IBSC wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2013.
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Friday, 21 December 2012
The Star : MSSM kingpins to host two events next year
By Y.P. SIVAM
THE Selangor Schools Sports Council (MSSS) have been given the responsibility to host two events — aquatics and artistic gymnastics — in the 2013 Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) programme.
Selangor Education Department Sports Unit head Noor Azli Abdul Rahman (pic) said they would be hosting both the events for the second straight year.
“We are happy to be given the opportunity to host the event again. We will work hard towards making the aquatics and artistic gymnastics events an exciting and interesting affair to the participating states,’’ said Noor Azli.
The aquatics championship involves swimming, diving and water-polo and will be held at the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre in Shah Alam from March 21-31 while the venue for the artistic gymnastics, to be held from June 2-9, is yet to be finalised.
As in the past years, Selangor are eager to maintain their supremacy in the MSSM programme. Selangor are considered the kingpins of the MSSM programme. They have been the overall champions since 2000. This year, Selangor were champions in seven sports — cross country, chess, artistic gymnastics, basketball, table tennis, tennis and bowling — and runners-up in football, softball, golf, sailing, aquatics and rhythmic gymnastics.
Noor Azli said they had started early preparations for the new season with several programmes.
“We had initiated the Mini Olympics and also the Under-11 carnival. The two events were a platform to identify new talents for the 2013 and subsequent years,’’ said Noor Azli.
The MSSS will start the new season with the golf championships for three age groups — Under-12, Under-15 and Under-18 — for both boys and girls, to be organised by Hulu Langat District Schools Sports Council on Feb 18.
A total 12 events — cross country, golf, cricket, archery, rugby, chess, squash, aquatics, table tennis, rhythmic gymnastics and athletics — will be held in February and March.
Another 12 sports — football, bowling, handball, softball, netball, artistic gymnastics, badminton, hockey, volleyball, sailing, basketball and sepak takraw — will be held during the month of May and April.
Noor Azli said the championships would serve as a selection base to identify Selangor’s representatives for the MSSM championships.
“The technical chairman of the respective sports will be responsible for selecting the players as well as drawing up the training programmes for the MSSM championships. We are confident the officials will do a good job,’’ said Noor Azli.
The Selangor Schools Sports Council (MSSM) 2013 Programme
Feb 18-21: Golf (Hulu Langat)
Feb 18-22: Rugby (Gombak)
Feb 18-22: Chess (Sepang)
Feb 18-22: Aquatics (Petaling Utama)
Feb 18-22: Table Tennis (Sabak Bernam)
Feb 18-22: Cricket (Hulu Selangor)
Feb 19-22: Squash (Petaling Utama)
Feb 22-24: Cross Country (Sabak Bernam)
Feb 25-28: Archery (Hulu Langat)
Feb 25-28: Tennis (Kuala Langat)
March 4-8: Rhythmic Gymnastics (Kuala Langat)
April 15-18: Athletics (Petaling Perdana)
April 22-26: Hockey (Hulu Selangor)
April 22-26: Volleyball (Petaling Perdana)
April 22-26: Softball (Klang)
April 22-26: Netball (Kuala Selangor)
May 5-9: Badminton (Petaling Utama)
May 6-10: Football (Kuala Selangor)
May 6-10: Bowling (Gombak)
May 6-10: Handball (Hulu Langat)
May 6-10: Artistic Gymnastics (Petaling Perdana)
May 6-10: Sailing (Sepang)
May 6-10: Basketball (Klang)
May 13-17: Sepak Takraw (Kuala Selangor)
Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) 2013 Programme
March 21-25: Cross Country (Kelantan)
March 23-29: Golf (Sabah)
March 23-31: Cricket (Penang)
March 23-30: Archery (Kuala Lumpur)
March 23-31: Rugby (Perak)
March 23-31: Chess (Perak)
March 23-April 1: Squash (Malacca)
March 23-31: Aquatics (Selangor)
March 23-31: Table Tennis (Kelantan)
March 23-31: Tennis (Sarawak)
March 23-30: Rhythmic Gymnastics (Kuala Lumpur)
May 17-24: Athletics (Pahang)
June 1-9: Hockey (Malacca)
June 1-9: Volleyball (Terengganu)
June 1-9: Sailing (Terengganu)
June 1-9: Basketball (Penang)
June 1-9: Handball (Kedah)
June 1-9: Football (Johor)
June 2-9: Bowling (Johor)
June 2-9: Softball (Negri Sembilan)
June 2-8: Netball (Perlis)
June 2-9: Artistic Gymnastics (Selangor)
June 2-8: Badminton (Labuan)
June 2-9: Sepak Takraw (Kedah)
THE Selangor Schools Sports Council (MSSS) have been given the responsibility to host two events — aquatics and artistic gymnastics — in the 2013 Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) programme.
Selangor Education Department Sports Unit head Noor Azli Abdul Rahman (pic) said they would be hosting both the events for the second straight year.
“We are happy to be given the opportunity to host the event again. We will work hard towards making the aquatics and artistic gymnastics events an exciting and interesting affair to the participating states,’’ said Noor Azli.
