This issue is devoted to Canadian Summer Nationals, held in Victoria, BC, July 28-31. Nikki Dryden (her hometown) was there and worked with Cedar James, a former swimmer and an assistant coach who has studied photography, and you can see his work throughout this issue. If you'd like to purchase any of his pictures, you may contact him at cedarjbrant@gmail.com. The Summer Nationals served as a secondary Pan Pacific Trials with 24 additions to the 32 that were selected last April; 18 rookies are on their first senior national team.
Nikki writes on the amazing five Pierse sisters, who all had second evening swims in their respective events. And Cedar James' picture of the Island Swimming distance group is a special treat with all their results. Can any club program anywhere match this group?
Jeff Grace (now recovered from his car accident) writes on national champion 17-year-old Tianna Rissling from Medicine Hat, AB, and Justin Finney writes on 22-year-old Samantha Cheverton, the latest PCSC swimmer on the national team.
Russ Ewald writes on Sean Hutchison, head coach of the third US Olympic Training Centre in Fullerton, CA. He is a very creative coach with a somewhat unique approach who worked with Paul Bergen in Oregon a decade ago.
Lorna Snow has been in charge of the development group at the University of Calgary for the past 30 years. She works with 6-to-10-year-olds and estimates to have started 3,000 youngsters in competitive swimming. Joanne Malar describes Lorna’s approach. The importance of a solid development philosophy cannot be emphasized enough, as for many the first coach was their worst coach. Lorna has also been a long-time supporter of the TOP program, usually with large entries over the years.
US Nationals were held August 3-7 in Irvine, CA, and they were spectacular. Of course, there were no records, but Ryan Lochte put on a dazzling show, with world-leading individual medley swims (beating Phelps in the 200), and winning the 200 back over a field including world record-holder Aaron Peirsol and Michael Phelps. He nailed freestyle relay spots with his seconds in the 100 and 200 freestyle.
Jeff Grace writes about Eddie Reese, of the University of Texas, who won his tenth men's NCAA team title after 30 years at the helm in Austin.
Cecil Colwin interviewed Bob Bowman and discussed the challenges of coaching Michael Phelps. Their partnership will be unique, as few of the greats had only one coach during their career.
Julie Wilkinson will be competing at Pan Pacs, but found the time to write about topics that most swimmers have to experience during their career--coping with a change in program.
TAG times are up to August 8 and include the North American Challenge Cup, as well as all the meets from July.
We think you'll appreciate the effort that went into producing this issue, and I thank all those who contributed to its content.
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