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Mexico Is Ready For Budapest

The Mexican Open Water National Team has arrived!

June 26 – June 30 in Budapest

by Bruno Moreno


The leaders of the team:

The Mexican open water swimmers that will represent Mexico at the next 19th FINA World Championships are in Austria in preparation for the main competition. The team leaders, Arturo Pérez Vertti, Martha Sandoval and Daniel Delgadillo are ready to have their best international competition.

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Young Talent:

Apart from experienced swimmers, this team counts with young talented swimmers: Paulo Strehlke, Paulina Alanis and Montserrat Mora. It will be the first World Championships for all these teenagers. Even though Paulo Strehlke is one of the youngest in the team at only 16 years old, he enters the competition as the fastest Mexican this year in 10k (1:58). 

Joel Rodriguez, Strehlke and Paulina’s coach, is in Austria preparing his swimmers to have the best competition ever. Both open water swimmers will also participate at the FINA World Junior Open Water Championships later this year. 

According to internal sources, the team is projected to compete at the Italian Open Water Tour as preparation for Budapest. Maximiliano Strehlke, qualified for the FINA World Junior Open Water Championships, is also training with the senior team and will definitely gain some experience. He is a favorite to medal at World Juniors. 

Here is the Open Water Schedule for Budapest: 

June 26

June 27June 29June 30
Mixed 4×1500 Men 5k

Women 5k

Women 10k

Men 10k

Women 25k

Men 25k

Check latest results here.

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







200 butterfly in 5 different Olympics

The Phelps Story

200 butterfly in 5 different Olympics:


As a high performance athlete, going to the Olympics is the highest achievement you can make. According to the World Economic Forum only 11,500 athletes competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, representing just 0.00014% of the world’s population. Certainly, just the ones who are willing to put in hard work and discipline are the ones who achieve it. 

However, there is a big difference between going to just one Olympics representing your country and doing that 5 consecutive times.

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According to BBC the probability of a person to win gold in 100 meter athletics is 1 in 9 million. Michael Phelps defeated all the odds and due his passion, technique, discipline, ability, willingness and many other factors, he became the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 Olympic Medals. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics Phelps won Gold in all his 8 events in which he participated: 100 and 200 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 200 IM and 400 IM, 4×100 and 4×200 free relays, and 4×100 medley relay. 

Sydney 2000: 

The men’s 200 butterfly was the first event that Michael raced at the Olympics when he was only 15 years of age. He finished in 5th place at the Sydney Games in a time of 1:56.50. 

Athens 2004:

In 2004 at the Athens Olympic Games, Michael improved more than two seconds and won the men’s 200 butterfly in an Olympic Record Time of 1:54.04. At this point in his career and at only 19 years old, he had already been in 2 consecutive finals in the same event and became Olympic Champion. 

Beijing 2008: 

4 years later, Michael entered the Beijing Olympics as the main favorite to win the 200 meter butterfly. He won the race in a WR time of 1:52.03. This Gold Medal was part of his 8 Gold medal collection that he achieved at these games. 

London 2012: 

Finally, 4 years later at the 2012 London Olympics Michael entered the 200 meter butterfly final with the mentality of being his last final and Olympic Games. The years before the games certainly weren’t the best for the American, however, he still was able to achieved the Olympic final. Every single person in the world thought that Michael was going to win for the 3rd consecutive time, nevertheless, nobody considered a motivated and talented kid from South Africa named Chad le Clos. In the last 5 meters of the race the swimmer from South Africa closed extremely fast and it was during the touch where everything was decided. 

Considering his experience, Phelps did not touch the wall as he was supposed to, giving le Clos the opportunity to win the gold medal in a time of 1:52.98

Rio 2016: 

Phelps seemed disappointed after the race and even though he already was the most decorated Olympian of all time, he knew he could have retired with a gold in his favorite event: the 200 meter butterfly.

He announced his retirement from swimming after the London Olympics, nevertheless, he knew he still had something left to give. Not only to people, but to himself. 

In 2014, he came back. He put in the hard work again and in Rio 2016 he qualified for his 5th Olympic team. At the games, he reclaimed his Olympic title in the men’s 200 meter butterfly.

