29 and 16:05.08 her hardest for the rest of the 30-length Villaecija, silver medallist in 2008, taking race. Erika Villaecija (ESP), the 2004 bronze in 16:05.08. Potec was a distant EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF European 800 gold medallist, had over- fourth. Murphy said: “I’m surprised I 1. Filippi (ITA) DNS hauled Potec by the 500m mark and the managed the change from junior to seni- 2. Friis (DEN)  1. race turned into a three-way battle as or level so well.” 3. Villaecija (ESP) 3.

52 LEN Magazine On the winning side

Rebecca Adlington Expect the Change Lotte Friis best to bounce back the schedule, please!

Midweek in Budapest, Rebecca back. Over the next 100m, the Olympic heading back to training - via the mis- 800m will remain my main event as it is Adlington (GBR) felt like a boxer on the champion showed her quality with a sion she has in mind for a time of retire- the Olympic distance. ropes: an Olympic champion and world- spurt of speed that left 800m world and ment. “I want every child in Britain to record holder knocked sideways in 2009 European champion Lotte Friis (DEN) learn to swim, for life, for fun and for the Is it a given thing to become such a by a fourth place in the world-title race treading water. “I just kept saying to sheer thrill of feeling what it’s like to good distance swimmer? When over 800m freestyle when she finished myself ‘ come on, come on, dig in, dig move through water. That’s my mission did you or your coach recognise fourth in Rome behind three women in in. Put your head down.’ By the end it in the longer term. I’d like it to be my your special abilites? 100% polyurethane suits that she felt really great,” said Adlington, who legacy, a common goal the whole I don’t know the specific timing of things refused to wear, she finished seventh in caught her French rival at the last turn nation can share.” but what I can recall is that we just agre - the 800m on Margaret Island after a and settled the argument decisively The work has already well under ed that this was what I would do in the week of 55km of training when all down the last 50m. “In Rome last year it way. A day back in Britain after future. around her had rested for their big meet was pain from beginning to end. But not Budapest, Adlington launched the of the summer. The tears that followed today. It felt controlled.” British Gas 3 Free Swims campaign, at Have you been analysed by scien- reflected the pressure she feels to deliv- Her bounce back from disappoint- a pool in Hackney, London. British Gas, tists back home as to whether er the ever-present promise of her sta- ment in the 800m prompted Britain which invests £15 million in British you have any specific ability? Are tus as double Olympic champion. head coach Dennis Pursley to note: “It Swimming and is also a personal spon- your lungs larger than the aver- “It is extremely difficult to get in the is one of the things that you look for in sor for Adlington, runs a scheme that age for instance? pool and race people who are fully rest- a great athlete and indeed a great allows up to two adults and two children Yes, I’ve been analysed by some ed,” said Adlington, who was comforted team. The ability to bounce back from have three free swims at health clubs, Danish scientists. No specific results by Nottingham coach Bill Furniss after disappointment because they all have hotels and leisure centres around the with the lungs, the special thing is that the race. “Everyone back home still those no matter if its Michael Phelps or country. my blood can carry an extremely high expects you to win a gold medal. It’s dif- Becky Adlington. It splits the greats Adlington said: “I am on a personal Sweet sorority: level of oxygen. Much more than the ficult when everyone has that expecta- from the rest, athletes and teams.” mission to get as many people as pos- Rebecca average. This is a base from which we tion of you.” Adlington acknowledged the sible into the pool to enjoy the benefits Adlington (R) can build my trainings on. Three days later and a little more absence of Pellegrini, the Italian who of swimming. The British Gas 3 Free and Lotte Friis rested, Adlington, Olympic 400m cham- she beat into fourth for the Olympic Swims campaign is the perfect opportu- know what the Have you ever thought to race in pion too, was back where she works so crown but who won the world title last nity to get customers, from paddling other has had to open water? hard to be: atop the podium, gold summer. In Budapest, Pellegrini felt too pool to podium, into the water to have go through to We discussed it and decided to try it around her neck a smile on her face ill to race after a fever had not subsided fun in a safe and healthy environment.” get gold on before the Olympics in 2012. Actually, we once more. Her first European 400m come the morning of the 400m heats. “It Swimming saves lives, she noted as a distance wanted to do it here but later I agreed with title was “good to have” but what mat- was a great shame that she couldn’t be role model in a country that witnesses freestyle my coach that pool competition is the No. tered most she said was the thing that there but it was the right decision for more than 400 drownings every year, 1 and that I would not take any risks. so many said is insignificant this year in her. If you’re poorly you shouldn’t risk it. such accidents the third most common You should be completetly satisfied: everybody so we cannot do anything the wake of a return to textile-only suits: But the field was very strong without cause of accidental death among chil- doubling in the 800m and 1500m but try to give our best effort and see Would you be able to get used to the time. “The gold is good to have but the her,” said Adlington. dren. – that’s quite a feat! whether it is enough or not. kicks and punches at the turns? time is what gives me the confidence to The key to a much better 400m than “I was at a schools for pools event Of course, I am satisfied: these champi- That’s the point. I’m not sure I would be know we’re doing the right things,” said 800m was the distance - “if you’re recently,” said Adlington. “There were onships produced very nice results for When you saw the schedule what able to accept that. Adlington. “When you train so hard, you unrested it might make 1sec per 100m 10,000 kids involved in the scheme and me. I couldn’t expect any more. The was your first reaction? can only tell where you are in relation to difference but on an 800m, that looks a just seeing the kids’ faces light up was 400m would have been an extra but this Well, it was the same in Eindhoven. We Talking of the London Games: do your own performance. So yes, racing lot more” - and attitude. “I was so disap- such an amazing feeling. Some of them event is too short for me, I simply can’t had thought there was a possibility that you put any pressure on yourself and winning is really important, but the pointed after the 800m. I let it get to me came up and said ‘I saw you on TV and match the fast-starting pace of the oth- the 1,500m would be moved to the first by targeting the gold medal or time is too.” too much but I decided to relax and just I want to be like you’ ... that means so ers. But all in all, the two gold medals days but it turned out that everything will you just go for a medal and As swimming has always been: a enjoy it, no pressure,” said Adlington, much to me. To be able to inspire chil- are more than fine. remained the same. So what we could hope for the best? Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH Photo: marriage of time and place, both equal- who worked through the summer, tak- dren, well, there’s nothing better. I don’t do was to prepare for this tough chal- Of course, if you are an athlete you ly important. In the 400m in Budapest ing only a few days rest as she pre- want to do this work because I expect After winning the 1,500m you labell - lenge. However, we should fight on to should think of the gold medal. However, we saw 4:04.45, a championship pares to race Australians and others at them to go on and be an Olympic ed the schedule as ‘stupid‘ in the have a change: in Budapest, no-one there are a couple of girls who will have record, on the board but the way the the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. champion, though some may do just flash quotes. could give 100 percent during the sec- a real chance of winning the race and in time unfolded was just as significant as That mission dictated a swift return that, I want them to just enjoy it and me Yes, I think we should have a different ond race (the 1,500m). swimming you can’t control what the the end result. It was not until 250m that to work the morning after Budapest: safe. I remember as a child what it felt programme. This current one definitely others do. So I prepare to come up with Adlington noticed Ophelie-Cyrielle she awoke for her exodus from like to move through water. It’s one of affects the quality of swimming. There So the 800m was the perfect one? my best performance and will hope that Etienne (FRA) cracking out a phenom- Hungary at 3:45m. By mid-morning, the greatest thrills. No-one should be must be at least one day rest between I was as fast as when I won Olympic may be enough for a medal, or, let’s enal pace over in lane 1. “I thought ‘o Adlington was answering the call of left out.” the 800m final and the heats of the bronze in Beijing – and that after the hope, for the gold medal! my God!,” said Adlington a body length sponsors and by Tuesday she was By Craig LORD 1500m. Of course, it is the same for return to textile swim suits! And the By Gergely CSURKA 54 LEN LEN 55 Magazine Magazine WOMEN BACKSTROKE Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH

The winners British empire WR: 27.06 (Zhao Jing) ER: 27.23 () 1. HERASIMENIA Aliaksandra BLR 27.64 CR Aliaksandra Herasimenia (BLR), silver number of European fourths and fifths medallist in the 100 freestyle, climbed to her name over the years, including to the top step of the podium to receive fourth in the Budapest 100 backstroke –

50m 2. SAMULSKI Daniela a gold in the 50 backstroke that had loo- at last celebrated her medal moment GER ked destined to go her way after she set with bronze (28.01). 27.99 the pace through the heats and semi- finals. European silver medallist in 2006 and world silver medallist 2007, 3. PERIS MINGUET Herasimenia lowered her own champi- Mercedes onship record to 27.64 to consign ESP European record-holder Daniela 28.01 Samulski, the 2009 world silver medal- Rain and reign: list, to one more silver (27.99), though Aliaksandra Herasimenia was EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF the German was delighted to swim banned for doping but five 1. Samulski (GER)  2. under 28 seconds for her best time in a years after her return she 2. Zueva (RUS) DNS won her first major title 3. Schreuder (NED)  4. textile suit. (ESP) – a WR: 58.12 (Gemma Spofforth) ER: 58.12 (Gemma Spofforth) 1. SPOFFORTH Gemma GBR the event since Olympic champion Judy 59.80 World champion Gemma Spofforth tur- Herasimenia was ned the tables on Elizabeth Simmonds Grinham in 1958. Simmonds booked sil- suspended for two years as the British pair bagged backstroke ver in 1:00.19, with gold and silver for the second time in (GER), fourth in the 200, coming in 2003 for failing an out-

100m 2. SIMMONDS three days. Simmonds, the first Briton to through for the bronze in 1:00.72 at her of-competition dope test. Elizabeth GBR win the European women’s 200 backst- first major long-course championships. “This is a great day for Russian world silver medallist Anas- 1:00.19 roke crown, could not match her team- me. I won the gold medal mate’s strong finish in the 100 as tasia Zueva, suffering from back strain, Spofforth followed 200 silver with 100 did not contest the race. and can’t yet believe it,” 3. MENSING Jenny GER gold. Germany’s Daniela Samulski led she said. “You can only 1:00.72 Simmonds and Spofforth at the halfway swim your own race in mark but could not contain them on the second length. Spofforth powered the 50 and not look over EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF through to prevail in 59.80 – way outsi- to the others.” 1. Spofforth (GBR) 1. de her fast-suit world record of 58.12 – 2. Zueva (RUS) DNS and become the first British winner of 3. Simmonds (GBR)  2. WR: 2:04.81 () ER: 2:04.94 (Anastasia Zueva) Home backstroker hero Nikolett Szepesi watched the competi- 1. SIMMONDS Elizabeth tion from the stands. After winning a medal in Eindhoven in 2008, she GBR fell shy of expectation at the Beijing Olympics – in fact, she broke her 2:07.04 Elizabeth Simmonds and Gemma rest of the field fell away. Simmonds, We have a great rivalry and I’ve wat- Spofforth scored an emphatic one-two sixth at the 2008 Olympics and fifth at ched Gemma achieve so much. But it hand in spring that year at home while wrestling for the ownership of triumph for Britain in the 200m backst- the 2009 Worlds, won in 2:07.04, with was my turn tonight. My goals? To get the TV‘s remote controller with her younger brother. She was fed up roke, with Simmonds leading from start Spofforth taking silver in 2:08.25 and faster and faster.” Spofforth said: “It’s with swimming and decided to quit the sport, though she stayed in 2. SPOFFORTH 200m Gemma to finish to win by more than a second Spain’s Duane Da Rocha bronze in great for Britain to have those first two the pool and worked with little kids in the swimming kindergarden. GBR from her team-mate. Simmonds set a 2:10.46. World championship silver steps on the podium and I’m so happy After a while, her hunger returned... And so did she. Szepesi broke all 2:08.25 fierce pace and was half a second clear medallist Anastasia Zueva, in Budapest for Lizzie. She works so hard and is very national records in the S/C nationals in November 2009 and raced in by the end of the first length, stretching but suffering from a back strain, missed talented – she deserves it.” good shape in Istanbul. However, in January FINA sent a message her advantage over Germany’s chasing the 200 in which she holds the 3. DA ROCHA MARCE that Szepesi had not reported her return to the race pool, and she Duane Jenny Mensing to nearly two seconds European record, fast-suited, at ESP at the halfway mark. Spofforth, the reig- 2:04.94. She would have been pushed should have had a nine-month long non-competing period under 2:10.46 ning world 100 backstroke champion, to beat Simmonds, however. “That’s my FINA rules that apply to all who quit the sport and are not available struck back in the second half of the first major medal and I’m thrilled,” for out-of-competition doping tests. Szepesi is serving a nine-month EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF race as she gained on Simmonds. Sixth Simmonds said. “ On that last length I ban and as such the beautiful competitor (also appeared in the 1. Zueva (RUS) DNS at the 50-metre mark and fourth at was just waiting for Gemma to attack Hungarian edition of Playboy) watch from the stands this time. 2. Spofforth (GBR) 2. 100m, she moved up to second as the and gave it everything to keep her off. 3. Simmonds (GBR)  1.

56 LEN LEN 57 Magazine Magazine On the winning side

a back-to-back but I had a lot of doubts successive year for the Florida Gators. of Florida on a sporting scholarship, going into it. I’m not fully rested and I So good is she at extending to oth- even if the coach thinks this is the riski- Elizabeth Simmonds & Gemma Spofforth wasn’t sure I had it in me. I didn’t go in ers the strength and courage she has est scholarship he’s ever awarded”. “It’s what quite as confident as I could have been.” displayed in the pool and life since the Asked how she found a balance Spofforth may well have a deeper death of her mother Lesley in late 2007 between the worlds of swimming and understanding of what it means to be that after only four months of coun- life-saving, with each requiring robust confident, to be optimistic. In the day, selling work, Spofforth was been asked mental stamina, Spofforth said: “They’re she swims. At night, the world champi- to be an associate of the unit, available complementary and contradicting. What Britain needs” on saves lives as a volunteer counsellor for mercy dashes through the night happens in the room is so confidential at the Alachua County Crisis Centre in should a caller contemplating suicide that everything gets left in there. I can Florida, partly as an act of thanks to need a more personal touch than the get depressed after a call, but I leave it those in the Sunshine State who helped phone can provide. in the room when I come out. A lot of Qohelet puts it quite well in Eccle- the girth of her coaches and the director. her to find salvation in her own journey It was in 2005 after she had recov- times I come out thinking how lucky I am siastes 1:9 - “What has been will be Sweetenham’s response. “She’s got of soaring highs and crushing lows. The ered from debilitating pancreatitis that and I think that I’m lucky to have got to again, what has been done will be done great attitude. It’s what Britain needs.” 22-year-old joined an elite band of triple Spofforth got what her father Mark help that person.” again; there is nothing new under the Plenty of that was on show in champions earlier this year at her described in a note of thanks to those sun”. Compared to the epic scale of all Budapest, and not only from Simmonds swansong United States NCAA colle- caring for his daughter in the States as “a By Craig LORD things Biblical, 52 years is a drop in the and others Made in England. After the Hand-in-hand: giate championships, where she won golden chance to train at the University ocean. But when Elizabeth Simmonds 200m the champion immediately placed teammates Gemma Spofforth (L) the 100 yards backstroke for a third and Gemma Spofforth won the first her debut senior international crown: and Elizabeth Simmonds celebrate women’s backstroke 1-2 for Britain “It’s absolutely fantastic. I know it’s not a second 1-2 finish for Britain since 1958 and then backed-up three Olympics or worlds, it’s Europeans but on backstroke days later by matching the result over it confirms that everything is going well 100m, this time with Spofforth at the and I’m just really excited about the helm, those waving their Union Flags future. This is a stepping stone and must surely have felt like the man who today tells me I know I can cope with the sips a chilled beer after dashing across pressure. That’s my first major medal Africa barefoot. and I’m thrilled. On that last length I Back when Budapest hosted the was just waiting for Gemma to attack 1958 championships on Margaret and gave it everything to keep her off. Island in what in 2006 and 2010 served We have a great rivalry and I’ve as the warm-up pool, , watched Gemma achieve so much but it Olympic champion two years earlier, was my turn tonight. If I can swim 2:07 and Margaret Edwards had just the now, I’ll certainly improve my lifetime 100m to aim for, the 200m introduced to best of 2:06.79 at Commonwealth the programme in 1970. Thirty years on Games in Delhi in October. My goals? to and 14 years beyond the moment that get faster and faster!” Britain took a decision to “turn profes- Spofforth, well into a second career sional” by hiring a full-time performance beyond illness, realignment, relocation director and eventually place full-time to Florida, the death of her mother, a coaches at the helm of intensive train- near miss at the Olympics and a joyous ing centres, Simmonds and Spofforth breakthrough to the world crown in 2009, heralded in a new era. is the kind of team player squads pray Simmonds, a 19-year-old now for. Support and steely determination coached by Ben Titley but tipped for rolled into one. “It’s incredibly special get success when chosen for Britain’s a Brit 1-2,” said Spofforth, followed by: “It Smart Track squad at 13 years of age, sucks a little bit to get beaten by Lizzie,” roared to gold from go to a dominant ... I didn’t get my pace right and maybe I 2:07.04, which granted her a debut should have taken it out a little bit faster. international crown and, at that moment, I’m still learning to swim the 200m.” the fastest 5 times in the world in 2010). The 100m final proved her greater Spofforth, world 100m champion last level of control over two lengths: she won year, was the only woman in the same in 59.80 over 1:00.19 for Simmonds, race, silver her property in 2:08.25. after having turned third, kept her cool, The courage shown out front by raced her own race, including a golden Simmonds was typical of a girl who at 13 return lap. “This was another great day when I asked her what her interests were for the British team (now on 4 gold, 4 sil- she replied: “Cliff jumping”. Sorry? “Yes, I ver and 4 bronze) after our double in the like to go to the edge of cliffs and jump off 200m,” said the champion. “It shows that them”. That same years she started to we’re in great shape for the Common - make regular weekly visits to wealth Games, our main aim this year.” Loughborough with then coach Graham Coached by Martyn Wilby and Greg Bassi and leave rude messages on per- Troy in Florida, Spofforth was delighted formance director Bill Sweetenham’s to rubber-stamped her world crown with white board, including sketches reflecting a debut European title. “It’s great to get Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH 58 LEN LEN 59 Magazine Magazine WOMEN BREASTSTROKE

