phelps

it was the same in 2021, Europeans, a lot of Grand Slam tournaments and Worlds in the Spring of that year actually, the Worlds were held in June, only 1 month and a half before the Olympics (and in fact many players who were already safe in the OQR missed that Championship, with many teams attending with the 2nd tier guys)

they should have played Reistad in a totally different way... you just can't let a woman like her score half the goals of her team at this level by the way, are destroying in the 2nd semifinal...boring match so far...

yeah, among the women it's pretty safe that they will choose -49kg, -81kg, +81kg (even if I wouldn't be surprised if they still go for the -71kg instead of the -81kg, but it's unlikey to happen)

in the old glory days, it was normally twice a year... nowadays there are new training methods, new ideas, a lot more scientific knowledge around physiology, some money can be earned in the commercial meets (that didn't exist until a few years ago)... so, many swimmers can keep a very high level of performance through almost the whole season, or at least through the main stints in a season but a true peak, really at 100% of their chances, it's maybe twice a year for those who have tough internal selection, if not even only once a year (the "Big" event) for those who can afford that (the stronger Italians, for instance, are among them)

yeah, those coming from smaller Nations for sure... have already announced that none of the selected swimmers for the Games will show up in Belgrade and that it will be the guys coming off the youth ranks' chance to make an impression an earn some consideration for the next Olympic cycle the last chance for our swimmers will be, as usual, in Rome at Settecolli meet just a few days earlier

Thomas Ceccon likely to skip the World Champs (decision not official yet, but his coach released an inteview that basically confirmes that) p.s. the 50m Pool Europeans will be held from June 10th through June 23rd, site is still TBA...that's crazy! it means that not a single swimmer going to Paris will be there, wherever they will be

Men's Quarterfinals Skaters advancing to the Semifinals Men's Quarterfinals Skaters Eliminated

yes, but mine has both the scores and the eliminated skaters

Women's Quarterfinals Skaters advancing to the Semifinals Women's Quarterfinals Skaters Eliminated

I wouldn't take for granted that would eventually choose those 3 weight classes if Shi is reasonably healthy, they might take him (in the -73kg) over Li and Tian in the -89kg, where they don't have any chance for Gold and even getting a miserable (for them) bronze might prove very difficult we'll see...

Men's Qualifiers Skaters already Eliminated (Part II)

Men's Qualifiers Skaters already Eliminated (Part I)

Men's Qualifiers Skaters advancing to the Quarterfinals

I think having male and female separation is enough.

last event in Doha, the men's +109kg class and, except for Lalayan, another really modest competition. won Gold & Silver, thanks to the above mentioned Lalayan (441kg Total, not enough to improve his numbers in the OQR) and Simon Martirosyan (430kg, also far away from his best Total in the OQR and still behind his teammate in that ranking). Bronze went to the Neutral Athlete (originally from ) Eduard Ziaziulin, once again way behind his best Total in the OQR (but he's still in good position to qualify). The only man improving his ranking Today is Eishiro Murakami, who finished in 4th place with a Total of 413kg, which means that now he's the best man from in the OQR, where he climbed from way down the ladder to the 15th place overall, but 12th Nation represented, just 6 and 7 kilos from the 9th and 10th useful places, respectively. That's all for what concerns the GP II in Doha. Next OQTs are the various Continental Championships (all of them in February), before the last chance, the World Cup in at the beginning of April 2024.

Grand Prix II ( Doha) men's +109kg Gold: Varazdat Lalayan (441kg Total) Silver: Simon Martirosyan (430kg Total) Bronze: () Eduard Ziaziulin (418kg Total)

Maurizio Bormolini wins the men's PGS ahead of Edwin Coratti and Benjamin Karl that's all for Today, folks!

victory for Ramona Theresia Hofmeister, 2nd place for Daniela Ulbing and 3rd for Tsubasa Miki in the women's PGS

yesss! all final among the men! Maurizio Bormolini vs Edwin Coratti for the win

Ulbing vs Hofmeister for the win among the women

nooo R-Fisch out by 0.03 vs Benny Karl in the "granny superstars" duel still, 2 men in the semis...good result for us in this first PGS of the season

Caviezel celebrating before crossing the finish line...and losing by 3/100 of a second in the end

OK, the red couse is jinxed now second consecutive win on the blue, but March actually made a bad mistake at some point

wow! Bormolini! he edged out Kosir despite being on the blue course (and with no big mistake by the Slovenian)

It's Val Gardena, the Sasslong, baby! you just can't expect a "usual" race on this course Kilde when Bennett came across the finish line