posted Jul 6, 2009

It's Rebecca not Becky.

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posted Jul 11, 2009

To return to the 4x200 women's freestyle discussion, there was nothing too fearful coming out of the US trials. The US will have a squadron of about 8 quality swimmers but rather like Australia whilst their B team would best GB's B team comfortably, our top 4 is currently more competitive on paper.
I would also argue that the Aussie and US teams will be largely 200 specialists, both Adlington, Jackson and even Carlin have posted times that are very competitive with the Americans and Australia without seemingly prioritising the event. Their respective times at 400 free (more of a priority) indicates that the already impressive times that they have recorded at 200 are somewhat misleading. At 400 both Adlington and Jackson are close to the dodgy suited Pellegrini; I don't expect they'll get close to her in the 200 (Adlington not even starting) but I imagine that they would be closer than Vollmer. Again, even Carlin's time (supposedly our weak link) at 400 would make both the American and Australian teams comfortably.
Responding to Felix, I would also add that I quite like the news that Carlin's turns and starts are sloppy as it would indicate considerable scope for improvement. I would also state that whilst Coughlin's turns are hugely impressive, she tends to suffer at the back-end from lung-busting underwater showboating.

Elsewhere, it looks as if Miley and Gandy will start in lane 4 in the last heats in their specialist events. The 400 IM however is hugely competitive.
Jackson ought to be in the hunt for a minor medal in the 200.
Adlington and Jackson ought to be in a real battle with Pellegrini over 400 and then Potec over 800.
One would also imagine that Spofforth ought to be good for a medal somewhere. On the men's side I can only see Davies getting close to a medal and I suspect that he will be outgunned too.

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posted Jul 13, 2009

I dont see what differnce it makes if i call her rebecca or becky that is her nick name.WERE do you think all the medals are coming from in rome,of course rebecca adlington is 99% cernt 2 win at least 1 gold medal in the womens 800m freestyle& hopefully get a medal in womens 400m freestyle.WHAT do you think 2 eleen gandy chances of getting a medal?.

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posted Jul 14, 2009

clarke_j have to agree with you on the mens' side...Davies really is the only medal hope and even that it's a long-shot. It's disappointing because despite all the hype around improvements it is really only the women who have become more competitive on the global stage.

I would definitely be more assertive with Spofforth's medal chances. Of the 3 100 back medalists in Beijing only Coventry will be in Rome so she would be disappointed not to medal there and probably has her sights set on gold.

Jackson is definitely in the hunt in the 200 but I think Pellegrini will be near-on unbeatable there. In the 400 Jackson and Adlington should be closer (depending on what Pellegrini is wearing of course). They'll prob have to hit 3:58 for any chance of the gold because at risk of a Beijing repeat Pellegrini will go all out from the very start this time round. As for the 800 I really think it is Adlington's to lose. She went 8:16 unrested. Even though Potec has the fastest time this year, she is 27 years of age and call me cynical but should she really be improving much on what was already a massive PB (especially given it's the 800)? Jackson could very possibly stick to Adlington and nip it at the end but other than that nobody should come close. And without Hoff and some average times over the 200m at US trials the 4x200 quartet must be feeling very confident.

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posted Jul 15, 2009

I think that sounds about right Calisurfin from my point of view at least.
It sounds cliched but I am most interested in seeing how well Adlington performs. Normally, when someone wins double Olympic gold there is the sense that this is the pinnacle. But with Adlington my own suspicion (and hope) is that it was only really in the 800 that she performed to her full potential on the day. She never got to compete at the 200; even In the 400, she got a little lucky as the field were all over-awed and where her ability as a pure racer was enough to punish Hoff. This said, not enough is made of the fact that on paper the field for the 400 was exceptional containing Hoff, Pellegrini, Manadou, Potec, Balmy, Barrett- and with the likes of McKenzie and Jedryczak not even good enough to make the final.

Without having the best preparation or fully resting Adlington is already faster at 4 and 8 than at this point last year and has barely swum at 2.

I just hope that the whole thing isn't mired in the suit controversy.

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posted Jul 15, 2009

YES it is the pinnacle of a swimmers career winning too olympic gold medals,but i don"t belive that is the case with rebecca adlington.I feel the girl is hungary for more gold medals.THATS a good sign rebecca is faster in 400m & 800m than this time last year.rebecca i am sure rebecca will get quicker at the 200m in the run up to london 2012.YES i realise that she won the 200m free at the scottish champianships but the time of 1.56s is not quick enough to have made the final last yr or possibly in rome 09.

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posted Jul 15, 2009

WERE is potec from?.IF she as the fastet time this year in the 800m than she must have already peaked considering potec is 27yrs old now. rebecca will tire her out in the final of the 800m.I think rebecca will go close to breaking her own world record or even break it in rome 09.HOPEFULLY jo jackson will get 2nd place in the 800m final. WHAT is a realistic medal target for rome 09?.I think any thing any less than 8 medals will be seen as a step backwords in the run up to london 2012.

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posted Jul 15, 2009

Potec is Romanian. My feeling is that they ought to be aiming for 6 medals in the pool; they could do better but this is already twice as many as won in Beijing and would represent considerable improvement.

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posted Jul 15, 2009

Yes agreed. Very difficult for any of the men to medal. Getting to the finals will be an achievement for most of them.

Davies in the 1500 and Godard in the 200 IM look the best bets.

Women look much, much stronger. Very good chances of gold in the 400 and 800, as well as in the 4 X 200.

Other likely medalists - Jackson (200), Miley (400IM), Stofforth (200 Backstroke) and Gandy (200 Butterfly).

Anything between 6 and 10 medals.

Excluding the Open water events.

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posted Jul 15, 2009

Stofforth = Spofforth

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