Herald Sun 2012 London Olympics Articles as of 10.7.12

7/31/2019 Herald Sun 2012 London Olympics Articles as of 10.7.12

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The chamber, supplied by CryolabSports, is secured in a former police van and can be driven to wherever itis needed.

Those using it strip to their underwear and let the cold air chill their body for up to three minutes, duringwhich time the skin temperature drops significantly but the core stays the same.

This boosts muscle recovery after exhausting training sessions and triggers the release of endorphins whichhelp pain relief.

Bolt, whose aura of invincibility was punctured by two defeats to 100m world champion Blake at theJamaican trials last week, could use it right away to help him recover from the injury which forced him outof the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 20.

Rooke famously received treatment from Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt in mid-2007, where he received an injectioninvolving a mixture of calf blood and rooster comb extract into a torn hamstring, expediting his recovery andallowing him to return in time for the Cats' premiership win that season.

Grimes has this week arrived in Germany where he is set to spend a week receiving treatment from the

world-renowned doctor.


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Top 20 Moments

Grant Davies' heart-breaking loss

by: Adrian Ballantyne From: News Limited Network July 10, 20129:38AM

Grant Davies finishes the 1000m K1 at the Seoul Olympics and was told he had won gold before being

demoted to silver. Source: News Limited

THERE can be only one thing worse than missing out on an Olympic gold medal by just 0.005

seconds: being told you've won the gold, only to then be told you've won silver.

In this current age of electronic timing, Olympic competition has become a game of microseconds andmillimetres, with results decided by margins narrower than human eyes could ever split.

Such was life for Aussie sprint kayaker Grant Davies, who thought he'd won the K-1 1000m race at theSeoul Games in 1988.

Davies could be considered lucky to have been in the final at all, having progressed through both his heatand semi-final by finishing in third place and taking the last qualifying spot in each.
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But what mattered was his performance in the big show, and there he was more than a match for almostevery rival, including multiple world champion and Olympic gold medallist Greg Barton.

And after 1000 torturous metres, Davies triumphed.

The scoreboard said so, the crowd thought so and officials had almost confirmed so by having him sign thegold medal register and prepare for the medal ceremony.

But the result that would have given Australia its first gold medal in the sport wasn't to be, as officialsrushed forward to inform Davies that, on closer inspection of the finish photo, they had determinedAmerican Barton had actually won by five one-thousandths of a second -- the narrowest margin in Olympichistory.

And that's where Davies truly won his fans.

Despite having been dealt that shattering blow, he calmly said words to the effect: ``If that's the worst thingthat ever happens to me, I'll have a pretty good life.''

The Australian Olympic Federation later struck a special sportsmanship medal and awarded it to Davies tocommend him on his gracious and belated defeat. He remains the only person to have received this medal.


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London Olympics

'Women didn't try out for Olympics' From: AP July 10, 20126:21AM

Sarah Kureshi, an American Muslim athlete, has pushed for Saudi Arabia to send women to the Olympics.The country agreed to the move but has now said no women tried out. Picture: AP Source: AP

NO WOMEN from Saudi Arabia have qualified for the London Olympics, a newspaper from the

Muslim kingdom reported.

The story in the pan-Arab daily newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat - an important media tool for Saudi rulers -said Saudi male athletes have qualified to compete in track, equestrian and weightlifting at the games thatstart in less than three weeks.

There is no "female team taking part in the three fields," the report said, quoting an unidentified Saudiofficial. He said no female athlete had taken part in qualifying events in Saudi Arabia, which severelyrestricts women in public life.

Saudi leaders have been under pressure to end the practice of sending all-male teams to internationalcompetitions. They could face IOC sanctions after the London Games if women are excluded from the

country's Olympic team.

The Saudi Embassy in London said two weeks ago that women who qualify will be allowed to compete.Last week, IOC President Jacques Rogge said he remains optimistic the Gulf kingdom will send women tothe games for the first time.
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London Olympics

Aussie gold losing lustre as our athletes hit the wall by: Ben English From:The Daily Telegraph July 10, 201212:00AM

Seeing less of this at 2012 Olympics: Stephanie Rice's victory at Beijing in 2008. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith,File) Source: AP

AUSSIE, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi ... what on earth is going on?

