Donovan Report: second swim

The world rankings are of little use in a Paralympic year. The times listed are often 6 months out of date and new swimmers on the international scene are under represented. Donovan was ranked 4^th going into the 100 back. There were a log jam of times very close to one another between 2^nd and 6^th. Bozun Yang, the Chinese swimmer is away  ahead in this event with times a couple of seconds faster than the group.

The morning heats were not particularly fast, Donovan qualified eighth. He was hoping for a faster time, his first 50 was strong and the splits fairly even, the process solid.

The final was a dog fight. He was in lane 8 beside the Ukrainian Mashenko. These Ukranian guys are built like linebackers. There was a lot of contact going down the first 50. Donovan wisely stayed away from him( his arms are as big as Donovan’s legs). In spite of directional changes he split in 34.04, that’s as fast as he can go. The top 3 were under 1:09, Donovan was near best time but clearly went out  too fast.His placing of 7^th was an improvement on the morning, he really wants to be sure to be peaking on September 8^th, the 200 IM.

But wait a minute! The American Snyder protested, there had been contact and he mistook it as a tap. He did a flip turn in the middle of a lap!Under IPC rules he has the right to a reswim. The medalists of course declined, and it looked like the 5 remaining were to go again. In the end only Snyder swam at the end of the session, he improved his time and knocked Donovan into eighth. In  his long career this has never happened, never too late to learn new stuff!

We met briefly after the swim, he remains mentally and physically strong. There now are a few days off until the 100 fly, all these events designed to prepare for the 200 IM.