The aquatics championship involves swimming, diving and water-polo and will be held at the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre in Shah Alam from March 21-31 while the venue for the artistic gymnastics, to be held from June 2-9, is yet to be finalised.
As in the past years, Selangor are eager to maintain their supremacy in the MSSM programme. Selangor are considered the kingpins of the MSSM programme. They have been the overall champions since 2000. This year, Selangor were champions in seven sports — cross country, chess, artistic gymnastics, basketball, table tennis, tennis and bowling — and runners-up in football, softball, golf, sailing, aquatics and rhythmic gymnastics.
Noor Azli said they had started early preparations for the new season with several programmes.
“We had initiated the Mini Olympics and also the Under-11 carnival. The two events were a platform to identify new talents for the 2013 and subsequent years,’’ said Noor Azli.
The MSSS will start the new season with the golf championships for three age groups — Under-12, Under-15 and Under-18 — for both boys and girls, to be organised by Hulu Langat District Schools Sports Council on Feb 18.
A total 12 events — cross country, golf, cricket, archery, rugby, chess, squash, aquatics, table tennis, rhythmic gymnastics and athletics — will be held in February and March.
Another 12 sports — football, bowling, handball, softball, netball, artistic gymnastics, badminton, hockey, volleyball, sailing, basketball and sepak takraw — will be held during the month of May and April.
Noor Azli said the championships would serve as a selection base to identify Selangor’s representatives for the MSSM championships.
“The technical chairman of the respective sports will be responsible for selecting the players as well as drawing up the training programmes for the MSSM championships. We are confident the officials will do a good job,’’ said Noor Azli.
The Selangor Schools Sports Council (MSSM) 2013 Programme
Feb 18-21: Golf (Hulu Langat)
Feb 18-22: Rugby (Gombak)
Feb 18-22: Chess (Sepang)
Feb 18-22: Aquatics (Petaling Utama)
Feb 18-22: Table Tennis (Sabak Bernam)
Feb 18-22: Cricket (Hulu Selangor)
Feb 19-22: Squash (Petaling Utama)
Feb 22-24: Cross Country (Sabak Bernam)
Feb 25-28: Archery (Hulu Langat)
Feb 25-28: Tennis (Kuala Langat)
March 4-8: Rhythmic Gymnastics (Kuala Langat)
April 15-18: Athletics (Petaling Perdana)
April 22-26: Hockey (Hulu Selangor)
April 22-26: Volleyball (Petaling Perdana)
April 22-26: Softball (Klang)
April 22-26: Netball (Kuala Selangor)
May 5-9: Badminton (Petaling Utama)
May 6-10: Football (Kuala Selangor)
May 6-10: Bowling (Gombak)
May 6-10: Handball (Hulu Langat)
May 6-10: Artistic Gymnastics (Petaling Perdana)
May 6-10: Sailing (Sepang)
May 6-10: Basketball (Klang)
May 13-17: Sepak Takraw (Kuala Selangor)
Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) 2013 Programme
March 21-25: Cross Country (Kelantan)
March 23-29: Golf (Sabah)
March 23-31: Cricket (Penang)
March 23-30: Archery (Kuala Lumpur)
March 23-31: Rugby (Perak)
March 23-31: Chess (Perak)
March 23-April 1: Squash (Malacca)
March 23-31: Aquatics (Selangor)
March 23-31: Table Tennis (Kelantan)
March 23-31: Tennis (Sarawak)
March 23-30: Rhythmic Gymnastics (Kuala Lumpur)
May 17-24: Athletics (Pahang)
June 1-9: Hockey (Malacca)
June 1-9: Volleyball (Terengganu)
June 1-9: Sailing (Terengganu)
June 1-9: Basketball (Penang)
June 1-9: Handball (Kedah)
June 1-9: Football (Johor)
June 2-9: Bowling (Johor)
June 2-9: Softball (Negri Sembilan)
June 2-8: Netball (Perlis)
June 2-9: Artistic Gymnastics (Selangor)
June 2-8: Badminton (Labuan)
June 2-9: Sepak Takraw (Kedah)
NY Daily News : Michael Phelps voted AP athlete of the year for breaking Olympic medal haul record at 2012 London games
 |
| Phelps finished with 40 votes in balloting by U.S. editors and broadcasters, while James was next with 37. Track star Usain Bolt, who won three gold medals in London, was third with 23. |
Now that he’s away from the pool, Michael Phelps can reflect — really reflect — on what he accomplished.
Pretty amazing stuff.
“It’s kind of nuts to think about everything I’ve gone through,” Phelps said. “I’ve finally had time to myself, to sit back and say, ‘... that really happened?’ It’s kind of shocking at times.”
Not that his career needed a capper, but Phelps added one more honor to his staggering list of accomplishments Thursday — The Associated Press male athlete of the year.
Phelps edged out LeBron James to win the award for the second time, not only a fitting payoff for another brilliant Olympics (four gold medals and two silvers in swimming at the London Games) but recognition for one of the greatest careers in any sport.