Less than three weeks before the flame is lit in London, Australia faces the grim prospect of its worstOlympics result in two decades.

A global analysis of performances across Olympic sports shows Australia has slipped to ninth in theinternational pecking order.

That ranks us below nations we had comfortably swatted aside in recent Games - countries such as Italy,

France, Japan and, perhaps most gallingly, Great Britain.

According to data compiled by Dutch-based Infostrada Sports, our green and gold heroes will have a lot lessgold and perhaps more shades of green - in envy at the former mother country.
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The Brits are poised to parlay their home ground advantage into in estimated 19 gold compared with 10 forAustralia, statistics show.

The parlous situation is not lost on Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, who traditionallyhas a wager with his British opposite number using champagne as currency.

Based on the past 12 months' results, Coates recently remarked: "On those figures, I'd be down 23 bottlesand a magnum. But there are signs we're closing the gap."

Indeed despite the projections, it's not all doom and gloom in team Australia.

Encouraging performances by our sailing crews, cyclists and rowers have given Coates cause for cautiousoptimism.

"I wasn't that confident last year when I saw ... that we had dropped back from the 40 to 46 medals that weneeded to be in the mix for the top five to 35 (projected medals)," he said last week.

"(But) I have been pleased with what I have seen so far this year particularly in sailing and in cycling and in

rowing and I'm aware that we'll get better results than we did last year in equestrian and shooting."

Coates is hoping for 15 gold medals - up from the 10 that Infostrada is projecting - that would all but protectAustralia's coveted top six ranking.

If Infostrada is right, we will win the fewest gold medals since the 1996 Atlanta Games (nine) and have ourlowest international ranking since Barcelona (10th).

We are still forecast to win 39 medals overall, a fall of seven from Beijing.

It's a far cry from our humiliation in Montreal, when our failure to win one gold medal sent us plunging to

our worst performance in more than four decades, sparking such national uproar that then-prime ministerMalcolm Fraser was moved to set up the Australian Institute of Sport.

But it's also a long way from the heights of the Sydney Olympics when, swept up in the patriotism andeuphoria of a home games, our athletes won 17 gold medals and an overall fourth ranking.

Let the nail biting begin.


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London Olympics

A venue guide for the London Olympics by: Robin Millard From: AFP July 09, 20126:13PM

Olympic Stadium in full use during day two of the BUCS VISA Athletics Championships - a test Event forthe Olympic Games. Source: Getty Images

WE take you through the venues and stadiums that will host 36 events in and around London at this

year's Olympics.
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OLYMPIC STADIUM

Capacity: 80,000

Sport: Athletics

Venue: New, permanent

Location: Olympic Park

Unlike Beijing, the showpiece stadium, costing $735 million, has a simpler design, drawn up with a view toscale it down after the Games. The steel and concrete upper tier can be dismantled, leaving a 25,000-seatersunken bowl. Construction was completed under budget in March 2011. East London football club WestHam is the preferred bidder to take over the venue.

AQUATICS CENTRE

Capacity: 17,500

Sports: Diving, Swimming, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo, Modern Pentathlon



Designed by the architect Zaha Hadid, the $269 million centre has a 160-metre-long wave-like roof. Itcontains a 50-metre competition pool, a diving pool, and a warm-up pool. One of the few Olympic-sizedpools in Britain, it will be scaled back to 2500 seats after the Games. It has a temporary, 5000-capacity waterpolo venue built on. All three pools completed and filled.


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HOCKEY CENTRE

Capacity: 15,000

Sport: Hockey

Venue: New, temporary


The main pitch will hold 15,000 fans, with the second pitch having 5000 seats. The structures were finishedin March. After the Games, the hockey centre will move to a 3000-seater facility north of the park that canbe extended to 15,000 for major events.

BASKETBALL ARENA

Capacity: 12,000

Sports: Basketball, Handball

Venue: New, temporary


The fourth-largest venue on the park and one of the largest-ever temporary venues built for any Games.Construction completed within the $43 million budget in June 2011. The frame of 20 steel arches has beenwrapped in fabric to form the canvas for an innovative lighting display. After the Olympics, parts of it areexpected to be reused or relocated elsewhere in Britain.

HANDBALL ARENA

Capacity: 6500

Sports: Handball, Modern Pentathlon (fencing)



he distinctive, $66 million copper-clad arena will host the early handball rounds. The copper will develop a

rich colour as it ages. After the Games, it will be converted into a multi-purpose indoor sports centre forcommunity use. It has retractable seating.

VELODROME

Capacity: 6000

Sports: Track Cycling



Designed by Hopkins Architects, the lower tier has 3500 seats, with the rest suspended in two upper tiersunder the curved roof. In between, a glass wall will allow people to watch the action from outside. Costing


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$141 million, it was completed in February 2011. Shortlisted for the Stirling Prize, Britain's most prestigiousarchitecture award.

OTHER KEY VENUES

ALL ENGLAND LAWN TENNIS AND CROQUET CLUB

Capacity: 30,000

Sport: Tennis

Venue: Existing, permanent

Location: Southwest London

The home of the Wimbledon championships will host the entire tennis tournament. Centre court, dating backto 1922, has a 15,000-seater capacity and a retractable roof, enabling play during rain or bad light. Court onecan host 11,500 spectators. The club hosted the 1908 Olympics at its pre-1922 venue.

NORTH GREENWICH ARENA

Capacity: 20,000

Sports: Gymnastics (Artistic, Trampoline), Basketball


Location: Southeast London

Once known as the Millennium Dome, this arena cost a lot of money, but lay idle for years after the Year2000 exhibition. Eventually taken into private hands, it was transformed into a highly successful sports andentertainment arena with shops, restaurants, a nightclub and a cinema. The main arena will seat 16,500 forthe gymnastics, with the full capacity for the basketball finals. It has hosted sell-out NBA exhibition gamesand the 2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

ExCeL

Capacity: Depends on configuration

Sports: Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Wrestling


Location: East London's Docklands

Five arenas will be created in the Exhibition Centre London, an enormous grey rectangular box on the edgeof the semi-derelict Royal Victoria Dock. The venue has two long exhibition halls of 32,250 square metreseach. ExCeL is used to rejigging its space to host major events, including a G20 summit in 2009 and theBritish Motor Show.

LEE VALLEY WHITE WATER CENTRE

Capacity: 12,000

Sport: Canoe slalom


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Location: 30 kilometres north of Olympic Park

The centre is built upstream on the River Lee, which runs through the Olympic Park. Opened earlier thisyear. A new, 10,000 square metre lake provides the 300-metre course with 15 cubic metres of water persecond. It also has a 160-metre intermediate/training course.

WEMBLEY ARENA

Capacity: 6000

Sports: Badminton, Rhythmic Gymnastics


Location: Northwest London

The concert venue, next to Wembley Stadium, was built for the 1934 Empire Games swimming events. Ithas hosted sports such as boxing, ice hockey, snooker and the Horse of the Year Show. The August 2011Badminton World Championships will act as a test event.

MORE

Outside London, football events will be held around Britain at Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow, Manchester andNewcastle.

Slalom canoeing will take place north of the capital, with rowing and sprint canoeing to the west andmountain biking to the east. The sailing events take place at Weymouth on the southern English coast


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London Olympics

Lauren Jackson rates Opals teammate LizCambage as potential Olympic Games star

From: AAP July 09, 20126:31PM

Opals players Belinda Snell, Kathleen McLeod, Liz Cambage, Rachel Jarry, Kristi Harrower, SamanthaRichards and Jenna O'Hea fly out for London from Tullamarine in Melbourne. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source:Herald Sun

OPALS skipper Lauren Jackson believes rising women's basketball talent Liz Cambage is ready to

become a bona fide superstar at the Olympic Games.

Cambage, 20, is already considered one of the sport's brightest talents.

Jackson, who knows better than anyone the pressure of potential greatness at a young age, has takenCambage under her wing in a partnership capable of finally driving the Opals to that elusive gold medal inLondon.

Now 31, Jackson goes to her fourth Olympics having been the teenage wunderkind on the Opals team at the

Sydney Games.

She eventually grew into the world's best female basketballer, and believes 203cm giant Cambage can reachsimilar heights if she can channel her on-court aggression for good.


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"I feel for Liz. When I was young, I know what it's like to have people 'body' you and pressure you oncourt," Jackson said.

SHE is Australia's very own Big Bird, tall enough to eyeball West Indian skyscraper Joel Garner.

"I definitely feel like I've taken her under my wing a little bit.