Brace pace: Rikke Moeller Pedersen won two breaststroke medals for The winners On a different level WR: 29.80 (Jessicah Hardy) ER: 30.09 (Yulia Efimova) 1. EFIMOVA Yuliya Evergreen Ukrainian RUS Svitlana Bondarenko, still 30.29 CR World champion Yuliya Efimova (RUS) back problems during the entire season became a double European gold medal- and that’s why I didn’t compete in the going strong in the week list with a runaway win in the breastst- 200 breast here,” Efimova said. “I can of her 39th birthday, sque- roke sprint, having already gathered in manage the problems in the sprints. ezed through to the semi- 50m 2. HAYWOOD Kate the 100 breaststroke title in similarly When I get back home I’ll have a medi- finals of the event she GBR dominant style. European silver medal- cal check at the hospital.” Haywood 31.12 list in 2008, Efimova, in her distinctive said: “I’m satisfied with my second won in 2004 but could get pink cap, swooped away from the field, place. Top position is simply impossible no further this time. stroking fast and clean, and won by – Efimova swims on a different level.” 3. JOHANSSON nearly a second, a vast margin in such Jennie a short race. Efimova shaved 0.03 SWE 31.24 seconds from her own championship record to win in 30.29, with Kate “I had hip surgery Haywood (GBR) taking silver in a per- EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF last year and went 1. Efimova (RUS) 1. sonal best 31.12 and Jennie Johannson 2. Nijhuis (NED)  4. (SWE) bronze in 31.24. “I had great through months of rehabi- 3. Artmyeva (RUS)  7. litation and steady hard WR: 1:04.45 (Jessicah Hardy) work. To come here and ER: 1:05.41 (Yulia Efimova) 1. EFIMOVA Yuliya do a lifetime best that RUS dates back to I don’t 1:06.32 CR World silver medallist Yuliya Efimova left overjoyed with her time, which was just her rivals in her wake and proved her- under a second outside the 1:05.41 know when [2005 in fact] self Europe’s finest with a comprehensi- European record she set at last year’s is just amazing” ve victory in the 100 breaststroke. The Rome World Championships. “I prepa- – Haywood

100m 2. PEDERSEN Rikke 18-year-old Russian from Grozny, red well for these European Cham- Moeller Chechnya, stamped her authority on pionships and wanted to swim faster DEN 1:07.36 the race from the start and won by more than I did today,” she said. “However, for than a second, lowering her own cham- me these championships are just anot- pionship record 1:06.32. Denmark’s her step on the road to the Olympic 2. JOHANSSON Rikke Moeller Pedersen and Sweden’s Games in London.” Jennie Jennie Johansson gave a display of No, not the synchro pair: SWE but this Anastasia (Chaun) got her timing 1:07.36 Scandinavian solidarity, sharing silver medals in joint second place in 1:07.36 right too EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF ahead of another Swede, 2008 bronze Photo: REUTERS 1. Efimova (RUS) 1. medallist Joline Hoestman. Efimova, 2. Pedersen (DEN) 2. fourth at the 2008 Olympics, was not 3. Scarcella (ITA) DNS WR: 2:20.12 (Annamay Pierse) ER: 2:21.62 (Nadja Higl) 1. CHAUN Anastasia RUS 2:23.50 CR Anastasia Chaun maintained Russia’s before Chaun, 0.85 seconds adrift in winning ways in women’s breaststroke, second place at the turn, made her securing her first major championship unanswerable charge down the last victory and adding the 200 crown to the length to win by almost a second. 2. NORDENSTAM Sara gold won by Yuliya Efimova in the 100 Norway’s Olympic bronze medallist 200m NOR event. Chaun, a 21-year-old sports stu- Sara Nordenstam, who swam for 2:24.42 dent from and coached by her Sweden until 2002, came through for father, inherited Efimova’s European silver in 2:24.42 as Pedersen was peg- title and also broke her teammate’s ged back to bronze in 2:24.99. As in the 3. PEDERSEN Rikke championship record by more than half 100, Hoestman was left a frustrated Moeller a second in 2:23.50. Efimova did not fourth. World champion Nadja Higl DEN 2:24.99 contest the event this time. Joline (SRB) was never in the hunt, finishing Hoestman (SWE) was fastest down the eighth and last in 2:29.60, compared to EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF first length but Rikke Moeller Pedersen her 2:21.62 world-title win. 1. Higl (SRB)  8. (DEN), the 100 silver medallist, took 2. Hostman (SWE)  4. them through the 100 and 150 marks 3. Pedersen (DEN) 3.

60 LEN LEN 61 Magazine Magazine On the winning side

Do you control what’s going on around while swimming? Yulia Efimova It depends. Usually I prefer to look ahead. Health It’s not right to pay attention to those who swim alongside you. I can explain: if I see that a rival is swimming faster than me, I start to activate my own movements and all technique changes immediately. It was comes first exactly this way in Rome: when I touched the wall I missed my name on the score- board. So I had no idea what place I got. A terrible feeling… At the age of 15 she won three gold “I was crying next two hours,” she medals at the European Short-Course recalled, “but finally realised that I had Maybe you should start to count the Championships in Debrecen. A couple nobody to blame but myself. I swam this strokes under the water in order of months later Efimova took part in her distance in the wrong way. Tactically to forget about the rivals? second European Championships – in wrong.” I do that when I swim 200m. The 50m is Eindhoven and claimed gold in the Last year, Efimova became world different. Everything is so fast there… 200m breaststroke and silver over 50m. champion in Rome. Some time later she And there are plenty of other things that She was ready too for a bigger result told me: “I got injured before that com- I have to control. over 100m but failed to make the semis: petition. That was the main reason why two other Russian swimmers were I was very nervous. We usually have a You said once in a TV interview that faster in the preliminaries. morning practice in the day of the final, you will never cry on the podium because you cried a lot in your

but my coach Irina Vyatchanina decided RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo: not to go to the pool at all. She told me previous life. What was that that my injured leg needs more rest. about? During the warm-up I was in a terrible At the Beijing Olympics, for instance. I mood. It seemed to me that all my body left my goggles in the water right after hurt. But when I rose to the starting the starting signal. I was crying so much block I realised that I was not nervous at at the 2008 nationals… I beat the world all. It was the same as in Budapest. record twice and had no emotions at all The difference is that this year I’m after the first record. But when the sec- suffer from a shoulder injury.” ond one happened I realised that I was so happy that I wouldn’t be able to cope with the emotions of it. And then the tears came. It never happened before – I couldn’t stop crying for a long time.

After winning the 100m in Budapest you didn’t look satisfied. I expected a faster time. Even in semi- final. Not 1:06 but 1:05.

Maybe that is because of injury? I can’t say that the injury disturbs me a lot. When the competition starts, I never pay attention to such things. But in gen- eral our training plan for this season was broken, that’s true.

It looks like you have no rivals in Europe over 100m. You never feel so in the pool. I have to control the situation every second.

Don’t you feel sorry that you refused to swim on 200m in Budapest? Just a little. My sport life is not over yet, there will be plenty of competition so I must be healthy first of all. My parents and my coach think the same.

By Elena VAITSEKHOVSKAIA 62 LEN Magazine WOMEN BUTTERFLY

The winners

Swedish High- Flyers REUTERS Photo: WR: 25.07 (Therese Alshammar) ER: 25.07 (Therese Alshammar) 1. ALSHAMMAR Therese SWE Former world champion Therese Alsh - Henique of France grabbed bronze in 25.63 am mar, top of the world or thereabouts 26.09, just 0.05 seconds ahead of Sarah Madam Butterfly: for more than a decade, continued to Sjoestroem (SWE) who had set the fas- Sarah Sjoestroem (SWE) defy the years with a runaway victory in test time in the 100m freestyle semi- 50m 2. OTTESEN Jeanette the one-length sprint. Alsh ammar, a finals not long before. “I had a very bad DEN double Olympic silver medallist back in start but I swam well. I have a lot of expe- 25.69 2000, was turning 33 shortly after these rience but anything can happen,” “I never reckoned championships, but none of her younger Alshammar said. with such an improve- rivals could match her pace. Having ment – so close to 3. HENIQUE Melanie established a championship record of Therese Alshammar. FRA 25.50 in the semi-finals, she was given a 26.09 tough test in the final by Jeanette I have never been so fast. Ottesen (DEN), prevailing in the end by The silver medal is simply EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF just 0.06 seconds in 25.63, well outside great.” – Ottesen 1. Alshammar (SWE) 1. the world record 25.07 she set last year. 2. Snildal (NOR)  7. Ottesen took silver in 25.69 and Melanie 3. Sjoestroem (SWE)  4. WR: 56.06 (Sarah Sjoestroem) ER: 56.06 (Sarah Sjoestroem) 1. SJOESTROEM “Oh what a close Sarah SWE Youth had its day as world champion 57.32 and banish the frustration of two race,” Halsall said. “I wan- 57.32 Sarah Sjoestroem, four days short of fourth places - in the 50 butterfly, won by ted the gold very much her 17th birthday, retained her Euro- Alshammar, and 100 freestyle, won by but I’ve got to be happy. pean 100 butterfly crown, with one of Halsall. Halsall grabbed the silver in It was a personal best, a

100m 2. HALSALL her biggest challenges coming from a 57.40 and Alshammar, tiring but never Francesca rival nearly twice her age. Fellow Swede in serious danger of losing a medal, British record ... Losing GBR 57.40 Therese Alshammar, turning 33 in bronze in 57.80. “My whole season by 0.08sec – I’ll feel that August yet swimming the 100 ‘fly for the before the championships was really for the next year’s trai- first time at a major championships, bad, so I’m all the more surprised about 3. ALSHAMMAR sprinted clear down the first length but my results here in Budapest,” ning, that’ll be a lot of Therese could not prevent Sjoestroem and Sjoestroem said. motivation.” SWE 57.80 Francesca Halsall (GBR) from swoo- ping past in the closing stages. EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Sjoestroem, third at the turn and half a 1. Sjoestroem (SWE) 1. second adrift, produced the power to 2. Mongel (FRA)  6. win by a tiny fraction from Halsall in Early morning after 3. Snildal (NOR)  13. the race, Gandy returned WR: 2:01.81 (Liu Zige) to her Australian training ER: 2:04.27 (Katinka Hosszu) 1. HOSSZU Katinka base, her final words HUN directed at the fabulous 2:06.71 Katinka Hosszu led a second one-two Hungarians company by the end, support of the Hungarian triumph for Hungary at these champi- Britain’s Ellen Gandy, on 2:07.54. onships, producing her trademark ram- Hosszu, second to Britain’s Hannah crowd for its home hero- paging finish to win the 200 butterfly Miley over 400m medley, had led the es: “It’s a fantastic feeling 2. JAKABOS and claim her third Budapest gold first Hungarian one-two ahead of

200m to swim not only against Zsuzsanna medal. The home crowd yelled in antici- Evelyn Verraszto in the 200 medley and HUN two Hungarian conten- 2:07.06 pation as Hosszu, fourth at the final also celebrated gold in Hungary’s turn, charged through and surged on to 4x200 freestyle relay. “At the 150 metre ders but against 6,000 win from teammate Zsuzsanna Jakabos turn I put everything I had into it. I beli- Hungarians. But I like the 3. GANDY in 2:06.71 to 2:07.06. Jakabos had set eved I could catch up with Zsuzsanna ... noise and it cheered me Ellen the pace for most of the race, having I’m very happy for the Hungarians that GBR on. That’s what it ill be 2:07.54 taken the lead from defending champi- we finished one and two,” Hosszu said. on Aurore Mongel (FRA) on the second like for us in London EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF length, but could not keep world bronze 2012.” 1. Hosszu (HUN) 1. medallist Hosszu at bay. Bronze went to 2. Mongel (FRA)  5. the only woman who kept the 3. Gandy (GBR) 3.

64 LEN LEN 65 Magazine Magazine On the winning side

Therese Alshammar Evergreen – More strings to Sarah Sjoestroem and a champion still Sjoestroem’s bow

The years have done nothing to dimin- fan. “She’s very good. I like her very Meanwhile, Alshammar, who spends The possibilities seem endless for Sarah freestyle and 50 butterfly times, even one and a half seconds behind my world ish the pool diva’s appetite for amassing much,” Sjoestroem said. “I can watch half the year Down Under and half back Sjoestroem, a world champion and though they both left her outside the record. But I feel better in my swimming, medals. Therese Alshammar has spent her technique and learn from her. I want in Europe following the sun, sails world record breaker at 15. A year on, podium in fourth place, because they with my technique. I look forward,” she more than a decade compiling her to be as fast as she is the first 50, and serenely on. “It’s going so well for me, she has added the European 100 butter- were achieved in a textile suit following said. “I’m very happy with the change hoard and she raised her tally by five at after too.” so why should I retire?” she said after fly crown to her collection and claimed a the ban on non-textile fast-suits. because before, with the (non-textile) the European Championships, the These were great championships winning the 50 freestyle, an event she silver in Sweden’s medley relay and Sjoestroem, who was turning 17 two suits, I was so high on the water. It competition in which she won her first for older swimmers in a sport in which had previously won in 2000, 2002 and bronze in the 4x100 freestyle relay. “It’s days after the championships, was wasn’t so good. But now it’s very good.” medal at 19 – a bronze in the 50 careers at the top rarely used to go 2004, while taking part in the last eight been very good,” Sjoestroem said. “It’s unable to approach her fast-suited 100 Swimming against the vastly experi- freestyle – back in 1997. Gold in the 50 beyond the early 20s. Lars Froelander, finals, each one delivering a medal. been one of my best championships. I butterfly world record of 56.06, winning enced Alshammar, a double champion butterfly and 50 freestyle, silver in the Alshammar’s fellow Swede and fellow Onwards and upwards, she says. “The did my best times in the 100 free and 50 in Budapest in 57.32 ahead of Fran - in Budapest, was a novelty for Sjoest- 4x100 medley relay and bronze in the ‘flyer, relished his outings in Budapest, 2012 Olympics are a great goal.” fly, and the 100 fly was okay.” She was cesca Halsall (GBR) and fellow-Swede roem. “I knew she was going to go out 100 butterfly and 4x100 freestyle relay picking up a bronze in the 4x100 By Derek PARR particularly pleased with those 100 Therese Alshammar. “The 100 fly is still very fast and I was thinking and relaxing hoisted her total of Olympic, World and freestyle relay. A European 100 butter- and, you know, (having) fun,” she said. European Championship medals to a fly finalist back in 1995 and champion “It was close and I knew (Halsall) record 67, taking her one beyond ver- three times in a row from 1997, he was very fast in the beginning too, so I satile contemporary Martina Moravcova almost made the medals in that event in was just swimming my race.” (SVK). Alshammar, who was due to cel- Budapest, finishing fourth in the final, a Now she is weighing up her options ebrate her 33rd birthday on August 26, tantalising 0.08 seconds away from for next year’s World Championships broke her first world records at the bronze. Now 36, Froelander was and the 2012 Olympics, and they are European Short-Course Champion- Olympic 100 butterfly champion in 2000 plentiful. “It’s looking very good right ships in Lisbon in 1999. She first shone and world champion in 2001. “When I now because I have a lot of events to on the world stage at the 2000 Sydney look at the starting-list I feel really old choose between, like even 100 back- Olympics with silver medals in the 50 with these young swimmers around,” he stroke,” Sjoestroem said. “I didn’t swim and . said. “However, as long as I’m good 100 backstroke here because it was Alshammar is a consummate sprint- enough for a medal, I’ll go on. It’s still very close to the 100 fly. And 200 free

er, with four European titles in the 50 real fun.” RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo: could be a very good thing in the future freestyle, one in the 100 freestyle and a Evergreen of them all, Svitlana too, so I have 100 back, 100 free, 200 world and two European golds in the 50 Bondarenko (UKR), European champi- free, 100 fly, maybe 200 fly in the future, butterfly in which she holds the world on in 2004, was still going strong in the I don’t know, maybe not in London record at 25.07. But she is far from week of her 39th birthday and reached (2012), but I will see.” It will depend averse from trying something new and the semi-finals of the 100 breaststroke, partly on the timetable. “It depends took on world champion Sarah in which she scooped her first silver what’s feeling best. If the butterfly Sjoestroem, a fellow Swede half her medal as a 19-year-old, half a lifetime doesn’t feel very good I can swim age, in the 100 butterfly in Budapest. ago, in 1991. freestyle. But I hope I can swim as Alshammar, untouchable on the first much as possible in the Olympics. I will length, was run down by Sjoestroem see how the schedule (is),” she said. and newly crowned 100 freestyle cham- Sjoestroem swam a rapid 1:00.74 in pion Francesca Halsall (GBR) on the the 100 backstroke at the 2009 World second but clung on for bronze. “I swam Championships in Rome last July and the 100 fly for the first time at a major went 1:57.34 in the 200 freestyle in championships,” she said. “You always Linkoeping, Sweden, earlier that month, have to test something new. In so far as so the potential is definitely there. that is concerned, I was a newcomer But first up will be the short-course within this experienced field.” season later this year. “I think I’ll swim Smooth in style and an immaculate World Cup in Stockholm, of course, and sprinter, long years in the sport have the World Cup in Tokyo, (but) no more not made her immune from mishap. “I World Cups, (and) maybe the World had a very bad start but I swam well,” Gap Year: Championships in Dubai. It’s a long way she said after winning the 50 butterfly. “I Sarah Sjoestroem (R) away in December. I don’t know what have a lot of experience but anything and Swedish compatriot events I’ll swim in short-course yet.” can happen.” Therese Alshammar both won Great to be so full of options, with a Sjoestroem has a high regard for butterfly titles, one at 17, vista of more grand exploits to enjoy. Alshammar and describes herself as a the other 32 By Derek PARR 66 LEN LEN 67 Magazine Magazine WOMEN INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY Photo: REUTERS

The winners Cheers, leaders Belles of Budapest: Zsuzsanna Jakabos (top) WR: 2:06.15 (Ariana Kukors) won silver an bronze, reacts; ER: 2:07.46 (Katinka Hosszu) 1. HOSSZU Katinka Katinka Hosszu (L) took three gold HUN and a silver and Evelyn Verraszto 2:10.09 CR Katinka Hosszu and Evelyn Verraszto French swimmer paid for her boldness gold and silver to send the host delivered a double medley triumph to a as she wilted on the concluding freesty- nation wild euphoric local crowd, who cheered all le and was passed by the two the louder after a similar double had Hungarians and Miley. Hosszu, world 2. VERRASZTO Evelyn been denied them on the opening day. bronze medallist in this event in 2009, 200m HUN Three days after Britain’s Hannah Miley charged through from third at the last 2:10.10 had spoiled the Hungarian party by win- turn to win in a championship record ning the 400 medley ahead of world 2:10.09 and pip Verraszto, European sil- champion Hosszu and Zsuzsanna ver medallist for the second time, by just “I wished we would 3. MILEY Hannah Jakabos, the tables were turned in a 0.01 seconds. Miley claimed bronze in GBR truly thrilling 200m final. Camille Muffat, 2:10.89, with Muffat more than a have been joint first and 2:10.89 the 2008 European bronze medallist, second behind and defending champi- not separated by the one had broken the championship record in on of Spain fifth. hundredth of a second. It EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF the semi-finals and led the way at a was an amazing finish 1. Hosszu (HUN) 1. hectic pace through the butterfly, back- 2. Muffat (FRA)  4. stroke and breaststroke legs. But the and I heard the crowd all 3. Miley (GBR) 3. the time” – Hosszu. WR: 4:29.45 () ER: 4:30.31 (Katinka Hosszu) 1. MILEY Hannah „We reviewed the finish GBR for a couple of times: it 4:33.09 CR A day after her 21st birthday, Hannah on the final freestyle leg to win by more was just the same case of Miley (GBR) joyously celebrated a fine than three seconds in a championship victory over the world champion, local record 4:33.09, richly deserving the gold Phelps and Cavic: favourite Katinka Hosszu, and became medal she received from former Olympic Verraszto touched the 2. HOSSZU Katinka the first British swimmer ever to win the champion , the

400m wall first but it was HUN European 400m medley long-course hometown heroine whose two Hungarian 4:36.43 crown. Miley overcame Hosszu and fel- compatriots had to settle for silver and Hosszu who pushed it low Hungarian Zsuzsanna Jakabos to bronze in an event she herself won three with the necessary capture gold. It completed a golden times. Miley’s time was an impressive strength“ – said a swim- 3. JAKABOS European double for Miley, who won the 2.01 seconds inside the eight-year-old ming fanatic cameraman Zsuzsanna 400 medley short-course title in 2009. European championship mark of multi- HUN of the host broadcaster 4:37.92 Hosszu stamped her authority on the Olympic gold medallist . opening butterfly and backstroke legs but Hosszu, European silver medallist in MTV. EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Miley, third at the halfway mark, capitali- 2008, was left with silver again in 1. Hosszu (HUN)  2. sed on her powerful breaststroke to take 4:36.43, well outside the 4:30.31 2. Miley (GBR)  1. a commanding lead. The Scot, fourth European record she set in the fast-suit 3. Belmonte (ESP)  10. behind the victorious Hosszu at the 2009 days of the 2009 World Championships. World Championships, stretched away Jakabos took the bronze in 4:37.92.

