- 15 Aug 08, 06:04 PM
Phew!
Thankfully, I'm through to the final.
It only seems like yesterday that I was in my last Olympic final, now I'm preparing for another one!
Qualifying for an Olympic final is the culmination of much hard work so I'm obviously elated but, in all honesty, I'm more relieved as my 1500m form going into Beijing wasn't great.
To emulate my bronze medal winning performance of Athens 2004 would be one hell of achievement due to strength and depth of this event, emphasised by world champion Mateusz Sawrymowicz failing to qualify for Sunday's final.
To prove my point further, the 1500m Olympic record was lowered twice in the heats as Grant Hackett lost then immediately regained the championship best.
The Olympic swimming class of 2008 have so far dominated the headlines of the Beijing Games as Michael Phelps continues his world record gold medal haul while more than 20 world records have been smashed in China.
The depth of competition have ensured the 1500m heats would be lightening quick but it's little surprise as the atmosphere inside Beijing's wonderful Water Cube is simply inspirational.
From the outside, the space-age Water Cube is stunning but the atmosphere inside is like nothing you experience that often in swimming, the crowd is incredibly loud almost to the point of being deafening.
The steep stands go far back into the Gods, much like Barcelona's legendary Nou Camp, and that creates a unique atmosphere that has the ability to drag a swimmer through the pain barrier and to a quick time.
The Cube is almost as good as Barry Leisure Centre!
The crowd were amazing and hopefully I can step it up for the big-one on Sunday.
Now I must get plenty of rest, physio and a good massage before Sunday.
I consider myself a big-game player who always rises to the big occasions and hopefully that will continue.
My experience in Olympic, World and Commonwealth finals will be vital as I will be comfortable going into the final.
I won't be anxious and won't be not sure what to expect, I know the routine and I know hoe to be myself.
I want to carry on the good work of my team-mates in Beijing as the Team GB swimmers have excelled in these Olympics.
Rebecca Adlington's gold and Jo Jackson's bronze in the 400m freestyle are the tip of British swimming's iceberg in Beijing as we've made huge strides towards the 2012 Olympics in London and beyond.
Our old tough taskmaster coach Bill Sweetenham must take much credit as he shook up British swimming when it was going nowhere.
He created a professional attitude and ethos that transformed the team.
Now Bill has gone it is a much more relaxed environment but we haven't lost the winning mentality and work ethic of the Sweetenham years.
Wish me luck on Sunday!
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Comments
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yes train and rest and ignore the flippin media ....
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Just watching simmonds and spofforth - come on girls you should be making more of an effort rather than saying you are just enjoying it - in ordinary jobs we have targets and if you dont meet them no more cash ---get on with it !
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Well said David - good article. Now get stuck in and bring home the bacon!
Ps. I think Barnsley's Metrodome is in the running for best venue!
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Good luck, you've already done great getting to the final so let any thoughts of pressure just slide off your shoulders, get your head down and swim your heart out. We're all looking forward to seeing you compete!
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Interesting read as always, especially about the lack of the "winning mentality".
Yes, it's great we've been getting both swimmers in many of the semis and people into the finals, but it's disappointing that some of our very best who have challenged for medals and even broken world records outside of the Olympics appear satisfied with that - and celebrated in the case of Mark Foster.
Rebecca Adlington deserves all the praise she's been receiving this week, especially if she goes on to get her second gold, but I do worry it may mask an underlying problem in British swimming.
We've got the guys and girls that are capable of challenging for the models - it just seems someone needs to remind them of that.
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Good luck David, you're well capable of a medal.
Whilst I applaud everyone who's improved their PB so far, I'd like to echo the other posters questioning some of the comments of the swimmers 'so pleased to be here blah blah blah' or 'this is my fun event' - if I hear one more person say 'well for me its all about experience ready for 2012' I think I'll puke. Given the number of athletes (not only swimmers) who've used this excuse so far, I'm fully expecting to beat China on the medals table in 2012.
And Liam Tancock, it was bad enough that you didn't take the 200IM seriously, but for Christ sake man, 1.3 seconds below your best time set earlier in the week for a 100 backstroke at the beginning of the relay is a joke, perhaps its time to remember why you're actually out there?
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Good luck David. Do it for Wales and yourself. your are an inspiration to many young Welsh swimmers. Chase Hackett all the way.
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I didn't have the bottle to name and shame him, but Liam Tancock was exactly who I was talking about.
I thought he was a challenger for the Gold, but to come away without a medal at all should be a disappointment - and as you say his "don't care" attitude isn't what you expect from someone who should be competing with the big boys. You'd never see that from the cyclists or rowers.