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







What does a training day look like?

The Competitive Environment in Swimming

What does a training day look like?


Being an athlete and competing at an international level is one of the most prestigious aspects that anyone can desire in this world. You are an inspiration and example for your country, family and loved ones and the best thing about it is that you can make them and yourself proud. For me there is no better reward than that. 

As a former high-performance swimmer I can tell you that this comes with a price. In life, nothing is free and people should not take things for granted. All the sacrifice that professional swimmers have to go through is incredible and the worst thing is that not that many people can see it or understand it.

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Here is an example of how a day in my life looked like when I was training: 

4:30 am – Wake up and breakfast before morning practice. 

5:30 am – Swimming practice. In the morning it used to be aerobic and was between 3 and 4 km. 

5:00 pm – Weights session, with a focus on explosiveness and developing power in the pool. 

6:00 pm – Second swimming session. It was between 4 and 5 km

HARDEST SWIMMING SESSIONS: 

40×25 butterfly every 30 seconds. 

I remember I was averaging 15-mid. 

This is a set that really pushed my and helped to develop a strong 100 meter butterfly. 

Another brutal set was 5×100 every 5 minutes suited up on Saturdays. The pain you feel in between every 100 was extremely hard to tolerate. 

With a body weight of 80 kg, I was burning more than 2,000 calories in a single day. I did this every day for many years and all of this sacrifice was with the objective of making my family and team proud. My mindset allowed me to survive every practice and go through obstacles, the mentality of a champion. 

 

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







Fred Bousquet Vs Cesar Cielo

Fred Bousquet Vs Cesar Cielo

20.9 seconds


Richard Quick, one of the greatest swimming coaches of all-time, put into the French and Brazilian swimmers’ minds the possibility of becoming the first man to break the 21 seconds barrier in the men’s 50 meter freestyle. 

Certainly, for many swimmers and coaches this new challenge seemed impossible to accomplish, however, for Richard it was never about if it could be achieved; it was about who would do it. He knew that swimmers had the physical ability to break 21 seconds, but he was also aware that no one possessed the mindset to do it. This is exactly what he taught both Cesar and Fred: believing that it was going to be them the ones breaking 21 seconds for the first time. 

Unfortunately for Richard, he was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, however, Fred gave him the best reward one can give to a coach or mentor: credibility and recognition. At the 2009 French Nationals, Bousquet broke the World Record of the 50 meter freestyle in a time of 20.94. He became the first man to stop the clock before 21 seconds and accomplished Richard’s goal. 

Cielo saw the record being broken, however, this only motivated him. In December of 2009 he broke his old teammate’s WR in a time of 20.91. This time is the current World Record and in more than 12 years, no swimmer has been under 21 seconds. 

Caeleb Dressel has been the fastest swimmer the world has seen since 2009 with a PB of 21.04

Watch the Video Here

Last update: June, 2022






Watch the Video

Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







Analyzing 2008 – 2020 Olympics

2008 – 2020 Olympic Games

50 Meter Freestyle Analysis


The 50 meter freestyle is the race that has the most entries at the Olympic Games, with 73 male swimmers participating at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Source (FINA & Olympics, 2021)

It is the event that decides which swimmer will become the fastest on the planet. Certainly, it is a very exciting race to watch as a viewer, although it is even more incredible to take part in it as an athlete.

As a former high-performance swimmer, I can tell you that the margin of error is little to nothing. One most be physically and mentally prepared to have a good reaction time, be able to apply the strategy learned in all trainings and never take a breath.

 

If we analyze Florent Manaudou at the 2012 Olympics, he took 33 strokes without a single breath.

The Fastest Swimmers at the Olympics: 

Winning the 50 meter freestyle at the most prestigious sports event in the world is definitely not an easy task, therefore these men’s technique and strategy must be analyzed.

Olympics

Name

Breaths

Time 

Strokes 

2008 Beijing

Cesar Cielo

021.30 (OR)33

2012 London

Florent Manaudou

021.3433

2016 Rio

Anthony Ervin

021.4034

2020 Tokyo

Caeleb Dressel

021.07 (OR)36

Source: (International Olympic Committee & FINA)

Facts about the Champions: 

Ervin, the 2016 Olympic Champion, has been the “slowest” 50 meter freestyle Olympic winner in the past 2 decades. He is also the oldest male swimmer to win Olympic gold, at 35 years of age. 

Cielo won his Olympic title in Beijing in Olympic Record Time of 21.30. The following year, in Brazil, he broke his previous PB in a time of 20.91, which now stands as the current World Record.

In 2016, Florent Manaudou was 0.01 off from taking gold and becoming Double 50 Meter Freestyle Olympic Champion. He has been at the podium of this race in the past 3 Olympics (Silver Medal in Tokyo, Silver Medal in Rio and Gold Medal in London).

Caeleb Dressel is the fastest swimmer the Olympics has ever seen in the new swimsuit era (when Cielo broke the OR, he was wearing the full-body swimsuits). At the Tokyo Olympics, he won both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle.

Watch the Final of the 50 Freestyle, London 2012 

Watch the Final of the 50 Freestyle, Beijing 2008

Last update: June, 2022






Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







Swimming at the Paralympic Games

Swimming at the Paralympic Games 


The Paralympic Games are one of the most unique and prestigious events in the entire world, due to the positive impact they have on society. They give anyone, no matter the physical or mental conditions, the opportunity to compete for a medal in the sports world.

That being said, Para Swimming is one of the most exciting sports in this incredible event.

Today the focus will be on “Vision Impairment” 

There are 3 different sport classes for Vision Impairment: 

  • S/SB11

  • S/SB12

  • S/SB13 

Source: (World Para Swimming, 2022)

Success in different classes:

For the SB13 class at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Boki won the men’s 50 freestyle.

In the SB11 class, Dorsman won the men’s gold in the 100 meter breaststroke.

Countries with the most medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games

(All sports and categories)

United States of America: 722 Medals 

Great Britain: 725 Medals

Netherlands: 435 Medals

 

Source: (International Paralympic Committee, 2021) 

WATCH THE PARALYMPIC GAMES HERE!

Last update: June, 2022






Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







The Benefits of Swimming

Benefits of Swimming  

by Bruno Moreno


As former professional and high-performance swimmer I can tell you that this sport is one of the hardest ones in the entire world. 

I have practiced other sports like football, soccer, tennis and basketball and any of them challenge me physically or mentally as swimming did. 

What is swimming? 

For me, it is a physical activity that requires a lot of skills, determination and willingness, because if none of these 3 qualities are present when you carry it out, you will never have success. 

I started swimming when I was 2 years old and since then I have realized how difficult it is to maintain a good aerobic base and anaerobic capacity that will allow you to distance yourself from your competitors. 

Another important aspect that a swimmer is always thinking about is the responsibility that it comes from being named a ‘swimmer.’ There are hundreds of hours dedicated to the sport in and outside the pool, and thousands of sacrifices; however, the reward that comes after winning a medal or representing your country is worth those sacrifices and even more.

 

Mental Benefits of Swimming: 

  1. Ability to become more determined than ever: swimming prepares you mentally for any activity or situation in life. All the pain after hours of training must have a purpose. 
  2. Focus: concentration is a skill that is developed and trained everyday at the pool. 
  3. Never giving up: swimming prepares you mentally for the most difficult moments in life. I’m sure any swimmer can overcome situations like any other person. 

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Physical Benefits of Swimming: 

  1. Strength and conditioning: the best athletes in the world, regardless if they are swimmers or not, have incorporated aquatic activities into their training schedule. It allows muscles to grow faster, better recovery and faster development of aerobic and anaerobic capacity. 
  2. Being in good and healthy shape: swimming is one of the sports that burns the most calories.When I was training two sessions a day, I was burning between 2,000 calories just in the water. 

 

Last update: May, 2022






Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







Cristiano Ronaldo Vs Swimming

  Cristiano Ronaldo Vs Swimming    

by Bruno Moreno


If you are a high-performance athlete, swimming is a must in your preparation and performance, because it helps athletes like you to recover faster, gain muscle and maintain a good aerobic basis. 