68 LEN LEN 69 Magazine Magazine On the winning side

Hannah Miley Smiley Miley’s “I’m not a shiny Katinka Hosszu

have been turned on their head here in Hungary. People are too pessimistic Family Affair suit-swimmer” and don’t appreciate success - to be more precise, they don’t regard a European Championships silver medal as a success. I expected more of myself Britain’s Hannah Miley could hardly Did you eventually manage to speak ensured that I can operate indepen- pion last December but never a long- the 400. In any case it was the same as well and can honestly say that I believe the time on the clock when she to your coach Dave Salo about dently too; this is vital to the way that course champion before. situation in Rome, but that was at the wasn’t happy on Monday evening, but I looked up and saw 4:33.09 next to her your breaststroke technique we work as a team.” “I’ve gone so close, so many times World Championships and Dave was didn’t feel like some kind of tragedy had name and No 1, after a 400m medley before the 200m final, and did The Alfred Hajos pool meant much but to win that first international title is there for the Americans, so we did five occurred. I somehow felt it wouldn’t be battle that ended with world champion you send him the video? too to a swimmer who also won bronze in just amazing,” said Miley. “To do it minutes’ technical work and I got two my day beforehand, but – thanks to my Katinka Hosszu (HUN) on 4:36.43 for the 200m medley and as a member of against the world champion in her home No I didn’t in the end. I went to the warm- seconds back in the 200 right away. many friends – I managed to set things silver. Miley’s new measure post shiny the Britain 4x200m freestyle quartet. At pool is the stuff of dreams.” Now she up pool with László Cseh and our most right in my mind afterwards, I could suits was just 0.2sec away from the How upset were you about not win- the same pool in 2005, on the first occa- dreams of a new pool and better facili- experienced breaststroke swimmers, hardly wait for the 200 and got so mad world record that had stood to Katie ning in the 400 – the event in sion that Miley and Hosszu met in com- ties as nearby finally starts to Richárd Bodor, and they watched what I at some not-very-nice, or we could even Hoff (USA) until early 2008. “Un - which you were competing as petition, the Hungarian won gold at the put plans for a 50m complex into place. was doing. call them vicious comments that at believable, unexpected,” was how Miley World Champion? European Junior Championships, Miley, “Our regular pool has been closed for times I would definitely have started described her performance. And? on her Britain debut, taking silver. That works and I’ve had to train in one pool in Not at all. There were other factors that shooting if I’d been holding a gun. Zsuzsanna Jakabos gave Hungary moment was pivotal in Miley’s career. “It a public lane and with people doing They told me my leg stroke had fallen freaked me out: first the fact that we fin- a second medal, on 4:37.92, while leg- was euphoric ... It was a real turning point aqua-aerobics,” laughed Miley. “Its not apart and in the end I was no longer ished just a few centimetres behind in What’s it like to beat your teammate by endary Krisztina Egerszegi, winner of in my career, it made me realise that this ideal. I try to get round it by training at using it to push off with. I’m very grate- the 4x100 freestyle relay (but then just one hundredth of a second? five solo gold medals at the Olympic is what I wanted to do and [gave] me the 2pm instead of later, so that the pool is ful because they really helped me a lot. made amends in the 4x200). And then To be honest: not very good. It would Games, including, in 1992, the 400 IM, confidence to believe in my potential,” not so busy. But there’s something to be Not just because I was able to pick up the newspapers published headlines have been much fairer if we had was on hand to present the medals. said Miley, European short-course cham- said for doing it without everything being speed during the breaststroke, but also such as: only silver instead of gold... I’ve touched home at the same time, and “What an honour that was,” said Miley, perfect. What doesn’t kill you makes you because I then had more strength left completely forgotten about this attitude Evelyn (Verrasztó) had also claimed a a swimming scholar as far as knowing stronger, as they say.” over for the final 50m freestyle. I really in California and time and again I’m sur- gold medal. But it doesn’t matter, we the names and times of the greats who By Craig LORD missed these reserves of strength in prised about the extent to which values can practise finishing in a dead-heat... went before her. In any case I thought I’d lost because All victories mean much to the fam- Evelyn has longer arms than me – yet ilies of swimmers but there is an added somehow I managed to win. However, edge when dad is the coach too. perhaps it was also necessary for my Patrick, a helicopter pilot, trains his relay gold, as I was sure Evelyn would daughter (and two younger sons), in be angry enough to bring home the Garioch, Aberdeenshire. He noticed gold, as the last swimmer in the 4x200. that she was particularly nervous At least I felt this way before the last 50, before the final and stepped in just at as I had almost fainted before the the right moment. “Dad told me to trust Euro pean Championships when our in what we’ve done to get ready for this, head coach László Kiss said that he to relax and take it as another experi- didn’t want to place any extra burden ence. I really enjoyed the race, it was on our shoulders, but he believed we so much fun. I felt brilliant.” would win, but then he was right in the So did dad, who said: “I’m just real- end. ly emotional. She’s an inspiration for me - and I’m her coach.” Family and A lot of opinions have been ex- partners in the pool, Team Miley had pressed with regard to your tweaked their preparations this year to breakthrough last year: for exam- take account of the swimmer’s maturity ple that we’ll only find out later and passage into the realms of senior whether you made such a break- of some experience. “I am there but through because of the American she is the one who decides things, she environment or the super-suit. sets her own course and I think that’s This gold medal was also important really important,” said Miley Snr. The because I proved that I’m not a shiny champion described well what her suit swimmer, last year’s results were coach means to her: “There is a strong not down to the super-suits and I’m relationship between the two of us, and also pretty good in traditional textile. In as an athlete I couldn’t ask for anything other words, there is no doubt that better: he knows me best, he knows my being able to train under Dave at USC limits and will push me if he knows I really meant a lot to me. can go that little bit further. He has By Gergely CSURKA 70 LEN Photo: REUTERS / BALINT MEGGYESI LEN 71 Magazine Magazine WOMEN RELAYS

The winners Hosts in seventh heaven WR: 3:31.72 (Netherlands) ER: 3:31.72 (Netherlands) Pride of place: 1. Germany Germany’s team celebrate a gold medal 3:37.72 they thought was at risk in the absence Germany could not call on world and silver medallist behind Steffen in 2009, of sprint queen Britta Steffen Olympic champion Britta Steffen this seized the initiative for Britain on the time but they were still too good for their second leg with a split of 53.05. Sarah 2. Great Britain rivals as they recaptured the relay crown Sjoestroem gained a tiny 0.02-second 3:38.57 they had won in the same Margaret advantage for Sweden over Britain on Island pool four years earlier. Daniela the third leg but Schreiber swept through Schreiber hoisted the German quartet on the last to nail the German victory. “A great champion- from fourth to first on the final leg to take Germany came home in 3:37.72, with ship finish with a success 3. Sweden them back to the top spot on the podium Britain taking silver in 3:38.57 and for our team. I’m pleased 3:38.81 they had occupied when Steffen, beset Sweden bronze in 3:38.81. The Dutch to have got two gold, two this year by illness and injury, led them reigning Olympic and world champions to a world record in 2006. The lead were missing Marleen Veldhuis, who silver and one bronze 4X100m free 4X100m changed hands on each leg of the 2010 had a baby in June, Inge Dekker, who medal, a medal tally EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF edition of the race. Evelyn Verraszto had a shoulder injury, and Ranomi I never expected. It’s 1. Netherlands  6. edged hosts Hungary to the front on the Kromowidjojo, who was recovering from amazing,” 2. Germany  1. opening leg but Francesca Halsall, world meningitis. – Fran Halsall, the most WR: 7:42.08 (China) successful British swim- ER: 7:45.51 (Great Britain) lead on the first leg but Ophelie Etienne, mer at one champion - 1. Hungary 7:52.49 silver medallist in the 800 freestyle at the ships in history. Budapest boisterously celebrated a sunlit start of the session, handed over a clear evening of Hungarian rhapsody and their lead for France on the second. Hosszu relay quartet completed the triple golden edged Hungary in front on the third, lea- 2. France score. The home crowd had shouted ving the stage set for a duel between 7:52.69 Katinka Hosszu and Evelyn Verraszto to a Verraszto and Muffat. Muffat, who had Home heroes: one-two triumph in the 200 individual seen victory in the 200 medley snatched Hungary’s relay team members (L-R), medley and roared Daniel Gyurta to vic- from her grasp by the Hungarians, moved Evelyn Verraszto, Katinak Hosszu, tory in the 200 breaststroke but still had dead level with Verraszto at the end of the Eszter Dara and Agnes Mutina taste a rare relay gold 3. Great Britain plenty of voice to yell their encouragement first length, slipped just behind on the 7:55.29 to the 4x200 freestyle relay squad. It could second but turned ahead again with one not have been much closer, Verraszto length to go. Verraszto, however, lifted by delivering the coup de grace amid pande- the passion of the crowd, was not to be

4X200m free 4X200m monium in the stands to kill off the chal- denied and tore through to win by two- EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF lenge of the French defending champions tenths of a second. It was Hungary’s first 1. Italy DNS on a hard day for their anchor, Catherine relay victory since 1954 and the crowd 2. France 2. Muffat. Agnes Mutina gave Hungary the hailed it with fitting fervour. 3. Great Britain 3. WR: 3:52.19 (China) ER: 3:55.79 (Germany) Last laugh: 1. Great Britain members of Britain’s relay (L-R), 3:59.72 Britain retained the medley relay crown Russia from third to first, ahead of Kate Kate Haywood, Amy Smith, Francesca they appeared to have lost when the Haywood. Irina Bespalova and Halsall and Gemma Spofforth celebrate Russian ‘winners’ were disqualified for a Margarita Nesterova kept Britain’s cha- gold after Russia suffered a DQ Photo: REUTERS Photo: faulty take-over. After a lengthy wait for sing Francesca Halsall and Amy Smith 2. Sweden 4:01.18 all eight teams at the end of the pool, at bay but in the end they had swum in the electronic scoreboard showed vain. Britain, 0.33 seconds behind the Britain first and Russia disqualified. The Russians at the end, were awarded Race reviews reason, it transpired, was that European gold in 3:59.72, with Sweden taking sil- by Derek PARR breaststroke double champion Yuliya ver in 4:01.18 and European record hol- 3. Germany LEN Magazine Efimova had taken over too soon from ders Germany moving up to bronze in 4:03.22 /former Reuters backstroker Maria Gromova - 0.12 4:03.22. “We wanted to win it in our own correspondent, seconds early when a 0.03 margin is way and I’m a little bit disappointed that Great Britain the maximum permitted. Gemma we didn’t,” Spofforth said. EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Spofforth, the world and newly crowned European champion, gave Britain the 1. Great Britain 1. lead on backstroke before Efimova lifted 4X100m medley 4X100m 2. Germany  3. 3. Netherlands DNS

72 LEN Magazine DIVING Predicti☺n Pay☺ff Diving Diving

ITA302 1. GER 5 3 0 8 GER233 2. UKR 2 2 0 4 RUS222 3. ITA 2 1 0 3 UKR 2 2 1 4. RUS 1 3 5 9 GBR112 5. SWE 0 1 0 1 SWE020 6. BLR 0 0 2 2 7. ESP 0 0 1 1 GBR 0 0 1 1 HUN 0 0 1 1

Anna Lindberg (SWE) returned to the boards after giving birth to her first child and said she too was learning Photo: REUTERS / PETER ANDREWS all over again 74 LEN LEN 75 Magazine Magazine WOMEN DIVING PROFILE The winners German 1. Cagnotto Tania 3m synchro ITA 1. Cagnotto Tania, 299.70 Dallapé Francesca ITA 327.90

1m Harvest in 2. Lindberg Anna 2. Fedorova Olena, SWE Pysmenska Anna 293.70 After Eindhoven 2008, on Nora Barta, who took bronze after UKR 312.00 2009, here we are with the overcoming a series of problems, inclu- main European 2010 challenge ding back surgery, in recent years. Her 3. Pozdnyakova face was like an open book, emotion 3. Pozdnyakova Anast., Anastasia in diving. In the fabulous diving there for all to see during the victory Filippova Svetlana

RUS facility on Margaret Island in ceremony. In fourth place, Britain’s 13- RUS 3m synchro 282.65 307.50 Budapest the best divers of year-old Grace Reid finished ahead of Lindberg and Cagnotto, 5th and 6th EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Europe met to share 10 EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF respectively. 1. Cagnotto (ITA)  1. European titles and 30 medals. 1. Cagnotto, Dallape (ITA)  1. The tower competition of the women 2. Lindberg (SWE)  2. A new Team Event competition, 2. Dieckow, Subschinski (GER)  4. 3. Marconi (ITA)  4. had 19 participants and the German 3. Filippova, Pozdnyakova (RUS)  3. with a European formula was diver Christin Steuer, age 27, scored introduced as a test event 354,50 points, winning the gold and ref- 1. Bazhina Nadezda before the official competition lecting the good form of the whole 1. Steuer Christin, RUS unfolded, with 13 countries German team in Budapest. Her quality Subschinski Nora 324.10 average was 7.6 and her worst dive was GER entering a team. 319.68 the 405B, while the armstand and the twisting dive brought her the best scores.

3m Germany was the leading nation, taking In second place, coming from 5th in the overall LEN Team Trophy, Russia in 2. Pozdnyakova the preliminaries, Noemi Batki, on 2. Prokopchuk Iulia, second place and Ukraine third. On Anastasia 343,80 and from Italy, won her first Chaplenko Alina RUS medals, Germany held the helm ahead UKR European silver in an individual compe- 316.40 of Ukraine and Italy. With 9 podium 306.30 tition off the 10m board. Her programme visits, Russia had the most medals, 3. Barta Nóra Germany second-best on 8. 3. Gladding Monique, HUN Sylvester Megan 291.75 GBR

Women 300.66 10m synchro

EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF In the women’s 1m, Tania Cagnotto, the EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF winner from Turin09, and comeback 1. Cagnotto (ITA)  6. 1. Koltunova, Goncharova (RUS)  5. 2. Lindberg (SWE)  5. queen Anna Lindberg, returning after 2. Steuer, Subschinski (GER)  1. 3. Fedorova (UKR)  9. having had a baby, it came down to the 3. Galashan, Galashan (GBR) DNS last dive: a 303B for Tania and a 403B for Anna, both executed in a perfect 1. Steuer Christin manner, with the highest scores gran- GER ting gold for Tania and silver for Anna by Photo: 354.50 6 points. The quality average of Tania, REUTERS / Prokopchuk/Chaplenko. The Germans with 299.70 points, was 8.1, while BALINT are the only team performing an MEGGYESI Anna, 293.70, had 8.0. Only three ath- armstand back double somersault with

10m letes showed a 305c DD 3.0, all the one and one half twist, which is very 2. Batki Noemi other dives were equal or below 2.6. Family affair: is not the hardest, with a 15.0 total com- ITA hard to synchronize. The Hungarian 343.80 The women’s 3m held many surpri- Nadezda Bazhina, daughter of pared to the bronze medallist Yulia team in 6th place also did a good job ses; Tania Cagnotto first in prelims had Irina Kalinina, 1980 Olympic champion Koltunova (first in prelims), with a 15.8 and was cheered on by the local public. a bad evening, leaving the field open. won 3m gold total DD, having finally taken the risk to The last day of the synchro competiti- Anybody could have been the winner substitute a simple 301B, executed in on, on 3m, saw Italy’s dream team 3. Koltunova Yulia this time but the two Russian divers, Rome at the Worlds, with a high DD RUS Cagnotto/Dallapè on 327,90, winning gold 340.45 Bazhina Nadezda, a daughter of Irina 207C. In fourth place the German Nora ahead of the Ukrain team Fedorova/ Kalinina a former Olympic champion Nora Barta (HUN) overcame Subschinski had a total DD of 15.9. Pysmenska, 312.00, and the Russian (1980), and Anastasia Pozdniakova a topsy turvy time to win 3m bronze Just eight teams entered the wome- team Pozdniakova/Filippova, 307.50. The EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF took gold and silver. The quality average n’s synchro 10m event and all went Italian team was second at the Worlds in 1. Koltunova (RUS)  3. of Bazhina was 7.6. through to the final. The gold went to the Rome09 and also won the FINA Grand 2. Subschinski (GER)  4. A masterpiece of motivation was on German team Steuer/Subschinski 13 Prix in Ft. Lauderdale and in Bolzano his 3. Steuer (GER)  1. show in the form of Hungarian champi- points ahead of the Ukraine team year ahead of Chinese selections. 76 LEN LEN 77 Magazine Magazine MEN DIVING PROFILE

close to the German team Feck The winners Men /Hausding, 427,95. In third place Team Russia with Sautin/Kunakov won the The 1m contest with 31 competitors was bronze medal - and Sautin’s 18th a fight between very strong divers. Five European Championships medal. In 1. Kvasha Illya out of the twelve finalists performed a 1. Kvasha Illya, UKR fourth place the Italian Team with a repla- Prygorov Oleksiy 305B, four a 107B and eight a 5152B 433.90 cement in the last moment of diver Nicola UKR with very good scores: a sign that Marconi (injured) by Michele Benedetti. 431.67 European diving is advancing. The platform synchro event was a 1m Illya Kvasha, 22, is Ukraine’s most fight between team Germany (Klein/ talented diver, winning the contest with 2. Hausding Patrick Hausding) and team Russia (Minibaev/ 2. Feck Stephan, 433,90 points and an average quality GER Zakharov). The Germans were ahead in Hausding Patrick 430.25 mark of 7.8. Patrick Hausding, 21 and GER prelims and kept their position in the Germany’s upcoming star, took second 427.95 final. The leadership alternated between 3.65 points behind, the bronze going to the two teams during the final, “match the best of Spain, 25-year-old Illana 3. Illana Javier point” coming down to the last point. The 3. Sautin Dmitry, Javier, on 414,35 (7.5). ESP same last dive for both and the tension Kunakov Yury

