8. 4x200m Freestyle Relay Women’s Final

USA WR

Finalist: FRA CHN SWE USA ITA JPN AUS HUN

Other than USA and AUS (only added RICE), the rest of the countries stuck with their same heats teams (B-Teams). ITA still has the great PELLEGRINI on board.
This event is the most unpredictable of all. USA was dominant, but looking at the semifinals, many people are changing their bets. France could be the one to beat, but Australia has got the stronger team. Hmm.

GOLD: AUS WR
SILVER: CHN
SILVER: USA

AUS, CHN and USA were all well under WR until the 3rd Aussie, Kylie PALMER, distanced herself from the rest to give the Aussies a 5m advantage, which was maintained till the end. It was a well-deserved gold.

7. 200m Individual Medley Men's Semifinals

1. FISH --. 70
2. CSEH (HUN)
3. GOODARD (GBR)
1. LOCHTE (USA) --.69
2. PEREIRA (BRA)
3. TAKAKUWA (JPN)

“Even when he’s behind, he’s ahead”

6. 200m Breaststroke Women's Semifinals

Leisel JONES WR
Rebecca SONI OR

1. JONES (AUS)
2. NORDENSTAM (NOR)
3. EFIMOVA (RUS)
1. SONI (USA)
2. JUKIC (AUT)
3. PIERSE (CAN)

5. 100m Freestyle Men's Finals

Eamon SULLIVAN (AUS) WR/ OR 2008

This was the event I was waiting for, I’m quite familiar with the swimmers for once: watched their heats, watched their other events, watched their semifinals, noted down their names for the finals, all I need was to put the ‘1st, 2nd & 3rd’ to their names. The new popular swimmer LEZAK was also in this race, but this is really between BERNARD and SULLIVAN. To recap:

BERNARD’S WR
Broken by SULLIVAN at the heats
Broken by HIMSELF at semifinal 1
Broken by SULLIVAN at semifinal 2

It’s an intense rivalry between the French and the Aussie; both are kings at this event; this is their strongest event and they only have this one shot at the gold medal. “Did they even get to sleep last night?”

From the start till the end, SULLIVAN and BERNARD were the only ones leading, the only ones under the WR. They were actually executing the same strokes, surfacing the same time, kicking their feet at the same frequency. Its an ‘attack of the clones’ kind of thing back there, no one could really tell who would win this. They’re 2 identical swimmers. BUT:

GOLD: BERNARD (FRA) WR
SILVER: SULLIVAN (AUS)
BRONZE: LEZAK (USA) & CEILO FILHO (BRA)

They later showed the 100fps version, the extreme slow mo-ed version of the race: BERNARD and SULLIVAN, having been swimming identically throughout the race, reached for the wall at the same time underwater. BERNARD, being the bigger guy, touched the wall first. In a race between 2 swimmers with the same speed, it’s really the little things that will count, like the length of one’s hand.
I’ve never seen a more disappointed man all my life. The look on SULLIVAN’s defeated face says it all. Interestingly, BERNARD’s physique had been a hot topic. “Look at the size of this man! H could be a weightlifter!”

*During the victory ceremony, French’s national anthem was played. For the first time, I hear spectators shouting their national anthem, shouting it out loud and proud. Like ITALY with PELLIGRINI, BERNARD was the only FRENCH who had gotten gold. (Nobody sang exceptionally loud during ADLINGTON’s (GBR) victory, though)

4. 200m Butterfly Women's Finals

Jessicah SCHIPPER – WR

My favourite race of the day: you have great sporting athletes like SCHIPPER; it was a historical moment as China bags its first swimming Olympic gold medal; and everything is said and done in WR time.

Jessicah SCHIPPER needs to defend her title: she started off looking good, leading the race with LIU (CHN) being the only one to chase her. In the first 100M, only SCHIPPER was under WR, although LIU was chasing her only a head’s length behind. For the next 50M however, LIU was closing up and from behind, and unknown JIAO (CHN) had crept up into the third position. In the last 50M, LIU slowly but steadily surpassed SCHIPPER, both LIU and JIAO powering up ahead while SCHIPPER slowed down. The rest of the pool was left behind, the three of them – SCHIPPER, JIAO and LIU were all under WR pace.

As 19 year-old LIU propelled her last victorious 10M where she was half a body length ahead of everyone, she has created history. She had given another something to cheer for in the hearts of 1 billion over Chinese. Michael who? This is the time of LIU Zige of China. She’s the first Chinese Olympian Gold Medalist in a swimming event. Not only that, she broke the WR and it she clocked 10s faster than her PB! Swimmers train for years to be milliseconds faster and there, LIU shed 10s in that 1 race. That truly is, the SWIM OF HER LIFE.

GOLD: LIU (CHN) WR
SILVER: JIAO (CHN)
BRONZE: SCHIPPER (AUS)













What makes the race even more emotional was SCHIPPER’s patting on LIU’s head right after the race ended. LIU had created history, broke her record, took away her Gold Medal but still the Australian is oh-so-happy for her. Not a slight bit of disappointment was shown on her face, she has held on to the WR for 2 straight years and its broken today. She’s happy for the young Chinese, happy for the swimming world, happy for what the future will bring with this feat. SCHIPPER has an extraordinary sporting spirit in her.

