Kitajima's total eclipse highlights the impact of super suits in swimming
Over the last few years the sport of swimming, and it's public profile, has been dominated by Michael Phelps. But to me, speaking as a breastroker, another man has epitomised excellence and dominance during the same period and that's
Kosuke Kitajima of Japan.Despite the best efforts of a generation of breastrokers, Kitajima dominated at the world level, responding to every challenge at both 100 and 200 metres. Since winning the World Championships in 2003, his only blemish up to the Beijing Olympics was a silver medal in the 100m at the 2007 World Championships. Even after that he recovered to win both titles in Beijing, breaking the 100 and 200 records (albeit in a Speedo LZR - the suit that first opened this Pandora's Box but is now 'low tech').
According to the statistics provided by Craig Lord, on swimnews.com, Kitajima's time (he's not in Rome for this year's World Championships) in winning the 2007 title would only have placed him 13th in this morning's 200m heats. With two rounds still to go, the fastest here are likely to get faster.
In almost the blink of an eye, an absolute master in his discipline has been eclipsed. Not by one man, not even by 13, but by the suits that they wear.
Roll on 2010.
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Rob Robson
Co-founder, iStadia.com
Congratulations Tom Daley - World Diving Champion at 15
What a difference a year makes. Well, when you're 15 I guess it is still a fair slice of your life! Tom Daley yesterday became the first Briton to win a World Diving Championship, a year after reaching the Olympic final as Team GB's youngest competitor.
At the Games he fell out with his synchro partner, then returned home to be bullied at school (he has now moved), but his results have just kept getting better and better. What stands out in yesterday's performance was that because of his position - and because he still isn't physically able to do some of the higher tariff dives - he needed a near perfect dive in the last round to do it. He got four 10s.Of course, Tom didn't expect to win gold yesterday, and we know that expectations can create a great deal of pressure. Now that he's world champion the expectation will be there for him to repeat his result in London 2012, and so the pressure will be much greater. Having listened to his interview yesterday, however, Daley certainly wasn't shying away from it, declaring his intention to go for gold in London.
Congratulations Tom!
Now, let's see if any of our swimmers can follow suit next week.
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Rob Robson
Co-founder, iStadia.com
