Russia: Vladimir Salnikov, winner of the 1980 and 1988 Olympic 1,500m crowns and the first man ever to crack 15 minutes, has been appointed president of the Russian swimming federation. His deputy is none other that Alex Popov, winner of the 50m and 100m free crowns at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games and holder of the 50m free record between 2000 and the onset of the shiny suits era in 2008.

Rome 2009: Organisers of Rome 2009, with a debt of 12.7 million euros on their hands (about 8 million of which remains unpaid after contributions were lodged by the City of Rome and the Italian swim federation), are pinning their hopes on a state article that may requires the Government to act as white knight. So far, Gazzetta notes, seven sessions at state level at which the issue was discussed have resulted in no firm agreement as to who ought to pile in with the missing money. And all that for a circus of 43 world records at the surfing and gliding champs.

Britain: One day after her 21st birthday, Rebecca Adlington, double Olympic champion (400m and 800m free, 2008) will re-open the pool in Mansfield where she learned to swim. On high noon on Feb 18, the distance ace coached by Bill Furniss, will name that pool the "Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre".

Russia: at a short-course meet in St Petersburg,  Evgeny Lagunov won the 50m free in 21.75; the mid-distance events over 200 and 400m free went to Nikita Lobintsev in 1:43"66 and 3:42.46, with Daniil Izotov on 1:43.77 in the 200m; Stanislav Donets claimed the 100m back on 51.13; the 200 breast went to Grigory Falko in 2:08.23; Anastasia Zueva took the 100m back in 59.02; the 200m back went to Ksenia Moskvina in 2:05.85 and Yulia Efimova claimed the sprint breaststroke events in 30.45 over 50m and 1:07.89 over 100m.