Phelps finished with 40 votes in balloting by U.S. editors and broadcasters, while James was next with 37. Track star Usain Bolt, who won three gold medals in London, was third with 23.
Carl Lewis is the only other Olympic-related star to be named AP male athlete of the year more than once, taking the award for his track and field exploits in 1983 and ‘84. The only men honored more than twice are golf’s Tiger Woods and cyclist Lance Armstrong (four times each), and basketball’s Michael Jordan (three times).
“Obviously, it’s a big accomplishment,” Phelps said. “There’s so many amazing male athletes all over the world and all over our country. To be able to win this is something that just sort of tops off my career.”
Phelps retired at age 27 as soon as he finished his final race in London, having won more gold medals (18) and overall medals (22) than any other Olympian.
No one else is even close.
“That’s what I wanted to do,” Phelps said. “Now that it’s over, it’s something I can look back on and say, ‘That was a pretty amazing ride.”’
The current ride isn’t so bad either.
Set for life financially, he has turned his fierce competitive drive to golf, working on his links game with renowned coach Hank Haney as part of a television series on the Golf Channel. In fact, after being informed of winning the AP award, Phelps called in from the famed El Dorado Golf & Beach Club in Los Cabos, Mexico, where he was heading out with Haney to play a few more holes before nightfall.
“I can’t really complain,” Phelps quipped over the phone.
Certainly, he has no complaints about his swimming career, which helped turn a sport that most Americans only paid attention to every four years into more of a mainstream pursuit.
More kids took up swimming. More advertisers jumped on board. More viewers tuned in to watch.
While swimming is unlikely to ever match the appeal of football or baseball, it has carved out a nice little niche for itself amid all the other athletic options in the United States — largely due to Phelps’ amazing accomplishments and aw-shucks appeal.
Just the fact that he won over James shows just how much pull Phelps still has. James had an amazing year by any measure: The league MVP won his first NBA title with the Miami Heat, picking up finals MVP honors along the way, and then starred on the gold medal-winning U.S. basketball team in London.
Phelps already had won the AP award in 2008 after his eight gold medals in Beijing, which broke Mark Spitz’s record. Phelps got it again with a performance that didn’t quite match up to the Great Haul of China, but was amazing in its own right.
After the embarrassment of being photographed taking a hit from a marijuana pipe and questioning whether he still had the desire to go on, Phelps returned with a vengeance as the London Games approached. Never mind that he was already the winningest Olympian ever. Never mind that he could’ve eclipsed the record for overall medals just by swimming on the relays.
He wanted to be one of those rare athletes who went out on top.
“That’s just who he is,” said Bob Bowman, his longtime coach. “He just couldn’t live with himself if knew he didn’t go out there and give it good shot and really know he’s competitive. He doesn’t know anything else but to give that kind of effort and have those kind of expectations.”
Phelps got off to a rocky start in London, finishing fourth in the 400-meter individual medley, blown out of the water by his friend and rival, Ryan Lochte. It was only the second time that Phelps had not at least finished in the top three of an Olympic race, the first coming way back in 2000 when he was fifth in his only event of the Sydney Games as a 15-year-old.
To everyone looking in, Lochte seemed poised to become the new Phelps — while the real Phelps appeared all washed up.
But he wasn’t going out like that.
No way.
Phelps rebounded to become the biggest star at the pool, edging Lochte in the 200 IM, contributing to a pair of relay victories, and winning his final individual race, the 100 butterfly. There were two silvers, as well, leaving Phelps with a staggering resume that will be awfully difficult for anyone to eclipse.
His 18 golds are twice as many as anyone else in Olympic history. His 22 medals are four clear of Larisa Latynina, a Soviet-era gymnast, and seven more than the next athlete on the list. Heck, if Phelps was a nation, he’d be 58th in the medal standings, just one behind India (population: 1.2 billion).
“When I’m flying all over the place, I write a lot in my journal,” Phelps said. “I kind of relive all the memories, all the moments I had throughout my career. That’s pretty special. I’ve never done that before. It’s amazing when you see it all on paper.”
Four months into retirement, Phelps has no desire to get back in the pool. Oh, he’ll swim every now and then for relaxation, using the water to unwind rather than putting in one of his famously grueling practices. Golf is his passion at the moment, but he’s also found time to cheer on his hometown NFL team, the Baltimore Ravens, and start looking around for a racehorse that he and Bowman can buy together.
Phelps hasn’t turned his back on swimming, either. He’s got his name attached to a line of schools that he wants to take worldwide. He’s also devoting more time to his foundation, which is dedicated to teaching kids to swim and funding programs that will grow the sport even more.
He’s already done so much.
“His contribution to the way the world thinks about swimming is so powerful,” Bowman said. “I don’t think any other athlete has transformed his sport the way he’s transformed swimming.”
Phelps still receives regular texts from old friends and teammates, asking when he’s going to give up on this retirement thing and come back the pool as a competitor.
He scoffs at the notion, sounding more sure of himself now than he did in London.