Frankly it's not the taking part that counts, it's the medals - and we need to see complacency replaced with a bit of arrogance so that British swimmers aren't heading into finals happy to be there, but instead expecting to medal and believing they could be Olympic Champion.
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Good words Dave but what happened ? A bit of the pot calling the kettle don't you think. Why were you tired or just a bit to relaxed ? Michael Phelps could rightly say he was tired after winning 8 gold medels but not someone who disappointed in a final. Hopefully redemption will come from the 10km - good luck.
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Bad luck to you, jerk!
Bad luck with you all the time till you realize what you have done and do the right thing, apologize to the young female volunteer.
To the Brit media, you portray this guy as a "mild-mannered Davies"? what is the standard of mild manner in your strange part of the world? Did you parents teach your manners when you were young?
And you know better to use the word "official - a Chinese woman", she is just a Olympic volunteer, do not play your evil Chinese government/evil Chinese official word trick.
Well, that says it. Bad luck, guy!
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
????,????????!???????,???????????,Shame on you!
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David Davies,the silver medal feels shame for you!
FUFUFUFUFUFU!!!!!!!!!!!!
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You rubbish!
Go back to UK! You are not welcome here!
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Rubbish.
Why don't you come out and write something new as you are sooo sooo talkative?
You don't deserve the medal. Thank god you didn't win the gold.
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After reading all the relative reports regarding the disgraceful behaviour of Mr. Davies, I finally understand why there are so many yobs got their ASBOs.
Thanks to people like Mr. Davies, our young lads would learn all sorts of anti-social behaviours from him. And they would say, hey, the Olympians are doing it, why can't we?
Shame on you, David Davies!
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Mr. Davies, where are you hiding? come out to say something!!
Rubbish!!
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Hey man,
you think you close the entry of your comments then you can get away of condemnation of your disgusting behavior?
Come out and apologise !!
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Here to BBC:
I express a vehement protest about your biased news regarding David Davies unacceptable behavior !!
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idiot, you better come out and apologize, or just close your blog!! don't just delete our messages here~
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David, Shame on You, i saw what u did to the Chinese girl who is one of the volunteers in Olympics Game.
how could u done such thing to her. you are so UNFORGIVABLE.
Why did you splash the dirty water on her body. it is not funny at all. and why did you swear at her.
and your coach is also unforgivable, how did he keep lauging like that.
you and your stupid Coach need to say sorry to the girl in public.
otherwise you will humiliate yourself , your coutry and your peoples.
and i am very mad, when i saw that video.
so i have 3 words for you "Go to Hell"
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Through your stupid behaviour and media, i can see what kind of country England is! Selfish but nothing else
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Two days passed and still no official apology. Looks like this guy is used to ignoring others...or deaf.
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I have filed a formal compliant to the IOC and the BOA.
It might be ignored but everyone who wants the justice being done, please send your letters and emails to the IOC and the BOA to request an official apology from this rude and ignorant lad!
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Oh,I have already seen the shining of the silver medal of the boxing match by using the bottle full of water!I am proud of you!You are the greatest gentleman I ever saw,so did your country.
hey,shameless foolish selfish dissembler.you give me a lesson,thank you very much
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David, didnt you see those comments? Why do you keep quiet? Can you describe what happened, why you ask the female volunteer to shut up and then splash water on her face when she was just trying to remind you to the ceremony where people were waiting for you? Why dont you defend yourself if you think you were right? Or if you feel shameful, why not just give an apology to her like a man?
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GZ on attacking the female volunteer
shame on you
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why don't you come out to say something? or you feel proud of what you've done to the female volunteer?
SHAME ON YOU!!! and your country!!
WE NEED A OFFICIAL APOLOGY!!!
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sorry guys...to be honest..i dont think david will ever apologize. becuz if u live in britain long enough u'll understand that yobs will never apologize for their shameful actions. david is just one of them.
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SHAME ON YOU and Your coach!!
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You are just a snake(another story about the farmer and the snake), you know that? You should stay in the Walsh zoo.
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Still no official apology? ehhh, the strategy of drawing-head-back-to-shell doesn't sound like gentlemen at all.....
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Come on kids, the guy had just swum flat out for the best part of two hours, narrowly missed out on a gold despite pulling the eventual winner along for the greater part of the race.
Fair enough, to throw some water in the direction of a volunteer isn't perhaps the most sportsmanly thing to do, but thug? A bit harsh don't you think?
One last thought, before being quick to judge his behavior, I feel that some of the bloggers on here should go out and swim 10km and then see how in control of their functions they are.
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to offshoreswimmer,
I can't agree with your comments. What people need is just an official apology. Is this that difficult? I understand he worn out after the match, but that should not the excuse for behavior like this. And, if you notice, a lot complains are coming from the words of his coach. Did his coach swam 10km?
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