Posing for photo with Olympians Ian Crocker and Christine Marshall

The four-hour clinic was comprised of getting to know the athletes and their swim careers, stroke work in the pool, more stroke work, races with the Olympians (how cool is that?), question and answer time with the athletes, and autograph/photo sessions. Each swimmer got a t-shirt – love the back – “I raced a gold medalist today – what did YOU do?”, a bag, 2 DVDs of swim meets the Olympians, posters, a set of Finis goggles and snacks at the end of the swimming portion. I consider it to be an excellent value for the $75 entry fee!

All the goodies my daughter got from the Breakout Swim clinic.

Both Ian Crocker and Christine Marshall have retired from competitive swimming but it is apparent they both still love the sport and did an excellent job connecting with the swimmers. The drills were clearly presented with actionable instructions complete with high fives and compliments – all things that would inspire a young swimmer to be eager to try their best and bring what they learned back to practice.

Drills and practice for each stroke were done and at the end of the “instruction” for a stroke the athletes got their chance to race the Olympians. Ian and Christine were on the blocks side by side with the young swimmers and depending on how old the swimmers were, the swimmers may have gotten a little head start. It was all in good fun and had my daughter talking about it non-stop.

Olympic Swimmer Christine Marshall

I missed the beginning of the clinic – the part where Ian Crocker told his story – as I was out with friends getting a brisk walk in on a sunny day, but I was there for Christine Marshall’s story at the end of the clinic.

Christine is a young woman who certainly beat the odds when it comes to swimming. She was pretty upfront with the kids that she was not the coach’s dream athlete – she was super talented, but made quite a few bad choices along the way to include skipping school and practice, and not focusing enough on her swimming or her studies.

She must have been talented though!! In high school she was the State Champion in the 100 Free and was recruited by Texas A&M to swim in college. She was only given a 60% scholarship her Freshman year, but in college Christine definitely matured and got her act together earning a full scholarship by her senior year.

She talked about her road to the Olympic team. She was not even ranked in the top 10 in her events leading up to the Olympic Trials in 2008. As a matter of fact, she was ranked 50th. She needed to be in the Top 6 if she even had a chance.

One of the points Christine made to the swimmers is that you need to have Goals and that Goals are what keep you on track. Christine made herself a “death sheet” of the top 50 athletes in her races. Throughout the course of the season leading up to the Olympics she would cross off names as she swam faster than her competitors putting her in a confident spot going into Trials. I don’t think she ever expected to be in the top 2 but a top 6 spot was within her reach.

At the Olympic Trials her dream came true. She was in the top 6 and made the US National Team and US Olympic Team at the same time. While she only swam in prelims in the womens’ relay, her relay team took the bronze medal in finals which meant she got a medal, too.

My daughter asked Christine if she was trying for the Olympics this year, and she said “no, that she is trying to decide what path to take next in life.” For the moment she is managing a retail store and coaching gymnastics part-time.

If your swimmer has the opportunity to participate in one of the Mutual of Omaha Breakout Swim Clinics – go for it!! There is a different set of athletes for each clinic, but every athlete has a story and something to give back.

And then today Jordyn Wieber took the All Around Gold edging out Russia’s Victoria Komova in the final event. Wieber seemed a little surprised at the outcome and I half wonder if she wasn’t just hoping for second place as we head into the final stretch before the Olympics next summer. Obviously the more major meets she wins, which she seems to be doing with ease this year – having already won the 2011 VISA American Cup and being crowned the 2011 US National Champion, the more pressure will be on Jordyn to win at the 2012 Olympics. Here’s hoping she can stay healthy and not let the media attention get to her! Teammate Ali Raisman took 4th – a great accomplishment in itself.

So, what kind of chance do you now think comeback kids Nastia Liukin, Alicia Sacramone, Shawn Johnson and Chellsie Memmel have of making next year’s Olympic squad? Not only do they have these five girls to contend with, Rebecca Bross will hopefully be healthy, Kyla Ross and other current junior National Team members will move up to the senior ranks, and they are going to have to be AMAZING.

Women’s All-Around Final Results
1. Jordyn Wieber – USA – 59.382
2. Victoria Komova – RUS – 59.349
3. Yao Jinnan – CHN – 58.598
4. Alexandra Raisman – USA – 57.558
5. Huang Qiushuang – CHN – 57.432
6. Ana Porgras – ROU – 57.299
7. Kseniia Afanaseva – RUS – 56.732
8. Lauren Mitchell – AUS – 56.699

Here is the complete press release from Under Armour:

OLYMPIC GYMNAST ALICIA SACRAMONE JOINS UNDER ARMOUR TEAM
World Champion Athlete Becomes the First Gymnast to Sign with the Brand

Baltimore, MD (August 18, 2011) – Under Armour (NYSE:UA), the Baltimore, MD-based leader in sports performance apparel, footwear and accessories, announced today a multi-year partnership with Olympic gymnast Alicia Sacramone, the first gymnast to sign with the company. As a member of the Under Armour team, Sacramone worked with the company on the design of a custom-made Under Armour leotard and will serve as a key Olympic ambassador for the Brand.