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The initial reasons of why we recommended swimming training to athletes that did not know how to swim: 

  1. Fastest recovery: makes a better blood flow, allowing the fast recovery of damaged muscles. 

  2. Endurance on your competitions 

  3. Focus on your goals 

  4. Facilitates Rehabilitation 

Swimming is a good way to improve endurance and it is recommended for those who already have the experience in the sport. Otherwise, the best recovery method for any athlete in the world is sleeping. 

Altitude training: 

The lack of oxygen makes athletes to develop more red cells and the adaptation to less oxygen increases your stamina. 

Is Swimming for everyone? 

Swimming is not really recommended to endurance athletes like runners or cyclists, they will just get tired and the impact of swimming will only affect their current sport. 

Cristiano Ronaldo uses swimming to increase his core strength by implementing kicking and short swimming periods in his training. This makes him a more explosive athlete.

His training is innovative and allows him to grow muscle faster!

 

Last update: May, 2022




 



Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist








Caeleb Dressel: How Fast Will He Swim?

  Bruno’s Predictions for World Swimming Championships:   

by Bruno Moreno


Men’s 50 freestyle: 

Caeleb Dressel, Bruno Fratus and Kristian Gkolomeev, the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships podium in the men ‘s 50 freestyle will all be competing in Budapest again. 

Michael Andrew is definitely a threat for the podium, as well as the Jr. swimmers from Poland who are ranked within the top 5 in the world this year (NAMES) ( data from FINA, 2022)

My predictions:

  1. Caeleb Dressel – 20.85 
  2. Michael Andrew – 21.20 
  3. Florent Manaudou – 21.23

 

Women’s 400 freestyle 

Titmus, who just broke the WR, said that she will not be competing at Worlds to focus on Commonwealth Games, which leaves former world record holder, Katie Ledecky, as the favorite to win this race. USA’s Leah Smith is favorite to the podium. She was third at the 2016 Olympics in this same race.

My predictions: 

  1. Katie Ledecky – 3:56.10
  2. Summer McIntosh – 3:59.90
  3. Leah Smith – 4:03.40

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Men’s 100 freestyle: 

This is probably le of the most famous and exciting races in swimming. Caeleb Dressel, the current World and Olympic Champion, enters the meet as the main favorite to win the gold. However, Olympic Champion from Rio 2016 in this event, Kyle Chalmers, will be heading to worlds after all.

After just a few weeks of training, he is a huge threat to win the gold. Let’s see if he can make it and become LCM World Champion.

My predictions: 

  1. Caeleb Dressel – 47.20
  2. Brooks Curry – 47.74
  3. Kyle Chalmers – 47.93

 

Last update: May, 2022






Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







Is Caeleb Dressel the fastest swimmer of all time?

Is Caeleb Dressel the fastest swimmer of all time?

by Bruno Moreno


WATCH THE FASTEST 50 FREE EVER

Did you know that the 50 meter freestyle WR has been untouchable for the past 13 years? 

Since Cesar Cielo broke the WR in December of 2009, the fastest performer the world has seen is Caeleb Dressel during the 2019 World Swimming Championships. 

Fastest Performer in history: 

At the 2009 Brazilian Championships, Cesar Cielo broke the WR in a time of 20.91. The Brazilian sprinter broke the WR at that time by just 0.03. 

Cielo became the fastest swimmer that the world has ever seen by defeating his opponents in that same race by more than 0.86. 

WATCH THE WR HERE!

Second fastest of all time: 

Fred Bousquet is the fastest European swimmer that the world has ever seen. 

He was the first athlete in history to swim the 50 meter freestyle under 21 seconds, with a time of 20.94. 

Until this day, this time remains as the current European Record. 

 

3rd fastest of all time: 

The Olympic and World Champion, Caeleb Dressel, is the fastest swimmer in history in the new swimsuit era.

His 21.04 at 2019 World Championships also make him the 3rd fastest in history. 

Will he break Cielo’s WR at the 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships? 

Let us know in the comments. 

Last update: May, 2022






Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist