Owen's Blog

[lost_in_finland]

results : http://www.brisswim.org.au/Results20...SA04032006.htm

[NotVeryFast]

Originally Posted by Gina

I'm looking forward to the Commonwealths but I think they are gonna be starting round midnight each night. Am I right?

Got a tv guide for next week today, and coverage on BBC1 on 15th March is 23:10 - 07:00. Live coverage then continues 50 minutes later from 07:50 on the 16th to 12:30. There are highlights on BBC2 13:00-15:00 and 19:30-21:00.

This tv guide is giving the impression that swimming heats are early in the first part of the coverage, so around 11pm, and the finals are early in the 2nd part, so around 8am.

[Martin-Y]

Schedule is here
http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Comp...tics/#swimming

Thats 9-11.30pm and 6-8.30am our time WRONG

Should read 11.00pm-1.30am for heats and 8.00am-10.30am finals

[Slowcoach]

Originally Posted by Gina

I think they have been competing in America recently (or should have been!). Foster in the American SC Nationals and Burnett at the Pac 10s. Foster was down for the 50 free and it would have been an awesome race with others such as Crocker, Schoeman and Neil Walker competing but he pulled out. Simon swam a fast 200 yards free and a very decent backstroke leg.

Pac 10s on TV. Found this on the Swim World magazine site.

Pac-10 Men's Champs to be Shown on Television -- March 9, 2006

PHOENIX, Arizona, March 9. THE Pac-10 Men’s Championships, held last weekend, will be shown on television Saturday by the Fox Sports Network. The competition is scheduled to be shown at 3 p.m. (PST) but fans should check their local listings for any changes. The broadcast will feature John Naber and Paul Sunderland.

The Pac-10 Championships resulted in Stanford winning its 25th consecutive championship, thanks to the contributions of Ben Wildman-Tobriner and Andy Grant, among others. The meet also featured stellar swims from California, Arizona and the University of Southern California. All four schools are expected to finish among the top 10 at the NCAA Championships.

[Pete]

Welsh Team arrived http://spaces.msn.com/owenmorgan/

[Pete]

Owen left this message today!

Questions.

If anyone has any thing they would like to ask about the Commonwealth Games please feel free to leave a question in the comments box. I can't promise an answer but I will try my best. Owen

http://spaces.msn.com/owenmorgan/

[lane4]

Pete, I've read Owen's blog and clearly he enjoyed the experience but did not swim quite as well as he hoped for. Just wondered what your reflections on it were as his technique coach/guru?

[Pete]

We have loads of work to do starting next week. We have talked on the phone and e-mailed but we really need to sit down and talk through things. I think he gained a great deal from his first major championships. What is good is the positive attitude he has come back with and a determination to improve.

[Pete]

Owen's Blog has moved!
Just Click the link!

[Gina]

I have to point out one thing. Owen criticises Bill for taking a team out to Oz to race at the states championships against some of the top swimmers in the world, but he can justify going to Canada when he says he struggles to fund himself. Well I think he is doing the exact same thing as Bill so either both are right or both are wrong.

Also, most athletes will find it hard to taper for a SC meet in mid December and then again at the end of March for a major LC meet. We did well at Europeans and the team should be looking to the major LC meets that brings up the profile of swimmers when they all swim well!

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Gina

I have to point out one thing. Owen criticises Bill for taking a team out to Oz to race at the states championships against some of the top swimmers in the world, but he can justify going to Canada when he says he struggles to fund himself. Well I think he is doing the exact same thing as Bill so either both are right or both are wrong.

Also, most athletes will find it hard to taper for a SC meet in mid December and then again at the end of March for a major LC meet. We did well at Europeans and the team should be looking to the major LC meets that brings up the profile of swimmers when they all swim well!

Owen works 55 hours a week. He chose to go to Canada because there was some very fast opposition. If there were some major Long Course Meets in this country I'm sure he would not have journeyed to Canada. Owen used his own money to travel. Bill used thousands for the very long venture over something like six weeks. Bill used ASA or Lottery money. How many swimmers could be partially funded for a whole year who with the right training opportunities this would bring, might be elevated into the top elite. This can hardly be classed as the same as someone who treated five days in Canada as holiday leave, using cheap flights and budget hotels to break two Welsh records.
As for tapering: you will be tapering for March and July I would imagine Gina. The two most important events for our top British swimmers are Europeans (short) and Worlds (long). Not too much difference in the number of weeks between their tapers and yours.
Glad you brought up the issues. It all adds to interest giving our own opinions and others reading a healthy discussion. Thanks.

[Dunc]

Originally Posted by Pete

Owen works 55 hours a week. He chose to go to Canada because there was some very fast opposition. If there were some major Long Course Meets in this country I'm sure he would not have journeyed to Canada. Owen used his own money to travel. Bill used thousands for the very long venture over something like six weeks. Bill used ASA or Lottery money. How many swimmers could be partially funded for a whole year who with the right training opportunities this would bring, might be elevated into the top elite. This can hardly be classed as the same as someone who treated five days in Canada as holiday leave, using cheap flights and budget hotels to break two Welsh records.
As for tapering: you will be tapering for March and July I would imagine Gina. The two most important events for our top British swimmers are Europeans (short) and Worlds (long). Not too much difference in the number of weeks between their tapers and yours.
Glad you brought up the issues. It all adds to interest giving our own opinions and others reading a healthy discussion. Thanks.

At last, a chance to respond directly to you Pete.
I wholeheartedly agree.
I am ashamed of swimming's twisted logic, there being an apparent double standard.
Particularly when someone who is undoubtedly as talented as Owen is pushed aside.

If only one could change the mind-set of our 'masters' (for want of a better word).
If there is any way I can help, rather than 'take the gravy', please PM me.

The treatment he's getting contradicts Bill Sweetenham's lastest statement (from Swimnews on a separate thread).
Bill wants a finalist in every Olympic event.
I'd bet on that Owen, a swimmer who thinks outside the box, presents an excellent opportunity for exactly that.

And keep at it, do.
I know you are coaching him for the betterment of swimming, not for either personal glory, nor making that fast buck.

[lane4]

Originally Posted by Pete

The two most important events for our top British swimmers are Europeans (short) and Worlds (long). Not too much difference in the number of weeks between their tapers and yours.

Ah but Britain didn't taper for the Europeans (short) remember. The commentators said GB was swimming through that meet because they were focussing on the Worlds! By doing that we'll get better results at the Worlds whereas all those who tapered for Euros are now doomed in Melbourne!

[lane4]

Originally Posted by Pete

How many swimmers could be partially funded for a whole year who with the right training opportunities this would bring, might be elevated into the top elite.

Okay hypothetical question for you Pete. Just suppose for a minute that GB did an about turn and said hey Owen, your one of our leading sprint hopes for 2012, here's £10,000 to use in the next 12 months so that you can find the right training opportunities to elevate you into the top elite. As his coach, how would you recommend he use the money to achieve that goal?

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Pete

As for tapering: you will be tapering for March and July I would imagine Gina. The two most important events for our top British swimmers are Europeans (short) and Worlds (long). Not too much difference in the number of weeks between their tapers and yours.

Maybe, but they had also tapered in March for Commonwealths and July for Europeans. If they then also tapered for Euro SC and then again for Worlds next March, that makes 4 full tapers in a little over a year. I'm no coaching expert, but that sounds like a lot of tapering.