The Missouri Grand Prix psych sheet is now posted. Here is a short preview of what to look forward to:

Ryan Lochte is entered in a gutsy 8 events for the meet: 200FR, 100Fly, 400IM, 200IM, 100Back, 400FR, 200Back, and 100FR.

Matt Grevers is entered in 6 events: 200FR, 100Fly, 50FR, 100Back, 200Back, and 100FR.

On the women’s side, Katie Hoff is entered in 6 events: 200FR, 100Fly, 200IM, 400FR, 800FR, and 200Fly.

Mary DeScenza is entered in 7 events: 200FR, 100Fly, 200IM, 50FR, 100Back, 200 Back, and 100FR.

And Whitney Myers (my midwest favorite, representing Tuscon Ford Dealers aquatics in Arizona) will be making her 2009 Grand Prix debut in the: 200FR, 100Fly, 200IM, 100Back, 100FR, and 200Fly.

The meet is hosted by MizzouRec Services and Facilities along with Columbia Swim Club, and will be held at the MizzouRec Aquatic Center Competition Pool, University of Missouri.

>>View related articles.

Source: Missouri Grand Prix website.

Updated statement from USA Swimming:

USA Swimming has reprimanded Michael Phelps under its Code of Conduct by withdrawing financial support and the eligibility to compete for a period of three months effective today, Feb. 5, 2009.

This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero.

Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust.

Source: USASwimming.org

When I first heard the story, I was hoping that it was going to be a total fluke, a bunch of media hype that wouldn’t hold water. I am, of course, talking about the release of a photo published by United Kingdom’s News of the World in which Michael Phelps appears holding a bong pipe up to his mouth.

Is the only sports story that could have made news during Super Bowl Sunday going to blow over quickly for Phelps? Many official committees and sponsors have already weighed in with their reaction.

Here is an excerpt from the Associated Press coverage:

In a statement released Sunday, the swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games did not dispute the authenticity of the exclusive picture published Saturday by the tabloid News of the World.

News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina. During that trip, he attended one of the school’s football games and received a big ovation when introduced to the crowd.

While the newspaper did not specifically allege that Phelps was smoking pot, it did say the pipe is generally used for that purpose and anonymously quoted a partygoer who said the Olympic champion was “out of control from the moment he got there.”

Reactions So Far
The US Olympic Committee was disappointed in Phelps behavior, but remain confident that Phelps will set a better example in the future. Read the official USOC Statement.

>> Check out the original article from News of the World.
(including the photo, if you really want to see it)

Swimming World Magazine gathered the following information, including a statement from USA Swimming and WADA:

USA Swimming has since released its own supportive statement regarding the situation:

We are certainly disappointed in Michael’s behavior. Our Olympic champions are role models who are looked up to by people of all ages, especially young athletes who have their own aspirations and dreams.

That said, we realize that none among us is perfect. We hope that Michael can learn from this incident and move forward in a positive way.

In further reporting by the Associated Press, WADA responded that marijuana usage is outside of its jurisdiction outside of the competition season:

Marijuana is viewed differently from performance-enhancing drugs, according to David Howman, executive director of the World Anti-Doping Agency. An athlete is subject to WADA sanctions only for a positive test that occurs during competition periods.

“We don’t have any jurisdiction,” Howman said. “It’s not banned out of competition. It’s only if you test positive in competition.”

Therefore, stringent rules regarding drug issues and a potential ban from future Olympics do not look to be in play in this situation.

The Aftermath?
It looks like a lot of people are willing to move on and accept Phelps’ apology. Christine Brennan of USA Today said “It will be days, perhaps even weeks, before we know the extent of the damage to Phelps’ endorsements and career,” and appears skeptical of Phelps’ promise that it will never happen again. Citing Phelps’ DUI in 2004, Brennan said “Four years later, there’s another mistake and another apology. You want to believe him, of course, because he’s Michael Phelps. But, sadly, now, you do have to wonder. “

Phelps’ fans will undoubtedly be split, but some sentiment so far seems to point in his favor.

Speedo released a statement yesterday calling Phelps “a valued member of the Speedo team and a great champion.”

IOC spokeswoman Emmanuella Moreau said: “Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion. He apologized for his inappropriate behavior. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model.”

A poll on NBC’s Universal Sports page asked readers “Do you think less of Michael Phelps after his recent troubles?” The results, pictured below, seem to show support for Phelps.

A poll on NBC’s Universal Sports page shows strong support for Phelps as of Monday morning.

Outside of possible financial implications and un-likely eligibility consequences, accepting Michael Phelps’ apology will become a personal decision for every ‘Phelps phan’ to make.

Source: Swimming World Magazine, News of the World

Today, Craig Lord of SwimNews.com wrote a heartfelt article reflecting on Tara Kirk’s career and the emotional anguish felt by both her and her coach Gabe Mazurkiewicz.

Gabe Mazurkiewicz, is the Polish-born head coach of the Roseburg Swim Team who at Beaverton, WA, served as development guide to Kirk.

Here is an excerpt from Gabe Mazurkiewicz comments:

“She did everything right. She’s a great person, great student, great athlete – and she’s been destroyed by an organisation that has not been big enough to admit that it made a mistake. So, what am I going to tell my swimmers? Maybe USA Swimming has the answer.”

You can read the full story on SwimNews.com, but be warned–it’s pretty heartbreaking.

>>Full Story by Craig Lord.

Ron Judd of The Seattle Times reported today that Bremerton swimmer Tara Kirk is ready to give up on competitive swimming.

Kirk could file the papers to officially retire from competitive swimming as early as this week. However, she is still planning to proceed with an arbitration hearing, set for May, to seek damages from USA Swimming for establishing rules that appeared to have cheated her out of a spot on the Beijing squad last summer.

“This whole thing isn’t about the money,” she says. “It’s about getting the right thing done. It would kill me if this happened again

Jason Devaney and NBC Universal have put together a stellar 2009 swimming preview. If you’re a fan of elite swimming, you’re gonna love the predictions for 2009, and great photo galleries.

Screen shot of NBC Universal’s 2009 Swimming Preview, check it out HERE.

With this kind of media attention, maybe 2009 will bring a little more exposure to the sport.

The NBC Universal Sports page also has sections for Triathlon, Figure Skating, Gymnastics, Cycling, and Volleyball (to name a few). It’s like their catch-all page for Olympic sports that never get the full media attention they deserve. I’m glad they’ve finally put their NBC Olympic resources to good use in a non-Olympic year.

Steve Clark, former world record-holder in the 100-meter freestyle and a triple gold medalist at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo , has agreed to serve as chairman of the newly formed Attorneys for the Promotion and Defense of Swimming (APDS). Clark is an attorney in San Francisco.

Steve Clark, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist. Photo by Yale Athletic Communications.

The announcement was made on January 15th in Phoenix by Phil Whitten, Executive Director of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

Clark is charged with recruiting a network of practicing attorneys and legal scholars – most likely, former competitive swimmers, themselves — willing to devote time, pro bono, for the defense of intercollegiate and interscholastic swimming. “We would like to have members of this group in every major metropolitan area in the USA ,” he said.

Attorneys interested in becoming part of the legal defense network can contact Clark by phone at (415) 421-0535 or by e-mail at seclark@csicapital.com.

>>Read the Full Story at USMS.org.

No, not splashdiving, I’m talking about MakeASplash.org the USA Swimming Foundation initiative for child-focused water safety. This initiative sponsors swim lessons and education about water safety. Here are some stats from Make A Splash:

At its last meeting, the USA Swimming House of Delegates adopted an amendment to its rule on swimwear design. The amended rule, which will become effective May 15, 2009, reads as follows:

102.9 Swimwear
.1 Design
A. Swimsuits worn for all 12 & under age group defined competition shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor past the knee.
B. Swimsuits worn for competition must be non-transparent and conform to the current concept of the appropriate.
C. The Referee shall have the authority to bar offenders from the competition until they comply with the rule.

USA Swimming has always worked hard to be inclusive and to promote diversity within our sport. Further, the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, the USOC Bylaws, and USA Swimming’s own Bylaws prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion.

Rule 102.9 was clearly not intended to be discriminatory. Rather, the purpose of the amendment was to address the impact on the sport of requiring young athletes to buy very expensive high performance suits in order to feel like they are competing on a level playing field. While the rule was never intended to discriminate, it could certainly be viewed as having a discriminatory effect on swimmers whose religious beliefs require them to cover more of their bodies than is permitted by the newly amended rule.

It has also come to our attention that there may be some athletes whose medical conditions require them to avoid direct sunlight exposure to their skin. The amended rule was also not intended to prohibit these athletes from competing because they cannot adequately cover their skin as a result of the amended rule.

In order to rectify these unintended consequences, and pursuant to Article 506.4.4 of our Bylaws which grants the Rules & Regulations Committee, or its designee, the sole authority to interpret Part One of the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations, the following interpretation is being issued.

An exemption to Article 102.9 may be granted, on a case by case basis, to a swimmer who:

1. Based upon the swimmer’s stated religious beliefs, is required to wear a suit that covers more of the swimmer’s body than is permitted under this Rule; or
2. Whose medical condition requires more of the swimmer’s body to be covered than permitted under the Rule.

This exemption does not extend to the use of any swimwear that has ever been promoted by its manufacturer as providing a performance advantage, or has otherwise been described as providing a technological advantage. This exemption applies to both USA Swimming’s Rule and to any comparable rule adopted by any LSC and takes precedence over any determination by any member of an LSC.

All requests for any exemption must be submitted to the Chair of the USA Swimming Rules & Regulations Committee, or his/her designee. The request must be communicated in writing, including the use of e-mail, at least ten (10) days in advance of any competition for which the exemption is sought. The request must include:

1. The swimmer’s name, registration number and the name of the LSC in which the swimmer is registered;
2. A statement explaining that the exemption is made necessary by the swimmer’s religious principles or for medical reasons;
3. A representation by the swimmer that the exemption is being sought for religious reasons and n ot to increase performance or, in the case of a medical reason, a written statement from a physician specifying the requirement to have parts of the body covered that are not permitted under this Article; and
4. A photo or description of the swimsuit the swimmer proposes to wear so the Rules Chair can evaluate whether any technological advantage has been advertised or documented for the suit.

The Rules Chair will then advise the swimmer and the appropriate LSC officials chair whether the exemption has been granted. The Rules Chair shall have the authority to grant the exemption on a permanent basis in his/her sole discretion. The decision of the Rules chair can be appealed only to the entire Rules & Regulations Committee whose decision shall be final and binding on all parties.

It will be the responsibility of the swimmer to provide a copy of the waiver to the referee of any meet in which the swimmer wishes to participate.

Bruce Stratton, Chair, USA Swimming Rules & Regulations Committee