Amazing Prediction Three Years Ago from Talking Baby Cousin! "7th in the World but About To Change."
Friday 15 August 2008
It’s
Friday night in Beijing and we’re less than a week
away from race day (Thursday morning the 21st).
My wife Diana, accompanied by my brother Paul and
sister-in-law Anna, will be departing LAX on a red
eye very early Saturday. My parents, with my
sister Kara, lifelong family friend Dave Thoreson and
my coach Gregg Wilson will be leaving out of SFO
later in the same day.
There’ve been quite a few significant moments in my Olympic experience thus far, but they’ve been enjoyed without those that I hold most dear. I’m ready to share the remainder of the experience with the people that have made tons of sacrifices in their personal lives to make this Olympic dream possible.
Significant
among those making sacrifices is my wife Diana who,
amongst other things, orchestrates the daily
happenings of our lives with sensitive care to my
swimming schedule. If you don’t know a
dedicated swimmer I’ll inform you of a little insider
information right now - living with one can be very
demanding. An unassuming bride 5 years ago,
Diana married me and got my lifestyle, and she’s done
it all with a beautiful smile.
Also, my parents, who have been tremendously supportive over the years. My mom was so nervous in both Fort Myers and Seville that she couldn’t watch either race. That may sound silly at first, but it’s completely understandable when you remember that between my dad’s decathlon career and my swimming career she had to endure 6 Olympic Trials of heartbreak before experiencing the other side.
Now, before I get all weepy, lets move on to the main event.
10K pre-race analysis. I’m currently ranked 7th in the world.
First, the good news.
My learning curve over the past year has been enormous, and in terms of tactics and strategy I don’t think anyone has an advantage over me.
The water is going to be a very hot 84 degrees, which plays to my advantage. I’ve never worn a full body suit, but many of the swimmers in the race have grown accustomed to the full body suit and those swimmers will have to make the choice: go with the full body suit they usually race in, or go with a smaller suit that won’t make them overheat. Body temperature is going to play a huge part in the race.
Now, the bad news. Everyone else is really fast and it’s going to take the swim of my life to win a medal. Here are the significant contenders that I’m going to have to take down.
1. Vladimir Dyachin is brilliant and fast. He’s the Russian World Champion and he will swim a nearly perfect race.
2. David Davies, from Great Britain, got second at the World Championships, he’s very fast and his learning curve is about a great as mine.
3. Thomas Lurz, from Germany, is also highly intelligent and also very fast. The guy is legitimate.
Now for the news that is neither good nor bad.
Everyone in the top 10 is pretty much equally fit, so that’s a draw. The variables of the Olympics could determine everything: who ate what in the week before the race, who stayed focused in training, and who will get nervous before the race. And, significantly, who will make a mistake in the race. There’s always mistakes made in a race, it could be any of us, and there’s no way to tell who is going to be kicking themselves afterwards.
This is the second to last post until after the race.
mdv
There’ve been quite a few significant moments in my Olympic experience thus far, but they’ve been enjoyed without those that I hold most dear. I’m ready to share the remainder of the experience with the people that have made tons of sacrifices in their personal lives to make this Olympic dream possible.
Also, my parents, who have been tremendously supportive over the years. My mom was so nervous in both Fort Myers and Seville that she couldn’t watch either race. That may sound silly at first, but it’s completely understandable when you remember that between my dad’s decathlon career and my swimming career she had to endure 6 Olympic Trials of heartbreak before experiencing the other side.
Now, before I get all weepy, lets move on to the main event.
10K pre-race analysis. I’m currently ranked 7th in the world.
First, the good news.
My learning curve over the past year has been enormous, and in terms of tactics and strategy I don’t think anyone has an advantage over me.
The water is going to be a very hot 84 degrees, which plays to my advantage. I’ve never worn a full body suit, but many of the swimmers in the race have grown accustomed to the full body suit and those swimmers will have to make the choice: go with the full body suit they usually race in, or go with a smaller suit that won’t make them overheat. Body temperature is going to play a huge part in the race.
Now, the bad news. Everyone else is really fast and it’s going to take the swim of my life to win a medal. Here are the significant contenders that I’m going to have to take down.
1. Vladimir Dyachin is brilliant and fast. He’s the Russian World Champion and he will swim a nearly perfect race.
2. David Davies, from Great Britain, got second at the World Championships, he’s very fast and his learning curve is about a great as mine.
3. Thomas Lurz, from Germany, is also highly intelligent and also very fast. The guy is legitimate.
Now for the news that is neither good nor bad.
Everyone in the top 10 is pretty much equally fit, so that’s a draw. The variables of the Olympics could determine everything: who ate what in the week before the race, who stayed focused in training, and who will get nervous before the race. And, significantly, who will make a mistake in the race. There’s always mistakes made in a race, it could be any of us, and there’s no way to tell who is going to be kicking themselves afterwards.
This is the second to last post until after the race.
mdv
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