And if there’s anything we’ve learned: Don’t doubt Michael Phelps when he sets his mind on something.
“Sure, I could come back in another four years. But why?” he asked, not waiting for an answer. “I’ve done everything I wanted to do. There’s no point in coming back.”
Monday, 17 December 2012
The NST : Aquatics / Year in Review : Diving the saving grace
WORLD BEATERS: Pandelela leads charge but other disciplines flounder
THE national diving squad enjoyed a truly remarkable year as not only did they consolidate their status as the No. 2 team in Asia, but also continued to make huge inroads onto the world stage.
Pandelela Rinong was the most consistent local diver, winning several titles, including a historic bronze medal at the London Olympics in August.
It was Malaysia's first-ever Olympic medal in a sport other than badminton and for Pandelela, she became the first local women to achieve it.
Malaysia were mediocre in diving as recent as the 1990s but their fortunes changed dramatically at the 1999 Sea Games in Brunei when Yeoh Ken Nee won the country's first ever gold medal.
This was thanks largely to the Jaya '98 programme, which was incepted after Malaysia won the bid to host the Commonwealth Games.
Since then, the divers have gone on to make their mark and China coach Yang Zhuliang, who single-handedly revolutionised local diving, deserves credit.
Progress with the swimmers, however, has stagnated as none of those in the national programme are even close to Asian class.
Khoo Cai Lin achieved moderate success by qualifying for the Olympics but the freestyle swimmer failed to make any impact, finishing six seconds off her three-year-old national record of 8:45.36s, but it was enough to qualify for next year's World Championships.
As for Kevin Yeap, the Sea Games gold medallist was star-struck when he swam against Olympic champion Sun Yang of China in last month's Asian Championships and it motivated him to push harder for fourth placing in the 400m freestyle.
Swimming was once the top aquatic sport in Malaysia but has since lost out in terms of funding and priority due to lack of success in recent years.
The swimmers are also not training in a conducive environment as facilities at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil are either too old or do not meet international standards.
In synchronised swimming, the team -- led by Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi -- continued their dominance in this region by sweeping four titles in the Southeast Asian Championships in Singapore in July.
But their dominance in the sport is only in this region and the team need to invest long hours in training and also participate in bigger competitions if they hope to progress and make a name, at least in Asia first.
Local divers, however, made the nation proud through several outstanding performances in world class meets.
The squad started the season with a superb performance at the World Cup in London.
Malaysia not only had eight divers qualifying for the Olympics, but also won a historic medal, a bronze, through Bryan Nickson Lomas and Huang Qiang in the 3-metre springboard synchro.
The Fujian-born Huang, initially hired as a coach in 2006, and Lomas then continued their impressive performance by winning gold in the United States and Canada legs of the Diving Grand Prix Circuit.
Huang, however, failed to draw inspiration from his previous wins with Lomas by finishing eighth in the men's 3m springboard synchro and 19th in the individual discipline at the Olympics.
As a coach, however, Huang was the man who groomed Pandelela in her early years.
Pandelela started the year with three medals (one silver and two bronze) in the platform individual and synchro disciplines at the FINA Diving World Series in Dubai and Beijing in March.
She then went on to carve out a historic achievement for Malaysia in the Montreal leg of the Diving Grand Prix by winning the platform title.
Pandelela and Leong Mun Yee were among the favourites in the London Olympics but they did not make the podium due to one bad dive, eventually finishing seventh.
In the 3m springboard synchro, Pandelela and Cheong Jun Hoong finished eighth but the former made amends by winning a bronze in the platform individual.
But that was Pandelela's last performance as an ankle injury, sustained during training in September, sidelined her from the Asian Championships and the Asean University Games.
Ken Nee bade farewell to competitive diving in grand style by becoming the first Malaysian to reach an Olympic final in the sport in London.
The 29-year-old reached the final of the 15-field men's 3m springboard and finished 10th.
Ken Nee has since joined the National Sports Council as national assistant coach.
Zhuliang's systematic training also churned out a respectable pool of junior divers who went on to make an impact in the Southeast Asian Championships and the Asian Championships.
Among the promising youngsters are Dhabitah Nur, Jasmine Lai, Kam Ling Kar, Loh Zhiayi and Chew Yiwei, who are being groomed by Zhuliang for the 2016 Olympics.
It is hoped that by then, the divers will be able to challenge China for medals.
As for swimming, the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia needs to have re-look at its programme as none of the current batch is good enough.
Kevin, Cai Lin, Siow Yi Ting and Christina Loh are almost unbeatable in their pet events in this region but they are looked on as minnows in bigger championships.
As for water polo, Malaysia need a proper grassroots programme to promote the sport among the youth.
At the recent Southeast Championships, the men's and women's teams failed to win a match.
Pandelela Rinong was the most consistent local diver, winning several titles, including a historic bronze medal at the London Olympics in August.
It was Malaysia's first-ever Olympic medal in a sport other than badminton and for Pandelela, she became the first local women to achieve it.
