Phelps earned his fifth gold medal in the medley event, which served to highlight is spectacular performance both at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, where he earned eight gold medals. Phelps swam the butterfly leg in the medley, and chipped off valuable seconds off the time, placing his team in a commanding position, winning the event with a time of 3.29.34.

Personally, Phelps set two individuals world records, and was on two relay teams that also broke two world records. According to the Associated Press Phelps was not perturbed with the faster times swan at the meet, and the challenges that he and others will face to break these records. Phelps said that “this is about a sport and the athletes in it” That’s what makes it interesting. It doesn’t matter what suit you’re wearing”.

The meet was not without controversy. Cavic and others competed in a new Italian swim suit called Polyurethane, while Phelps was forced to compete in the older version made by Speedos, his official sponsor.

In a SI.com interview, Cavic tried to downplay the unfair advantage that swimmers wearing this new suit would have over their competitors, such as Phelps. He wanted to portray that even if Phelps was wearing the same suit, like he was, he would still beat Phelps. He suggested that all the swimmers should swim, in their briefs, to prove that the suit had no effect on the outcome.

Cavic had to “eat” his words has Phelps won the event in 49.82 seconds breaking his record time in Beijing, and Cavic’s time of 50.01 he swam in the semi-finals. Cavic finished second behind Phelps in 49.95 seconds, also beating his record in the semi-finals.

He knew Phelps was contracted to Speedos and could not wear any other suit, except one made by Speedos, so he had to wear their 2008 version to compete in this meet in Rome. Phelps and others protested the use of the suits, with Phelps even threatening to boycott all meets until the ban takes effect. It left to be seen if FINA will change the date of the ban, or Phelps will carry out his threat.

The Polyurethane suit is a swimming phenomenon, and each year companies such as Speedos “push the envelope” and design suits which reduce the “drag” that swimmers experience in the pool. In the Kansas City.com, it is reported that in 2008 swimmers wearing this Italian version, broke 100 world records, and 35 were broken in the first six days of the World Championships In an interview said Christine Magnuson said “I don’t think overall the athletes are happy right now”

 FINA, the world governing body over swimming, reportedly placed a ban effective January 1st 2010 on body suits for men except for “jammers”. This is a long suit from waist to knees. For women, they are limited to suits from shoulder to knees. Suits must always be made from either textiles or woven materials.

Over the years swim suits have gone through transformational changes. Each manufacturer competes to produce the suit that gives swimmers the edge in the water. This change dates back to the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when suits began to cover ever part of the body except, for the head, feet and hands.

The top of the line suits today are reportedly the LZR racer from Speedos, and the Jaked made in Italy. These suits are designed to keep the swimmer buoyant, and promote endurance. However, “the fix’ is in, and FINA has finally decided to put an end to what is viewed as an unfair competition, and falsely earned swim records. These high tech suits are to swimming, what steroids are to baseball, “sport altering results”

Many of the records set between 2008 and 2009 may never be broken, and it is difficult for FINA to strip those swimmers of these medals or records, because it would be difficult to prove that the suit had an influence on their performance. The ban may have been long in coming, but what is most important, is that it was done. Swimmers will have to once again rely on hard work, talent, endurance and technique to win, as they did in former years and not performance enhancing swim suits.

This FINA ban was announced as a result of a protest made by American sprinter, David Walters, after finishing fifth in 100 meter freestyle. In an interview with the New York Times, Walters said “I feel they sew the suits together with Elmer’s Superglue and a hot iron” Setting the ban five months ahead allows swimmers to still compete wearing these suits. Any records broken will still be recognized. It also allows the manufacturer to sell their existing stock of suits. In responding to the ban, Andrew Peirsol who shattered his own 200 meter backstroke record he earned a month ago, reportedly said that was a once-in-a-lifetime swim for me” He swam the event in a record time of 51.92, improving on his previous time and record by over one second. He also said that “A lot of us are joking that this might be the fastest we will ever go, and we might as well enjoy this year”. He also told The Kansas City.com in an interview “Some of these records might not be broken for a long time”

10. Katie Hoff(19)- USA{1 Silver, 2 Bronze}: 6 Time World Champion and competed at the 2004 Olympics at 15.

Many people believed that Katie was a disappointment at the Olympics after being compared to Michael Phelps since they both come from the town of Baltimore but what some people don’t realize is that compared to her past times she did a very good job and broke multiple world records.

9. Rebecca Adlington(20)- Great Britain{2 Gold}: One World Record, One time World Champion, and 2008 European Swimmer of the year.

