27th October 2006
Swimming and gymnastics finals to be held in morning
To keep in line with US television viewers, the swimming and gymnastic finals will be held in the morning.
“The only thing that gets me cranky is that (the IOC) have made the decision for commercial reasons, not for the good of the sport,” Australian coach Alan Thompson said.
27th July 2006
Swimming controversy continues
US swimmer Michael Phelps and his coach are starting to see the benefits of morning finals. Australia is strictly against US calls for the finals to be held in the morning.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Phelps said. “It’s the Olympic Games. My feeling is, if you can’t get up for the finals at 10 o’clock in the morning, you’re never going to be able to get up and swim an Olympic finals.”
19th June 2006
Plans to hold swimming finals in morning
US television network NBC, is pressuring the IOC to hold the swimming finals in the morning, so they can be shown live on US prime time TV.
Swimming officials in other countries are not happy with the proposal.
“It just doesn’t make any sense and if the finals are held in the morning, it will put us at a huge disadvantage,” Australian swimming coach, Alan Thompson said.
15th May 2006
Hackett might not enter 1500m
Australian swimming champion, Grant Hackett said that he might not enter the 1500 meters so he can concentrate on the 400 m.
“Maybe after Beijing if I feel I haven’t got my best out of the 400m I might put the 1 500m behind me and really focus on it,” he said Sunday.
22nd March 2006
Thorpe to quit after Beijing
Legendary Australian swimmer has said that he plans to quit swimming after the Beijing Olympics.
Thorpe told the Herald Sun Thursday that his chances of swimming in London Olympics was “about 100,000 to one”.