Grant Hackett Retires

Posted on October 29, 2008 by Andy Scherer

In a previous post regarding Grant Hackett’s retirement (potential retirement at that time), it was the common thought that the world-class Australian swimmer would continue his career at least until 2010. Unfortunately, for the swimming world we have seen the final swim from Mr. Hackett.

While in Sydney on October 27th he announced his official retirement from the sport. However, he did so in (as expected) world-class fashion. He gave support and advice to his former younger teammates while thanking everyone that has been involved in his infamous career. Hackett was known as the ironman of swimming, and will always be an icon for young swimmers around the world. So, thank you, Grant Hackett for putting on great shows and for swimming for so long at such a high level!

Michael Phelps

Posted on October 16, 2008 by Andy Scherer

On October 21, 2008 Michael Phelps will be in Toronto at The Power Within conference. With Barbara Walters hosting the event, there is a plethora of inspirational individuals slated to appear. The running list so far: Michael Phelps, Patrick Lencioni (author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team), Garry Kasparov (Chess grandmaster), Dr Muhammad Yunus (Nobel Peace Prize winner), Jeffrey Zaslow (author of The Last Lecture), Peter Sheahan (author of Generation X: Thriving with Generation Y at Work), and Phil Town (who will be speaking to successful investing).

I don’t know if there is or isn’t a T.V. channel that will broadcast this event to our Connecticut Swim Teams, but it will be something that I will keep an eye on and update our Hamden North Haven YMCA Swim Team and all of the Typhoon Swimming Blog readers.

Less Than A Week Until Short Course 2009 Starts

Posted on September 9, 2008 by Andy Scherer

This is one of those “I’m so excited” posts! We only have a couple of days until we start the 2008/2009 Short Course Season for our Hamden/North Haven YMCA Typhoons! The swim clinic in Hamden starts on September 15, 2008, and we go right into our regular season on September 28th!

Coach Elaina and I are absolutely ready to get going, and cannot wait to see how our swimmers are doing!

Michael Phelps’ Marketability Questioned

Posted on August 19, 2008 by Andy Scherer

The Associated Press released an article with regard to Michael Phelps’ marketabilityfollowing the Olympics. The article noted that Michael was a great champion, BUT he may or may not have the personality to be marketable.

In my professional opinion, Michael Phelps deserves every amount of respect that we can give! He surpassed what was thought to be an unbreakable record set by Mark Spitz, and did it in World Record style! The turn times between the events was incredible, and he demonstrated a rapid rate of recovery that no other swimmer was able to accomplish!

And can anyone think of a better person to have on your team? After his 8th Gold Medal the first thing that he did was thank his relay team. After-all, as Michael had mentioned, he wouldn’t have been there if it weren’t for them!

Marketable? I absolutely think so! He has the character traits and the work ethic that we love to teach our kids here in our world of Connecticut Swimming, and as long as Michael Phelps is swimming and holding those same morals the Hamden/North Haven Typhoons will watch!