Malaysia were mediocre in diving as recent as the 1990s but their fortunes changed dramatically at the 1999 Sea Games in Brunei when Yeoh Ken Nee won the country's first ever gold medal.
This was thanks largely to the Jaya '98 programme, which was incepted after Malaysia won the bid to host the Commonwealth Games.
Since then, the divers have gone on to make their mark and China coach Yang Zhuliang, who single-handedly revolutionised local diving, deserves credit.
Progress with the swimmers, however, has stagnated as none of those in the national programme are even close to Asian class.
Khoo Cai Lin achieved moderate success by qualifying for the Olympics but the freestyle swimmer failed to make any impact, finishing six seconds off her three-year-old national record of 8:45.36s, but it was enough to qualify for next year's World Championships.
As for Kevin Yeap, the Sea Games gold medallist was star-struck when he swam against Olympic champion Sun Yang of China in last month's Asian Championships and it motivated him to push harder for fourth placing in the 400m freestyle.
Swimming was once the top aquatic sport in Malaysia but has since lost out in terms of funding and priority due to lack of success in recent years.
The swimmers are also not training in a conducive environment as facilities at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil are either too old or do not meet international standards.
In synchronised swimming, the team -- led by Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi -- continued their dominance in this region by sweeping four titles in the Southeast Asian Championships in Singapore in July.
But their dominance in the sport is only in this region and the team need to invest long hours in training and also participate in bigger competitions if they hope to progress and make a name, at least in Asia first.
Local divers, however, made the nation proud through several outstanding performances in world class meets.
The squad started the season with a superb performance at the World Cup in London.
Malaysia not only had eight divers qualifying for the Olympics, but also won a historic medal, a bronze, through Bryan Nickson Lomas and Huang Qiang in the 3-metre springboard synchro.
The Fujian-born Huang, initially hired as a coach in 2006, and Lomas then continued their impressive performance by winning gold in the United States and Canada legs of the Diving Grand Prix Circuit.
Huang, however, failed to draw inspiration from his previous wins with Lomas by finishing eighth in the men's 3m springboard synchro and 19th in the individual discipline at the Olympics.
As a coach, however, Huang was the man who groomed Pandelela in her early years.
Pandelela started the year with three medals (one silver and two bronze) in the platform individual and synchro disciplines at the FINA Diving World Series in Dubai and Beijing in March.
She then went on to carve out a historic achievement for Malaysia in the Montreal leg of the Diving Grand Prix by winning the platform title.
Pandelela and Leong Mun Yee were among the favourites in the London Olympics but they did not make the podium due to one bad dive, eventually finishing seventh.
In the 3m springboard synchro, Pandelela and Cheong Jun Hoong finished eighth but the former made amends by winning a bronze in the platform individual.
But that was Pandelela's last performance as an ankle injury, sustained during training in September, sidelined her from the Asian Championships and the Asean University Games.
Ken Nee bade farewell to competitive diving in grand style by becoming the first Malaysian to reach an Olympic final in the sport in London.
The 29-year-old reached the final of the 15-field men's 3m springboard and finished 10th.
Ken Nee has since joined the National Sports Council as national assistant coach.
Zhuliang's systematic training also churned out a respectable pool of junior divers who went on to make an impact in the Southeast Asian Championships and the Asian Championships.
Among the promising youngsters are Dhabitah Nur, Jasmine Lai, Kam Ling Kar, Loh Zhiayi and Chew Yiwei, who are being groomed by Zhuliang for the 2016 Olympics.
It is hoped that by then, the divers will be able to challenge China for medals.
As for swimming, the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia needs to have re-look at its programme as none of the current batch is good enough.
Kevin, Cai Lin, Siow Yi Ting and Christina Loh are almost unbeatable in their pet events in this region but they are looked on as minnows in bigger championships.
As for water polo, Malaysia need a proper grassroots programme to promote the sport among the youth.
At the recent Southeast Championships, the men's and women's teams failed to win a match.
The NST : Swimming/ World Championships: Lochte sets second successive world record
ISTANBUL: American star Ryan Lochte (pic) kept up his phenomenal form at the world short course championships on Saturday when he set a world record 50.71sec in the men's 100m individual medley semi-finals.
On Friday, the five-time Olympic champion broke the 200m individual medley world record on his way to winning his fourth gold of the championships.
Australia's Kenneth To recorded the second fastest time with 51.47 and George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago was third with 51.66.
"I have the 200m backstroke final (before the 100m individual medley final) on Sunday so I knew if I wanted any shot at this record, it had to be tonight," said Lochte, who knocked .05sec off the old mark set by Slovenia's Peter Mankoc in 2009.
In the women's 200m individual medley, China's Ye Shiwen attacked in the final 25m to win gold as she touched the wall in 2:04.64 to record a championship record and win her first world short course gold after having previously won three silver.
Katinka Hosszu of Hungary held on to win silver with 2:04.72 for her fourth medal of the championships, while Great Britain's Hannah Miley overcame a sluggish first 150m to win bronze with 2:07.12 to add to her 400m individual medley gold.
