OPEN WATER ISSUE AGE GROUP EXCELLENCE: TOP COACHES TELL ALL KING & QUEEN OF OPEN WATER NOVEMBER 2014 • VOLUME 55 • NO. 11 THE AMERICAN $3.95 ENERGIZER HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS (SEE PAGE 24) GET CHARGED GET CHALLENGED GET FIT Speedo Fit is a fitness app that’s made by swimmers for swimmers. You can set and reach goals, track swims, join challenges, discover pools, and get expert swim tips. It’s a fun way to maximize every swim. for more info visit: speedousa.com/speedofit Speedo and are registered trademarks of and used under license from Speedo International Limited. App screens are simulated for demonstration purposes. redefine limitations. MALLORY WEGGEMANN ∙ PARALYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST On January 21, 2008, complications from a routine medical procedure left Mallory Weggemann paralyzed from the waist down. Mallory returned to the pool in April of 2008 and since then she has set 16 World Records and 33 American Records. To learn more about Mallory, visit her athlete page at www.FINISinc.com FINISinc.com PROTECTION THAT DOESN’T SUCK. NIKE SOFT SEAL Nike Soft Seal Gasket technology provides female athletes with a performance goggle that offers maximum skin protection and a watertight fit. NI KESWIM.COM 024 | OCEAN’S SEVEN NO PROBLEM 016 | SWIMMING TECHNIQUE FOR SUPER SIX MISCONCEPTIONS: THE ANCHOR NOVEMBER by Jason Marsteller CONCEPT IN SWIMMING Only six swimmers have completed the by Rod Havrilukr 2014 Ocean’s Seven challenge, a series of long- A common swimming technique miscon- distance open water adventures around ception is that the arm “anchors” at the FEATURES the world that tests one’s endurance and beginning of the pull. An “anchored” arm fortitude. implies a non-moving object to assist the 013 | BREATHTAKING! pull, which can delay the beginning of by Michael J. Stott 030 | SHE STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD force generation and inaccurately depict Four coaches share their thoughts on by Jeff Commings arm motion. optimal breathing patterns for, perhaps, Elizabeth Beisel is full of energy, fun- the most exciting race in swimming: the loving, encouraging, a favorite among 50 free. members of the USA Swimming national team, hard-working, extremely talented... 018 | 2014 OPEN WATER SWIMMERS and focused on Olympic gold in 2016 OF THE YEAR at Rio de Janeiro. by Steven Munatones The Netherlands’ Sharon van Rouwendaal 033 | AMONG THE NATION’S BEST and the USA’s Andrew Gemmell earned by Erin Quinn Swimming World Magazine’s honor as its Marilyn Mangels and John Flanagan—vet- 2014 Open Water Swimmers of the Year. eran coaches at the Tysons Corner site (Va.) of the Nation’s Capital Swim Club—know ON THE COVER what it takes to help their swim- 030 After winning the women’s 400 IM at this summer’s U.S. mers continually produce stellar 035 | COACH JOHN FLANAGAN’S performances. FAVORITE SETS nationals, Elizabeth Beisel, 22, received a hug from her mom, by Jeff Commings and John Flanagan Joanie—a USA Swimming official who presented the awards for the 036 | TOP 10 event. Two weeks later, Elizabeth led a 1-2 USA finish in the medley at TRIUMPHS & 041 | Q&A WITH COACH NED SKINNER the Pan Pacific Championships in Australia. The 2012 Olympic silver TRAGEDIES by Michael J. Stott (400 IM) and bronze (200 back) medalist is the second-fastest by Chuck Warner American in history in the 400 IM and the world’s ninth-fastest Beginning in its April issue 042 |HOW THEY TRAIN COLLIN HIGGINS performer. (See stories, pages 30 and 44.) and continuing monthly through by Michael J. Stott [PHOTO BY GRIFFIN SCOTT] January 2015, Swimming World Magazine is counting down the top 10 TRAINING triumphs and tragedies in the history of 020 | OPEN WATER: TOP STORIES swimming. This month: #3 World War II of 039 | DRYSIDE TRAINING: OF 2014 Sacrifice and Honor Slows the Advance of CONNECTING THE EXTREMETIES by Jeff Commings Swimming. FOR BETTER SWIMMING This past year witnessed historic English by J.R. Rosania Channel crossings, a changing of the COACHING guard at the European Championships JUNIOR SWIMMER and a changing of the venue for the 010 | LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: Pan Pacific Championships that saw the BOB STEELE 045 | Up & Comers United States continue its dominance by Michael J. Stott since 2006. COLUMNS & 012 | TECHNIQUE: RECOVERING SPECIAL SECTIONS 022 | FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA FROM A MISSED TURN by Jason Marsteller by Jeff Commings and Graham Bodner 008 | A Voice for the Sport Pan Pacs 10K champion Andrew Gemmell Every swimmer has botched a freestyle or certainly racked up plenty of frequent flyer backstroke turn in his or her swimming 026 | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE miles this summer while competing for career. One reason is because every pool is Team USA in Australia, then Hawaii, during different. Swimming World asked Graham 046 | Gutter Talk a three-week period in August. Bodner to share his thoughts on what swimmers should do if they don’t execute 048 | Parting Shot their flip turns accurately. SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE (ISSN 0039-7431). Note: permission to reprint articles or excerpts from contents is prohibited without permission from the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for errors in advertisements. Microfilm copies: available from University Microfilms, 313 N. First St., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Swimming World Magazine is listed in the Physical Education Index. Printed in the U.S.A. © Sports Publications International, November 2014. 