414.35 On 3m, Russian (19) RUS 3m synchro was very high as the teams chased gold. was leading the competition by 18.75 410.43 Germany scored 97,20 points, while points until the second last dive, when Russia, also with a beautiful dive, scored EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Patrick Hausding scored 91,80 on his EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF 85,32. Both teams achieved a very high 1. Kvasha (UKR)  1. last dive to take the gold medal with 1. Kvasha, Prygorov (UKR)  1. 2. Waterfield (GBR) DNS level of performance, 478.11 points for 2. Zakharov, Galperin (RUS) DNS 463.20 points, 5,05 more than Ilya. The 3. Rozenberg (GER)  27. Germany and 466.95 points for Russia. 3. Sautin, Kunakov (RUS)  3. bronze medal went to Russian Evgeny The bronze medal went to Belorus Kuznezov, 20, on 455,80 points. To (Hordeichik/Kaptur), on 426,03 points. 1. Hausding Patrick enter the final: 371,90 points needed. 1. Klein Sascha, GER The most spectacular competition of Hausding Patrick 463.20 all events was the male tower competi- Big and Klein: GER tion, which concluded the meet on a Sascha Klein and the diver of the 478.11 high note. In the prelims, 376.80 points championship Patrick Hausding join

3m were needed to be qualified among the forces for Germany 2. Zakharov Ilya 12 best. The winner, Sascha Klein, from 2. Minibaev Victor, RUS Germany, winner at the Beijing World Twist and Shout: Sascha Klein (GER) Zakharov Ilya 458.15 Cup before the Olympics, did an out- on his way to gold RUS 466.95 standing job, with 534.85 points and a quality average of 8,5. The silver went to 3. Kuznetsov Evgeny Patrick Hausding, 516.45 and 8.7, 1.00 3. Hordeichik Timofei, RUS DD point less than Sascha. Each of Kaptur Vadim 455.80 BLR

them missed one dive but were still 426.03 10m synchro ahead of Vadim Kaptur (BLR), who did EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF not miss any dive and has an exceptio- EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF 1. Klein (GER)  5. nal quality of 9,00, but with a 1,8 lower 1. Klein, Hausding (GER)  1. 2. Kvasha (UKR)  6. total DD than the winner. The team from Great Britain (Tom After the competition, the LEN tech- 2. Vikulov, Kravchenko (UKR) DNS 3. Hausding (GER)  1. Sascha Klein was the only diver in Daley and Max Brick) had been nical diving committee distributed a 3. Charabini, Dell’Uomo (ITA)  5. the championship to score a perfect 10 expected to win a medal but questionnaire asking for feedback on from all Judges, on his 307C, for 99.00 Daley’s injury forced them to the competition. All responses liked the 1 Klein Sascha points. Both German divers had one restricted DD dives and all the main Since FINA corrected some DD’s at GER dive with a total score of 102.60 points withdraw so that Daley could focus rules. Proposals included an obligatory Rome Congress last year, top divers’ 534.85 in their list, with a DD of 3.6 and both on the Commonwealth Games. easy dive pro gender; to have prelims have tended to learn the new dives quick- were performed with 9 ½. The most dif- and finals; to start with the easy dives or ly to gain more points. So in the men’s 3m ficult programme was shown by the THE TEAM EVENT to have alternated dives from 3m and event, in final three, 109Cs were shown

10m Russian Victor Minibaev with a total DD 10m for each team. The start in team and multiple twists such as 5337D and 2 Hausding Patrick of 21.0, but executed with 8.1 average order was well received. 5237D were chosen again by some GER The team event was presented as a test 516.45 marks, which was not enough for him to event the day before the official competi- LEN’s committee will tweak the for- divers in the 3m and 10m events. step on the podium. The fifth place of tion started. Thirteen nations took part, mula and the intention is to make the Anton Zakharov (UKR), on 506.20, is more than in some synchro events. The next test in Turin at the 2011 Arena By Klaus still one of the five best scores over 500 European program of this event is for- European Championships. DIBIASI 3 Kaptur Vadim points. Thomas Daley, Britain’s best Former Olympic BLR matted to allow wider nation participai- 515.80 diver, did not compete because of an on. One boy and one girl perform 3 dives In summary, Europe discovered a Champion, injury to his triceps. each, 3 dives from 10m and 3 dives from superb diver in Budapest: Patrick Italy The male synchro events were also 3m, one dive for each diver must be from Hausding is talented, powerful and EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF very interesting, with 13 teams on 3m but the opposite height and 6 groups must competed in all five (5) disciplines, win- 1. Daley (GBR) DNS only 6 teams on platform. Team Ukraine be used in the program. Two dives have ning a medal in each event (2 gold and 2. Kravchenko (RUS) DNS Kvasha/Prygorov won the springboard a set DD of 2.0 and may be performed 3 silver medals), a record beyond the 3. Dobroskok (RUS) DNS competition with 431,67 points, very freely in all possible combinations. four medals of Dmitry Sautin. 78 LEN LEN 79 Magazine Magazine On the winning side

Ilya Kvasha Patrick Hausding Five-podium Good day:

But you still have almost your entire career ahead of you. Not only will sunshine pioneer the 2012 Olympics in London be your goal, but no doubt also the Photo: REUTERS Games in Rio de Janeiro four years later? Two gold medals, one in the 1m, one Patrick Hausding is only 21 years’ old - What was this historic week on Rio and 2016 is definitely a goal for me, in the 3m synchro, you ought to and has already secured a place in div- Margaret Island in Budapest like especially as I would then be the best be smiling! ing history. The German, who lives in for you? age for a diver, at 27. But we’ll have to Well, I missed the 3m springboard the capital Berlin, was the first diver to I really hadn’t expected this. The prospect see how things work out until then, medal, finished only in 6th place - and pick up a medal in all five disciplines at of standing there with five medals around hopefully without injuries. That is quite that hurts a little bit. any European Championships. Two my neck. But when I think about it, every- important. golds and three silvers represented the thing went quite mechanical, coming Even if you were the only one in the yield for this member of the German home with a medal every day. So how do you balance training final who received a 10 mark from Army, who appears not to suffer from techniques for the five disci- the judges for your fourth dive?... nerves. With a coolness and cleverness No doubt it wasn’t easy to focus plines? It doesn’t make the whole much nicer. I rarely witnessed, he dived from fourth every day, to compete in qualify- I benefit a lot from synchro training on finished 6th and that should have been place to clinch the gold medal with his ing rounds and finals, which all the 3m board and the platform. This better. final dive from 3m board (463.20). He drains your energy, and yet to means that, along with my partner also ensured the final dive from the appear quite casual ... Stephan Feck, there are four dives in Can you describe what is the reason platform was decisive, taking silver ... sometimes that was just the way it the 3m board program, which we also behind these ups and downs? On (516.45) behind his superb team col- looked. I was pretty nervous at the dive in the individual event. And there one day you are the best, but on league Sascha Klein (534.85). The pre- beginning, but things kept getting better are three on the platform, with Sascha the next day you cannot keep up vious day the pair had won synchro- with each competition and each medal. Klein. But I also tend to compete in the your concentration: is it the nised gold together, from the same You just have to go into a competition in individual platform diving as a matter of weather, poor sleep, or some- height (478.11). And Patrick Hausding the right frame of mind, and then every- course ... and the same is true of the thing else? had Stephan Feck at his side when win- thing works easily. Especially as the 1m 1m board. Definitely not the weather. Sometimes ning the silver medal in the synchro div- board is not exactly my main discipline. you feel tired, just all of a sudden. That ing from the 3m board. The German To win silver here right at the start In the meantime you have just been happens. And I also had problems with had begun his incredible series in wasn’t bad at all. And nor was it bad for watching the platform dives of the lights. The 3m final was in the Budapest with silver on the 1m board the other competitions. the winner Sascha Klein again evening, lights were turned on and (430.25). Until now diving legend Dmitri and again. What was going everything was different. I prefer to dive Sautin (Russia) was the yardstick, with How great was the pressure in gen- through your mind when he was in the morning and in the afternoon, three golds and one silver at the 2000 eral? awarded seven maximum scores under normal circumstances. European Championships in Helsinki. It really wasn’t so bad. I would have been of ten for his penultimate dive? satisfied with three medals. No matter It was simply brilliant. It’s the only way Would you explain for our readers what colour. And then there was the fact he can win. It was a really fantastic dive what the difference is? that my competitors made their mistakes by him and he really deserved gold after If you have sunshine or at least normal and I was able to profit from them, as I that. daylight the colour of the water is less mostly got by without any major errors. dark. When the floodlights are on, the Your competitors in Budapest must be water’s colour changes and it doesn’t No doubt you also needed a large getting increasingly desperate aid your orientation. degree of concentration, for about the Germans. For a long time example when you were still in not much is seen of them, they’re Coming to Budapest how many fourth place before the final dive not in the first three and then they medals did you expect? from the 3m board and then cata- snatch the medals away from the Two or three, rather three. On those days pulted yourself to the title? others in the final phase ... when I won everything it was great, so You certainly have to concentrate, but that ... but this was just down to the fact that altogether I should not be dissatisfied. was a really cool dive. It was quite simply our competitors simply made mistakes. beaten for the third consecutive are targeting only a medal in optimal - and shocked my competitors. They had the chance of beating us in These are the European Champion - time, Galperin in Melbourne, London? their own hands. And then there was ships, where you rule the field – Mitcham in Beijing, Daley in Of course I want to be Olympic champi- With your five medals at the age of the fact that we started out in top condi- but what must you do in Rome. Does anyone have a on, what else would be my goal?! But just 21 you have even outdone tion in Hungary and competed in a Shanghai or in London to catch chance to do the same in the 3m? honestly, we have a stronger chance in Dmitri Sautin, who once went scheduled preparatory event. We also the Chinese? It’s difficult to call. Maybe they work synchro. I’m not sure either of us from home with four medals ... competed in a large number of interna- Well, I don’t know. We’ll see. Maybe, we harder. Europe can beat them in the individual ... but whether I’ll manage this again in tional events in the run-up to the will change some dives, but I really competition but in synchro we should future years is more doubtful. Quite a lot Europeans this year and gained a great can’t pinpoint any precise thing. OK, let’s put it in another way: can a prepare to be the first. And we will pre- of things have to come together and deal of experience there. diver from Ukraine become pare, I promise!

Photo: REUTERS Photo: work out really well. By Hans-Peter SICK In the platform, the Chinese were Olympic champion in 3m? Or you By Gergely CSURKA 80 LEN LEN 81 Magazine Magazine On the winning side

Tania Cagnotto “I still dream “Not considering Christin Steuer with my eyes wide open” any new dives”

It took less than 24 hours to Tania another, in Northern Italy: Tania in home. If her father, Giorgio, was a great Cagnotto and her team mate Fran - Bolzano, Francesca a little bit south, in diver (he is a Hall of Famer too) so too Two bronze medals had been the best of tories here, I would have asked whether You have now become European cesca Dallapè, with whom she shares a Trento. They train together three times a was her mother, Carmen Casteiner, Christin Steuer at World (2007 in you were dreaming ... Champion with Nora Subschin ski, 13-year long friendship, to rise from week for about an hour and half at a time. Italian champion several times over and Melbourne) and European Champion - but you started out with another their ashes. They are great friends, even beyond the an international. Although her parents ships (2006 in Budapest) before a return But then why did things work out so diver? On Saturday night, August 14th, pool. Recently they attended a concert never forced her, Tania took up diving to Margaret Island for the 27-year old well? Yes, first of all I dived with my twin sis- Tania had managed only a disappoint- together and were due to go on holiday very easily. “It has always been my sole member of the German Army. This time, Synchro diving is really the key. A lot of ter Anne. But she had to end her career ing 6th place in the individual competi- together on the Eolie Islands (near Sicily) decision; my parents never forced me to she dived straight to gold on two occa- divers get nervous and this leads to because of a back injury. Then I had tion from the 3m springboard, her soon after leaving Budapest. Their har- do anything, they have always second- sions: first of all in the individual platform errors being made. But Nora Anke Piper at my side. For a while there favourite event (Francesca just 11th). mony could not be greater, and that is the ed my choice with discretion”, she told event (354.50) and then, in combination Subschinski and I were not really affect- was nobody at all and right now Nora The bad artificial lighting was secret of their synchronisation in compe- us. What did her parents pass on to with Nora Subschinksi, in the synchro- ed. Moreover, I never look at the score- Subschinski. blamed for the mistakes Tania and tition. “We respect each other and we are her? She says: “From my mother I nised diving from the same height board during a competition. I only dare Francesca had made during the final. one another great fans when we com- inherited the courage, from my father (319.30). While this made Christin to look after the last dive. Otherwise I You live in Dresden, train in Leipzig Tania noted that the lighting condi- pete individually”. the strength in my legs.” Steuer the most successful female diver focus on myself. and your partner is in Berlin. How tions were the same for all but pointed Tania is often told that she is the She excels in skiing and dancing, at the Europeans, her partner was cele- do you train for synchro diving? out, “not everybody reacts in same way; best diver in the world, not considering elegance is part of the perfection she brating her fourth triumph in succession You had a strong sequence of dives We entered a large number of competi- I was certainly damaged in the execu- the Chinese. She says modestly: “In pursues: “I love being elegant, always: - three times with the now retired Annett here in Budapest, especially in tions together this year and usually the tion of my second dive”. It was the dou- Europe I may be the number one in when I dance, when I dress (she loves Gamm and this time with Christin Steuer the individual competition, were dives are the same as those in the indi- ble and a half somersault forward with some events but in the world the wearing tall heeled shoes – like there any problem dives? vidual program. one twist (5152). Canadians and the Australians are very Federica Pellegrini) and when I dive. Were you actually expecting these Above all I have respect for my first Giorgio Cagnotto – her father and competitive”. Elegance amuses me and amusement two gold medals? dive, a two-and-a-half twist dolphin Are you studying any new dives, in her coach – underlined how the bad Tania views Australia as an ideal is my greatest motivation”. If you had told me a week before the somersault. This is partly why it’s at the order to increase the degree of difficulty for example? lighting had affected the whole compe- place to get some good training and By Camillo CAMETTI Europeans that I would dive to two vic- REUTERS / BALINT MEGGYESI Photo: beginning, to get it out of the way. tition and determined low scores. improve on her skills. She told us: “In God forbid, I’m not going to start this at Instead, in the individual event, in day- autumn I will spend a couple of months the age of 27. light, the problem did not exist and the in Sydney to train with Matthew scores went up to normal. Mitcham (Olympic champion 2008 from Why do you predominantly dive from Tania made mistakes of her own but the platform) and other boys and girls”. the platform? the synchro final was a different story. Going to Australia is a part of a pro- I opted for the tower since I had more Cagnotto-Dallapè, performing the same gramme through which Tania will try success there. However, it’s quite possi- dives as in the individual competition, everything to make her dream come ble that I could return to the 3m board won the event with 327,90, about the true. As a child Tania used to dream of sometime. same score that earned them the gold going at the Olympics as a diver… medal at the World Championships in which she did. Now, as an adult, she How high is your training input? Rome 2009. In Budapest, they ended still has daydreams: “I still dream with It’s already around 30 hours a week. about 16 points ahead of the silver my eyes wide open; I dream of winning This means I do around 14,000 dives in medallists and 20 ahead of the bronze a medal at the next Olympiad, from the a training year. medallists. Cagnotto and Dallapè, the springboard”. latter coached by Giuliana Aor, a former But why are the Chinese so good? What other goals do you have? international diver, competed with Is it the training methods, the body Obviously the 2012 Olympic Games in newly found energy and concentration building or what? What makes them dif- London, and preferably to win a medal to successfully defend their title from ferent from the rest of the field? Says there. But this is more likely in synchro Turin 2009, when Cagnotto managed Tania: “It’s a mix of ingredients: their diving. Maybe I lack a few extra degrees the “Triple Crown” (gold from 1 metre, 3 body building, their culture, the struc- of difficulty in my dives for the individual metres and the 3 metres synchro). ture of their society, and, above all, their event. In Budapest she was aiming to long and hard training sessions. They repeat the same feat. On day 1, she train almost twice the time we train as What do you do away from your life seemed poised for success when she they have no time limit in the venues as an athlete? won the 1m crown by a narrow margin where they train; instead we in Italy are I enjoy life, practise other sports, such (which was interpreted as a sign of matu- allowed to train for a limited time in our as tennis or skiing and am a family-ori- rity and ability to control the competition). pools.” ented person. My sister has just had Disappointment in ther 3m followed Tiny Tania (160 cm, 56 kg), 25, twins and so I’m also in demand as an before synchro success. Cagnotto and recently moved in with her fiancé, who aunt to some extent. Dallapè live 50 kilometres away from one is not a diver, which helps her to relax at By Hans-Peter SICK 82 LEN LEN 83 Magazine Magazine SYNCHRO Predicti☺n Pay☺ff Synchro Synchro

RUS400 1. RUS 4 0 0 4 ESP 0 4 0 2. ESP 0 4 0 4 ITA003 3. UKR 0 0 4 4 UKR 0 0 1

Silver locket: Ona Carbonell and Andrea Fuentes, of Spain, were the latest from their nation unable to take gold from Russia Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH REUTERS / Photo: 84 LEN LEN 85 Magazine Magazine SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING

Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH The winners The Russians, Sisterly support: Russia on their way to the team free routine title 1. ISCHENKO Natalia RUS 98.900 of course

