France: The French federation has announced selection criteria for the European l/c championships in Budapest from August 9 to 15 next year: cut-off times must be clocked in heats and semis at the nationals in Saint-Raphaël (13-18 April), with final selection dependent on a top four place in the final. Christian Donzé, technical director said at a press conference in Paris that, while time was important and would play a part, he wanted to build an element of "confrontation" into the selection process, particularly in a year that will see the back of bodysuits and performance boosting suits and a return to traditional cuts and "textile" apparel.
USA: Michael Phelps is joined by medley aces Katie Hoff and Ariana Kukors in the club of those who will wear 2010 textile snumbers at the duel in the pool between the US and a European Select at Manchester, England in December. Good for them. You can read more about that from reporter Amy Shipley and have your say at the Washington Post's splendid swim micro-site reachforthewall.com.
Italy: The birth place of Federica Pellegrini, Spinea, is contemplating naming a local pool after its famous swim native. The swimmer's dad told the Italian media that it was nice to know that the good folk of Spinea were thinking of a way to honour his daughter. Still in Italy: American backstroke ace Randall Bal is committed to staying in Italy and will train in Lombardia with coach Marco Colombo. At racing in Casalpusterlengo he clocked an all-comers s/c record of 24.51 in the 50m backstroke, Gazetta dello Sport reports today.
