If you gave swim correspondent Garrett McCaffrey his own recap show, what would you call it? Would you think up a clever title that inspires thoughtful reflection and appreciation of fact-based swimming journalism? Or would you just jam the word recap directly into Garrett’s name? Swimming World chose the latter, and the McCaffreyCap was born!

The show is really funny; notice, I drew humor arrows to both the clips and Garrett trying not to crack a smile. The delivery is the best part: Garrett has the comic timing to keep you guessing, and the mental encyclopedia of quirky swim facts to back it up. His show is the perfect venue for photoshopped images, mustache humor, and a presumably pirated clip from the movie Anchorman.

Check out the first episode below, and keep up the good work Garrett!

> To Snooze or Not to Snooze: Sleeping Between Sessions The Swimmers Circle
> Pool filled at the Dubai Sports Complex FINA.org
> Deeply moving interview with Tom Daley’s dad Daily Mail Online
> Greg Louganis the open water swimmer? blueseventy
> Bousquet, World

It’s never too early to do some winter shopping, just ask the guy who bought a Christmas tree at Wal-Mart in October (me). So if you’re planning ahead like me, you’re going to want to take a look at the limited edition Winter line of Uglies now in stock at Kast-A-Way Swimwear.

Choose between the delicious Candy Heart or playful Frosty prints.

Or try the wrapping-paper-eque Let It Snow or fun and funky Tye Dye Heart.

I thought I would just get online to check my email before going to bed, but I didn’t expect the devastating news that was waiting in my Google Reader. Fran Crippen, 26, died earlier today in the Open Water 10K World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

According to information from Swimming World, “Crippen had shown signs of slowing down during the third lap of the five-lap race” (source). And the causes of Crippen’s death are still under investigation (source).

Statements from the USOC, USA Swimming, and FINA can be found in a comprehensive article on Swimming World.

I still don’t know how to process this information. Not only am I shocked that a world class swimmer could drown in a World Cup event, but it’s difficult to think of an amazing athlete, the same age as myself, having their life tragically cut short.

I know this video clip from Go Swim was never intended to be used as a memorial to Fran (video below), but the clip superimposes his career achievements onto footage of him swimming, so I thought it would be nice to play (especially for anyone who is not already familiar with Fran and his pink briefs).

Updates: 10/24/2010, 10:45am

Latest news reports that Fran Crippen died of a fatal heart attack (source), however, the high water temperature (87 degrees) has led to some speculation that it may have contributed to his death.

According to FINA President, Julio Maglione, this is the first death in any FINA event. (source)

Avida Sports has been on my radar since February (search past Avida Sports posts here). Now, the swimming telemetry company is featured in the first installment of a new video series on SwimmingWorld.TV called Industry Insider.

I’ve already waxed lyrical about AvidaSports’ swimming telemetry system, now I can do the same about this promising new web series!

Since I started working at Kast-A-Way Swimwear, I’ve been very interested in the latest swimming technology. I got to follow the rise and fall of the originial LZR Racer, the Suit War Era, and the introduction of new FINA approved starting blocks. I view swimming telemetry as another milestone in swimming technology – and whether it takes off in its current form, or is modified slightly, I think the concept is so powerful that it will be around, in some form or another, for a long time.

A web series on the industry of swimming will hopefully be able to anticipate the next big thing. From what I’ve seen in the past two years, there will be no shortage of interesting reports coming from the Industry Insider, and SwimmingWorld.TV.

Retired swim coach, Bill Stetson, went to his local swim and tennis club for his typical early morning workout in Hilton Head. This is what he found.

I didn’t know there was a video about the LZR dress when I blogged about it two weeks ago. I found this on the17thman, and since it’s still relevant, I wanted to repost it.

World renowned freediver, David Mullins, broke another world record this weekend with a 265m horizontal swim underwater with a monofin. That translates into 5.3 laps in the Olympic sized Naenae pool in Wellington, New Zealand. This type of event falls into the category of dynamic apnea, or holding your breath while swimming rather than floating motionless.

What’s more impressive? This world record swim was actually Dave’s third attempt of the day! According to a news report, the “first time, he went 100m before his goggles filled with water. Second time, he went about the same distance and wasn’t feeling quite right. No pressure, Dave” (source).

Take a look at the video below, his technique is amazing. As you might imagine, the most efficient way to swim underwater is the dolphin kick with a monofin. He makes several kicks in a row and then glides as far as possible to conserve energy. Mullins was underwater for just over 4 minutes for this swim, but his static apnea (holding breath without moving) personal best is 8 minutes 7 seconds.

So next time your coach gets on your case about coming up inside the flags, think about Dave’s 265m underwater swim, and hold that streamline a bit longer!

Remember how much hype Ryan Lochte’s custom shoes received? Of course you do.

Joining the ranks of swimmers with custom shoes, Liam Tancock tweeted his Boxfresh originals – decked out in Team England colors for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Does the whole team get their own shoe? Or are these really Liam Tancock exclusives?

My list of 7 Things To Do With Your Old Speedsuit added an 8th item with the completion of the LZR Racer Pavilion modern art installation. Now it looks like the count is up to number 9 with the announcement of Speedo’s collaboration with award winning sustainable fashion label, From Somewhere.

“Owned by award winning designer Orsola de Castro and Filippo Ricci, From Somewhere recycles and rethinks the fashion industry