This British Long distance swimmer had a great Olympics after wining the 400m freestyle she went on to take over five seconds off the 800m freestyle time and break a six month old World Record set by Janet Evans. 

8. Britta Steffen(25)-{2 Gold}: 7 German Records, Three Time Olympic medalist, and Former World Record Holder.

Another European swimmer that had a great Olympic games first. She set an Olympic record in the 100m Freestyle then she went on to win the 50m Freestyle by .01 of a second. 

7. Rebecca Soni(22)-USA{1 Gold, 2 Silver}: One World Record and is Only 22. 

This American swimmer is personally one of my idols she came in 2nd in the 100m Breaststroke after losing by over a second and a half she was by far the underdog of the 200m Breaststroke but she swam her hardest and broke her first individual World Record and dominated the 200m Breaststroke by almost two seconds.

6. Kosuke Kitajima(26)-Japan{2 Gold, 1 Bronze}: Two World Records, Six Time Olympic Medalist, and Four time World Champion.

Not one of my favorite swimmers of all time if you ever watch him swim he can display bad sportsmanship, but, nonetheless, he still is an amazing Breaststroker and he was the first to introduce a new type of pullout for Breaststroke. 

5. Kristy Conventry(25)-Zimbabwe{1 Gold, 3 Silver}: One Wold Record, Seven Time Olympic medalist, and six time World Champion.

This woman is truly one of my idols she may have been born in Zimbabwe but she had American citizenship and could have easily competed for America and won many more medals in relays, but this selfless woman couldn’t bare the fact of not representing her country that has so little and as she says has taught her so much.

4. Dara Torres(41!)-USA{3 Silver}: Competed in Five Olympics, Four time Olympic gold medalist, and 12 time Olympic medalist.

Another one of my swimming idols and not only because she is defying all odds and swimming at the amazing age of 41 but because she didn’t let her career stop her from having children and she is supportive of other moms staying shape and realizing that age is really just a number.

3. Ryan Lochte(24)-USA{2 Gold, 2 Bronze}:Three World Records, Three Time Olympic Gold Medalist, and eleven time World Champion.

People always say if it weren’t for Phelps, Lochte would be given a lot more credit than he is given but I don’t completely agree with that statement because I believe that Phelps has given Lochte even more attention because he directed the Worlds attention towards America in swimming.

2. Stephanie Rice(20)- Australia{3 Gold}: Three World Records and Three Time Olympic Champion.

The Greatest Female Olympian at the 2008 Olympics and not only that but she has only been competing professionally for 2 years.

1. Michael Phelps(23)-USA{8 Gold}: 14 time Olympic Champion, Eight World Records, 16 time Olympic medalist,and 18 time World Champion.

His accomplishments speak for themselves. In my opinion,  he is by far the greatest Olympian there ever was and ever will be wether he competes in London or not.

Some great swimmers that competed at the 2008 Olympics that were left out of my top 10: Jason Lezak, Alain Bernard, Cesar Cielo, Park Tae-Hwan, Aaron Peirsol, Hugues Duboscq, Laszlo Cseh,  Amaury Leveaux, Eamon Sullivan, Matt Grevers, Lisabeth Trickett, Liu Zige, Julia Smit, and Leisel Jones.  

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Starting Out

Now growing up, starting in my earlyschool years, my experience of swimming was probably fairly typical -mum and dad had started me paddling around in those enormous orange and blue armbands typical of the era, and through leisure centre extra trips during school term time could eventually just about muster a feeble doggy paddle or a leg dragging, head bobbing attempt at breast-stroke.

A visit to the gloriously horrible Scunthorpe Baths Hall (which eventually lived a double life as a haven for gigs- actually rated by John Peel as his favourite venue!) became a regular Saturday morning treat, after which I emerged, wreaking of the finest brand of late 70’s vintage chlorine, hungry and ready to enjoy my fresh cheese roll at the Buccaneer café – ahh the memories!!

But with all of this, I never seemed to be able to muster more than a width, and vividly remember my utter fear and failure to see how many fingers the swimming teacher was holding under water, and being kept down in the beginners class. In short I just didn’t seem to be getting anywhere 

My Own Pool

All of that was well and truly left behind, following a monumental change in a shy Scunny boy’s life – in 1981 my Dad was made redundant from the local Steelworks, and took the extraordinarily brave step of taking a job in Zimbabwe (back in those early Independence days – it’s a whole story of its own I’ll save for another time). So suddenly there we were, the other side of the world, big house, big garden, our own swimming pool – wow!

