PAN AM GAMES – TORONTO I just about lost it standing on that podium and it was tough keeping it together. You don’t rehearse being on a podium at home playing your national anthem and I don’t think anything can prepare you for that moment when it comes. It was 10 times better having Martha [...]

JAPAN I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy. This is the formula I used to get invited to train in Japan for two weeks prior to the Tokyo world cup race in a few days. My first Kelowna coach, Takeo Inoki, is Japanese and currently lives in Hong Kong set [...]

WESTERNS Mid-February was pretty good timing for a meet for me.  The Gophers were all away at Big Tens (B1G) in Ann Arbor so an ideal time to head up to Winnipeg instead of swimming on my own.   Originally I was planning on going to Westerns in Winnipeg, then changed my mind and was headed [...]

MEL ZAJAC 2016 I bought my plane ticket and committed to going to the Mel Zajac meet at UBC in Vancouver May 27-29.  This will be my eighth straight Zajac meet and last one at the UBC Aquatic Centre because UBC is building  a new pool across the street which will be [...]

27 HOURS IN VANCOUVER I’m not sure if it’s a west coast swimming tradition or something practiced everywhere every time swimming people get together to hand out trophies but the women at last Saturday’s Swim BC Awards Banquet were all dressed beautifully in their best dresses and heals while the men ironed [...]

WE’RE GOING TO GIVE THAT CHICK A RACE Many of us have been on a treadmill at the gym running at a 8.0 pace with no incline, listening to music and maybe reading a magazine.  It’s a fun way for fit people to spend 30 minutes before rewarding ourselves with a cookie or [...]

LET’S TALK MONEY – STARING INTO THE ABYSS We got a raise yesterday.  An 18% increase.  An extra $270 per month.   Total now is $1,770 per month. Loud shout out from me to Adam Van Koeverden for putting this together.   AVK was like Mel Gibson in Braveheart attacking guys with bigger swords [...]

WAIT, WHERE’S MY CLUB? My swim club folded a week or two ago.  Liquid Lightning Swim Club is no more.  I read about it on our club’s website.  I have mixed feelings on this as I’ve  had many ups and downs with my  club but it’s never a good thing when a [...]

ANNAMAY PIERSE Annamay Pierse was inducted into the Swim BC hall of fame last night in Whistler. I wish I was there to stand up and cheer along with everyone else then congratulate her in person. This short blog from a Minneapolis Starbucks will have to do. With the release last week of [...]

LIQUID LIGHTNING AND KELOWNA AQUA JETS MERGER NON MERGER Next Tuesday, early in the morning when it’s still dark outside and normal people are still asleep, the golden age of swimming will begin in my community. In addition to coaching a masters club and my club LLSC in West Kelowna, Emil Dimitrov will [...]