Solo 2. FUENTES Andrea ESP 96.600 A spectacular breakthrough by for a while in a first week at the Euro- the Ukrainian team represented pean Championships that witnessed a the biggest surprise in the fair drop of rain. When it came down to 3. ANANASOVA Lolita it, apart from one small slip, we man- UKR synchronised swimming aged to start and finish all events on 93.000 competitions - otherwise every- time. In other words – unlike 2006 – thing unfolded according to only dancing in the water was dominant this time, and not the singing in the rain EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF expectation: all gold medals were taken by the Russians, (in the stands). 1. Ishchenko (RUS)  1. The Russians were dominant too: 2. Fuentes (ESP)  2. while the Spanish once again 3. Ananasova (UKR)  3. the big question is when anyone will finished second in all events. finally have even the remotest chance of Tatiana Pokrovskaya’s disciples catching them up. They simply don’t enthralled everyone and proved make any mistakes and it would be fool- once more in Budapest that ish to expect any – they train more than anyone else, they have a lot more 1. ISHCHENKO Natalia they are in a class of their own. RUS opportunities to dive into the water than 98.700 anyone else, i.e. when taking the stage ROMASHINA Svetlana Whenever the Russians performed, life they create perfect performances time Duet came to a standstill for a while in the after time. Although we could look to the Budapest pool complex: the director in winter artistic sport of figure skating, charge of logistics made his way to the where they cleaned up at the Turin stands, as did the guy in charge of the Olympics in 2006 and yet failed to win a power supply. Everyone was of the single gold medal in in 2010. same opinion: they are definitely worth But whichever way we look at it, it’s diffi- watching. Even the clouds disappeared cult to imagine such a big turnaround in 2. CARBONELL Ona synchronised swimming in four years. Britain’s Jennifer Gray: “The Russians’ I’ve been involved in the sport for 40 ESP We have often searched for the rea- technical skills are so flawless that there Judging: OK! years and don’t think they can surprise 96.700 son why in the columns of this maga- are no limits to the choreographers’ me any longer, the Russian team man- FUENTES Andrea zine. We know that the fantastic tradi- imagination. Whatever they come up Jennifer Gray believes the judges ages to do so time and again”, says Team winners tions of Russian culture guarantee a with the girls are able to carry it out – are increasingly unified in the area Gray, who believes nobody has come very significant advantage: the ballet is elsewhere the athletes’ capabilities of scoring, in which anomalies are out with anything new and unprece- 1. Russia 99.000 world famous, the standard of choreog- restrict the choreographer’s options.” almost a thing of the past, despite dented, though the series of move- 2. Spain 96.900 raphy and creativity are at a level 3. Ukraine 92.800 The choice of music is also impor- the fact that the majority of scorers ments, the transitions between the indi- beyond comparison with any other tant: the general professional opinion is don’t have much opportunity to gain vidual elements are becoming ever EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF country. And then don’t forget the cir- that each individual bar is always in the international experience. It is not faster - this is where progress can 1. Russia  1. cus, also an art form in Russia. Put all right place for the Russians. Time after uncommon for the August Euro - essentially be experienced. A new trend 3. IUSHKO Daria 2. Spain  2. of that together and you have an time they come out with music, which is pean Championships to be the sec- is that singers have returned, primarily UKR 3. Italy  4. unbeatable points-winning force. And ond or third occasion in a year when 93.400 ideally suited to the series of move- in the solo events, i.e. you can listen not SYDORENKO Kseniya given that more young talented people ments, and therefore, in addition to the a judge is able to award scores at only to the music, but also to the lyrics. are choosing this sport than in any spectacle, viewers – and of course an international competition – fortu- Of course, nobody would ever object to other country, even the sixth or seventh judges – are also enthralled by the nately experience and further train- a good Edith Piaf song. member of the Russian team is a better audio effect. ing courses held by TSSC may help Combo winners synchronised swimmer than the best of Even the solo competitor’s music is to improve this situation. by Gergely their rivals. According to some esti- CSURKA EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF perfectly composed – is how Jennifer mates, if three competitors from the Gray describes Natalia Ishchenko’s Editor-in-chief 1. Ishchenko, Romashina (RUS)  1. 1. Russia 98.300 2. Carbonell, Fuentes (ESP)  2. 2. Spain 97.000 same country were allowed in the solo performance: “She hovers almost con- LEN Magazine 3. Italian duo (ITA)  4. 3. Ukraine 94.100 or duet events, the Russians would be tinuously on top of the water, you don’t throws for example, the Ukrainians, guaranteed to take the silver and have the feeling she is fighting and who produced such a breakthrough, will EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF bronze medals as well. struggling against the water.” soon be on the same level as the 1. Russia  1. The difference is perhaps best Naturally all countries are making Russians - but the ingenuity and variety 2. Spain  2. reflected in the words of one of the of the choreography mean they contin- 3. Italy  4. progress in the parts of the sport that judges for the Budapest competition, can be learned, in the area of lifts and ue to stand out from the field. “Although 86 LEN LEN 87 Magazine Magazine On the winning side

a lot of elements that are not so impres- Swan Lake: sive as lifts, but need a lot of concentra- the most golden athlete of the tion as well. Some of the transmissions championships, Natalia Ischenko swimmers used to perform in duos, but Natalia Ischenko 6 kg shed are surfaces in style in the solo there are only two partners there. And technical routine eight in the group. Sometimes it is necessary to build the whole thing wit- hout seeing the surface of the water, sometimes it is very important to move worth their weight in gold fast and with precision. We often hope that Pokrovskaya will say: “Okay, girls, Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH Photo: it’s really impossible, stop to do it”. But she stays silent ‘till we’ve done everyt- On her international senior able to compete in every discipline, I’ll coaches were persuaded to add junior hing well. Concerning the double lift in debut at the European Cup do it. If something goes wrong, I’ll make swimmers to the group and ask Olga our Free routine, it’s more difficult for in 2003, Natalia Ishchenko my choice in order to reduce the num- Kuzhela and Anastasia Ermakova (both those who work under the water. My task is to make the first jump and to finished fourth. She arrived on ber of events. had already retired) to come back to sport urgently. So many changes never return back to the start position as soon the national team just as a What discipline is the top ranked? happened as far as I can recall. When as possible. great champion, Olga No idea. I never thought about it. My you work with the same people for a Brusnikina, retired. Neither plan is to keep the same competition long time it’s enough to change one of That’s why I guess you lost so much , nor schedule ‘till 2012 Olympics. I hope that them and everything starts to shake weight? Anastasia Ermakova wanted to I’ll be strong enough to survive. and be destroyed. You have to start No, that’s not connected. I eat all the from the very beginning: to learn how time between the training sessions, but compete in solo, so 18-year-old How long have you been in a duo the new partner moves under the water, we spend 10 hours a day in the water. Natalia became the leader of team with ? to get used to that… Actually we’re That makes my body slim. the team in this discipline. We have been in the national team happy that all these changes happened since 2005. We took part in the one month before the championships, It can be a problem – to loose weight Her first medal was silver, at the Euro- European Cup. In our sport that is the not later. before the competition. The body pean Championships in Madrid, 2004. only competition where two duos from changes, the balance changes, Natalia’s coach, Natiana Danchen - one country are allowed. Concerning What difference is there between the feelings change too… ko, has long noted her charge’s excepti- the other big competition the place was veterans and newcomers? When you lose weight right before the onal ability to interpret music in aquatic strictly occupied by Ermakova and No difference at all. The younger ones competition, that’s true. But my case is movement. Davydova, as I already said. carry the recorder to the pool and back. different. I lost my six kilos step by step. Natalia began her synchro career at I adapted well to my new weight. It is the age of 5 in Kaliningrad. Ishenko’s Aren’t you afraid that Ermakova and Were you worrying about the result easier now. Especially for the girls who first coach, Lada Stepanovich, moved Davydova will return back to the before the combination final? have to lift my body in the water. to synchronised swimming from rhyth- team in the Olympic season and I was more nervous before the solo. I mic gymnastics and instilled in Natalia you will move to reserve together don’t know why – there was no reason, Do you count your gold medals? the disciplines and athleticism of that with Romashina? but… It’s not a kind of fear to lose. May- Just some of them, from big competiti- sport too. I hope it won’t be so. Ermakova and be we were afraid not to do everything on. Before coming to Budapest I had Natalia came to Budapest as 10- Davydova were in the same situation in as planned. only three European gold, but 10 from time word champion and left the city as 2004 when and Maria the Worlds. World Championships is a 7-time European gold medallist. Since Kisseleva tried to come back. They Are you able to control what’s going different program: the medals are given her last appearance in international fought for a long time for their places in on in the water when you com- in Technical events as well. So you can competition (Rome 2009 world titles) the Olympic team, so they remember pete in the group? win 7 of them during one competition. she has shed 6 kilos, a weight loss that how terrible such a situation can be. But Yes of course. I see a lot, I notice all mis- has made the athlete all the more if they suddenly did come back to syn- takes. I feel a lot at least. Those girls How do you see your future life? impressive in her routines. chro as a duo team, we will also fight, who prepare the lifts under the water, I’ll swim till 2012. for our places, me and Svetlana. Our for instance, always feel in advance how Natalia, you took part in so many sport is cruel: In 2004 I had a good successful the “upper” part of every lift Can you imagine yourself swimming events here… chance to join the Olympic team but will be. four years more, till the 2016 Yes. I never did Duo before the last later four girls from the golden 2000 Games? World Championships in Rome. Until the team came back and there was no The lifts of the Russian team in Free Why not? But at a moment I’m not even Beijing Olympics Ermakova and Davy - place for the young girls. program were extremely compli- thinking about it. dova owned this event. Even in Rome I cated. Do you ever think at the took part in Free Routine in Duos – You and Romashina are real team beginning of the season that the By Elena Davydova and Romashina competed in veterans now. Aren’t you afraid of ideas offered by your group VAITSEKHOVSKAIA the Technical event. Here in Budapest I losing your team leadership in coach Tatyana Pokrovskaya are FINA Press took part in 9 separate events, including Budapest to the many newcom- not realistic in terms of you being Commission preliminaries. ers in the group? able to fulfill them? Member, We were very nervous, that’s true. Our That is our normal feeling at the begin- former Olympic Do you ever feel that you need some summer preparation started with the ning of every season. We cry, we say Champion diver, rest? serious illness of one girl, then the other “that’s impossible”, we start to try the Russia Sometimes I really do. But there is no one had surgery. The third was injured new elements and all of a sudden we chance. So I made the decision: ‘till I’m during the last training camp, so the realise that the program “fits”. There are 88 LEN LEN 89 Magazine Magazine OPEN WATER Predicti☺n Pay☺ff Open water Open water

GER411 1. ITA 2 4 2 8 RUS231 2. GRE 1 1 2 4 ITA113 3. RUS 1 0 2 3 GRE011 4. GER 1 1 1 3 GBR010 5. NED 1 0 0 1 BEL001 UKR 1 0 0 1 7. FRA 0 1 1 2 Photo: REUTERS / WOLFGANG RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo:

A 2, a 3 ... and a 1: Luca Ferretti (ITA) took gold in the 5km at Lake Balaton

90 LEN Magazine OPEN WATER

two “worlds”. And it was by far the most Germany met its own targets with successful nation at Lake Balaton. Two three medals - one of each colour. But titles, four silvers and two bronze they wouldn’t have had any objections medals was the yield. The only time the to going home with a little more than Italians failed to win any medals in open just one gold over 10 kilometres, water swimming was at the European through Thomas Lurz, and a bronze Championships debut of the events in from Angela Maurer over the same dis- 1989, in Stari Grad in the former tance, as well as her silver over 25 kilo- Yugoslavia. After the 2006 World metres. Great Britain, with the 2009 Championships in their home city of World Champion Kerry-Anne Payne Naples, systematic screening of talent (who didn’t compete at Lake Balaton),

From the swimming pool was introduced in Italy. The first results RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo: Olympic bronze medallist Cassandra of this were apparent in Hungary. Patten and Beijing silver medallist Moreover, training methods were , were focussing on the Two years earlier teammate Spyridon improved and several altitude training Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in to open water Gianniotis had claimed the title at the camps are held each year. Other win- October. first time trial ever held over that dis- ners at the European Championships in tance at the Europeans in Dubrovnik. Balatonfüred included the Greeks, with “This time-trial race accommodates the a total of four medals. basic speed, which we bring from the These include a gold medal in the 5- and back again 50m-pool,” is how Jan Wolfgarten kilometre team event, held as a time (Germany) describes the benefits. He trial. The discovery among the Greeks won silver in Dubrovnik, but then swam was Kalliopi Araouzou, who swam to to gold in the 1500m freestyle at the Perhaps there have never been so many athletes who have compet- silver in the 5 kilometres in her very first European Short Course Champion - year in open water. She acquired the ed at European Championships both in the open water and the 50m ships in Istanbul at the end of 2009. “My (who has since switched to Azerbaijan) same colour in the 1,500m freestyle at pool. Britain’s David Davies had previously shown the way. big goal is the 2012 Olympic open Sergey Fesenko are further examples the World Junior Championships in He won bronze medals at both the Athens Olympics in 2004 and, water competition in London,” he an- of those who have already received Monterrey, Mexico, in 2008. And she Open Water one year later, at the World Championships in Montreal over 1500m nounced. He finished sixth in Balaton- plaudits over the short and long course. also played a decisive part in the reports and füred. interviews by freestyle in the 50m-pool. He then took silver at the 2008 Beijing The same goes for 5-kilometre Euro - Greeks’ victory in the team event. “She “I have opted for a new challenge,” pean Champion Ekaterina Seliverstova set the tempo and always more than Hans-Peter Games on the Olympic debut of the 10-kilometre distance. is how Kvetoslav Svoboda (Czech (Russia), Giorgia Consiglio (Italy), silver held her own,” says SICK An increasing number of pool swimmers have since followed his Republic) described the reason for his medallist over 10 kilometres, the fourth- by way of an accolade. Theoretically the freelance swim- example. “The switch was worth it, it is quite simply different switch from the pool to open water. He placed swimmer in the same event team from the capital city of Athens sport journalist, swimming in open water, the conditions are completely different,” won silver at the 2002 Short Course Aurelie Muller (France), or Teja Zupan thereby scored a start-to-finish victory, Germany said Greece’s Marianna Lymperta after her bronze medal in the World Championships in Moscow, over (Slovenia), who competed in Hungary since they were the first team to com- 400m freestyle. “Maybe I can qualify for both on Lake Balaton and in the 50m 5-kilometre time-trial race at the European Championships in pete in the race and nobody went the Olympics again,” said the Czech. pool on Margaret Island, Budapest. faster. In the end Italy trailed by 52.6 Balatonfüred. Along with her compatriot Kalliopi Araouzou, who Ukrainians Igor Chervinskiy and Igor Italy managed quite well without seconds and, in turn, finished just 4.1 surprisingly took silver, she managed to swim her way to the podium. Snitko, and their former compatriot any athletes, who move between the seconds ahead of the Russians.

92 LEN LEN 93 Magazine Magazine MEN OPEN WATER

The winners Thirsty work: Valerio Cleri (ITA) takes in liquid on his Lurz completes the hat-trick way through liquid to gold over 25km 1. FERRETTI Luca ITA 58:43.4 Almost all roads to the title went through Italy. Only

5km Thomas Lurz (Germany), with 2. ERCOLI Simone ITA his third successive triumph 59:00.5 over 10 kilometres, was able to overcome the “Squadra Azzuri”. 3. GIANNIOTIS S. Otherwise the gold medals at GRE 59:15.9 Lake Balaton went to Luca 3. RUFFINI Simone ITA 59:15.9 Ferretti (5 kilometres) and Valerio Cleri (25 kilometres). But then the Italians also EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF 1. Lurz (GER)  5. managed a historic victory. 2. Giannotis (GRE)  3. Never in the history of the 3. Ferretti (ITA)  1. European Open Water Swimming Championships 1. LURZ Thomas have all three medals been won GER by the same nation in one race. 1:54:22.5 and Simone Ruffini picked up silver and bronze behind Luca Ferretti.

10km 2. CLERI Valerio When the winner, who was the ITA last of the 34 starters to take to 1:54:24.8 the water, reached the finish, there were scarcely any limits 3. DRATTSEV Evgeny to the rejoicing among the large RUS Italian delegation. Wild 1:54:26.6 celebrations awaited the trio.

EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF The fact that Simone Ruffini had to 1. Lurz (GER)  1. share his bronze medal with defending 2. Davies (GBR)  30. champion Spyridon Gianniotis (Greece) 3. Giannotis (GRE)  7. made no difference. “A big day for Italy,” said Luca Ferretti, celebrating his first kilometres he is the most successful befell Evgeny Drattsev. “Thomas Lurz füred, which meant a repeat his suc- Italians (as did Thomas Lurz for Ger - ever European Championships medal. open water swimmer of all time. and Valerio Cleri left me no chance to cess of 2008. He also won silver over many) over 10 kilometres. “This is the 1. CLERI Valerio “I was able to swim my own race, with- At the start of the competitions on overtake them, which was very clever of this distance at the World Champion- first stage on the road to the London ITA 5:16:38.3 out feeling the elbows of my rivals on Lake Balaton he had completed the them both,” said the Russian, who was ships in Canada. Olympics,” both of them were relieved me,” Simone Ercoli, who had already hat-trick in the 10-kilometre race. For World Champion over this distance in After what was a rather cautious first of all not to be forced to undergo claimed bronze over this distance at the the third time, following on from 2006 2007 and 2008, but has never yet man- race for a long time he took the initia- any further qualification stress. The 2006 European Championships at and two years later in Dubrovnik, the aged to win gold at a European tive at the start of the final lap, along Games in the British capital should sig- Balatonalmadi on Lake Balaton, also event was won by Thomas Lurz. World Championships. “When we went into with Bertrand Venturi. “When it came nify the pinnacle and conclusion to a 2. VENTURI Bertrand 25km FRA declared his satisfaction. “Racing in a champion Valerio Cleri (Italy) missed the last kilometre, I was certain that I down to the last 200 metres, he long and successful career for this duo. 5:16:54.7 time trial is a good thing,” added out on gold, finishing 2.3 seconds could win a medal”; said Thomas Lurz, charged up his turbo and I could no Whereas the young generation is Simone Ruffini. No wonder, when you behind the German. World champion who took the initiative 500 metres longer follow,” said the Frenchman, already waiting in the wings for Italy, the

can pick up all three medals. silver medallist Evgeny Drattsev before the finish and gave yet another RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo: who was eventually beaten by 16.4 situation doesn’t look quite so rosy for 3. HEDEL Joanes World Champion Thomas Lurz was (Russia) also had to admit defeat, train- tactical master class. seconds, and managed to swim onto the Germans. Overall the Italians were FRA unable to recover from the previous ing by 4.1 seconds. The “King” of Lake Balaton and Lac the podium for the first time. Third place the outstanding team among the men, 5:18:57.6 day’s race over 10 kilometres. “My bat- “I was still hoping to pass Thomas Saint-Jean however was Valerio Cleri. was taken by his compatriot Joanes winning five medals in three competi- teries were empty today,” admitted “Mr. Lurz in the last few metres before the Within 21 days he fished two gold Hedel, who had previously won silver in tions. While the “Equipe Tricolore” Open Water,” who finished fifth. Just finish, but he blocked my path. Quite medals and two silvers from the lakes Dubrovnik. claimed precious metal twice, Germany EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF over two weeks earlier he had won his simply he is an old fox, who is not easy of Hungary and Canada. “A pretty good As a result Valerio Cleri acquired his (one gold) and Russia (one bronze) 1. Cleri (ITA)  1. sixth successive World title over this to beat,” Valerio Cleri said, congratulat- yield for 70 kilometres of competitive ticket to next year’s World Cham- would happily have fished more medals 2. Dyatchin (RUS) DNS distance in Roberval, Canada. With ing the German who now has a total of swimming,” he said in delight after his pionships in Shanghai, based on one of out of Lake Balaton. Only Greece would 3. Rickermann (BEL) DNS three other titles over the Olympic 10 four European titles. The same fate victory over 25 kilometres at Balaton- the internal qualification criteria for the have been satisfied with one bronze. 94 LEN LEN 95 Magazine Magazine On the winning side On the winning side

Thomas Lurz “Valerio Cleri is “The swimming Linsy Heister the best at the moment” pool was too short for me”

With nine World Champion Linsy Heister (Netherlands) Yes, definitely. We do more kilometres, But there will be a hell of a strong field titles and four victories in the brought off her first big coup on and swim longer sequences with short- in Shanghai and it won’t be easy to European Championships, the international stage at the er intervals. make the top ten there. I have also interrupted my studies at the moment, Thomas Lurz (Germany) is the World Championships in The Netherlands has some very suc- allowing for optimal preparations for most successful open water Roberval: finishing as World cessful open water swimmers, these two objectives. swimmer in the world. He won Champion over 25 kilometres. with as at the Olympic 10-kilometre The 22-year old teacher Olympic Champion in Beijing in distance at the Europeans on training student’s second coup 2008, or multiple World and Lake Balaton and has so far followed at the Europeans in European Champion Edith van Dyck. Do they represent a role always competed for medals Balatonfüred - gold over the model for you through a long tra- over 5 and 10 kilometres. Olympic distance of ten dition in open water swimming in kilometres. the Netherlands? All your achievements have been I really don’t like being compared with over 5 and 10 kilometres, have Two titles in just a few weeks, what is other successful athletes. You have to you ever thought about swim- the secret, which enabled you to swim your race on your own and every ming 25 kilometres? swim at the front this year? race is different. It is difficult to make In fact I once considered competing This is quite simple. I’ve done an awful comparisons. But it’s true, we have a over 25 kilometres at a World or Balaton. The only other country to do Has open water swimming changed lot of hard training, and eat properly long tradition in this sport, which I might European Championships. But more as this is Russia. in recent years? and swim between 60 and 110 kilome- be able to continue. a form of training under extreme stress. In any case it’s definitely not as easy as tres a week. In addition we have a very I think I would be able to hold my own. How do things look with the young it was at the start for someone new to professional team of coaches, doctors, How did you get into open water? However, I lack experience, as I’ve generation in Europe? come along and win right away. We physiotherapists and support staff Given that there are not very never swum this distance before. But in Europe is certainly the world leader in now know who the best open water around us in the Netherlands, who many opportunities to swim the long run I don’t want to include it in open water swimming. Italy and Russia swimmers hare. You don’t just need encourage athletes on our way to the Open Water in the Netherlands. my competitive program. are quite simply the leading nations, physical fitness, but also a lot of expe- top. Moreover, I underwent altitude The pool has always been a little too and they practise this sport very profes- rience. First of all, for example, you training in Sierra Nevada, Spain, for the short for me. Quite simply, I can swim If you were to encounter your 10- sionally and have a very large support have to learn what it’s like to swim in first time in April this year. better in open water. We train in the pool kilometre rival Valerio Cleri in team. Then comes Germany, and high waves. most of the time, but I often have to get Italy, could you beat him? In you have a coach,

Greece has closed the gap. RATTAY WOLFGANG REUTERS / Photo: out into the fresh air. Obviously most of This is really difficult at the moment. He There is now only one medal miss- who was himself a World and Euro- the water in the Netherlands is frequent- is currently one of the best open water How can we attract even more atten- ing from your extensive collec- pean Champion, though in the ly too cold. As a result we also compete swimmers in the world and in Europe, tion to this sport? tion of 21 medals: Olympic gold. pool. What’s he like as a coach? abroad a lot. For example I want to enter perhaps even the best - at least over 25 One lap of almost 5 kilometres, far away How do things look in this re - He is a very, very good coach with great the FINA World Cup in September. kilometres. from the waterside, is certainly not so spect? experience from his own time as an attractive, the circuits should therefore be The Games in London are my big tar- active swimmer. I benefit from his great Which kind of water do you prefer? He has a strong team around him, shorter and spectators should see more get. I would swap any medal from the experience. He really knows what the Lake or sea? Were you still thinking about your where does the Italians’ domi- of the race, not just the start and finish. World or European Championships right training program is at the right time. I prefer lakes, since the water doesn’t race at the World Championships nance at these European Cham - immediately for a gold medal. taste as salty. in Roberval during your races on pion ships come from? What do you think of the team event? Do you train with pool swimmers at Lake Balaton? They have always had a lot of good Basically a good idea, but everything What are your plans before then? PSV Eindhoven, or only with What are your next targets? Yes, it went through my head. It gave open water swimmers. Moreover, they depends on the woman in each race. I’ll compete in a few more World Cup open water athletes? Naturally the 2012 Olympic Games in me an awful lot of self-confidence and have done good preparatory in this dis- She sets the tempo. Perhaps we should races in September and October and My training group includes European London are the next big goal for me. I might have been decisive in the victory cipline in Italy, sometimes with the pool move over to four participants - two men then the World Championships are Short Course Champion Hinkelien definitely want to be there. But before over 10 kilometres. swimmers. For example Samuel Pizzetti and two women. You could also arrange being held in Shanghai next summer, Schreuder and butterfly specialist Joeri then the World Championships in is one of the fastest Italians over 5 kilo- for some kind of swimming relay over a which I have already qualified for within Verlinden. Marleen Veldhuis, Ranomi Shanghai are scheduled for next July, To what extent do so many races in metres - in the pool. A time trial race circuit of 2.5 kilometres. We definitely the internal German qualification proce- Kromowidjojo and Inge Dekker on the which also represents an initial qualifi- such a short time take their toll? would be almost ideal for him, but he have an interesting sport, but a few small dure, through my victory over 10 kilo- other hand train with . cation event for the Olympics. I’d really Unlike the 5-kilometre swimmers, I had doesn’t want to swim in the sea any details should be changed, to make it metres at Lake Balaton. This means I like to qualify for London there, to allow two days’ break between the 10 and 25 more. Waves are also a problem for even more attractive. And a rest day have a year to prepare for Shanghai, Is there any difference in training me to train in a targeted way for the 12 kilometres at the European Champion- him. Moreover, Italy always has three wouldn’t be a bad idea either. Three suc- especially as places for the Olympics between pool and open water months until then, without having to ships. But even these two days are real- participants in every event here on Lake cessive days’ racing drains your strength. will be awarded there. swimmers? swim any further qualification events. ly too short to fully recover. 96 LEN LEN 97 Magazine Magazine WOMEN OPEN WATER

Photo: REUTERS / BALINT MEGGYESI

The winners Grand entrance: Olga Beresnyeva of Ukraine won the 25km title in her first major race Beresnyeva over the distance 1. SELIVERSTOVA Ekaterina RUS 1:02:34.7 swims to 5km 2. ARAOUZOU Kalliopi GRE 1:02:37.3 sensational 3. LYMPERTA Marianna GRE 1:02:41.3 gold EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF 1. Ilchenko (RUS) DNS There was no other race on Lake 2. Seliverstova (RUS)  1. A new “Queen” of Open Water 3. Kamrau-C. (GER) DNS Swimming emerged from Lake Balaton in which the difference be tween Balaton. Maybe nobody had gold and silver was as close as the women’s 25 kilometres. A photo finish 1. HEISTER Linsy bargained with Olga was also required to decide on the NED Beresnyeva from Ukraine win- bronze medal: in favour of Martina 2:01:06.7 ning a medal. Not even her. Grimaldi (Italy), who was fractions of a And yet she touched the second ahead of defending champion finishing line first over 25 kilo- Margarita Dominguez (Spain). Never in the history of the European Open Water

10km 2. CONSIGLIO Giorgia metres, ahead of Angela Championships for women had there ITA Maurer. The two of them were been just a tenth of a second between 2:01:07.6 separated by a tenth of a first and second. But this was not the second. Linsy Heister took the only special feature of this race - it was crown over the Olympic also Olga Beresnyeva’s first ever 3. MAURER Angela appearance at this distance. “I can hard- GER distance of 10 kilometres at the 2:01:08.2 ly believe that I surprised everyone, European Championships, including myself and all the experts,” said following her first World the winner in celebration. At the same EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF Championship victory over time it was Ukraine’s first medal at the 1. Ilchenko (RUS)  20. 25 kilometres. Ekaterina European Open Water Swimming 2. Maurer (GER)  2. Seliverstova (Russia) won the Championships. 3. Grimaldi (ITA)  9. Linsy Heiter came to Hungary with 5 kilometres, as she had in the the recommendation of a victory in the 25 2006 European Championships kilometres at the World Championships. 1. BERESNYEVA Olga in Balatonalmadi, located some The 22-year old Netherlands’ swimmer UKR from PSV Eindhoven could not believe 5:48:10.2 20 kilometres away from the current venue. her victory at first. “I’m not certain before it becomes official,” was how she fended off the initial congratulations. “During the closing sprint I kept thinking somebody they hardly wanted to end, following pean in her first season in open water. the defending champion over 10 kilo- 2. MAURER Angela 25km GER must be coming, but nobody else came,” their sensational medals over 5 kilome- Her compatriot, who is 12 years older, metres. The Olympic Champion and, 5:48:10.3 and the victory in Roberval had given her tres. When the two Greek girls realised had already more than held her own on with eight World Championship titles, a lot of self-confidence for the European the silver and bronze were secure, they many occasions in the World Cup, but the women’s success story in open Team winners Championships. Giorgia Consiglio (Italy) flung their arms around each other’s had never yet won a medal. water swimming finished in a disap- also underlined her two second places at th 3. GRIMALDI Martina necks and celebrated for several min- Ekaterina Seliverstova succeeded pointing 20 place. She had suffered the Worlds in Roberval with a silver at the utes. The Greeks had never managed defending champion Rachele Bruni back problems after last year’s World ITA 1. Greece 59:03.0 5:48:30.8 2. Italy 59:55.6 Europeans. “I can’t complain, it was a to finish in the first eight at a European (Italy), who finished ninth. The Championships in Ostia, followed by a 3. Russia 59:59.5 really good season,” she said. Bronze Championships. However, at least since European Champion was forced to wait race in cold water at this year’s went to Angela Maurer, making her the the World Championships in Roberval, nervously for a while at the end, before Championships in Roberval. “Things EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF EXPECTATIONS PAYOFF only female competitor to claim two the name of Kalliopi Araouzou should the gold medal could be hung around didn’t go optimally for her, but I’m con- 1. Maurer (GER)  2. 1. Germany  4. medals in the individual events. have been one to note at least. The stu- her neck, with an advantage of 2.6 sec- vinced that she will be back to top form 2. Uvarova (RUS)  7. 2. Italy  2. Kalliopi Araouzou and Marianna dent, aged just 19, took seventh place onds. Her team colleague Larisa again next year,” said Russia’s Swimm- 3. Vitale (ITA) 13. 3. Russia  3. Lymperta staged a jig of delight, which there, making her the third best Euro- Ilchenko was much less fortunate than ing President Vladimir Salnikov. 98 LEN LEN 99 Magazine Magazine  The Junior category swimmers, div- the European Junior Championships fessional audit firms who could potential- ers, and synchronised swimmers had ever. LEN thank the Finnish Swimming ly assume auditing responsibilities. From the their European Championships in Association, and Rolf Mikkola, Chai- from July 7th to 18th. These rman of the Organising Committee, and  On July 17th, the third leg of the young athletes delivered wonderful his team for the excellent job. 2010 European Open Water Swimming Headquarters results that indicate the good work Cup took us to where Open being done in so many different parts of  LEN Director was in Rome to conc- Water Swimming activity continues to Europe and the brilliant future they all lude the final administrative and financi- develop with, among other events, LEN point at. LEN President Nory Kruchten al issues pending with regard to our Cup Legs and Cup Finals in the last few Photo: REUTERS / LASZLO BALOGH attended the beginning of the diving previous headquarters in the Eternal years. The organisers welcomed the  On June 3rd and 4th LEN Director competition and officially opened the City. The years of LEN’s home in Rome Cup participants to Kocaeli and the Laszlo Szakadati had an important Championships. LEN General Sec- are now behind us, but will not be for- event ran smoothly and successfully. meeting in Paris with Havas Sports retary Sven Folvik was present for the gotten. (EDF Marketing Agency) concerning last diving events and first races in the  Great Water Polo was to be seen in the 2010 European Short Course swimming pool, and the LEN Director  LEN Financial Consultant Hans Gerrits Oradea at the 2010 FINA World Cup Swimming Championships and spon- was in Helsinki to see the last weekend Jans was in LEN Office in Luxembourg where the LEN Director Laszlo Szaka- sorship issues. Immediately after (June of swimming. All three of them were giving the finishing touches to LEN’s dati was happy to pay a visit to his 5th and 6th), our Director was at the first very impressed with how the triple LEN financial records of 2009, discussing new home town and see the exciting games leg of the Mare Nostrum competitions in Event was handled and felt that this policies and procedures to apply to make on site. Monte Carlo where he was witness to was definitely one of the best editions of it all more efficient, and to meet with pro- an interesting event, with good races,  From July 29th to August 1st the and a nice attendance. young women of our aquatic team dis- Events 2010 2011 cipline battled it out in the Ukrainian city  The funeral services for our depar- of Dneprodzerzhinsk for the title of ted friend Alan Clarkson took place at European Junior Champion. The final European Championships Budapest (HUN) the beautiful gothic cathedral of York was the Junior version of the 2008 (SW, DIV, SYS, OWS) 4 • 15 August Minster on June 9th. LEN President European WP Championships Zagreb (CRO) Senior final in Malaga, with Russia Nory Kruchten, General Secretary 29 August • 11 September again defeating Spain, and both teams Sven Folvik, Director Laszlo Szakadati European WP Championships, Istanbul, Athens, Oradea (m) showing that their older age categories were present in Alan’s city of birth to Qualification Tournaments, Men&Women Imperia, Eindhoven (w) will soon be reinforced by a strong new accompany his family and offer our per- 30 April • 2 May group of players. sonal condolences and those of the European SC SW Championships Eindhoven (NED) Szczecin (POL) LEN Family for the loss of our cherished 25 • 28 November 8 • 11 December  In a two-day OWS multi-event in Arena DIV European Championhips Turin (ITA) Hoorn, the Royal Dutch Swimming colleague. 8 • 13 March European SYS Champions Cup Sheffield (GBR) Federation and Ter Rede van Hoorn  LEN President Nory Kruchten was 20 • 22 May organised the European Junior Open invited and had the opportunity to European OWS Championships Eilat (ISR) Water Swimming Championships and attend the 2nd edition of the Swimming 5 • 11 September the European OWS Cup leg number 4 Championships of the Small States of The season's premium water polo event, the LEN European Championships in Zagreb, WP Euro League “Final Four” Naples (ITA) TBD and last for this year. More about the Europe held in Reykjavik (ISL) from got underway after the LEN Magazine had gone to print. The host Croatians and the players 14 • 15 May 28 • 29 May August 1st Cup competition in next European OWS Cup Legs Eilat (ISR) 10 May, Circeo (ITA) 13 June TBD June 12th to 13th. LEN thank the of title-holder Montenegro clashed in the preliminaries (just as in the World Championships month’s newsletter. Concerning the Kocaeli (TUR) 17 July, Icelandic Swimming Association for the last year - see picture) and both teams were regarded as favourites for the crown. European OWS Cup Final Event Hoorn (NED) 31 July TBD Junior Championships, the British team invitation and the chance to experien- More on this event in our next issue! took the two individual 5km titles home ce the well-organised competition and European Masters Championships Yalta (UKR) and accumulated enough points to win a hospitality the LEN Family will all (SW, DIV, SYS, OWS) 5 • 10 September the Championships Trophy. The conditi- enjoy at the LEN Congress in May of  The Portuguese Swimming Federa - long-awaited allocation of the 2010 European Masters WP Championships Hamburg (GER) ons for racing were not easy at all on 2011. tion celebrated its 80th Anniversary in a European Short Course Champion ships. 4 • 9 July Saturday, July 31st, but these brave commemorative ceremony conceived to Afterwards LEN announced that the 14th European Junior SW Championships Helsinki (FIN) Belgrade (SRB) young swimmers apply themselves with 14 • 18 July 6 • 10 July  honour national swimmers, coaches, edition of the European Short Course the admirable drive that pushes them The second leg of the 2010 Euro- European Junior DIV Championships Helsinki (FIN) Belgrade (SRB) pean Open Water Swimming Cup was referees and federation officials for the Swimming Championships will be orga- 9 • 13 July 29 June • 3 July beyond their limits despite the occasio- again swum in Italy, and on the same long history of dedication to Aquatics, nised by the Royal Dutch Swimming European Junior OWS Championships Hoorn (NED) Bids requested nally very rough situations in the open date as last year, June 13th. The men’s and the LEN Director and I were there Federation in the City of Eindhoven from 31 July waters. We thank the organisers for deli- and women’s 10 km races were held in in representation of LEN on the Troia November 25th to 28th in the same European Junior SYS Championships Tampere (FIN) Belgrade (SRB) vering these LEN Events to our comple- San Felice Circeo with many partici- Peninsula overlooking Setubal where a swimming pool that saw such excellent 7 • 11 July 29 June • 3 July te satisfaction. pants and top-ranked swimmers among FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World races in March of 2008. It will surely be a European U19 WP Chmps. Men European U19 WP Chmps. Women them. The Italian Swimming Federation Cup event was held the next day. memorable event worthy of the high level Congratulations to our friends at the again confirms its constant presence in these Champion ships and these E uropean Junior WP C hmps. Men Stuttgart (G E R) (C RO ) by Laszlo the 13 editions of the European OWS Portuguese Federation and to President Organisers have us accustomed to. 8 • 15 August 4 • 11 September SZAKADATI Cup and fundamental support for the Paulo Frischknecht. European Junior WP Chmps. Women Dneprodzerzhinsk (UKR) Madrid (ESP) LEN Director long-distance discipline.  The end of June brought the LEN 25 July • 1 August 21 • 28 August  The 4th annual Open EDF de Natation President and LEN Director to Rome for LEN Congress Limassol (CYP) Reykjavík (ISL)  A new meeting took place in Paris on at La Croix Catelan in Paris offered a a meeting with the European Olympic 29 May 13 • 15 May June 23rd and 24th with LEN and its chance to meet with representatives of Committees organisation and eight Marketing Agency Community, and a EDF and to clarify with them certain other Continental Sports Federations to Federations considering to host a LEN Event where this applies potential sponsor/supplier for European aspects of the collaborative agreement discuss the European Youth Olympic (see ”Bids requested”) please contact the LEN Office in Luxembourg. Aquatics. that was blocking a final conclusion to the Festival and related matters. 100 LEN LEN 101 Magazine Magazine Bulgaria Joensen should win a title. At last, the In July, ventured into The top Bulgarian swimmer Peter talented young distance swimmer saw the world of fashion for the sake of a Stoychev won the Swimming Marathon his national flag raised as he finished photo session for designer Stéphanie World Cup for the 32km swim in second in the 1,500m free – and win- Césaire. Their work had its roots in the Roberval, Canada. Stoychev swam the ning the very first European medal for spirit of , which they are both LEN-family stretch in 6.40:22h, leaving Canadian his country in the history of the champi- natives of. The two young women want- Simon Tobin second at 6.43:37h and onships. His prize was also the biggest ed to seal their partnership in the The European Swimming Federation has Argentinian Damian Blaun third, on in his country’s sporting history, while framework of a joined project, a photo 51 member countries. The LEN Magazine 7.07:35. “It is was a hard race with great the Government of the Faroes has session of some emblematic bags of opened this Forum for its entire Family and competition so I am very happy to win,” pledge support to build a 50m pool, so the Maison Césaire. news said Stoychev. He extended warm far lacking on the islands. (By Adrien Cadot, Natation Maga- while news keeps pouring in from the majority thanks for the support of the Bulgarian zine) of our federations and swimming sports community in Canada. On July 19, Finland journalists, little is heard from some of our Maria Zlatkova of Bulgaria won the The cities of Helsinki and Tampere host- Georgia Members. Please note that we trans-Bosporus race. The Bulgarian ed the European Junior Championships In Budapest at the European Cham- welcome your exciting news and important swimmer covered the distance of 6.5 in synchro, diving and swimming in July. pionships, Chola Chanturia, 21, made developments in all swimming disciplines, km in 44.52mins. Her sister Sofia was The organizing Finnish Swimming his international debut: he entered the second (46.24 minutes). The race took Association wishes to thank all of the final in the 3m springboard and was at any time of the year. place under the auspices of the participating teams for creating such a placed 9th. He also took part in the Bulgarian Olympic Committee. magnificent and inspiring atmosphere. FINA Diving Grand prix in Italy and Albania Azerbaijan (Focus News Agency) Competitions were also successful for Spain in June and July and was placed On a national level, on July 6-7 the LEN has excluded two Azerbaijan Jasper Aarents and Ward Bauwens the host team. Finland achieved the first 6th and 4th with teenager Shota Albanian Swimming Youth Champion - swimmers, Andrey Ilin and Yevgeniy were the heroes of the national squad EJC diving medal since year 2000 by Korakhashvili. We hope they will be able ship was held in Durres. The same city Lazuka, from the European Swimming at the junior European Championships Zagreb was ready to welcome the best Heikki Mäkikallio. In swimming, Jenna to achieve bigger successes in future. also organised the Albanian National Championships in Budapest with imme- in Helsinki. Aarents finished third European water polo teams for the Laukkanen returned Finland to the REUTERS / BALINT MEGGYESI Photo: (By Irakli Bartaia General Secretary) Cup on August 25-26. On an internation- diate effect due to the fact that they behind Frenchmen Yannick Agnel and European Championships at the begin- podium winning silver and bronze in al level, between June 19-20 we took competed in international events repre- in the 400m free and ning of September. The Croatian nation- two of the longest breaststroke dis- part in the COMEN Cup, in Catania, senting Belarus less than twelve second in the 50m free, while Bauwens al team entered as one of the favourites tances. Last time when EJC swimming Italy, with a team of four swimmers (two months ago, this being in contravention earned a silver medal in the 1,500m after reaching the final of the World Cup medal ended up in Finland was in 2004. girls and two boys). Our swimmer Mario of FINA General Rule 2.6 in cases of and a bronze in the 800m free. in August. Sandro Sukno was the top (By Jussi Salminen, Editor in Chief, Sulkja entered the European Cham-pio- changes of affiliation from one national scorer of this event, with 17 goals. Uinti) nship in Budapest, Hungary in the 50m governing body to another. 21-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina Cyprus France and 100m freestyle events. Also, we are Lazuka finished 14th in a time of Four Bosnian swimmers participated at making efforts to take part in the FINA 24.28sec in the 50m fly in Budapest. the 30th LEN European Swimming Rania Pavlou represented the country After having excelled at the EDF Aquatics Convention to be held in This result will be annulled. He had also Championships: Nenad Simic, Hajder in the junior European Championships Swimming Open (26-27 June), 18-year- Uruguay in September. entered the 100m fly. Ilin was to com- Ensar, Dudic Arnel and Benjamin Buca. in Helsinki where she had modest old Yannick Agnel from Nice obtained (By Julian Bregu, LEN Magazine pete in the 50m and 100m freestyle. Hajder Ensar was the most successful: results in the 50m and in the 100m free his baccalaureate of Sciences with hon- correspondent) he broke four Bosnia and Herzegovina respectively. Two other swimmers, Anne ours. Certainly, one can very well distin- Belarus records (100m freestyle, 200m medley, Schegoleva and Omiros Zagkas raced guish oneself in sport without cutting Andorra Aliaksandra Herasimenia (BLR) 400m medley, 50m butterfly). at the Youth Olympic Games in Singa- classes. Agnel never stops surprising Two young swimmers, Monica Abella claimed the European 50m backstroke (From: Monika Duvnjak, LEN Ma - pore. his coach, Fabrice Pellerin. After the Ramirez and Oriol Rodriguez Cunat crown and championship record in gazine correspondent) convincing French Championships in Czech Republic took part in the firth Youth Olympic 27.64 in Budapest this August, five Saint-Raphaël and a sensational EDF Games in Singapore and they both years after returning from a steroid dop- Czech swimmers finished equal 20th in Open, the 18-year-old from Nice per- managed to proceed at least once from ing ban. She also got a silver medal in the race for the LEN Championships formed extraordinarily well at the junior their respective heats and compete in the 100m free and was placed 5th in Aliaksandra Herasimenia of Belarus: Trophy at the European Championships Europeans, namely in 400m freestyle the semi-finals. the 50m freestyle. what a comeback! in Budapest: the female swimmers pro- (title and national record). “What can I duced the better results, earning 56 of say… It was a competition that I was Armenia the 66 team points gained. curious to see him take part in. He had- The country sent one young diver, n’t really done this event before in this Denmark Gevorg Papoyan, to Singapore for the season, at least not with the same com- first Youth Olympic Games: he is one of Amalie Emma Thomsen brought a sil- mitment that he managed to put into the Chola Chanturia of Georgia competes in the five European athletes able to take ver medal back home from Helinski: 200m or even the 100m. Yannick had the men's 3m Springboard diving final part in the 3m synchro event after a she was second in the 400m free event got around the event,” commented successful qualification campaign. at the European Junior Championships. Fabrice Pellerin radiantly. Daniel Skaaning also won a medal: a According to Denis Auguin, coach- Germany Austria bronze in the 200m free. ing Alain Bernard at the CN Antibes, the Deutsche Sporthilfe offers bonuses We are very proud that we had an enor- disappearance of full-body suits as of 1 worth a total of 107 250 Euros for the Estonia mous starting field at our national mas- January 2010 has not rocked the hierar- 30 athletes who managed to either win ters in all classes this summer. At the Making good use of having the event in chy of the world sprint. ”After more than a medal or achieve a top 6 place at the other end of the spectrum, it is great to the neighbourhood, Estonia arrived to six months without the full-body suits, it European Championships in Budapest: see that the work with young talent at the Helsinki with 15 young swimmers for seems to me that the hierarchy of the 4,500 Euros were awarded for gold, different regional associations comes to the European Junior Championships sprinters has not changed. Eamon 3,000 for silver and 2,400 for bronze. fruition. We have a good and strong who competed in almost all events Sullivan was struggling at the Mare “The premiums for the great successes basis thanks to our coaches who do a including the relays. One semi-final Nostrum, but he swam 48.50 at the of the German athletes should help and wonderful job. This year, the traditional berth marked the development of the Australian Championships. As for the encourage them during their prepara- Ströck Austrian Qualifying Meeting takes sport in the Baltic country. others, they are all working along differ- tions for the World Championships in place in Wr. Neustadt (12-14 November ent training strategies.” The coach (from Shanghai and for the London Olympics, 2010), as the Wr. Stadthalle is still closed Faroe Islands Antibes) did not hesitate to cite the where they will face tough international owing to renovation works. The organisers of the 30th European Canadian , an anti-tech- challenges from the competitors of the (By Julia Wiltschko, LEN Magazine Championships prepared the national suits man who suffered a setback on the United States, China and Australia,” correspondent) anthem of the Faroe Islands (down- world rankings in 2008 and 2009, as said Dr. Michael Ilgner, Chairman of the loaded from youtube) in case Pal one of his favourites for the London OG. Deutsche Sporthilfe foundation. 102 LEN Photo: REUTERS / WOLFGANG RATTAY LEN 103 Magazine Magazine LEN FAMILY

