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Joined February 2012
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A former Paralympic swimmer, passionate about sport. Follow me on Twitter: @aussiepollies
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On Thursday morning the second biggest, but most amazing sporting event will finally get underway. Despite the poor planning and mismanagement, the 2016 Paralympic…
Ever since glamour couple and reigning world champions Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm missed out on medals in their pet events, the Australian media…
Results: Women's 50m freestyle Gold - Pernille Blume - Denmark - 24.07s Silver - Simone Manuel - USA - 24.09s Bronze - Aliaksandra Herasimenia…
The second-last day of swimming at the Rio 2016 Olympics sees gold medal contender Belinda Hocking in the women's 200m backstroke final and the…
It promises to be another enthralling night at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, where Australia's new swimming speedster, Cameron McEvoy, takes to the pool in…
There has been much said over the last year about Australia's poor medal prospects at the 2012 London Olympic Games, especially when it comes…
Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh says the need for succession planning, particularly for the coming post-Ponting years, is upon us. Today marks my…
Further to my previous comment: Team management would be required to follow similar rules as tour operators in making sure athletes are safe and accounted for.
Australian swimmers banned from closing ceremony
Protocols are protocols. But on a scale of 1-alleged vandalism, Palmer’s indiscretion rates above 1, but below taking Stilnox during competition. And McKeon’s just a slight mistake – a 1 or a 2.
Australian swimmers banned from closing ceremony
That is true. I erred there. But still lacked a discipline necessary for the upcoming finals football
Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs highlights: NRL scores, blog
His whinging at what were obvious penalties. It’s that kind of attitude that rubs off on your team.
Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs highlights: NRL scores, blog
Graham had been pretty disciplined this year, compared to previous years. He has absolutely lost it tonight.
Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs highlights: NRL scores, blog
Must do. Was two forward passes in the same set
Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs highlights: NRL scores, blog
That was a great team try. And a great chase from the kick-off by Morris!
Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs highlights: NRL scores, blog
Broncos by less than 10. A much closer affair than last time
Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs highlights: NRL scores, blog
This is a hard one to pick. Broncos are finding form at the right time and the Doggies unpredictable. Despite the blowout last meeting, this one will be close. Hunt to regain more confidence after last week’s performance by halves pair, Milford. Broncos by less than 10.
NRL Thursday Night Forecast: Broncos vs Bulldogs
That’s an average list of potential leaders that Daley has given. The new Blues captain has to be from a key position and be able to enforce discipline within the team. Unfortunately for the Blues they’ve chopped and changed the key positions so much that it’s hard to make one of them captain.
Next New South Wales Blues skipper will know ahead of time
Absolutely agree that we need to support sport funding for the benefit it provides in combating societal issues. There is also the added benefit of the dollars brought in by sports tourism. Despite the results of some of our athletes on the broader world stage at the moment, in two years we will benefit greatly from said visitors.
That said, we should look at the medal count, but never use it in isolation as a reason for talking about curbing sport funding.
We should never measure returns for sports funding in terms of gold, silver or bronze
Hi Brendon: My point was that overall 2008 was a bigger success, with double the gold medals (6) in the pool compared with Rio. But I do take your point that the result could have been even better, given the examples you pointed to. .
The culture was also an added issue back then and appears to have improved, with no reported loutish behaviour despite the ubiquity of social media and the rise of the citizen journalist.
Having the trials closer could also work to increase pressure too – in that some athletes might see their slower times and panic. Having the ability to hone a personal race plan for longer in that event would be beneficial.
Why didn't the Dolphins kick?
Hi Celtic. the growing incidence of mental illness and anxiety and a feeling like it cannot be talked about among our elite athletes (and society more broadly) is an issue. I know that as a Para-athlete in the late 90s-2000 I suffered through depression. We have to continue to be able to welcome people talking about what is going on in their minds. We are all in this together.
Why didn't the Dolphins kick?
The taper and timing of the trials is not the issue here. As Giaan Rooney rightly mentioned during the coverage yesterday, there has been an occasion where we held the trials close to a main event and that was not successful.
