Thorpe at Janet Evans Invitational in Long Beach



L

Larry Weisentha

Guest
I am SO excited. Only two more days. I've never seen him
swim in person. Gonna have the digital video camera
fired up and stocked with tapes. Anyone who lives in So
Cal and misses this opportunity is truly nutso. Ian's
comin' to town!

>>>

From the Long Beach Press-Telegram:

>>>>

Long Beach is 'Thorpedo' alley this week

Aussie star heads the Janet Evans Invitational.

By Joe Stevens Staff writer

Eureka!

So this is why all of this "Thorpedo' stuff is attracting so
much attention.

Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and five of his teammates took
another step toward the Janet Evans Invitational when they
charmed media members at a news conference on Tuesday. The
scope of the Janet Evans Invitational, which starts
Thursday, will include 20 countries and more than 1,000
elite swimmers from around the globe.

But even with all of the top athletes competing in the first
event of the 2004 Long Beach Aquatics Grand Prix, it became
obvious why the polished, smooth and charismatic Thorpe was
not only the centerpiece of the news conference, but the
event as well.

The 21-year-old Thorpe answered an array of questions that
could help those not knowledgeable of swimming understand
his place in the sport. In Australia, he has the celebrity
power of David Beckham or Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan.

Thorpe won three gold medals and two silvers at the 2000
Sydney Olympics. He draws so much attention in his
homeland that when he was disqualified in the 400-meter
freestyle in the Australian national trials and later
given back a spot in the event, it was one of the
country's biggest news stories.

"When it happened, I was trying to scroll around TV channels
not to see it, because I don't like watching myself on TV,'
Thorpe said. "I saw something, and our prime minister was on
TV. He was speaking, so I thought, 'Oh, I can watch this.'
But he, too, was talking about it.'

Even though the glamorous Thorpe will bring a heap of
interest, the 11th annual Janet Evans Invitational isn't all
about him. This will be the first, and only, time that
swimmers can test the new pools adjacent to the Long Beach
Arena before the U.S. Olympic Trials of Swimming, July7-14.

In past years, the event was held at USC. This year, it was
moved to Long Beach to be a part of the Aquatics Grand Prix,
which also includes national men's and women's water polo
events. To accommodate the competitions, two 50-meter Olympic-
size pools were constructed above ground.

With the Janet Evans Invitational leading into the trials
and then the trials leading into the Olympics, a feeling of
anticipation is among the Olympic hopefuls. When the event
starts on Thursday, that should quench some of the swimmers'
competitive thirst.

Until then, anticipation will remain, and it is no
secret that the Janet Evans meet is a prelude to the
Olympic Trials.

"I wouldn't read too much into it if the results are much
slower or faster than expected,' said Petria Thomas, who
won two silver medals and a bronze in the Sydney
Olympics. "I'm not one to swim my personal best in the
middle of the season.'

Members of Australia's swim team and Janet Evans gushed
about how impressive the pools, constructed by Italy-based
Martha Pools, are.

"The pools look great, and I can't wait to test the waters,'
said Justin Norris, a butterfly specialist for Australia.

Evans underscored how high the talent level will be.

"Outside of the Athens Games, there is no other place to see
world-class swimming than here in Long Beach,' she said.

There also is no other place to see the high-profile Thorpe,
who is not only the talk among his countrymen, but his
teammates.

"He's always had great poise, even as a 15-year-old,' said
Michael Klim, who will be competing in relays and is
Thorpe's former roommate. "He was always in control of
everything, and I wonder where he got that. It's not like
you're taught that it school. It's part of his character.'

All swimming eyes look to be on Thorpe, but he is used to
that.

"I don't feel pressure,' Thorpe said. "I never feel
pressure. I feel expectations.'
 
Hmm - they don't seem to know who Justin Norris is. He's not
just a butterfly specialist, although he did medal at the
last Olympics in the 200 fly. He also swims breaststroke and
individual medley at a medallist level.

Larry, watch how balanced Thorpe's stroke is - he's
absolutely amazing to watch in person.

Is Klim swimming at the meet? I'd be interested to know
whether he's continuing to improve in his comeback
after injury.