Referees: Denver Kirk. All correspon- held in November this year. Another dences should either be e mailed to the good thing is that we managed to obtain Singapore 2010: Secretary at: [email protected] considerable support from the munici- Europe is the best! or posted to the same at: 68 St. Declan’s pality to develop water polo in this city. Road, Marino, Dublin 3, Ireland. The Lithuanian water polo federa- As usual, swimming was one of the main attractions of the first Youth Olympic (By: Stephen O’Brien, Operations tion invites all national youth teams Games in Singapore. And just like in Rome, at the World Championships last Manager) from the Nordic European countries to take part in the Youth Water polo Nordic year, Europe has proved again that it is the dominant force of the swimming Israel European championship in Elektrenai. world. China topped the medal table but if we compare the continents the History was made at the Junior Next year, the Lithuanian Water Polo European swimmers led the parade with 16 titles and 49 medals altogether. European Championship. Yakov-Yan federation plans to organize a big inter- Among the European nations Hungary was the best with 4 gold medals followed Toumarkin won the 100m backstroke, national tournament to celebrate its by France and Ukraine (3-3 each), Russia won two titles while Italy and Croatia 0.16sec away from László Cseh’s 80th anniversary (having been estab- also earned one each. Sixteen European countries managed to have at least one record for Hungary, while his teammate lished in 1931). podium-finish, which is also a great accomplishment! David Gamburg finished in 3rd place (By Viktoras Tonkich President, giving the Israeli team a swim to be Lithuanian Swimming Federation) MEDAL TABLES, CONTINENTS proud of. The Israeli National Cham- pionship took place at the Wingate Luxembourg Institute between 21-25.7.10. It was a Raphaël Stacchiotti achieved a brilliant Europe 14 16 19 great championship that ended with 11 performance at the Junior European Asia 12 4 3 new Israeli junior records. Championships in Helsinki. The Lux- Oceania 4 6 6 embourgish swimmer from Ettelbruck Raphael Stacchiotti of Luxemburg prepares times in the world half-way through Italy Americas 4 4 5 managed to keep his European title in to compete in the men's 50m freestyle 2010. “For a mini-Team, it’s not that Africa 1 3 2 After long years of waiting Italy can cel- the 200m medley. After setting the best swimming bad”, said Ingolf Bender, national ebrate an international gold medal in time in the first round and the semi, he coach. “Five finals, two national men’s water polo again. The national kept his composure and won in 2:02.52, records, one title and two medals, what team won the Junior European a national record : “I really wanted to can you expect more?”, he asked. In Championships in Stuttgart after feel it again. On the podium, I looked in the 400m medley. After setting a addition to Raphaël Stacchiotti there defeating Serbia in the semi-finals and down lane 4 and sang the national national record in the morning was also young backstrocke specialist Gibraltar ships held in Stuttgart. Greece defeated Greece in the final. The Italians trailed anthem”, said the winner. Stacchiotti, (4:25.43), he improved tremendously, Sarah Rolko, who reached two finals Our top swimmers are training hard for Hungary 11-2 in the quarters (amaz- by two before the last quarter but they who specially prepared himself for the improving his own mark by more than 4 and finished 7th in the 100m. the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. ing...) and Croatia in the semis before managed to come back and won the championships, managing to grab seconds. Indeed, he managed to swim (By Romain Haas, LEN Magazine (By Denise Reyes, President) losing to Italy in the final, which was title in the penalty shoot-out. another medal. This time, it was silver, in 4:21.28, which is among the 20 best correspondent) decided by a penalty shootout. Great Britain Latvia Former world open water champion, Hungary The 50m freestyle events brought suc- Keri-Anne Payne and David Carry have The Ministry of Human Resources – su - cess for the Latvian swimmers at the pencilled in September 2012 as the pervising sport – led by Miklos Rethelyi Junior European Championships: Gab- provisional date of their wedding follow- offered a reception of the medal-winner riela Nikitina and Pavel Gribovskis man- ing a highly traditional proposal by the swimmers and their coaches after the aged to reach the finals of this event Commonwealth 400m freestyle cham- highly successfull European Champion - respectively. pion. The romantic Scot popped the ships. Representatives of the major spon - question literally minutes after returning sors of the federation – Allianz, T-Mobile, Liechtenstein to Stockport following the Scottish Pappas Auto, ELMÜ, MVM, Vízművek, Besides an athlete in judo, two swim- nationals in Glasgow. “We hadn’t seen Suzuki – were also invited to the occasion. mers, Julia Hassler and Simon Beck each other for a week and as soon as After Brazil withdrew from the World represented the small country in the he walked in the door I knew there was Cup in Christchurch (New Zealand), the first Youth Olympic Games in something up with him,” said Keri-Anne. national water polo federation accepted Singapore. Julia was chosen to be the “There was lots of lovey-dovey stuff and the invitation of FINA and quickly organ- flagbearer for the opening ceremony. then he got down on one knee and ised the trip of the women team to the said: “Will you marry me?” ‘I said: “Of event. “This team needs experience and Lithuania course!” Then I cried. They were tears the meet of the best eight teams of the Following tradition, a team from neigh- of joy.” Asked what she would be known world offers a unique opportunity to gain bouring Belarus also took part in the as following their marriage, the bride-to- some” – said head coach Matyas Lithuanian water polo championship. be said it would definitely not be Keri Petrovics. The Championship consisted of two Carry – nor Keri-Anne Payne-Carry or tours with the participation of three Keri-Anne Carry-Payne. “I will insist on Iceland teams from Lithuania and one from people using both parts of my first A six-member strong team took part in Belarus, being held for the first time in name – so it will be Keri-Anne Carry,” the Singapore Youth Olympic Games: the of city Elektrenai, situated midway she said. David and Keri-Anne, whose they all came up with brave perfor- between the major cities of Vilnius and relationship dates back five years, are mances and Bryndis Run Hansen even Kaunas. After a tight competition, finally one of two Anglo-Scottish couples in managed to clinch a semi-final berth in Vilnius “Baltic Amadeus” became the the British team. Liam Tancock and the 50m butterfly. winner of the Championship for the sixth Caitlin McClatchey also have a long- time in nine years, second was the team standing romantic attachment. Ireland from Minsk, third – Alytus, fourth – (By Peter Hassall, Editor, Swimming At the recent Annual General Meeting Elektrenai. All the participants were Times) of the Irish Water Polo Association the happy with the tournament conditions in following Executive Committee was Elektrenai, which is important because Greece elected: President: Robert Nolan, water polo games were organised for the After a set-back at senior level age- Chairman: Geoff Massey. Honorary first time in this nice 50 metres pool and group players gave Greece something to Secretary: Stephen O’Brien. Honorary it represented a main preparation for cheer about: the junior team clinched the Treasurer: Declan Finlay. Fixtures organising the youth water polo Nordic silver medal at the European Champion- Secretary: Cara Mulcahy. Director of European championship which will be 104 LEN Magazine LEN FAMILY

