QuickTips Index

Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin at the USA Swimming 2008 Golden Goggle Awards
Olympic champions Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin were in attendance to accept top honors tonight at the USA Swimming Foundation's Golden Goggle Awards. Phelps and Coughlin took home the awards for Male and Female Athlete of the Year, respectively. The Golden Goggle Awards, held at the New York Hilton and hosted by Bob Costas, celebrated the accomplishments of 2008 Olympic Swim Team at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Descenza Completes Perfect Record at 2008 Minnesota Grand Prix
Mary Descenza swam a perfect six for six gold medals at the 2008 Minnesota Grand Prix Swim Meet. The American record-holder is now in the top position on the USA Swimming Grand Prix Series leaderboard with 30 points. A $20,000 purse will be awarded to the swimmer with the most points at the conclusion of the six-stop series.

Descenza Keeps Winning Streak Alive at 2008 Minnesota Grand Prix Swim Meet
Mary Descenza (Naperville, Ill.) doubled her gold-medal count on the second day of competition at the Minnesota Grand Prix at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Descenza's gold-medal total now stands at four.

Descenza Earns Double Gold on First Night of 2008 Minnesota Grand Prix Swim Meet
The 2008 Minnesota Grand Prix Swim Meet kicked off today at the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center. National Teamer and American record-holder Mary Descenza (Naperville, Ill.) earned double gold on the opening night in the 200y freestyle and 100y butterfly, while Olympian Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) took home a gold and silver medal.

2008-2009 USA Swimming Grand Prix Swim Meet Series Schedule
2008-2009 USA Swimming Grand Prix Swim Meet Series Schedule

2008 World Open Water Swimming Man and Woman of the Year
These awards are not necessarily for the best athlete, but are meant to honor the man and woman who (1) best embody the spirit of open water swimming, (2) possess the sense of adventure, tenacity and perseverance that open water swimmers are known for, and (3) have most positively influenced the world of open water swimming in 2008.

2008-2009 USA Swimming National Championship Meets
2008-2009 USA Swimming National Championship Meets

Ray Cronise, Guest Author
Ray Cronise, a rocket scientist turned pool and spa professional, is our resident swimming pool expert at About Swimming. He has a deep rooted passion for the pool and spa industry, and takes a scientific approach to creating safe, healthy swimming environments.

Swimmer's Ear Prevention with Ear Plugs
Swimmer's ear can be so painful that some swimmer's cannot train until it is healed. Why not prevent it before it happens?

Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act
December 19, 2007, was a very rewarding day for the pool and spa industry. On that day, the Energy Bill was signed into law, and with it, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was enacted. Like the many others that have worked diligently to get this passed, it was one of those special moments where one feels a connection with something that will inevitably change lives.

USA Swimming Launches Six-Meet, 2008-2009 Grand Prix Swim Meet Series
The top swimmers in the country will return to the pool for the 2008-2009 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meet Series. For the second year in a row, swimmers will be awarded points for medals earned at the six swim meets. A $20,000 purse will be awarded to the swimmer with the most points at the conclusion of the 2008-2009 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meet Series.

2008 FINA Swimming World Cup Live on Universal Sports Network
Universal Sports will provide coverage of the FINA World Cup starting Saturday, October 11 from Belo Horizonte Brazil. Taking place in seven cities on five continents, Universal Sports TV and UniversalSports.com will feature live and on-demand coverage of this major short-course (25m) competitive circuit.

Universal Sports
Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic-related and lifestyle sports programming available on television and online.

USA Swimming Foundation Announces 2008 Golden Goggle Award Nominees
The USA Swimming Foundation today released the nominations for the 2008 Golden Goggle Awards, a black-tie event celebrating the accomplishments of top American swimmers in 2008. The star-studded gala will take place Monday, November 17 at the New York Hilton and will feature the entire 2008 US Olympic swim team, including gold medalists and award nominees Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, Jason Lezak, Rebecca Soni, and Dara Torres.

USA Swimming Foundation
The USA Swimming Foundation is the fundraising arm of our sport’s National Governing Body, USA Swimming, which is a member-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides a broad range of programs and services that focus on inspiring and enabling our members to achieve excellence in the sport of swimming and, more importantly, in life.

USA Swimming Announces 2009 World University Games Roster
Twenty-six of the USA's best swimmers will compete in the 2009 World University Games to be held in Belgrade, Serbia. Swimming will take place July 5-11, with the full Games from July 1-12, 2009.

US Paralympic Swimming Team Tops Medal Standings at 2008 Paralympic Games
For the first time, the US Paralympic Swimming Team finished first in the medal standings, winning 17 gold medals at the Beijing Paralympic Games. With 44 total medals, nine more than they took home from Athens (2004), the team has proven their ability on this elite international stage. The US swimmers set a total of 16 world records, 23 Paralympic records, 48 Pan American records and 99 American records.

Joanne Fearon, Guest Author
Jo shares her perspective from the swimmer's support boat during an English Channel swim crossing

Melissa Stockwell Represents Team USA as Flag Bearer for the Closing Ceremonies
American swimmer Melissa Stockwell has been selected by the US delegation as flag bearer for the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Stockwell, who lost her left leg to a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq, is the first veteran injured in Iraq to compete on the US Paralympic Swimming Team.

2008 Team USA Paralympic Swimming Results - 15 Sep PM Finals Session
On the final day of swimming competition at the Water Cube, the U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team won four additional medals, bringing the total count to 44, including 17 gold medals, and finishing – for the first time – at the top of the medal standings.

2008 Team USA Paralympic Swimming Results - 15 Sep AM Prelim Session
On the last day of swimming competition at the National Aquatics Center, several first-time USA Paralympians hold the top seeds going into Monday's finals.

2008 Team USA Paralympic Swimming Results - 14 Sep PM Finals Session
On day eight of swimming competition at the National Aquatics Center, first time Paralympians stepped it up to deliver top performances for the U.S. Swimming Team. In the women's 50m freestyle (S7), 17-year old Cortney Jordan (Henderson, Nev.) set a Paralympic record (33.84) to win her first Paralympic gold medal. "I saw myself on the screen and couldn't believe it. It was unbelievable," said Jordan.

2008 Team USA Paralympic Swimming Results - 14 Sep AM Prelim Session
On day eight of swimming competition at the National Aquatics Center, U.S. Women's Swimming Team co-captain Erin Popovich (Fort Collins, Colo./Silverbow, Mont.) set a Paralympic Record (34.22 ) in the women's 50m freestyle (S7) prelims. Popovich, who has won four gold medals and one silver so far at the meet, is looking to "go out with a bang" on her last race of the Beijing Paralympic Games.

2008 Team USA Paralympic Swimming Results - 13 Sep PM Finals Session
2008 Team USA Paralympic Swimming Results - 13 Sep PM Finals Session

2008 Beijing Paralympics Swimming
The Paralympic Games is an international competition among each nation’s elite athletes with physical disabilities and is second in size only to the Olympic Games. The Paralympic Games follow the Olympic Games at the same venues and facilities. The 2008 games are in Beijing, 6 - 17 September.