Pretty soon we were regulars on the expat family party circuit, and messing about in the pool was just part and parcel. All the other kids seemed such accomplished swimmers, but gradually I managed to extend my meagre repertoire to include a gangly little front crawl and felt that I was getting there. I particularly remember a school sports day gala later that summer, where I felt my moment had arrived.

We only had to swim a width, and I’d even managed to practice a little flop forward dive so my hopes were high drawn against all the other ‘beginners’. Nerves got the better of me to begin with and I embarrassingly false started. Still a bit damp and bedraggled, I lined up again, only to lose my footing and flop in again well ahead of the starting gun. They’d obviously given up on me at this point, so the race went ahead anyway.

Unbeknown to me all of this drama was captured on my Dad’s new state of the ark rickety clickety old cine camera, and my humiliation was there for all to see, over and over again. My huge advantage from my dodgy start, was mercilessly reeled in with just a couple of strokes by the entire rest of the field leaving me trailing in last :<

Keep At It

And there we have it, from that day on I vowed to become a proper swimmer, it just made me so much more determined. Having your own pool, naturally barring the odd worry about snakes floating around the drainage etc was just brilliant.

All that playing around on party afternoons helped me gain that vital confidence of face in the water, and the main revelation came through learning how to breathe out the bubbles when head down in the drink. It just came naturally, floating on my back, underwater lengths of breast stroke, all the fun of the butterfly, splashing those waves everywhere. I fondly remember one Christmas day spent diving for golf balls at the bottom of the pool!

Now, of course I’m not remotely suggesting that given our hopelessly unreliable climate and current fragile economic status, the only way forward is to go out and build a pool in the back garden!

But what I’m trying to convey, is that it really can be so rewarding to persevere with swimming. With so many competing activities in family life, it can seem such a time consuming exercise, trekking down to the pool, faffing around getting changed etc and so its really hard to stick to a routine.

But the benefits and rewards of learning the proper strokes and the proper breathing techniques carry on long into adult life and make it absolutely worthwhile to stick with it.

The great thing about kids swimming these days, based on our godchildren’s experiences, is the number of badges and rewards schemes you can achieve – from tadpoles to dolphins, there’s a real sense of achievement and a great support network to tap in to. Who knows you might have the next Michael Phelps sitting in your paddling pools!

Fitness for Life

As an adult, swimming is one fantastic all-round exercise, particularly for building up aerobic fitness and stamina. Fair enough, I understand that for some people, the prospect of swimming up and down is more than a little mind-numbing, but I really do find that if you get your technique, rhythm and breathing right, it really can be a very peaceful and relaxing experience.

Though I’m not quite up to a Channel swim, a few years back I was proud to take part and complete a charity Swimathon where you swim 5000M or 200 lengths of a standard pool. Following on from that, I also went on to do LifeGuard training. Basically this is split into two parts – first you do the bronze medallion, which teaches you the basic tows, and rescue techniques as well as invaluable first aid training, and if you pass that you can go on to do the full life-guard qualification. It maybe a far cry from buxom beauties in red costumes slow-mo strutting their way into the water, but it’s a really fantastic experience to go through.

Making a Splash Together

But for me its all about the next generation, and the most rewarding thing of all has been the last couple of months, taking our little boy for his first few pool sessions down at our local leisure centre.

Even at the tenderish age of three and a bit he’s responded to my own confidence in the water and he’s already a real natural – the only hard part is persuading him to get out when its home-time. I don’t mind admitting the tears were proper flowing when (with float supports and all of course) he managed his first few solo swimming strokes – such a beaming smile on his face, proclaiming “its FAN TASTIC Daddy!”

He already has so much confidence, with his body-floats on and the rest he is more than happy to be lifted over my head a la Johnny and Baby in Dirty Dancing, and does a great line in somersaults and always comes up beaming at the other side. Here in the UK we are certainly lucky that there is a great national kids swimming programme in place, which caters for pre-school right through to teenagers. We’ll be enrolling our little man in the Ducklings class soon enough, and I get the feeling he’ll be gliding like a swan before we know it!! In fact as part of a new national initiative our local pool is offering Free swimming for all this coming weekend Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April, so we’ll be sure to be there bright and early as ever this coming Saturday.

So please  rather than sitting on the sidelines dipping a toe in - don’t be shy, give swimming a try

Swimmers have the most incredible bodies because they are using every single muscle they have. Wow, I almost couldn’t type that sentence without drooling on the keyboard. They have to use those muscles to propel themselves through the water at incredible amounts of speed. Using every inch of every muscle possible to be able to surpass their opponents. Training day in and day out with every muscle on their body. Oh, sorry, almost lost track of what I was writing here.

