Press coverage

[Slowcoach]

Have you seen the article on Simon Burnett in the Times (Monday 20th Feb), also available online.

[dave1986l]

nope what does it say??

[Slowcoach]

Some hype and plenty of pressure exerted in the up and coming confrontation with Ian Thorpe in Melbourne. Quite complimentary though.

[ringer]

Hrere's the link

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4-2048641,00.html

[Ljunberg]

Interesting article. He's definately in with a chance of giving Thorpe a run for his money in the 200, and should be able to take him in the 100.
Even more so now that Thorpe is 'ill'.

As for Schoeman and Neethling, he'll know better than anyone what they are capable of. But i wouldn't put any bets against him maybe beating one of them over 100.

[ringer]

The paternalistic advice from Frank Busch Burnett's head coach on girlfriends is a mite non p.c.;) .....but no doubt aimed at directing all his energies in a positive, focussed swimming direction!!!

On girlfriends Busch says “I’m brutal. I go around saying ‘hey, is this really the person you want to spend the rest of your life with? Is this really the one?’”

Hopeful applicants for the position of girlfriend should direct their CV to Busch pending vetting, authorisation and introduction!!!

[Linny]

This is a delightful and really positive article from Craig Lord full of items of interest.

One bit I thought was great wasI guess you Brits are looking at him as the poster child for swimmingWell one would think so, but it has never really happened and doesn't seem to be happening either - to the extent that noone outside the swimming world has even heard of him, nor knows what he looks like. What a wasted opportunity. Considering really how good he is, how good he looks performing, how undeniably attractive he is (and presumably straight) and how much potential everyone feels he has is this not a little surprising, or are there reasons behind this?

I mean I know he's not here and he has never actually won anything but I would have thought British Swimming would be plastering pictures of him all over the place. Can we have some in the photo gallery please Chris?

[Gina]

It's a shame that British Swimming doesn't try and capitalise on swimmers like Simon. I would like to see photos and much more info on more swimmers up on their website. Our swimming website has nothing on the USA Swimming site. Much more to look at and it makes swimming more interesting.

[dave1986l]

ringer i disagree

they think that thorpe will eventually become the worlds best 100m swimmer because as he loses his endurance hes putting on more muscle which will make him a better sprinter

Plus in athens remember he won bronze in the 100m (beating neethling) and coming just behind schoemann

British swimming is a sahme as ppl like thorpe can concentrate fully on swimming as they are millionaires but in the uk lottery money goes to ppl like asylum seekers instead of athletes, you know how it is

[ringer]

ringer i disagree

I'm:confused: confused:confused: dave1986l

Not sure what you disagree with me about. My contributions to this thread have been
1. to provide the link to the article and
2. an attempt at humourously exposing the "hands off girlfriends" approach of Simon Burnett's coach

Are you confusing me with another contributor?

[Bazza]

Judging by this section of the article:

Burnett, fresh from posing all-but naked for a fashion magazine on a lake near Phoenix, is not uncomfortable with the thought. “My mission is to bring swimming into the spotlight in Britain,” he said.

...suggests he is willing to promote swimming in Britain, presumably both through his swimming and in other ways, maybe British swimming are missing a trick, I mean he is probably in the process of replacing Mark Foster as the most marketable British swimmer.

[peterg]

British swimming is a sahme as ppl like thorpe can concentrate fully on swimming as they are millionaires but in the uk lottery money goes to ppl like asylum seekers instead of athletes, you know how it is

Actually Dave, no lottery money goes to asylum seekers.

We can debate all we like governmental priorities for spending on sport and health; but it really makes me angry, particularly living in an area with a high number of ethnic minorities, to read uninformed opinions like yours.

[Linny]

I think you'll find that plenty of lottery money has gone to asylum seekers both directly and indirectly - sometimes very large amounts and sometimes very controversially.

Here isn't the right place to be talking about the rights and wrongs of it though. The right place is here (http://www.lottery2009.culture.gov.uk/takepart.html) and you have until the end of the month.

[dave1986l]

Are you confusing me with another contributor?

whoops sry meant ljunberg :D

[Ljunberg]

whoops sry meant ljunberg :D

Does that mean you think Thorpe will win the 100 in Melbourne, or just that he will beat Burnett?

[dave1986l]

Probably both lol