Ruta Meilutyte added the 100m breaststroke title to the 50m breaststroke gold that she won earlier in the week as she dominated the race to win with a new championship record of 1:03.52.
Alia Atkinson added the 100m breaststroke silver to the 50m breaststroke in 1:03.80, while Denmark's Rikke Moeller Pedersen came home for bronze in 1:04.05.
Robert Hurley finally ended Australia's wait for a gold medal with victory in the men's 50m backstroke.
Hurley touched the wall in 23.04 seconds to beat the USA's Matthew Grevers in 23.17, whose silver adds to his gold in the 100m backstroke, and Russia's Stanislav Donets who came home in 23.19 to win the bronze.
Nicholas Santos ended a similar wait with Brazil's first gold medal as he raced home in a championship record of 22.22 to win the men's 50m butterfly.
He had already broken it once in Istanbul and this time it was enough to hold off the challenge of 100m butterfly champion Chad Le Clos, who won silver with 22.26, and the 100m butterfly silver medallist Thomas Shields, who took bronze in 22.46.
There was a second gold for the USA's women's relay squad as their quartet of Megan Romano, Jessica Hardy, Lia Neal and Allison Schmitt won the 4x100m freestyle in 3:31.01 AFP
Sunday, 16 December 2012
The Star : Lochte breaks world record and gives medal to 10-year-old fan
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| My American idol: Turkish fan Arda Cakmak, 10, posing with the gold medal Ryan Lochte gave him beside a life-size paper board of the American swimmer. |
ISTANBUL: Ryan Lochte shattered his own world record in winning the 200m individual medley at the world short course championships on Friday and celebrated by tossing his gold medal away.
The 28-year-old New Yorker, an 11-time Olympic medallist, finished in 1:49.63 en route to a fourth consecutive gold medal at Sinan Erdem Arena.
His previous record had been 1:50.08 set in December 2010, in Dubai.
Japan’s Daiya Seto clocked 1:52.80 to add the silver medal to the gold he won in the 400m individual medley, and Laszlo Cseh of Hungary won bronze in 1:52.89.
It had already been a stellar meeting for Lochte after he had won gold in the 200m freestyle, 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays.
But he stunned the crowd by handing his gold medal to a 10-year-old boy who had been patiently waiting for the American’s autograph.
“I give them all away. One of the main reasons for racing is because of my fans, so I always want to give something back,” said Lochte, who now has 27 short course medals including 18 gold.
“If I took the medal it would end up in a sock drawer, if I give it to a fan they’re going to treasure it. It will make their day or even their life.”
“To see that smile on that little face means everything to me.”
Lochte wasted no time in taking the lead on Friday and by the end of the butterfly stage he was already under world record time. He held his pace over the backstroke, then stretched his lead further in the breaststroke.
By the time he turned for the freestyle leg he was well clear of his rivals and powered his way to the wall for his fourth gold medal of these championships and his 18th in world short-course championship history.
Lu Ying and Jiao Liuyang led home a gold and silver finish for China in the women’s 50m butterfly.
Lu Ying clocked 25.14 to win China’s first gold of the championships, while Liuyang followed her home at the Sinan Erdem Arena in 25.23.
Paul Biedermann defended his men’s 400m freestyle title, but he needed to be at his best after China’s Hao Yun had gone out strongly from lane eight.
Eventually, the German caught Hao Yun in the final 50m and touched home in 3:39.15, while Hao Yun took silver with 3:39.48. Bronze went to Denmark’s Mads Glaesner, who finished in 3:40.09.
Vladimir Morozov held off the challenge of two Olympic champions to win gold in the 50m freestyle and secure Russia’s first gold of the championships.
The Russian swam in lane five between 2012 Olympic champion Florent Manaudou and 2000 champion Anthony Ervin, but he shrugged off their pressure to win in 20.55 seconds, while Manaudou won the silver in 20.88 and Ervin bronze in 20.99.
Daniel Gyurta came close to breaking his own 200m breaststroke world record, but in the end he had to be content with a new championship record of 2:01.35 as he won gold.
Britain’s Michael Jamieson clocked 2:03.00 to add a silver medal to the one he won in the 200m breaststroke at the Olympics, while Russia’s Viatcheslav Sinkevich made a late charge to win bronze in 2:03.08. — AFP
Saturday, 15 December 2012
The Star : Lochte sets world record in 200 individual medley
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Ryan Lochte of the United States set a world record of one minute 49.63 seconds to win gold in the 200 metres individual medley at the world short-course championships on Friday.
Lochte, who won the 200 freestyle and 4x100 freestyle world titles on Wednesday and gold in the 4x200 on Thursday, broke the record of 1:50.08 he set in December 2010 in Dubai.
 |
| Ryan Lochte of the U.S. celebrates winning the men's 200m individual medley final during the FINA World Swimming Championships in Istanbul December 14, 2012. REUTERS/Murad Sezer |
Japan's Daiya Seto took silver in 1:52.80 with Hungary's Laszlo Cseh grabbing the bronze medal in 1:52.89.