April/May has been the time for the trials at high points and low points for Australian swimming. Individual preparations, nerves and personnel were the issue.
There is some credence to the arguments raised in the last 24 hours about the US having a better competitive structure in terms of NCAA meets – university sport in Australia is an absolute joke.
If the swimmers fail, the Australian Olympic medal tally takes a dive
It’s absolutely a fair comparison in the case of Larkin and Seebohm due to backstroke being the opening leg.
I think the Campbell sisters will go around once more. Just what they can do in 4 years’ time won’t be clear for at least 3 years. In any case, I think Emma McKeon will be an outstanding 100m freestyle swimmer if she chooses to keep the event as part of her repertoire.
Cate at least was visibly shocked and disappointed with what happened this week. Bronte on the other hand appeared happy just to be there with her sister.
And thanks for the compliment, I have enjoyed having this opportunity immensely as a former swimmer who still has a passion for the sport.
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
I would call the two extra gold an improvement, but you are right, it means less if there are no extra medals overall.
For all intents and purposes the team appears to have been managed better in a broad sense than it was in London and the egos largely kept in check. As yet at least, there have been no reports of dangerous or stupid activities taking place among our swimmers. Those acts of stupidity in London would have interfered with the preparations of others.
I have submitted a piece this afternoon dealing with the main arguments raised this week for the poor performances so perhaps it’s best I don’t give any hint about my thoughts on those areas here!
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
I’m not sure the relay swim was responsible for the Campbells messing up the 100m and the 50m free. The schedule for major events stays quite uniform and they were world champions. Maybe the way that they debriefed after that relay with the support staff may have led to a small amount of complacency but they have been through competition enough to practise how to deal with that.
With the exception of the starting legs of the relays, it’s hard to compare split times due to the fly start. Maybe the support around them in the team events led to more relaxation and confidence.
Our freestyle swimmers really did a stellar job in the relays. In 4 years our breaststroke and butterfly swimmers should be excelling even more. McKeon will grow as a competitor in the 100m fly and so will Taylor McKeown in the 100m breaststroke. I have questions about where Seebohm will end up in the next 4 years.
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
And great to see that smile back! That McKeon clan sure has some pedigree in the swimming.
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
Cate, aside from being the fastest ever in the 100m, is also the most technically flawless of all Australia’s swimmers.
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
A flawlessly executed final leg from Chalmers.
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
» Click here to read all the results
After a tough week in the pool for Australia, we say goodbye to the pool after Australia claimed two gold medals in the eight days of competition at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium.
On the final night Australia claimed two medals – a silver in the women’s medley relay and what was a welcome but unexpected bronze from the men’s medley relay team after the 100m freestyle superstar, Kyle Chalmers, brought Australia home in an astounding way.
Starting off the night it was Pernille Blume of Denmark touching out 100m gold medalist, Simone Manuel, in the women’s 50m freestyle final, with the Campbell sisters again missing out on a medal. Aliaksandra Herasimenia claimed the bronze.
After winning gold in the 400m freestyle final on day 1, it was not Mack Horton’s night. Horton had to settle for 5th place after the Italian duo of Paltrinieri and Detti won gold and bronze respectively, with Connor Jaeger second. Paltrinieri’s win was not in doubt from very early on in the race. His only competitor was the yellow world record line.
So that is it for another four years. Swimming Australia will undoubtedly conduct a review of the week, and then planning and preparations can commence for our Tokyo 2020 campaign.
Thank you for joining me and the other swimming live bloggers over this week at The Roar.
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay
Gold: United States of America
Silver: Great Britain
Bronze: Australia
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
It’s all the US and Great Britain get second, with Australia finishing with a surprising bronze!
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
After Phelps’ butterfly leg, the US now first again with Great Britain 2nd and China 3rd
Olympics: Swimming Day 8 results - men's 1500m freestyle, women's 50m live blog
Had a feeling the timing was a bit iffy, without knowing about the article written before the police were approached. The story has rightly died off.
Has New Zealand been playing silly buggers with the ARU?