"She's such a lovely person and I just think if you can get that toughness out of her on the court and keep herpositive, she's going to be one of the best players in the world - she's unstoppable.

"We've just got to keep her positive and keep her doing what she does. She just needs to feel no pressure andjust go out and play."

Jackson and Opals coach Carrie Graf believe the key to Cambage is keeping her "basketball thermostat"even.

That involves making sure Cambage doesn't react recklessly to niggling tactics from opponents, and rack upneedless and costly fouls.

Both Graf and Jackson believe her stunning second half performance against world No.6 Brazil last monthin a huge Opals win in Melbourne may have been a turning point.

There she was needled by opponents early and was struggling, before exploding with eight-of-eight fieldgoal shooting for 23 points and seven rebounds in limited minutes.

"She's a work-in-progress ... but she had the mental skills to turn it around and come out and have thatsecond half - that's huge," Graf said.

"That's her biggest learning area."

The Opals, who have won silver at the past three Olympics, departed Australia for England on Monday.

The squad of 12 will have another training camp and several lead-up matches there ahead of their Gamescampaign.

The Opals' Olympic opener is against Great Britain on July 29 (AEST).


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London Olympics

Roger Federer ponders whether to carry Olympicflag for Switzerland

by: Darren Walton From: AAP July 10, 201212:00AM

Roger Federer holds up the winner's trophy after his Wimbledon triumph. Source: Getty Images

TENNIS superstar Roger Federer has not decided whether to accept an offer to carry Switzerland's

flag during the opening ceremony for the London Olympics.

As he basks in the glory of a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon championship and return to world No.1,Federer revealed he may offer the honour to somebody else.

The 30-year-old carried Switzerland's flag at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games and the smart moneywould be on the 17-times champion offering the honour to Davis Cup teammate Stanislas Wawrinka.

Federer teamed with Wawrinka to win the doubles gold in China four years ago.

"It's been offered to me, so I might give it to someone else,'' Federer said. "I haven't decided yet, but itshould be announced in the next 10 days or so.''

The Olympic tennis competition, which is being held at the All England Club, starts on July 28 and Federerwill be a favourite to back up his Wimbledon triumph with the singles gold medal.


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The father of two also revealed he won't be staying at the Olympic village.

"No village for me. I've done it twice,'' Federer said.

"Athens, I believe when I was world No.1, it was distracting, I guess - in a good way.

"Look, I've had the Olympic experience now in the past. I just thought it's impossible for London.

"I've almost got to do now what I do best, do my routine really, not change because it is the Olympics.

"Sometimes you have to do it that way. I stayed at the hotel in Beijing, felt a bit odd, making it seem like it'sjust another tournament - but that's how I got an Olympic gold and I look at that as one of my great, greataccomplishments in my life.

"So I will do the same here for this one and rent the same house and do the same routine again in, whatever,20 days and hopefully be successful.''


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London Olympics

Giggs to captain Team GB at Games From: AFP July 09, 20126:29AM

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs will lead the British team on the pitch at the Olympics. Picture: AP

Source: AP

MANCHESTER United veteran Ryan Giggs has been named as captain of the British soccer team at

the London Olympics.

Giggs is one of three over-age players in Stuart Pearce's side at the 2012 Games.

"Obviously I have experience and there are a lot of younger players in this squad, as captain hopefully I canpass that on to the younger players," the winger told www.thefa.com.

Giggs has never played in a major international tournament with Wales but at the club level he has won 12Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League crowns.

He also won 64 caps for Wales before retiring from international soccer in 2007.

Giggs' compatriot Craig Bellamy and Manchester City defender Micah Richards are the other two over-ageplayers in the squad.

They were picked ahead of David Beckham whose non-selection provoked debate.

Giggs will lead out Team GB for the first time when they face Brazil at the Riverside Stadium on Friday,

July 20.

"Ryan Giggs is going to be captaining the squad for the duration of the tournament," Pearce told the PressAssociation.


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"I looked at the squad and I thought there are some good candidates there.

"Aaron Ramsey captains Wales, Micah Richards has captained Manchester City at times, Craig Bellamy forthe experience he's had and one or two others within the camp as well.

"But I think Ryan is the standout captain amongst the group. He has got the respect of all the members of thegroup and I am quite looking forward to working with him and alongside him."