Lochte won six gold medals and one silver when Dubai hosted the short-course event in 2010. He also won five medals at this year's London Olympics including two golds.
The 28-year-old American's victory gave him his fourth 200 individual medley title in a row at the short-course worlds having also snatched gold in Shanghai (2006), Manchester (2008) and Dubai (2010).
Lochte's world record on Friday was the first at this year's event, on the third day of competition.
(Writing by Ken Ferris in London; editing by Tony Jimenez)
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
The Star : New generation set to shine in post-Phelps era
Wednesday December 12, 2012
LOS ANGELES: Missy Franklin, Ye Shiwen, Sun Yang and Yannick Agnel were part of a youth movement in the 2012 Olympic pool that signalled swimming has plenty to look forward to after Michael Phelps.
Phelps put the finishing touches on an epic Olympic career in London as exciting young swimmers from around the world promised to carry the sport through Rio 2016.
Franklin, just 17 at her first Olympics, left London with four gold medals and two world records.
She helped propel the United States to their familiar spot atop the Olympic swimming medals table with 16 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze for a total of 30.
World record-breaking performances by teenager Shiwen and Sun Yang saw China confirm their arrival as an Olympic swimming power with five gold medals and 10 overall.
Right behind China, France claimed a superb four golds, with Agnel delivering a scintillating 4x100m free relay gold ahead of the United States before a dominant victory in the 200m freestyle that left American Ryan Lochte trailing in his wake.
France’s four golds were one more than they had claimed in all prior Games, and Agnel said he had no intention of letting up before Rio.
Traditional power Australia, meanwhile, floundered in London after big guns James Magnussen and James Roberts failed to fire in the freestyle sprints.
Australia’s tally of one gold, six silver and three bronze in London was their lowest since 1992, and they were without an individual gold medallist for the first time since 1976.
The flop prompted Swimming Australia to back an independent probe into the debacle, with federation chief executive Kevin Neil stepping down in November.
That’s the same month that mining billionaire Gina Rinehart promised US$10.4mil to support the country’s leading swimmers.
That was good news for talented swimmers like Magnussen, who at 21 still has time to regroup and head to Rio.
The cocky young Aussie came away from his first Olympics even more impressed with what Phelps had accomplished in four Olympic campaigns that yielded a record 22 medals – 18 of them gold.
“I have a lot more respect for guys like Michael Phelps who can come to the Olympics and back it up under that pressure,” Magnussen said.
Phelps certainly was under pressure in London, if not to match his eight-gold exploits of Beijing in 2008 then to avoid a large-scale failure that would, for some, taint that achievement.
After a stuttering start Phelps finished with four gold medals and two silvers, shattering the record for total medals in a career.
In fact, his 18 career gold matched the prior record for total medals amassed by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.
Chad le Clos, who became the first South African man to win individual Olympic swimming gold, unabashedly admitted his entire career was modelled on that of Phelps.
His reward was to become the first in a decade to vanquish Phelps in a major international 200m butterfly final.
Le Clos, 20, was among the raft of young swimmers revealed in London, who can be expected to shine at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona and – if all goes well for them – in Rio.
Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte became the first 15-year-old Olympic swimming champion for 40 years as she powered to the 100m breaststroke gold – then 15-year-old Katie Ledecky of the United States won the women’s 800m free in the second-fastest time in history.
Japanese 18-year-old Akihiro Yamaguchi, who missed out on an Olympic berth, set a world record in the men’s 200m breaststroke in September as he signalled his intent to take his place on the global stage.
Phelps said he was fascinated to see what the youngsters would do in a sport where swimmers have begun making inroads on the incredible times of the polyurethane “supersuit” era.
Nine world records fell in London. It was hardly the record rush of Beijing’s 25 – or the ridiculous 43 of the 2009 Rome world championships – but it was a start.
US national team director Frank Busch wasn’t surprised.
“Never underestimate an athlete when the bar has been raised,” Busch said. — AFP
 |
| Icon: Michael Phelps in action during the August London Olympics’ 200m IM event. The American capped probably his last Games by winning four golds and two silvers. — AFP |
LOS ANGELES: Missy Franklin, Ye Shiwen, Sun Yang and Yannick Agnel were part of a youth movement in the 2012 Olympic pool that signalled swimming has plenty to look forward to after Michael Phelps.
Phelps put the finishing touches on an epic Olympic career in London as exciting young swimmers from around the world promised to carry the sport through Rio 2016.
Franklin, just 17 at her first Olympics, left London with four gold medals and two world records.
She helped propel the United States to their familiar spot atop the Olympic swimming medals table with 16 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze for a total of 30.
World record-breaking performances by teenager Shiwen and Sun Yang saw China confirm their arrival as an Olympic swimming power with five gold medals and 10 overall.
Right behind China, France claimed a superb four golds, with Agnel delivering a scintillating 4x100m free relay gold ahead of the United States before a dominant victory in the 200m freestyle that left American Ryan Lochte trailing in his wake.
