The Official Swimming Thread

[BlackpoolTerrier]

Am front call room official for the finals tonight - a lot of elite muscle about to pass through here later.

 

[El Guapo]

Am front call room official for the finals tonight - a lot of elite muscle about to pass through here later.

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Class. Plenty of massive headphones and unnecessary eye contact in store.

 

[BlackpoolTerrier]

Class. Plenty of massive headphones and unnecessary eye contact in store.

LOL, spot on.
You forgot the big puffy jackets and the goggles. The googles are great for avoiding the aforementioned eye contact.
It’s good craic revving them up as they stand up in a queue to head out and be introduced to the crowd. Some of them are allergic to it but most of them love it.
Andy Bree does live commentary for the races over the PA so there’s an excellent buzz in the arena.

 

[The Shakey Fridge]

Wiffen on the late late last night.

Seems like a nice lad tbf.

Unbelievable drive

 

[BlackpoolTerrier]

Wiffen on the late late last night.

Seems like a nice lad tbf.

Unbelievable drive

His attitude has been brilliant from day one. None of this "Yerra, we're lucky to be there competing at this high level and we'll see how things go on Sunday" shite that you get from so many sportspeople in this country- he always pushes towards ambitious goals.
In late 2022 / early 2023 when he still hadn't medalled at any big world-level event, he went on the record as saying he wanted to break the 800m World record before Paris. It raised a few eyebrows at the time but he went ahead and did just that - brilliant.

Delighted to hear him say he's going to try for the World record at the Irish Open in the NAC - his training must be going well. Unless the big guns fly in to compete, that could be a long solo swim and a tough ask. We'll have 20 or so swimmers competing at that gala - some buzz to be there when he goes for it.

 

[The Shakey Fridge]

His attitude has been brilliant from day one. None of this "Yerra, we're lucky to be there competing at this high level and we'll see how things go on Sunday" shite that you get from so many sportspeople in this country- he always pushes towards ambitious goals.
In late 2022 / early 2023 when he still hadn't medalled at any big world-level event, he went on the record as saying he wanted to break the 800m World record before Paris. It raised a few eyebrows at the time but he went ahead and did just that - brilliant.

Delighted to hear him say he's going to try for the World record at the Irish Open in the NAC - his training must be going well. Unless the big guns fly in to compete, that could be a long solo swim and a tough ask. We'll have 20 or so swimmers competing at that gala - some buzz to be there when he goes for it.

Yup, great to see an Irish talent with that kind of self belief.

There was a BBC clip there (sure it was posted here) of his daily training routine. Totally mind-boggling degree of application.

 

[El Guapo]

Wiff cashing in.

Delighted for him. I hope he makes a serious wedge

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[BlackpoolTerrier]

Good on him.

Meanwhile, he's not ignoring the Nordie Olympic bros either

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[BlackpoolTerrier]

Meanwhile, his stated aim to go for the World Record at the Irish Open has made FINA take note of the event. We were up in the NAC for the schools relays / schools interpro a couple of weeks ago and the FINA measurers were in with their equipment to take a measurement of the pool length. The timing pads are fixed to the pool walls so they have to make sure that with the pads in position, the pool is still exactly 50m long.

Wiffen is putting in serious levels of training apparently. There was talk of a recent session where he did a 4 X 800 set with each of the pieces just 10 seconds shy of World Record pace - and this is in the middle of a full training cycle
If it's true, then he's absolutely flying. He's always had a legendary ability to hold specific splits - almost down to the half second. In fairness, Bobby Finke beat him by disrupting that rhythm in the 1500 in Paris. If there's no serious oppo in Dublin he'll really need that level of focus.

 

[BlackpoolTerrier]

John Rudd gone bang!

Well, he's actually off to benefit from some serious sportswashing by taking up the role of Saudi National Director.

Hard to begrudge him the chance of a mega-wedge ($1.5MM p.a. allegedly). He's put in 8 years in Ireland and has transformed the sport here. Largest ever team qualified for Paris - medals, finals and every single swimmer qualified for a semif-final at a minimum. Right down to 8-yr olds, the format of swimming and structure of competions in Ireland bears his stamp.
The big danger now is that hell take the regional coaches with him too.

Meanwhile, watch out for the number of swimmers working the residency rule to move to Saudi. Right now, their standard is dire and I wonder will there be a women's team.