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London Olympics

Stars turn out for the US Dream Team From: AFP July 08, 201212:19PM

LeBron James laughs with teammate Chris Paul during a Team USA practice session in Las Vegas Source:AP

KOBE Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Durant will head the famous US Dream Team at the London

Games.

The injury-hit US named its 12-man basketball Olympic squad today with Blake Griffin, Andre Iguodalaand James Harden nabbing the final three roster spots.

"We projected we would have difficulty getting down to a roster of 12, regardless of the number of injuriesthat have taken place, because they are such an outstanding group of people and athletes," USA Basketballchairman Jerry Colangelo said in a statement.

"The final selections keep us in concert with our game plan to have athleticism, versatility and strong depthon our roster. I think our final roster epitomizes all of that."

James, coming off his first NBA title with Miami, will be joined by 2008 Olympic gold medal-winningteammates Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

Once again the team will be guided by Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski.


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Durant and Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook, who lost to Miami in the NBA Finals, will bejoined by 2010 world championship teammates Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love, two vital big men for theAmericans.

Missing out as the final selection was made were Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay and top draft selection AnthonyDavis of New Orleans, who could not scrimmage this week because of a sprained ankle.

Chris Paul retained his place despite suffering a sprained thumb on the first day of training camp on Friday.

Twenty years after the original US Olympic Dream Team played in Barcelona, the latest incarnation of USNBA Olympic talent will return for exhibition games against Argentina on July 22 and Spain on July 24.

USA squad: Carmelo Anthony ( New York Knicks), Kobe Bryant ( Los Angeles Lakers), Tyson Chandler(New York Knicks), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Blake Griffin ( Los Angeles Clippers), JamesHarden (Oklahoma City Thunder), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers), LeBron James ( Miami Heat),Kevin Love ( Minnesota Timberwolves), Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers), Russell Westbrook (OklahomaCity Thunder), and Deron Williams ( Brooklyn Nets).


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London Olympics

Rolling on to London for our Paralympic stars by: Amanda Lulham From:The Daily Telegraph July 05, 2012 2:14PM

We want this again- the Rollers after winning the gold medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games Source: AFP

ROLLERS coach Ben Ettridge has declared his team "ready for battle'' ahead of the London

Paralympic Games.

Only two new players have forced their way into the Gliders line-up for the Paralympics where theAustralian men's wheelchair basketball team is favourite for gold.

"We're ready. The last four years we've been preparing ourselves for this moment," said Ettridge who hasBrad Ness captaining the side in his fourth consecutive Paralympics and Bill Latham and Jannik Blairheading to their first.

But the Rollers coach is aware Australia will have to overcome some tough opposition to repeat their goldmedal winning feat of four years ago.

"We've drawn the USA and they'll be a tough one, as will Italy and Turkey who have proven theirperformance on the world stage recently,'' he said.

"They could give us a good shake while we believe Spain could cause a few upsets and could be quitedangerous."
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While the Rollers are chasing a repeat of history the Gliders are hoping to create some as the first women'steam to secure a Paralympics gold medal.

Queenslander Bridie Kean will lead the team which has been drawn against Brazil, Great Britain, Canadaand the Netherlands in London.

"Canada beat us at the World Championships in the bronze medal game and although we've since gottenback on top of them, they will be a tough side to beat, as will the Netherlands, who historically have beatenus by just a few points on a few occasions,'' said Gliders coach John Triscari said.

"We've worked really hard to improve the team's shooting percentage, we've had strength and conditioningcoaches working with the girls to up their fitness and we've increased the volume of shooting duringtraining.

"Hopefully all the hard work the girls are putting in now will pay off in London.''


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London Olympics

Swimming Australia announces funding deal toreward swimmers for Olympic medals and

improved world rankings

From: AAP July 02, 201210:11PM

Breaststroker Leisel Jones off to her 4th Olympic games , the first swimmer in the history of Australianswimming to do so. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph

AUSTRALIA'S swimmers will be rewarded for winning Olympic medals and improved world

rankings under a new funding deal announced by Swimming Australia on Monday.

All members of Australia's swimming team bound for the London Olympics starting this month will receivean initial share of more than $750,000 to assist in their final preparations for the Games.

Swimming Australia said the new arrangements will also lead to financial and training support for a greaternumber of athletes.

