Open water swimming - ladies

[Brick]

Watching it now. Looks very tricky to get around the buoy for swimmers in the pack.

Surprised how little they're using their legs.

[Leprechaun]

Originally Posted by Brick

Watching it now. Looks very tricky to get around the buoy for swimmers in the pack.

Surprised how little they're using their legs.

Great coverage - the course has been well thought-out and if only we had a commentator talking some sense it would be a great spectacle. Moorhouse has been recommending people get themselves a wetsuit and go get in a lake. And its SOOOOOOOOOO cold - around 19/20C I believe

The pack will all generally get around the buoys fairly easily Brick. One or two will be sighting all the time and others will follow them. I did see a couple of triathlon swimmers miss the buoys and one went straight into one.The buoys are very big but also are very compliant, ie just big balloons, no chains no barnacle-encrusted ropes to fret about.

Legs - they wont use them much at all. Even in the pool you wont see much kicking effort on 400 free upwards until the last 100 (and turns). Kicking dissipates a lot of energy for little gain. It doesnt provide propulsion, just stability, in the main so if you're into a couple of hours swimming you learn to carry your legs high in the water. Of course, the fairer sex have a little bit more fat and this will help them to float the legs higher. It can make one's back sore though, trying to keep legs high.

Like any good ASA/FINA event, there are more officials than competitors

Fingers crossed for Keri-Anne.

[Brick]

Thanks. I've seen selective use of legs now. And occasional backstroke. Though, I did see quite a few legs and arms clashing, particularly around the buoys.

Like you I noted the comments on the temperatures. I wouldn't bat an eyelid concerning two hours at 19/20C, and I thought that proper athletes actually should be able to handle lower temperatures as their much higher workrate compared to the likes of moi should generate more internal body heat. Over the longer distances does that advantage turns into a disadvantage due to heat lost????

With a recently purchased new telly, when the swimming was on BBC HD some of the slow-mo shots in particular looked stunning.

They're really keeping their heads up a lot while rounding the buoys. More than I would have expected.

[Leprechaun]

Originally Posted by Brick

Like you I noted the comments on the temperatures. I wouldn't bat an eyelid concerning two hours at 19/20C, and I thought that proper athletes actually should be able to handle lower temperatures as their much higher workrate compared to the likes of moi should generate more internal body heat. Over the longer distances does that advantage turns into a disadvantage due to heat lost????

They have pulled a few fairly distressed-looking swimmers out. I suspect its overheating rather than the cold for this event. Water isnt overly hot, but sun on wetsuit wont do them any good. I see they havent consumed much at feeding too - hydration may become a problem over two hours I guess

Originally Posted by Brick

They're really keeping their heads up a lot while rounding the buoys. More than I would have expected.

Agreed - seems daft. Once you see the buoy its hard to miss. The only thought I have is that you can defend yourself better from flying arms and legs when you are more upright.

[Brick]

The Hungarian swam a good race, IMHO, making her break with *just* enough to resit the challenge at the end.

[selkie]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tearful...4193--oly.html

Okay, even with a relatively small field, you really shouldn't be surprised if it does get rough out there. Kerri-Ann's been around long enough to know that score.

As much as I would have loved to see Haley Anderson add to the family gold medal haul (sister Alyssa got gold for her 4x200 prelims swim) I'm also glad to see Ristov with the win after burning out and quitting pool swimming at one point. Always nice to see someone come back and find joy in the sport again.

[Brick]

I don't want to look like I'm making excuses as I'm more interested in seeing a good race than in seeing someone with one of the same nationalities as me winning races. But, I did note that there were a lot of arms and legs clashing with other arms, legs, bodies, and heads, in that race.

[Leprechaun]

Originally Posted by Brick

I don't want to look like I'm making excuses as I'm more interested in seeing a good race than in seeing someone with one of the same nationalities as me winning races. But, I did note that there were a lot of arms and legs clashing with other arms, legs, bodies, and heads, in that race.

I dont disagree with your observations. When you dont have lanes 2.5m wide then there are bound to be clashes. In my experience in humble OW races there are innumerable bumps and clashes but very rarely do any of these cause problems. The worst I have had is splashes in the gob from someone kicking hard as I passed them. There is a lot of baloney talked about OW swims and the violence that is alleged to be part of the process.

Triathletes are a bit obsessive with detail and they tend to go on most about people pulling goggles or wetsuit straps. In a top class OW race where officials outnumber swimmers by approx 1.5 to 1, there is little chance for sustained violence. Its all a big red herring pushed by the press. Basically you need to find your own water asap and be able to plod on at your pace, ideally passing a few of the opposition. Having seen ost of the race I'd not push the run of the mill bumps and clashes as anythingof significance to the result

[adamlelean]

Originally Posted by Leprechaun

Triathletes are a bit obsessive with detail and they tend to go on most about people pulling goggles or wetsuit straps. In a top class OW race where officials outnumber swimmers by approx 1.5 to 1, there is little chance for sustained violence. Its all a big red herring pushed by the press. Basically you need to find your own water asap and be able to plod on at your pace, ideally passing a few of the opposition. Having seen ost of the race I'd not push the run of the mill bumps and clashes as anythingof significance to the result

I get frustrated by the press making comments about pulling zips down in openwater swimming when talking about the olympics. Similarly there were comments before the race talking about wetsuits. Wetsuits are not allowed in olympic competitions and neither are zips.

Mind you I get annoyed when in the swimming pool they make comments about a swimmer potentially being disqualified for getting out of the pool early.

Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy.