Swimming has always been a particularly popular spectator event at the Olympics and London 2012 will be no exception. There’s a lot to look forward to both in the pool and open water. Here are a couple of highlights…
Phelps v Thorpe. The battle of the Titans
In men’s swimming, the competition between eight times 2008 Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps from the USA and ‘Thorpedo’ Ian Thorpe from Australia, is hotly anticipated.
Ian Thorpe has come out of retirement for the London 2012 games, so he has a lot to prove and play for. This will be Michael Phelps’ last Olympics, so this will be the battle of the titans as the two men stake their claim to the golds. With these legendary names, we’re in for an exciting duel.
As well as the buzz Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe will generate, there are high hopes for Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington and her British team mates in 2012, making for an Olympics to remember.
No more polyurethane swimsuits…
A major change in both men’s and women’s swimming in 2012 is the rules regarding swimwear.
Swimsuits made from plastic derivatives such as polyurethane, like those used in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, are no longer allowed. They are considered by many to be a form of technological doping. Men must wear a pair of textile shorts and women must wear a textile suit that mustn’t come above the shoulder or below the knee. Those in favour of textile swimsuits say that wearing them will make for a fairer games.
The men’s and women’s swimming will take place between 28th July – 4th August 2012
Open water marathon swimming events
Open water swimming is an ancient sport and indeed the first swimming events in Athens in 1896 were held in open water. The men’s and women’s 10K open water swimming events made their debut in 2008 and proved to be hugely popular with spectators.
Open water events are freestyle and competitors start the race en masse from a platform and there are expected to be 25 competitors in each race. Any intentional contact with a fellow competitor is not allowed. If a judge sees the deliberate contact, the offender is given a yellow card. If the competitor is seen doing it a second time, they are disqualified.
This event will be held at Hyde Park 9th-10th August 2012.
You’ve got until 11.59pm on 26th April to submit your application for tickets for the London 2012 games. Have you put in an application? What events do you hope to see?