In addition to being a member of the silver medal-winning U.S. Olympic team in 2008, Sacramone is currently tied for the highest career tally of World Championship medals for U.S. gymnasts, including three golds, four silvers and two bronzes, making her one of the most successful gymnasts in U.S. history. Sacramone has been named USA Gymnastics’ Sportswoman of the Year four times (’05, ’06, ’07, ’10) and holds five U.S. vault titles as well as two U.S. National floor exercise crowns.

“Alicia’s commitment to training and her determination to perform at the highest level makes her an inspiration to young athletes across the world and an ideal fit for the Under Armour Brand,” said Tori Hanna, Director, Women’s Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “While her numerous medals and accolades are a clear reflection of her talent, it is her indomitable spirit that sets her apart as a natural choice to become the first Under Armour athlete on the gymnastics floor.”

Sacramone joins an elite roster of athletes who have signed with Under Armour, including 16-time Olympic swimming medalist Michael Phelps, Olympic gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn, U.S. Women’s Team World Cup soccer star Lauren Cheney and three-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, among others.

“I’m honored to join the Under Armour family, as Under Armour’s emphasis on training and its dedication to the next generation of athletes aligns perfectly with my core values,” said Sacramone. “I’ve always admired Under Armour apparel for its performance and style and now, to get the chance to work alongside such a high caliber of world champion athletes, it’s just an unbelievable opportunity.”

When Sacramone is not competing or training, she coaches youth gymnastics at Brestyan’s Gym in Burlington, MA and focuses much of her time giving back to the Children’s Hospital of Boston.

About Under Armour, Inc.

Under Armour® (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland, with European headquarters in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, and additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Guangzhou, China. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.underarmour.com.

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Be sure to watch Alicia and the rest of the US Team hopefuls as they compete in Day 2 of the Visa Championships on Saturday, August 20. Check UniversalSports.com and USA Gymnastics for times, results and more photos from the event.

Watch Missy’s 200m gold swim at the FINA Worlds:

Missy Franklin is only 16 but the 6 foot 1 inch has already gained the nickname of Missy the Missile for her impeccable backstroke technique! Her medals at this past week’s FINA Worlds included gold in the 200m backstroke, 400m medley relay and 800m free relay. She also garnered a silver in the 400m free relay and a bronze in the 50m backstroke. Regardless of how things go in next year’s Olympic Games, I think Missy Franklin will join the ranks of Natalie Coughlin and Dara Torres as a mainstay in US Swimming.

The Cover Girl Classic is being held in Chicago on July 23rd. It is one of the meets that gymnasts can use to qualify to the 2011 Visa Championships which is considered to be a stepping stone for many in their journey to earn a berth on the 2012 US Olympic Team. Shawn will only be competing in two events – most likely bars and beam – for both the Covergirl Classic and Visa Championships as she is still recovering from knee surgery. I’m excited to see how she does – as so many comebacks are disappointing – but I’m rooting for Shawn!!

Shawn has also signed a sponsorship deal with Nike leading into the 2012 London Olympic Games. She will be wearing Nike cross-training gear, but I can only wonder if Nike will launch a line of Shawn Johnson apparel. Its unlikely they will enter into the leotard arena, but you never know.

Image Source: ShawnJohnson.net

Visit USA Gymnastics resources page to download a copy of the Color Your Leotard entry form and complete details for entering. Even if you are not interested in entering the contest, I know a lot of gymnasts who think its fun to design their own leotards and will have fun letting their creativity go to work!

Is it just me or do these look like they were made by the same people who thought the Teletubbies and Boobah were a good idea?

Chinese Gymnast Dong Fangxiao stripped of medals from the 2000 Olympics due to age falsification

And, if the Chinese cheated in 2000 by altering the ages of their athletes, what makes us think that was an isolated incident? I tend to think it was not isolated, rather standard practice for them. The IOC needs to really take a closer look at their teams in 2004 and 2008, too. Just sayin’!

The members of the 2000 U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team are now the Bronze medalists. The team members are Amy Chow, Jamie Dantzscher, Dominique Dawes, Kristin Maloney, Elise Ray and Tasha Schwikert, along with Morgan White, who was named to the team but was injured prior to the Games and alternate Alyssa Beckerman. Bela Karolyi was the national team coordinator, with Kelli Hill as head coach and Steve Rybacki as assistant coach.

I’m sure none of these athletes ever expected to get an outcome like this!

What do you think? Will more minimum age and document falsifications come to light? Should gymnastics even have a minimum age for Olympic competition?

The Team USA “Only One” t-shirt. I just love the message – and the fact that you can interpret it in a variety of ways.

Is it that the difference between 1st and 2nd is measured by one step, one meter, one shot or one second?

Or is it that you become a champion one one second, one minute, one revolution, one meter, one millimeter, one shot, one goal, one step at a time?

What do you think?

Check out more Team USA Olympic gear – just in time for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

Personally, my favorite exercise in there is the medicine ball toss she is doing with her trainer while lying on her side. That exercise engages so many of the lesser used, but very important core muscles that Lindsey needs for making split second lateral adjustments as she is racing down the slopes. The other exercise that she has in her workout that looks so hard but perfect for her sport is the skier squats she is doing on the large balance ball towards the end.

It is always fun to get a behind the scenes look at our favorite athletes! Thanks to Lindsey and Under Armour for sharing this with all of us.