Montenegro Poland Another two... long- and short-course): one more than Though the national team lost the final to Twenty four talented Polish swimmers After winning the the former record holder Martina Serbia in the World League with a penal- took part in the Junior European World Champion- Moravcova from Slovakia. It is 13 years ty shootout, the silver medal means the Championships in Helsinki: 17 boys ship title, since Alshammar won her first champi- Macedonia Montenegro qualified for next year’s and 7 girls – they collected five medals the Serbians onship medal. “This is one of my best Macedonia sent six swimmers to the World Championships in Shanghai. (1-2-2) which put the country on the (pictured: Filip championships. I normally don´t partici- Junior European Championships in 11th place in the medal table. pate in three individual events and now Netherlands Filipovic) Helsinki and three swimmers to the a won a medal in all three. Beside that Portugal marched on Youth Olympic Games in Singapore – On Thursday August 12, 2010, Pieter it is really fun that we succeeded in the in 2010: they the federation used its funds in support van den Hoogenband was appointed Ana Rodrigues earned the country’s relays. Our medley team can be very of the young swimmers in favour of Chairman of the Organising Committee first medal at the Youth Olympic Games bagged the gold good in the future with so many young sending anyone to the senior continen- of the European Short-Course Swimm- in Singapore after finishing 3rd in the medals in the World swimmers,” Therese told to the Swedish tal showcase in Budapest. ing Championships in Eindhoven, taking 50m breaststroke. Leauge and in the newspaper Dagens Nyheter. place from Thursday November 25 to World Cup (From Karin Hamberg, Swedish Malta Sunday November 28, 2010, in the Swimming Federation) Improving the water polo skills of Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Romanian Water Polo Federation, with Switzerland teenage waterpolo players combined Stadium. As Chairman of the Organ- the support of Oradea Town Hall, with learning and practising the English izing Committee, Pieter van den organised the 14th FINA Men’s Water Two of the three Swiss swimmers at the language is the latest initiative to pro- Hoogenband will be the first point of Polo World Cup between July 27 and Youth Olympic Games produced some vide a comprehensive waterpolo edu- contact for the European Swimming August 1. After finishing fifth, the nation- good results: Yannick Kaeser and cation for these youngsters whose Federation (LEN) and he stands at the al team qualified for the FINA World Danielle Villars both reached the final of provenance is from eight different head of the organization of the 2010 Swimming Championships in Shanghai the events they entered. countries. The mastermind behind the European Championships. He will make 2011. Between 30-31 July in Oradea Lagunov (RUS). An interesting compe- Turkey programme is the Hungarian ace play- use of his extensive experience and we also staged the meeting of FINA of competition, with a show beyond that tition, the Slovenian Open national er Rajmund Fodor, who performed with knowledge of swimming to maintain TWPC Committee. FINA President Dr. in the water included. The solid prize championship was held in the small Ediz Yildirimer wrote history in Helsinki, great impact in 2008 and 2009 sea- contact with sponsors and (inter)nation- Julio C.Maglione was also present in fund, the enthusiastic supporters and a town Ravne na Koroskem. All Slovenian becoming the first European junior sons in Malta. This former Olympic and al swimmers. After his professional Oradea for a few days and participated sellout on tickets is guaranteed. swimmers were there (except Jernej swimming champion for his country. World Champion organised a waterpo- swimming career, Van den Hoogenband in the victory ceremony. (From Nickolai Dolgopolov, LEN Godec, who is in South Africa for chari- Yildirimer won the 800m free with ease lo camp on the island (June 21 to was named Tournament Director of the (By Radu Diaconescu, International Magazine correspondent) ty and because of injury he could not after finishing third in the 1,500m. August 29, 2010) that focussed on the Swim Cup Eindhoven in 2009. relations) travel to Budapest), including three Ukraine traditional Hungarian water polo cul- (By Marielle Disselhoff, LEN Maga- San Marino from America: Damir Dugonjic, Sara Russia ture with the help of other Hungarian zine correspondent) Swimmers entered only Italian events in Isakovic (both from Berkeley), Gregor The Ukrainian Swimming Federation coaches. There is also an English lan- The fourth edition of Vladimir Salnikov’s Piacenza, Rome, Imola and Catania Plevelj (SMU Dallas), as well as one of will host XIII European Masters Cham- Norway guage tutor who is providing the acad- Cup in swimming will be held in St- and did not take part in either continen- the best coaches of the world, Gennadi pionships in Yalta, September 2011. We emic background. Hungarian presence The country’s only swimmer taking part Petersbourg as always. 50 foreign and tal championships or the Youth Olympic Touretsky (ex-coach of Alexander have set up our Organising Committee. in the Youth Olympic Games came back 250 Russian swimmers accepted the The Championships web site with initial in Maltese waterpolo at present is con- Games. RELLANDINI REUTERS / STEFANO Photo: Popov) with the Swiss team. We saw spicuous, with no fewer than nine play- with a medal from Singapore: Lavrans invitation of the four-time Olympic cham- interesting competition, some duels information could be reached at ers militating in the Mediterranean Solli grabbed the bronze medal in the pion who is the President of the Serbia and a lot of young swimmers, such as www.yaltamasters2011.org/. More in- island’s national league. Among these 100m back. At senior level, Alex Dale Federation of Swimming of Russia. The Water polo achieved great successes in Tjasa Oder, European junior champion. formation for participants will be avail- are the well-known Tamas Molnar, Oen, the first man from our country to tournament will take place on the eve of Serbia: the national team won the (By Jolanda Bertole, TV SLO) able online in autumn. The Organising Tamas Varga (both Olympic champi- win a European swimming title, suc- the New Year on the December 28-29. World League in the town of Niš in Committee is working on affordable and ons) and Marton Toth. cessfully defended his 100m breast- Vladimir Salnikov’s Cup, which has even Serbia and the FINA Cup in Oradea, Spain convenient flights and accommodation. (By Alex Vella, LEN Magazine cor- stroke crown in Budapest. witnessed world records, is a new type Romania. The new pool in Smederevo Ivan Perez, one of the most talented Thanks to FINA Development pro- respondent) means a big step forward in Serbian centre-forwards of the world decided to grams, Ukrainian Swimming Coaches swimming: it is an outdoor pool with quit the Spanish national team after the will get an extra source to increase their Moldova Norway’s posterboy in swimming: Alexander Dale Oen, the best breaststoker 6.500 seats. Serbian water polo heroes World Championships in Rome, 2009. level of professional education. FINA Facing very difficult conditions, the in the 100m event took part in the opening ceremony in At the age of 38 the Spanish player, coaches’ certification program is cho- Swimming Federation of the Republic Smederevo. born in Cuba, will play only in his club sen as a base for new online tests. The of Moldova has managed to train two (By Dejan Stevovic, LEN Magazine CN . Ivan was world champi- first level of the “CoachTest” will be athletes to participate in the first Youth correspondent) on in Fukuoka 2001, bronze medallist available in January 2011. Olympic Games in Singapore: Julia at the World Championship in Mel- (By Gennadii Kliuchnyk, Executive Tanasienko, who placed 13th in 50m Slovakia bourne in 2007 and silver medallist in Director of Ukrainian Swimming Fe- breaststroke and Sergey Golban, who The domestic championships for men Rome in 2009. He was present at two deration) finished 14th in 100m backstroke. We and women came to an end. The men’s Olympic Games, Athens 2004 and look forward to any support offered event was won by CH Hornets Kosice Beijing 2008. In 2005, when Rafa from international organisations to keep for the 3rd time in a row. Interestingly Aguilar became the head coach of the The editorial board of LEN Magazine our sport and our Federation in the enough, out of the first four teams in the Spanish team he changed a lot of play- wishes to make this quarterly magazine a forum for the LEN Family where you Republic of Moldova alive. final ranking three were from Kosice. 1. ers in a switch of generations. In this CH Hornets Kosice, 2. Akademik new era for the Spanish team, Ivan can discuss ideas that promote the (By Alexander Tudose, Secretary progress of swimming. General) Kosice, 3. Tozan Topolcany 4. SKP Perez is one of the most important play- Kosice. As far as the women’s champi- ers for Rafa Aguilar. He adapted very We will evaluate swimming events and Monaco onships is concerned, the dominance well to the changes and he acted as a promote the exchange of information. At the European Junior Diving Cham- of the PVK Vrutky club is evident. guide for the younger players. Our idea is that all LEN Member pionships 2010 held in Helsinki, Pauline (By Stefan Bottlik, LEN Magazine (By Carlota Bestit, LEN Magazine Federations be featured by Ducruet finished 19th in the 1m spring- correspondent) correspondent, Spain) covering their activities board, while in the 3m springboard, she and event results. was ranked 22nd. It was her third par- Slovenia Sweden is a publication of the ticipation in this competition. She also Some eminent swimmers were in Slo- Therese Alshammar wrote history in LEN Magazine venia before the European Champion- Budapest. She won five medals, three LEN Family. We welcome all observa- entered the Youth Olympics in tions, advice, Singapore with her teammate Amelie ships in Budapest, including Lotte Friis, individual and two in relay. Therese’s opinions, news, information, photos at Trinquier (swimming). 800m and 1,500m champion from international tally is 67 championship the following address: (By Georges Kiehl, LEN Magazine Denmark, and male champions Pawel medals (Olympics, World Champion- [email protected] correspondent) Korzeniowski (POL) and Evgeny ships and European Championships, 106 107 LEN Photo: REUTERS / LASYLO BALOGH LEN Magazine Magazine FRIENDS

reasons to be really satisfied. It was not water world championships in Roberval so much the case with the World (Canada). At the end of August, it will Championships in Barcelona in 2003 but be the turn of our young hopes to fly out we recovered quickly and the Athens to Singapour where they will compete Olympic Games saw us at our best. In at the first Youth Olympic Games – not recent years we put to mention our junior water polo A Complicated Heritage In all respects and into the limelight as players, men and women, taking part in well as Filippo Magnini and Federica their respective European champion- An interview with Stefano Morini, res- Pellegrini who made their way to the top Four years ago in Budapest, the French ships in the month of August. ponsible of the Federal Centre of from the very start. After Beijing 2008 I team was the shining star of the As you can see, this summer the Verona. left FIN for personal reasons and beca- European championships bagging entire French Swimming Federation is me technical director of an important eighteen medals: fifteen in competitive in motion again. There are so many vic- You are the Coach of Federica Pelle - club which is now in full blossoms, swimming and three in open water, tories to savour and so many athletes to grini and the Head Coach at the ISPRA SwimPlanet. among them the title of Gilles Rondy on encourage yet. Let us not look towards Elite Centre of the Italian Swimm - 25 km. What memories, what smiles, the past, but concentrate on the pre- ing Federation in Verona. What You have started your work with the what moments of joy and happiness! sent, for tomorrow’s successes are does this position mean to you national team after the shiny suits Since that record crop, French being founded today! now, after Castagnetti passed era came to an end. Are there any swimming has ascended to new by President Francis Luyce away? changes compared to the past? heights. Some champions have retired, President of the French Swimming It was the hardest thing that has ever Nothing in terms of training methods. We others have emerged, but all of them Federation happened to me. Over the past fifteen were in a way used to train in those carry in themselves these successes, years Alberto and me worked side by high-tech suits, but our ’number one’ our victories, your triumphs. side just like husband and wife. Both of athletes have not really suffered becau- Long gone are the times when us managed to adjust to each other’s se of their absence. Of course, records France struggled to accumulate qualities and shortcomings. I am grateful are made to be beaten but, judging by medals. Nowadays our athletes draw to him for being more than a colleague, the number of records in the latest two crowds, seduce the public and take he was a friend, part of my family. We impressive challenges. Over the past seasons, we may still have to wait a few Two years to go – and now it’s time had our own disputes but we always years, France has discovered in itself a years. Now the focus is on the human to ‘plan your Games’ managed to sort out the small misun- factor and on training methods and not passion for aquatic battles. It is enough derstandings. We slept in the same to evoke the general craze incited by so much anymore on the technological The countdown to London 2012 passed room. We shared pleasant and unplea- aspect and on finding new materials for the third Night of the Water, the fourth sant moments as well. Rome ‘94 was a EDF Swimming Open or the operation its latest landmark with a series of high- the suits. The primary advantage of the profile events on Olympic sites – and a disaster. We don’t really know the rea- high-tech suits was not so much to Learning to Swim organized for the sons. The team was probably old, they third year this summer. renewed blaze of national publicity. assure a greater buoyancy – which, But the underlying message to eve- were reaching the end of their term. The anyway, was there – but the compressi- new generation started to show up at ryone who wishes to be involved in two on of the muscles, which helped redu- years’ time was: ‘Plan your Games now!’ the horizon in 1995 with Brembilla and cing fatigue, facilitating penetration in We are not rivals. Our goal Rosolino and a new set of medals was The athletes, of course, are already water and reducing the time needed halfway through their four-year training is the same: to make on its way starting with the European from the muscles to fully recover from Championships in Seville 1997. Then plans while most of the massive buil- swimming more and more fatigue thanks to a faster elimination of ding projects are on time or even ahead followed a period of significant improve- lactic acid. This was particularly true for popular world-wide. ment which led up to the European of schedule. the bigger and more used muscles, as, But people who’d like to be involved We are partners. Championships in Helsinki in 2000, for example, the femoral quadriceps. Would the development of swimming be where we won a lot, while the Sydney as volunteers, ambassadors, spectators Our partnership means necessary in Poland? During the last Olympics had placed Italy among the And what about managing Federica or even athlete sponsors should be that we introduce each twenty years since the communist sys- swimming superpowers of the world, Pellegrini? taking the first steps about now. Those tem was destroyed the swimming infra- who leave it too long may find they have with the gold medals of Fioravanti and Federica is a thoroughbred. A true pro- other in our own magazine. structure changed dramatically. In 1990 also left it too late. Rosolino. One year later at the World fessional in and out water. Training goes Poland was a country with two or three LOCOG chair Seb Coe said: ‘The We are friends. Our idea is Championships in Fukuoka we did have smoothly with her, she can manage both indoor 50m swimming pools. None of venues are nearing completion and our her private and entrepreneurial life. to generate interest in these them was adequate enough to organize plans are coming together. Now it’s the Federica has learned to manage her national and international bigger competitions even at national public’s turn.” own image just like Rosolino, being hel- level. At the start of the last decade of the ‘How will you spend the summer of magazines and to ped by her agent, staff and family. 20th century Poland had about 30 regis- 2012? Whether it’s buying a ticket, Federica is quite gifted as an athlete, encourage readers to sub- tered swimming clubs while at the start of becoming a volunteer, being part of our with an exceptional kinetic intelligence, the second decade of the 21st century education or culture programmes – scribe to them. an extraordinary ability to concentrate Poland will have several 50m swimming there are hundreds of ways people can and she is a 100% professional. Now Here is a selection of the pools, among them at least three or four get involved. To ensure you don’t miss she has also become the team leader: most well known with a capacity of two-three thousand out, start planning your Games now.’ she is open and no longer introvert and spectators and ready to host biggest Events marking ‘two years to go’ magazines and excerpts she can make herself heard by everyo- We are a great aquatic nation – and international events. Information issued included a tour of the Olympic Park by ne. Her everyday training includes two I am deeply convinced of it. Of course, from their latest issues as by the Polish Ministry of Sport indicates volunteers, VIPs and 70 Visa Team training sessions, totalling 16-17 km a not the greatest, let us be modest, but that there are over 1,300 commercial 2012 athletes, who were able to step an appetizer day. She goes to the gym every other still. At the end of June, Michael Phelps indoor pools of different sizes (25m and inside venues for the first time. They day. and Cesar Cielo were there in Paris, less). The number of swimming clubs and in a few days, French swimmers walked across the main spectator brid- increased to nearly 300 and the number ge, which adjoins the iconic Aquatics by Camillo Cametti will challenge the emblematic continen- of registered swimmers increased from tal swimmers in Budapest (Hungary). Centre and will be the ‘front door’ to the 3,000 in 1990 to about 15,000 in 2009. In July, the national juniors splashed Olympic Park. Undoubtedly, all this shows a huge the European Championships of The pool is not yet ready to swim in development in the swimming infrastruc- Helsinki (Finland) with their talent by but Olympic 10km medallist and former ture that may contribute to a bigger pop- sweeping in 17 medals of which 5 were world champion Keri-Anne Payne was ularity of swimming in Poland. titles. After them, it was the sea mara- meeting and greeting the public at Pana - by Leszek Scisly thonians who took part in the open sonic’s 2012 stall in Trafalgar Square. 108 LEN LEN 109 Magazine Magazine FRIENDS

funding for our elite athletes in the run Andreas Waschburger managed a up to 2012 - but it has never been more start-to-finish victory in a spirited race. important, given the difficult economic The Mainz junior Manuel Belzer surpri- situation we’re in, to have business singly touched home in third place behind our athletes. behind the three-time Olympian ‘Supporting the Olympics is not just Kvetoslav Sloboda from Czech something the big multi-nationals can Republic. do – it is within the reach of every small Hendrik Rijkens, Florian Dörries (ST and medium business in the UK and I’d Elmshorn) and Alexander Röhling encourage as many as possible to get (Berlin) rounded off some very good involved.’ men’s results in places 5-7. For more details, visit www.team- Eva Risztov from Hungary domina- 2012.com/support/sme. ted among the women. Isabell Donath finished the race with a solid perfor- mance in third place, behind Spain’s Marta Recio. The other participants in the European Junior Championships, Josephine Paschke (Berlin Swimming Club), Lena Stiefvater (SG Neukölln Berlin) and Taina Raezke (ST Successes in Turkey Elmshorn) gained valuable experience in 9th, 11th and 13th places. While the best German open water swimmers were fighting for medals at By Bernd Berkhan ‘It’s a day to have some fun and get the World Championships in Roberval involved in the Olympics – and (Canada), a young team was also com- Panasonic have got the 3D stuff that they peting at the European Cup in Kocaeli, are going to be releasing soon,’ she said. Tur key. Led by the experienced Andreas ‘Our Team’ scheme invites small and Waschburger (Saar Max Ritter club) and medium businesses to share in 2012 Isabell Donath (Erfurter SSC), another 12 members of the youth squad took part Latest on Pan Pacs A new and innovative fundraising pro- in the third stage of this year’s European gramme has been launched to help Cup. The youth squad included the six Europe may have put its 2010 long- meet the £25m fundraising target set for swimmers nominated for the European course showcase behind it but the rest Team 2012. Junior Championships. The objective of the world is still to fire on all cyclin- ‘Our Team 2012’ is designed to pro- was to gain more experience against ders. Over in California, the Pan Pacific vide smaller businesses across the UK strong international competition in Turkey, Championships got underway the week with an opportunity to support high-per- by way of preparation for the European after Budapest waved goodbye to its formance Olympic and Paralympic Junior Championships in Hoorn, continental visitors, while in October sport in the build-up to London 2012. Netherlands, at the beginning of August. and Delhi many of those who raced eit- It will also raise vital funds to help her in Hungary (Britain) or at the Pan provide British athletes with the training Pacs (Australia, Canada and South and equipment they need to compete at Africa included) will clash at the the highest level. With a cost of less Commonwealth Games. And of that than £10,000 per annum for the two- before Guagzhou hosts the Asian year programme, the scheme is desig- Games. For reports, analysis and pictu- ned to be accessible to small and medi- res from the biggest international um-sized enterprises (SMEs). In return events of the year, get your copy of they will gain a ‘catalogue of business SwimNews Magazine. benefits’ as well as sharing in the exci- tement of the home Olympics. The programme provides SMEs with opportunities for staff engagement as they join athletes on their journeys to 2012. It also offers access to hospitality events at prestigious venues, including the House of Lords, and tickets to major sporting events across the UK. SMEs will also enjoy networking opportunities in their own regions, seminars, insight and training. Minister for Sport and Olympics Hugh Robertson described the scheme as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity for business to support athletes on their home turf. ‘Sports funding has always come The 5-kilometre race in the Sea of from a mixture of Exchequer, Lottery Marmora was held under good outdoor and private sources,’ he said. conditions, only the stinging jellyfish and ‘As a government, we have commit- saltwater brought some unwelcome ted substantial Exchequer and Lottery experiences to some athletes. 110 LEN Magazine Baron (FRA) Driensen (GER) Garbuzov (RUS)

Leveaux (FRA)

Szepesi (HUN) 4 Lochte (USA)

Fred Bousquet: No. 1. in sprint and in tattoos, too

Uran (COL) Meichtry (SUI) Photo: REUTERS Photo:

Vari (HUN)

Stories on the skin There is no way to hide it. Again. No more bodysuits – so all tattoos are visible to the public eye. (In swimming. Water polo, diving – nothing special.) Targets (the Olympics). Memories (gold medals, and the name of the Olympic city) or something special. A message, a quote, a mark. All have their own story. Here are the pictures to tell them. cover1:Layout 1 2010.08.24. 10:39 Page 2 cover1:Layout 12010.08.24.10:38Page

LEN Magazine 2010/3 28-28-242-32

LEN of Swimming The Return Magazine EUROPEAN AQUATICS HIGHLIGHTS www.lenmagazine.com

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