Kickboard News

Davis Emcees Children's Home Gala

Olympian Josh Davis emceed the Medina Children’s Home annual banquet on November 18 at The Westin Galleria in Houston, Texas.

The Medina Children’s Home, located about 60 miles northwest of San Antonio in Medina, Texas, was founded in 1958 to provide a safe shelter for children and single mothers.

At the dinner, current and former residents shared stories of how the “home” has made a positive impact on their lives and helped them escape difficult domestic situations.

Davis, Senator Miller Promote Life at S.A. Gala

Olympic swimmer Josh Davis helped Senator Zell Miller emcee the Majella Society’s annual benefit gala on November 16 at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter hotel. Senator Miller was the event’s keynote speaker.

Founded in 2004, the Majella Society is a non-profit organization based in Austin, Texas whose mission is to promote the respect and love of life through mass media education.

Senator Miller is a former U.S. Senator and Governor from Georgia. He is the only person to have been the keynote speaker at both the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

Davis was the only man to win three gold medals at the 1996 Olympics.

Davis Hands Out "Freedom" Awards

Olympian Josh Davis emceed the Freedoms Foundation awards banquet on November 14 at the Fort Sam Houston Army Base in San Antonio, Texas. The San Antonio chapter of the organization hosted the event.

Freedoms Foundation is a non-profit organization in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania dedicated to teaching young people the principles upon which the United States was founded.

Awards were handed out to local individuals or organizations whose projects, words, or deeds reflect “the best of the American spirit.”

Freedoms Foundation educational programs also stress the importance of civic responsibility and volunteerism.

“I’m very proud of the freedoms we enjoy in this wonderful country we live in,” Davis said. “It was a honor for me to help recognize those who have made extraordinary sacrifices to better our local community.”

Josh Davis Inspires Young Students

For more than a decade, Gold Medalist Josh Davis has made a second career out of inspiring young people.

He touched more young lives on November 14 when he spoke to the students of Wetmore Elementary School, located in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

Josh’s message to the students included making healthy choices, setting goals and pursuing excellence, and the importance of reading.

“Learning how to be a lifetime reader is so important,” Davis said. “Not only does reading open up your mind and your imagination, but it is the key to being a successful student.”

Davis was the only man in any sport to win three gold medals in the 1996 Centennial Olympics. The former American record-holder also won two silver medals in the 2000 Olympics.

Davis is a successful motivational speaker, swim clinician, t.v. commentator, and swimming ambassador. For more information about Josh, visit www.joshdavis.com.

Thorpedo Retires

Ian Thorpe, the 24-year old swimming superstar of Australia, announced his retirement from competitive swimming during a press conference at a Sydney hotel on November 21.

“It’s been a tough decision to make,” he said. “None of my goals included breaking any more world records. I knew how to do it, but it wasn’t as inspiring as it should have been.”

Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Thorpe leaves the sport with nine Olympic medals (five gold) which he earned at the 2000 & 2004 Olympics. Thorpe has also broken a total of 13 world records over his career.

He is the current world-record holder in the 200 & 400-meter freestyle, and anchored the 800-free relay team that set the world record in 2001, a mark that still stands.

Nicknamed “Thorpedo” for his speed in the water, Thorpe’s size-17 feet also helped him to churn through the pool with effortless ease.

“At times, Ian seemed more machine than human to me,” said Josh Davis, former U.S. Olympian and Thorpe’s competitor in the 200-meter freestyle. “I just never saw the guy get tired in a race. He seemed to have no limits on how fast he could go.”

Rumors about Thorpe’s retirement have been circulated for months after injury and illness sidelined him from all major international meets after the 2004 Olympics.

In a written statement, American champion Michael Phelps, wished Thorpe well as he pursues a new career direction. "Ian was an inspiration and a terrific champion," Phelps said. "He elevated the worldwide interest in swimming and was a great ambassador to our sport.”

Thorpe is undecided about his future plans, but he has previously ventured into fashion and television opportunities.

“I’ve reached the dizzying heights of this profession,” Thorpe said. “I’ve had all the success that I never thought would happen for myself, and for all of that I’m extremely appreciative.”

Ian Thorpe Career Highlights:

- 1997: Becomes the youngest male swimmer (14 years old) to be named to the Australian National Team

- 1998: Wins the 400-meter freestyle at the World Championships

- 2000: Wins three gold medals in world-record time at the Sydney Olympics, as well as two silver medals

- 2001: Wins six gold medals and sets three world records in the 200, 400 and 800-meter free at the World Championships

- 2002: Thorpe wins the 100, 200 and 400-meter free events at the Pan Pacific Championships

- 2003: Wins the 200 and 400-meter free at the World Championships

- 2004: Wins gold in the 200 and 400-meter free events at the Athens Olympics. Also wins silver in the 4x200 free relay and takes home a bronze in the 100-meter freestyle

- 2006: Ian Thorpe announces his retirement at the age of 24. His swimming legacy includes five Olympic gold medals, 13 individual long-course world records, and 11 world titles

By Sam Davis, Kickboard News

Thorpe Retires - Video

Josh Davis & Golden Goggles VIPs Walk Red Carpet

2-time Olympian and 5-time Olympic Medalist Josh Davis walked the red carpet last night with swimming's elite at the 3rd annual Golden Goggles Awards banquet where the year's best swimmers & coaches were honored.

Check out the left side of our blog for exclusive Golden Goggle photos!

Here are some of Josh's exclusive Kickboard News interviews from the awards gala...

Josh catches up with swimming legend & Gold Medalist Tom Dolan:

Josh visits with Michigan training teammates Davis Tarwater & Klete Keller:

Josh chats with Olympian Margaret Hoelzer:

Josh congratulates Female Athlete of the Year, Katie Hoff:

Golden Goggles Recognizes Swimming's Best

Monday, November 20, 2006

(LOS ANGELES) - The red carpet was rolled out for USA Swimming’s best last night at the third-annual Golden Goggle Awards at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles.

The most decorated swimmer on the planet, Michael Phelps, took home two awards while newcomer Cullen Jones, the fastest man in the world this year, hauled in two of his own.

Phelps won the award for Male Performance of the Year after he lowered his own world record in the 200-meter butterfly at the Pan Pacific Championships in August with a time of 1:53.80. He also shared the Relay Performance of the Year award with Jones, Neil Walker, and Jason Lezak. The foursome broke the world record in the 4x100 freestyle relay at Pan Pacs, reclaiming the world mark for Team USA for the first time since 1995.

In addition to Relay Performance honors, Jones was named Breakout Performer of the Year. Jones exploded onto the swimming scene this past summer by winning the 50-meter freestyle at U.S. Nationals in August, his first national title. He took home gold in the same event several weeks later at Pan Pacs, becoming the sixth-fastest swimmer in history with a time of 21.84.

Brendan Hansen, who set three world records over a span of 20 days in August, was named Male Athlete of the Year. Katie Hoff was named Female Athlete of the Year after winning three gold medals at Pan Pacs.

NBC Olympic sportscaster Jim Lampley emceed the star-studded gala.

2006 Golden Goggle Award Winners:

Male Athlete of the Year
Brendan Hansen

Female Athlete of the Year
Katie Hoff

Male Performance of the Year
Michael Phelps
200 IM (Pan Pacific Championships)

Female Performance of the Year
Whitney Myers
200 IM (Pan Pacific Championships)

Breakout Performer of the Year
Cullen Jones

Relay Performance of the Year
Men’s 4x100 Free Relay (Pan Pacs)
Michael Phelps, Neil Walker, Cullen Jones, Jason Lezak

Perseverance Award
Erik Vendt

Coach of the Year
Bob Bowman, Club Wolverine

Beijing "Wake-Up" Call

An ever-growing wave of discontentment continues to spread throughout the swimming world after the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to move the finals of swimming and gymnastics at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the morning rather than the traditional evening session.

This change in format will allow fans in the United States and elsewhere to watch these premier events live on NBC in the commercially coveted prime-time television slots.

Critics of the change in schedule say that the move was made for commercial reasons only and the interests of the athletes were not considered. While NBC and its advertisers will benefit from viewers (and potential buyers) watching their commercials during live Olympic finals coverage, the athletes themselves may not be able to perform at peak performance during a morning session, some have argued.

NBC paid $3.55 billion to air the Olympics from 2000-2008 and will pay $2.2 billion to broadcast the 2010 and 2012 Games.

U.S. swimming fans may quietly applaud the decision for selfish reasons because of the opportunity to watch the finals sessions live, rather than tape delayed, but will it be at the expense of a Michael Phelps or a Natalie Coughlin not being able to swim his or her best?

Hopefully, this decision has been made early enough to allow for Beijing hopefuls to adjust accordingly. After all, these are professional athletes. They are accustomed to testing the limits of their bodies and adapting to new environments while still competing at an extremely high level.

Nonetheless, anti-American and anti-big business sentiments abound and some are even questioning the integrity of the Olympic Games themselves.

Netherlands’ top swimming coach, Jacco Verhaeren, voiced his disapproval about morning finals, “They (NBC) don’t understand the sport. It’s harmful to swimming and the Olympics. Clearly the sports governing bodies are not representing us as they should.”

Mike Bottom, head swim coach of the University of California-Berkeley men's swim team called the decision “insane.”

“The IOC said the Games were about the athletes and now they have changed their tune,”
declared Francis Luyce, president of the French swimming federation. “It’s all about money.”

The European Broadcasting Union is considering legal action against the IOC, claiming the governing body may be violating a breach of contract.

Chuck Wielgus, Executive Director of USA Swimming, praised the decision. “This is a great opportunity for our sport to be showcased to the nearly one billion people in the potential audience of the Americas during the first nine days of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing,” he said. “The live prime time exposure is something that can only benefit the sport of swimming, and enhance the public profile of our sport’s top athletes.”

In response to the new format, next year’s British Championships will be moving its finals sessions to the morning.

The finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008 will remain at night.

San Francisco Drops 2016 Olympic Bid

San Francisco, one of three remaining U.S. cities vying for the 2016 Olympics, officially withdrew its bid from consideration this week after stadium plans dissolved.

The San Francisco 2016 bid committee was hoping to use the proposed Candlestick Point as its Olympic Stadium. However, John York, the owner of the city’s NFL franchise 49ers, announced that he will be scrapping the proposal for a new stadium and plans to move the team to Santa Clara.

The San Francisco 2016 committee was forced to withdraw its bid after all other stadium options were considered and ultimately rejected.

Los Angeles and Chicago remain as the two U.S. candidates. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) can choose to submit one U.S. bid in April.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make a final selection in 2009.

Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, New Delhi, Prague, Rome, and Madrid are the international cities competing to be the 2016 host site.

Josh Davis Catches Up w/ World's Best

At the Short Course Grand Prix in San Antonio last week, 5-time Olympic Medalist Josh Davis, was there to catch up with the world's best in these exclusive Kickboard News interviews:

Brendan Hansen:
Download DW_B0013.wav (1201.1K)

Aaron Peirsol:
Download DW_B0014.wav (3513.6K)

Ian Crocker:
Download DW_B0010.wav (1824.1K)

Margaret Hoelzer:
Download DW_B0012.wav (1245.1K)

Cullen Jones:
Download DW_B0011.wav (1612.6K)