6 November 2014 A Voice for the Sport SOME OLYMPICS ARE MORE SPECIAL THAN OTHERS BY BRENT T. RUTEMILLER Have you ever taught a blind person past year, Vanessa won a ribbon in the to float or a deaf person to swim? How 25 freestyle for her classification. Her about watching a young boy throw his mother proudly walked beside her. crutches to the ground before sliding * * * into the water for a swim lesson? Have Five years ago, Kyle walked by swing- PUBLISHING, CIRCULATION AND you seen a parent crying tears of joy? ing his hips and dragging one leg. His ACCOUNTING OFFICE P.O. Box 20337, Sedona, AZ 86341 I have experienced all of these as a arms didn’t fully extend, mostly because Toll Free in USA & Canada: 800-511-3029 volunteer Special Olympics swim coach. of shortened tendons in his body. He has Phone: 928-284-4005 • Fax: 928-284-2477 www.SwimmingWorldMagazine.com The rewards far outweigh any other a mild case of cerebral palsy. He did not Chairman of the Board, President - Richard Deal thing I have accomplished. know how to swim. For [email protected] * * * the first four years Publisher, CEO - Brent T. Rutemiller I remember Edson, who asked to be on the team, Kyle [email protected] Circulation/Art Director - Karen Deal on my S.O.S. swim team (Special Olym- simply did dog- [email protected] gie paddle and pics Swimmers). His mom pushed him Circulation Manager - Maureen Rankin onto the deck in a rolled over on his [email protected] wheelchair. Edson back for a breath. Advertising Production Coordinator - Betsy Houlihan [email protected] could only propel His legs dragged himself with his behind him. EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION, MERCHANDISING, MARKETING AND arms. His legs We decided to buy some arm floaties ADVERTISING OFFICE dragged toward to put on his feet. Immediately, his body 2744 East Glenrosa Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85016 Toll Free: 800-352-7946 the bottom as he position improved to the point where he Phone: 602-522-0778 • Fax: 602-522-0744 wiggled through is now swimming close to a mile at every www.SwimmingWorldMagazine.com the water. I would practice. Kyle won individual medals this EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION pull him up for air, then let him go back past year, and he proudly took them to [email protected] Senior Editor - Bob Ingram under. He won a medal that summer for his school. [email protected] the 10-meter assisted swim at the Ari- * * * Managing Editor - Jason Marsteller zona Special Olympic State Champion- At age 5, Eric came to us with no [email protected] ships. language skills and a tremendous fear Graphic Designers - Emmi Brytowski, Joe Johnson Today, Edson walks with crutches, of the water. His parents thought he Staff Writers - Michael J. Stott swims 400 yards per practice, rides a would never learn to Fitness Trainer - J.R. Rosania three-wheel bike and has a room full of swim. Communica- Chief Photographer - Peter H. Bick swimming medals. tion was more a SwimmingWorldMagazine.com WebMaster: * * * game of charades [email protected] I also remember the day the gate and hand signs. MARKETING AND ADVERTISING swung open, and in walked a mother But after three [email protected] Marketing Coordinator - Tiffany Elias with a young teen-age girl named Van- years of teaching, [email protected] essa. The mother was holding the girl’s Eric (age 8) stood MULTI-MEDIA arm above the elbow. The girl was wav- on the top podium by Writer/Producer - Jeff Commings ing a cane, left to right, himself last month while his extended [email protected] in front of her. family snapped photos of him with two INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS Vanessa lives arms raised. The moment was tearful. Africa: Chaker Belhadj (TUN) Australia: Wayne Goldsmith, Ian Hanson in a dark world Europe: Norbert Agh (HUN), Camilo Cametti (ITA), Oene Rusticus (NED), Steven Selthoffer (GER), where there is * * * Rokur Jakupsstovu (FAR) no difference be- These are just some of the success Japan: Hideki Mochizuki Middle East: Baruch “Buky” Chass, Ph.D. (ISR) tween above and stories that come from being a part of South Africa: Neville Smith (RSA) South America: Jorge Aguado (ARG), below the surface. It this great program. I encourage every- Alex Pussieldi (BRA) took a whole season to one to donate a few hours each week to PHOTOGRAPHERS/SWTV teach her to float on her back.