3. 200m Backstroke Men's Semifinals

(PIERSOL & LOCHTE - center;left - where they clocked the WR last year)

Aaron PEIRSOL / Ryan LOCHTE – WR/ OR

The 200M BACKSTROKE FINALS will be an event dominated by Aaron PEIRSOL and Ryan LOCHTE. They swam separately at the semifinals, both steadily and dominantly at the top. PEIRSOL with his “tight streamline arms, doesn’t need to do more, classic swimming style”


1.PEIRSOL (USA)
2.STOECKEL (AUS)
3.FLOREA (ROU)
1.LOCHTE (USA)
2.ROGAN (AUT)
3.IRIE (JAP)


I’m saying STOECKEL(AUS) will emerge as the Bronze medalist, but it’s all too early to tell. The cute Arkady VYATCHANIN (RUS) was there as well, he finished 4th in the first group, one of the early chasers of PEIRSOL but lost to FLOREA in the chasing game. He is officially out of the finals* but he’s still cocks as the 5th fastest in the world. ROGAN (AUT) is a graduate of Stanford University, another example of the American University Swimming Team thingy.



*Arkady was part of a swim-off for 8th position later in the night, where everybody had left the water cube. He clocked the same timing with other swimmers and won the swim-off. We will be seeing him tomorrow for the finals afterall. I wonder what is he thinking during the swim-offs...it must be a tough mental battle back there.

2. 100m Freestyle Women's Semifinals

TRICKETT (AUS) WR / STEFFAN (GER) OR

This was the race that shocked the crowd. It’s a race I call: A little bit of Luck and a little bit of Controversy. Both WR and OR were in the same semifinal group 1. The China crowd went wild, as their very own emerged steadily third.

1.COUGHLIN (USA)
2.ZHU (CHN)
3.STEFFAN (GER)

WR holder TRICKETT was not in the top 3, which means she is probably out of the finals. The commentators were worrying for her. “TRICKETT, WR holder is now biting her nails, not sure whether she will qualify for the finals” The second semifinals started to the roars of the home crowd. The Chinese went crazier as ever as they see their own, PANG, clinching that first spot.

1.PANG (CHN)
2.VELDHUIS (NED)
3.SEPPALA (FIN)

TRICKETT – the WR-holder for this event – is now out of the finals. Then suddenly:

1.VELDHUIS (NED)
2.SEPPALA (FIN)
3.HALSALL (GBR)

The leader-board showed a different ranking. It also showed, right down at the very end, PANG JIAYING – DSQ. Alas, PANG was disqualified due to an earlier start. TRICKETT, who was out of the finals just seconds ago, was put into the finals through a disqualification. What are the odds of that? I’ll owe it to fate and miracles do happen.

“…I am stunned. The World-Record holder squeezes in through a DQ by the host nation…”

1. 200M Breaststroke Men's Finals

KITAJIMA WR/OR 2008

All eyes were on KITAJIMA who has 3 Olympic Gold Medals under his belt. If he gets this, he’ll be the man to beat, the only dominant power for all Breaststroke events in 2 consecutive Olympics’. Did he do it? Hell yeah.


GOLD: KITAJIMA (JPN)
SILVER: RICKARD (AUS)
BRONZE: DUBOSCQ (FRA)


KITAJIMA was a little disappointed though. He did not throw his signature “muscle man pose” into the air, looks like he’s really eyeing the WR. He played a safe game, played it true to his standards. He maintained his lead from the start, full of discipline, not showing any signs of being desperate or exhaustion. The Gold is rightfully his.

RICKARD came out pretty strong, the only person chasing KITAJIMA from the start. I thought he looked amusing as he emerged from the holding room. His neck was extended; he took a deep breath with eyes closed, enjoying himself being in the race, being at the finals. He kept his winning smile all throughout the race and also at the award ceremony. DUBOSCQ, like always, came out of nowhere to emerge as third; he is also the Bronze Medalist in the 100M BREASTSTROKE.

13. Football: Brazil vs. China

I must say: RONALDHINO is exceptionally humble and down to earth for a humongous international superstar like himself. I’m talking about non-elite football clubs, no glitzy Hollywood parties, no craving for Hollywood fame. He just happened to be the best footballer on the planet right now and he is just not bigheaded at all.

He’s come a long way since I’ve first seen him. He was once the skinny rising star that looks like he had just freshly emerged from the suburban’s of Brazil. Now he’s a beefy stout man – thanks to all the matches throughout his career so far – still has that toothy grin, still have that long locks and still, the best in the world. Not many stars would join the world cup with all sorts of CUPS still going on. But with that sincere, toothy smile of his while shaking the Chinese players’ hands before starting the match, we could all tell he’s serious. He wants that gold.


*High School Musical’sWE’RE ALL IN THIS TGT was played during the break of this event. Look at HSM go!