Yes, we are definitely stuck on their bodies. We don’t like to admit it but we look at your bodies just as much as you men look at ours. We just have more will power than you do and well, lets admit this too, our brains do not automatically get stuck on just the one thing. Oh yes we do have advantages, but you didn’t hear it from me.

But sorry ladies, while I was doing some research for this article I ran into some posts by his girlfriend. She is getting a little upset about all the talk about her man. I think I would get nervous too if a world full of women were drooling over my man. But relax, believe it or not most women are pretty practical about their fan crushes and realize they will never happen, so please, Michael’s girlfriend, let us drool a little longer, or supply us with another one to look at. Swimmers are just hot!

So all you men out there, if you are reading this, I guess you know which sport to try next or where to work out during the week. The local swimming hole is where all of us women want to see you, working all those muscles, not just getting a tan. Swimming is low resistance so you don’t have to be a body builder already to jump in that water. Just get moving and with in a short period of time I may be writing an article about you and all the women who will be drooling.

Coach Bowman told his mother, after a while, that it was time to take the next step, which was, to train to make the U. S. Olympic swim team. His mother thought he was too young, Coach Bowman prevailed, and the journey began.

Four years ago, in Greece, Michael won his first Gold medal. This year, with President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, and their daughter Barbara, Henry Kissinger, and many other dignitaries in the audience, Michael won the first Gold medal of the 2008 Olympics, for swimming, for the United States, he won the medal in the 400 meter IM, he had not lost that race in six attempts.

Michael had said before the race that this race would set the table for the other races to come. Michael is trying to become the worlds greatest medal holder, he has three more to go. From the looks of things he will not have a problem accomplishing his goal. His mom, Debbie is his greatest inspiration. Michael is certainly an inspiration for all youngsters and teenagers around the world, and especially in the United States, also all his friends in Baltimore, Maryland.

The world record set by the US on Saturday was smashed by the Americans again – by a stunning 3.99 seconds – and the first five finishers in the final (United States, France, Australia, Italy and Sweden) all went under the old world record.

The US and Australia went head-to-head for the first 200m, with France further back. France’s Frederick Bousquet slipped past the Australians in the third leg to challenge for the lead. Lezak went into the final leg well behind Bernard, with the Frenchman holding a comfortable lead, but then Lezak began to haul in a fading Bernard over the final 30m. With both men lunging for the line, Lezak just touched out Bernard to give the US gold.

“It was unbelievable! Jason (Lezak) finished the race better than we could have asked for. In the last 50 (meters), I was like, this is going to be a really close race. At the end, as you could see I was pretty excited, I was very emotional,” Phelps said after the race.

Australia’s Eamon Sullivan set a world record for the Men’s 100m with a stunning lead-off leg of 47.24 to shave more than two-tenths of a second off Bernard’s old mark. Sullivan’s superb swim means the 22-year-old will start as favorite in front of Bernard for the Men’s 100m Freestyle. Heats start on Tuesday, 12 August.

Kristina Egerszegi

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Kristina Egerszegi was born on Aug. 16, 1974 so she is now 24. She started swimming at the age of 4 and has had many years of swimming training. She has competed in 3 separate Olympics and has won 7 medals, 5 of them were gold. She is well known for her backstroke and she holds the world record for the 200m backstroke. She is also an inductee of the International Swimming Hall Of Fame

Johnny Weissmuller

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Johnny Weismuller was born on June 2 1904. He was an American swimmer and actor. He was one of the world’s best swimmers in the 1920’s. He has one five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal. He has set 67 world records and that is amazing. He also played Tarzan and he played in 12 motion pictures (Just Thought You Would Want To Know)

Ian James Thorpe

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Thorpe has a nickname of “Thorpedo” because of his amazing speed. He has competed in Two Olympic Games and won nine medals, five of these were gold. He holds the record for the 200m and 400m freestyle events. He has also been World Swimmer of The Year Four Times.

Matthew Nicholas Biondi

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Biondi has won a total of 11 Olympic records and 8 of them are gold. In one Olympic games he won 7 medals and 5 of them were gold. He was Swimmer of The Year Two Times.

Mark Spitz

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Spitz has won a total of 11 Olympic medals. He started swimming at the age of 9. He was the holder of 10 world records at one time in his professional career and in one Olympics in 1972 he won 7 gold medals and broke a world record for every gold medal he won!