France’s four golds were one more than they had claimed in all prior Games, and Agnel said he had no intention of letting up before Rio.
Traditional power Australia, meanwhile, floundered in London after big guns James Magnussen and James Roberts failed to fire in the freestyle sprints.
Australia’s tally of one gold, six silver and three bronze in London was their lowest since 1992, and they were without an individual gold medallist for the first time since 1976.
The flop prompted Swimming Australia to back an independent probe into the debacle, with federation chief executive Kevin Neil stepping down in November.
That’s the same month that mining billionaire Gina Rinehart promised US$10.4mil to support the country’s leading swimmers.
That was good news for talented swimmers like Magnussen, who at 21 still has time to regroup and head to Rio.
The cocky young Aussie came away from his first Olympics even more impressed with what Phelps had accomplished in four Olympic campaigns that yielded a record 22 medals – 18 of them gold.
“I have a lot more respect for guys like Michael Phelps who can come to the Olympics and back it up under that pressure,” Magnussen said.
Phelps certainly was under pressure in London, if not to match his eight-gold exploits of Beijing in 2008 then to avoid a large-scale failure that would, for some, taint that achievement.
After a stuttering start Phelps finished with four gold medals and two silvers, shattering the record for total medals in a career.
In fact, his 18 career gold matched the prior record for total medals amassed by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.
Chad le Clos, who became the first South African man to win individual Olympic swimming gold, unabashedly admitted his entire career was modelled on that of Phelps.
His reward was to become the first in a decade to vanquish Phelps in a major international 200m butterfly final.
Le Clos, 20, was among the raft of young swimmers revealed in London, who can be expected to shine at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona and – if all goes well for them – in Rio.
Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte became the first 15-year-old Olympic swimming champion for 40 years as she powered to the 100m breaststroke gold – then 15-year-old Katie Ledecky of the United States won the women’s 800m free in the second-fastest time in history.
Japanese 18-year-old Akihiro Yamaguchi, who missed out on an Olympic berth, set a world record in the men’s 200m breaststroke in September as he signalled his intent to take his place on the global stage.
Phelps said he was fascinated to see what the youngsters would do in a sport where swimmers have begun making inroads on the incredible times of the polyurethane “supersuit” era.
Nine world records fell in London. It was hardly the record rush of Beijing’s 25 – or the ridiculous 43 of the 2009 Rome world championships – but it was a start.
US national team director Frank Busch wasn’t surprised.
“Never underestimate an athlete when the bar has been raised,” Busch said. — AFP
Monday, 3 December 2012
PRAKL Age Group Swimming Championship 2013
Dear IBSC Members,
Please note that the PRAKL Age Group Swimming Championship 2013 has been confirmed as follows :-
Date : 1 - 3 February, 2013 (Friday - Sunday)
Venue : Kompleks Renang Kuala Lumpur, Bandar Tun Razak
Organiser : Kuala Lumpur Amateur Swimming Association
Kindly download :
1) PRAKL 2013 Invite
2) PRAKL Competition Rules
3) Order of Events
4) IBSC Entry Form
Please complete the entry form and pass it back to either the Team Managers (Ms Poh Lin and Mr Wong) or your coach on or before 3 January 2013 together with your entry fees.
Please note that the PRAKL Age Group Swimming Championship 2013 has been confirmed as follows :-
Date : 1 - 3 February, 2013 (Friday - Sunday)
Venue : Kompleks Renang Kuala Lumpur, Bandar Tun Razak
Organiser : Kuala Lumpur Amateur Swimming Association
Kindly download :
1) PRAKL 2013 Invite
2) PRAKL Competition Rules
3) Order of Events
4) IBSC Entry Form
Please complete the entry form and pass it back to either the Team Managers (Ms Poh Lin and Mr Wong) or your coach on or before 3 January 2013 together with your entry fees.
Summary
of Events for PRAKL 2013
|
Group
|
||||||
Date
|
Order of Events
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Gender
|
1 Feb 2013 (Fri)
|
1500m Freestyle
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys Open
|
||
@ 9.30 a.m.
|
800 m Freestyle
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Girls Open
|
||
200m Breaststroke
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|||
100m Butterfly
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
||
200m Individual Medley
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
||
50m Backstroke
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|
2 Feb 2013 (Sat)
|
400m Freestyle
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
||
@ 8.30 a.m.
|
100m Backstroke
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|
50m Breaststroke
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|
400m Individual Medley
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|||
100m Freestyle
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|
4 x 50m Freestyle Relay
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|||||
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
||
3 Feb 2013 (Sun)
|
200m Freestyle
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|
@ 8.30 a.m.
|
50m Butterfly
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
100m Breaststroke
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
||
200m Backstroke
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|||
200m Butterfly
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|||
50m Freestyle
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|
4 x 50m Medley Relay
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
||||
4 x 100m Medley Relay
|
P
|
P
|
P
|
Boys and Girls
|
|||
 |
| Venue for PRAKL, Kompleks Renang Kuala Lumpur, Bandar Tun Razak |
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