"Larry Weisenthal" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am SO excited. Only two more days. I've never seen him
> swim in person. Gonna have the digital video camera fired
> up and stocked with tapes.
Anyone
> who lives in So Cal and misses this opportunity is truly
> nutso. Ian's
comin'
> to town!
>
> >>>
>
> From the Long Beach Press-Telegram:
>
> >>>>
>
> Long Beach is 'Thorpedo' alley this week
>
> Aussie star heads the Janet Evans Invitational.
>
> By Joe Stevens Staff writer
>
> Eureka!
>
> So this is why all of this "Thorpedo' stuff is
> attracting so much
attention.
>
> Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and five of his teammates
> took another step toward the Janet Evans Invitational when
> they charmed media members at a
news
> conference on Tuesday. The scope of the Janet Evans
> Invitational, which
starts
> Thursday, will include 20 countries and more than 1,000
> elite swimmers
from
> around the globe.
>
> But even with all of the top athletes competing in the
> first event of the
2004
> Long Beach Aquatics Grand Prix, it became obvious why the
> polished, smooth
and
> charismatic Thorpe was not only the centerpiece of the
> news conference,
but the
> event as well.
>
> The 21-year-old Thorpe answered an array of questions that
> could help
those not
> knowledgeable of swimming understand his place in the
> sport. In Australia,
he
> has the celebrity power of David Beckham or Tiger Woods or
> Michael Jordan.
>
> Thorpe won three gold medals and two silvers at the 2000
> Sydney Olympics.
He
> draws so much attention in his homeland that when he was
> disqualified in
the
> 400-meter freestyle in the Australian national trials and
> later given back
a
> spot in the event, it was one of the country's biggest
> news stories.
>
> "When it happened, I was trying to scroll around TV
> channels not to see
it,
> because I don't like watching myself on TV,' Thorpe
> said. "I saw
something, and
> our prime minister was on TV. He was speaking, so I
> thought, 'Oh, I can
watch
> this.' But he, too, was talking about it.'
>
> Even though the glamorous Thorpe will bring a heap of
> interest, the 11th
annual
> Janet Evans Invitational isn't all about him. This will be
> the first, and
only,
> time that swimmers can test the new pools adjacent to the
> Long Beach Arena before the U.S. Olympic Trials of
> Swimming, July7-14.
>
> In past years, the event was held at USC. This year, it
> was moved to Long
Beach
> to be a part of the Aquatics Grand Prix, which also
> includes national
men's and
> women's water polo events. To accommodate the
> competitions, two 50-meter Olympic-size pools were
> constructed above ground.
>
> With the Janet Evans Invitational leading into the trials
> and then the
trials
> leading into the Olympics, a feeling of anticipation is
> among the Olympic hopefuls. When the event starts on
> Thursday, that should quench some of
the
> swimmers' competitive thirst.
>
> Until then, anticipation will remain, and it is no secret
> that the Janet
Evans
> meet is a prelude to the Olympic Trials.
>
> "I wouldn't read too much into it if the results are much
> slower or faster
than
> expected,' said Petria Thomas, who won two silver medals
> and a bronze in
the
> Sydney Olympics. "I'm not one to swim my personal best in
> the middle of
the
> season.'
>
> Members of Australia's swim team and Janet Evans gushed
> about how
impressive
> the pools, constructed by Italy-based Martha Pools, are.
>
> "The pools look great, and I can't wait to test the
> waters,' said Justin Norris, a butterfly specialist for
> Australia.
>
> Evans underscored how high the talent level will be.
>
> "Outside of the Athens Games, there is no other place
> to see world-class swimming than here in Long Beach,'
> she said.
>
> There also is no other place to see the high-profile
> Thorpe, who is not
only
> the talk among his countrymen, but his teammates.
>
> "He's always had great poise, even as a 15-year-old,' said
> Michael Klim,
who
> will be competing in relays and is Thorpe's former
> roommate. "He was
always in
> control of everything, and I wonder where he got that.
> It's not like
you're
> taught that it school. It's part of his character.'
>
> All swimming eyes look to be on Thorpe, but he is used
> to that.
>
> "I don't feel pressure,' Thorpe said. "I never feel
> pressure. I feel expectations.'
 
Hi Larry,

I am going to take my 11 years old son to watch him. Thorpe
is going to swim 100M and 400M tomorrow.

BTW, they are not to have the 10 miles swim this year at the
Seal Beach. Only 1 and 3 miles. The date is July 17.