12. 4x200m Women's Freestyle Relay Heats

USA WR 2007 / OR 2000

Group 1: CHN POL CAN SPA NED GER FRA SWE
1.FRANCE OR
2.CHINA
3.SWEDEN

France, with no record holder in her B-Team, really pushed her way through this race. It might be a little too quick for heats. “Be conservative, be safe, its not worth it, its only the heats” It might be a classic race of FRANCE vs. USA again in the women’s relays. Who knows?

Group 2: JAP GBR AUS HUN DEN USA NZL ITA
1.USA
2.ITALY
3.AUSTRALIA

A stunning swim from NZL back there, a stunning swim by more specifically – PALMER (NZL) who leaded in her contribution. She’s under WR pace, and was the star of the moment. NZL was unfortunately disqualified, the first DSQ I’ve witnessed happening. I didn’t know what happened to them but it might have been a new NZL-R if not disqualified. Italian swimmer and gold medalist earlier in the day – Federica PELLEGRINI was part of her team, I bet she was the only A-Team member in the entire semi-finals, just to increase Italy’s chances. What a prominent figure she was; Italy wasn’t near top 3 until she came in. Go PELLEGRINI!

11. 200m Individual Medley Heats

In Heat 3, commentators spoofed a swimmer, KOKKODIS (GRE), who was air-swimming while waiting for the race to start. "Just to remind himself what the disciplines are, making sure that he doesn't forget the order, what style comes first...*chuckles*" He came in 3rd. Butterfly medalist from Hungary, CSEH, won Heat 4, TAKAKUWA (JPN) 2nd; B. ALLEY (BAR) is 3rd.

Ryan LOCHTE was up on Heat 4. He won a Silver in this event back in Athens, because he had "some other bloke" in the race with him. (fish) PEREIRA (BRA) was 2nd, BOGGIATO (ITA) was 3rd, BEAVERS (CAN) 4th. Fish was up on Heat 5, after his big press conference on being the "greatest Olympian of all time". He seems to be more interested in the foreign press other than the US press because the latter kept asking about his tactics. Fish doesn't need to swim as fast as he did during the heat, but he is "a very competitive person", others are catching up and he geared up too.

"He just need to be in the semifinals, he knows exactly how many strokes he needs to get into the semifinals, he knows how fast he needs to be, he doesn't need to push himself, it's just the heats."

10. 200m Breaststroke Women's Heats

Leisel JONES (AUS) WR – Dominant
Amanda BEARD (USA) OR

Our very own Nicolette TEO appeared in Heat 2. Also in Heat 2 was SIOW Yi Ting from Malaysia. Both trained in American Universities; TEO in UCLA and SIOW in University of Wisconsin. Both also appeared during Athens Games. Only difference? SIOW finished 1st and TEO finished last.

Heat 4 was the start of the seeded heats. OR holder Amanda BEARD was last in this event and was not enough to secure a place in the semifinals. KANETO of Japan won the heat.21 year-old new sensation Rebecca SONI (USA) broke the OR and won Heat 5, followed by TANEDA (JPN).

Leisel JONES had been dominant in this event throughout, holding the WR. She’s in Heat 6, together with QI (CHN), JUNG (KOR) and NORDENSTAM (NOR). JONES won the heat but I’m not sure about the rest. Should be the above 3 swimmers, one of them, at least. “You hear the crowd, that means there’s a Chinese in there”, the home crowd is definitely very supportive. But they could be over the top like Gymnastics Men’s Finals. :s

There had been talks about the miracle full body swimsuit, but I learnt that its not very wise to wear that for breaststroke events (useful info by the commentators). Yesterday a whopping 7 out of 8 swimmers in KITAJIMA’s leg of heats wore swimming pants instead. Today, many woman swimmers opted for the conventional consumer 1 piece swimsuit. This is the first time I saw a woman’s consumer swimsuit making an appearance at the Beijing Olympic Games, excluding the diving, synchronized swimming etc of course. The suit is too tight near the abdominal areas and restricts the necessary movements needed for breaststrokes. Is that why fish didn’t compete? Nah. He wore pants all the time.

JONES style in the Breaststroke was also a frequent discussion topic amongst the commentators. She has a style which “everybody is trying the copy” – the style that wins. JONES created no turbulence with her strokes. Also, I learnt the benefit of leading in a race because you’ve calm water ahead of you, “you’re not catching any other’s turbulences”, and you have a nice solid view to your gold medal right there.

9. 200m Backstroke Men's Heats

It’s official; Arkaday VYATCHANIN of Russia is the man with no cap. It’s also official that he is the man to look out for, the man to fight with. He’s here again, I wonder how many races he had entered, but by the look of it, he’s got at least 4 - another busy swimmer over there.

VYATCHANIN is a seeded swimmer; therefore he appeared only in Heat 4, where he actually swam with WR holder Aaron PEIRSOL (USA). PEIRSOL was 1st, man with no cap (not letting me down) was 2nd and (yeah!) IRIE (JPN) was 3rd.

PEIRSOL shared the WR with his teammate LOCHTE (USA). LOCHTE was in Heat 6, came in 1st; TAIT (GBR) was 2nd and KOZUJL from I-am-very-sorry-but-I’ve-forgotten-the-country was 3rd.