In addition to the initial payment, athletes will be eligible to earn financial performance bonuses based ontheir medal and finals achievements in London.

SA said an individual gold medal will be worth $35,000, and a relay gold medal valued at $60,000, to beshared across both heats and finals swimmers.


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IAN Thorpe is the richest Australian swimmer in the history of the sport but he has had no hesitation puttinghis hand out for funding.

SA President David Urquhart said the funding and support model was crucial to maintaining and improvingon Australia's success in the pool and rewarding those athletes who perform on the world stage.

"Our previous model was based around national rankings, as opposed to world rankings and internationalperformance, and we need to put our limited resources towards aiming for international success," Urquhartsaid in a statement.

"It's a clear vision of the organisation to be the world's leading swimming nation by 2016 and to achieve thatgoal we need to make decisions in the best interest of performance, by rewarding those who are successfulon the world stage."

World 100m freestyle champion James Magnussen said the incentives were personally irrelevant when itcame to chasing Olympic medals, but more support for world rankings made sense.

"Olympic medals are something you grow up dreaming about, long before you think you might be able to

make a living out of sport," he said.

"In all honesty my incentives for success in London are personal and in no way financial, but I see merit inrewarding success at international meets, especially if as a team we aim to return to the top of worldswimming."


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London Olympics

Michael Phelps qualifies for fifth individual eventat US Olympic trials

From: Reuters July 02, 2012 3:05PM

Michael Phelps qualified for a fifth individual event with victory in the 100m butterfly. Picture: GettyImages

MICHAEL Phelps finished off his London preparations in emphatic style today when he qualified for

a fifth individual event on the penultimate night of competition at the US Olympic trials.

The 14-times Olympic gold medalist, still showing no signs of weariness after a draining week of high-pressure racing, powered home over the last lap to win the 100 metres butterfly final in 51.14 seconds.

It was the 27-year-old's fourth consecutive win of the trials after he finished second to Ryan Lochte in the400m medley final on Monday and ensured he would contest his usual heavy eight-event schedule inLondon, with the addition of the three relays.

"It was a fun week but there are still a lot of things that need to be perfected," Phelps said.

"It shows that I can do it in a program at a high level again. I was struggling over the last few years."

Lochte sliced half a second off his personal best time to finish third in the 100m butterfly, an event henormally does not swim, but missed out on another berth for London when Tyler McGill grabbed the second


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qualifying spot.

Lochte, whose rivalry with Phelps promises to be one of the highlights of London, had already qualified infour individual events plus at least one relay.

Missy Franklin, the new spearhead of the American women's team, qualified for a record seventh event inLondon after winning the women's 200m backstroke.

The 17-year-old from Colorado never gave her rivals a chance as she stormed to victory in 2:06.12 seconds,the fastest time in the world this year and more than a second ahead of runner-up Elizabeth Beisel, who alsoqualified in the 400m medley.

If Franklin stands on the podium in every race, she will become the first female swimmer from any countryto win seven medals at a single games.

"When I think of my biggest dream it would be competing in the Olympics in as many events as I possiblycan," she said.

"I think I achieved that this week, so accomplishing that biggest dream at this age is so exciting."

Another bright teenage star surfaced from the temporary pool in America's Midwest when 15-year-oldKathleen Ledecky won the 800m freestyle, the longest event on the women's program, ahead of KateZiegler.

Ledecky slashed more than five seconds off her best time in leading from start to finish to stop the clock at8:19.78, the second fastest time in the world this year.

She heads to London as the youngest member of a deeply talented American swim team overflowing with

medal contenders.

"Four years ago I never knew how to qualify for an Olympics Trials," Ledecky said.

Anthony Ervin, who won gold at the Sydney Olympics 12 years ago, rolled back the years to qualify secondin the 50m freestyle, behind Cullen Jones.

The 31-year-old retired from swimming in 2003 but made a comeback in the hope of making the team forLondon and he succeeded when got his hand on the wall in the nick of a time.

"I just want to keep this fun train chugging," he said.

The trials wrap up on Monday with just two events, the men's 1,500m freestyle and the women's 50mfreestyle where 45-year-old Dara Torres will be bidding to qualify for her sixth Olympics.

Documents

Herald Sun 2012 London Olympics Articles as of 10.7.12