Hugo


news:<[email protected]>...
> I am SO excited. Only two more days. I've never seen him
> swim in person. Gonna have the digital video camera
> fired up and stocked with tapes. Anyone who lives in So
> Cal and misses this opportunity is truly nutso. Ian's
> comin' to town!
>
> >>>
>
> From the Long Beach Press-Telegram:
>
> >>>>
>
> Long Beach is 'Thorpedo' alley this week
>
> Aussie star heads the Janet Evans Invitational.
>
> By Joe Stevens Staff writer
>
> Eureka!
>
> So this is why all of this "Thorpedo' stuff is attracting
> so much attention.
>
> Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and five of his teammates
> took another step toward the Janet Evans Invitational when
> they charmed media members at a news conference on
> Tuesday. The scope of the Janet Evans Invitational, which
> starts Thursday, will include 20 countries and more than
> 1,000 elite swimmers from around the globe.
>
> But even with all of the top athletes competing in the
> first event of the 2004 Long Beach Aquatics Grand Prix, it
> became obvious why the polished, smooth and charismatic
> Thorpe was not only the centerpiece of the news
> conference, but the event as well.
>
> The 21-year-old Thorpe answered an array of questions that
> could help those not knowledgeable of swimming understand
> his place in the sport. In Australia, he has the celebrity
> power of David Beckham or Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan.
>
> Thorpe won three gold medals and two silvers at the 2000
> Sydney Olympics. He draws so much attention in his
> homeland that when he was disqualified in the 400-meter
> freestyle in the Australian national trials and later
> given back a spot in the event, it was one of the
> country's biggest news stories.
>
> "When it happened, I was trying to scroll around TV
> channels not to see it, because I don't like watching
> myself on TV,' Thorpe said. "I saw something, and our
> prime minister was on TV. He was speaking, so I
> thought, 'Oh, I can watch this.' But he, too, was
> talking about it.'
>
> Even though the glamorous Thorpe will bring a heap of
> interest, the 11th annual Janet Evans Invitational isn't
> all about him. This will be the first, and only, time
> that swimmers can test the new pools adjacent to the Long
> Beach Arena before the U.S. Olympic Trials of Swimming,
> July7-14.
>
> In past years, the event was held at USC. This year, it
> was moved to Long Beach to be a part of the Aquatics Grand
> Prix, which also includes national men's and women's water
> polo events. To accommodate the competitions, two 50-meter
> Olympic-size pools were constructed above ground.
>
> With the Janet Evans Invitational leading into the trials
> and then the trials leading into the Olympics, a feeling
> of anticipation is among the Olympic hopefuls. When the
> event starts on Thursday, that should quench some of the
> swimmers' competitive thirst.
>
> Until then, anticipation will remain, and it is no
> secret that the Janet Evans meet is a prelude to the
> Olympic Trials.
>
> "I wouldn't read too much into it if the results are much
> slower or faster than expected,' said Petria Thomas, who
> won two silver medals and a bronze in the Sydney Olympics.
> "I'm not one to swim my personal best in the middle of the
> season.'
>
> Members of Australia's swim team and Janet Evans gushed
> about how impressive the pools, constructed by Italy-based
> Martha Pools, are.
>
> "The pools look great, and I can't wait to test the
> waters,' said Justin Norris, a butterfly specialist for
> Australia.
>
> Evans underscored how high the talent level will be.
>
> "Outside of the Athens Games, there is no other place
> to see world-class swimming than here in Long Beach,'
> she said.
>
> There also is no other place to see the high-profile
> Thorpe, who is not only the talk among his countrymen, but
> his teammates.
>
> "He's always had great poise, even as a 15-year-old,' said
> Michael Klim, who will be competing in relays and is
> Thorpe's former roommate. "He was always in control of
> everything, and I wonder where he got that. It's not like
> you're taught that it school. It's part of his character.'
>
> All swimming eyes look to be on Thorpe, but he is used
> to that.
>
> "I don't feel pressure,' Thorpe said. "I never feel
> pressure. I feel expectations.'
 
Klim is supposed to be swimming in a couple of relays.
400 tomorrow!
 
>>BTW, they are not to have the 10 miles swim this year at
>>the Seal
Beach. Only 1 and 3 miles. The date is July 17.<<

Thanks, Hugo. Hope I see you there, if not at the meet
tomorrow (I'll be wearing a blue blazer with a yellow
carnation and a white straw boater-style hat and carrying an
umbrella and leading around a Great Dane on a leash on the
pool-deck; so I may be difficult to find, blending in with
everyone else).
 
"Larry Weisenthal" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Thanks, Hugo. Hope I see you there, if not at the meet
> tomorrow (I'll be wearing a blue blazer with a yellow
> carnation and a white straw
boater-style
> hat and carrying an umbrella and leading around a Great
> Dane on a leash on
the
> pool-deck; so I may be difficult to find, blending in with
> everyone else).

You sound like an OK guy !

From an old UK swimmer
 
[email protected] (Larry Weisenthal) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> >>BTW, they are not to have the 10 miles swim this year at
> >>the Seal
> Beach. Only 1 and 3 miles. The date is July 17.<<
>
> Thanks, Hugo. Hope I see you there, if not at the meet
> tomorrow (I'll be wearing a blue blazer with a yellow
> carnation and a white straw boater-style hat and carrying
> an umbrella and leading around a Great Dane on a leash on
> the pool-deck; so I may be difficult to find, blending in
> with everyone else).

Hi Larry! I did not even try to look for you. So many
people, especially for the finals in the afternoon. But
wasn't Thorpe amazing? His strokes were so smooth and
beautiful. There were very little splashes of water when his
hands entered into the water. He seemed to swim
effortlessly, like a warm up. You could see how hard other
people swam. It's a wonderful experience for me and my son.
We have a super hero to learn from.

Hugo