USA: Jason Lezak, he of the swiftest 100m free relay split in history (one that kept alive Michael Phelps's target of eight gold medals in Beijing), will not be in Rome for the world championships next month. Instead, he plans to explore his Jewish heritage with a sporting pilgrimage to the Maccabiah Games in Israel. The quadrennial Jewish Olympics has been the meet of choice for other big names from the pool in bygone years in the wake of big success at the Olympics proper. Lenny Krayzelburg took that route after his double Olympic victory in Sydney.
"(The Maccabiah Games is) completely different than any other trip I've ever gone on," Lezak told reporters in the US this week. "We're actually going there over two weeks before the swimming starts. So when we get there, there's six days of straight sight-seeing, touring and cultural stuff. They've put together a pretty exciting six days for us."
Lezak's itinerary also includes his induction into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and participating in the opening ceremonies July 13. "Every time at the Olympics, I'm not able to go (to the opening ceremony) because swimming is right off the bat," Lezak told The Orange County Register.
Paris: Inge Dekker, one of the Dutch sprint freestyle relay quartet that lifted the Olympic crown in Beijing last year and holds the world record, has signed for arena until 2011. The 24-year-old 'fly and free sprinter will wear the three diamonds for the first time as a member of Team Arena at the Paris Open over the next three days at the splendid Paris Racing Lagardère Club. Dekker, coached by Jacco Vehaeren, will race 50, 100 and 200m frreestyle and 50 and 100m butterfly.
Rome: "I am convinced that we will stage the best world championships ever," says Giovanni Malago, head of the Rome 2009 organising committee today. "The committee is doing an excellent job," he added before noting one of the aspects of the championships beyond his control: suits. In an television interview, Malago put his faith in the meeting today of the FINA suits commission before the release on Monday of any additions to the approved suits list for the current season. Malago described what was being delivered for Rome on suits as a "temporary situation" before 2010 brings "clear rules".
