Missy Franklin, 21, is a competitive swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist. She is the author of “Relentless Spirit” (Dutton). She spoke with Marc Myers. My parents are my closest friends. I know that sounds corny, but with me it’s not a line. Throughout my life, my parents never tried to force me to be someone I wasn’t, and they’ve always supported me with unconditional love. I’m an only child, and I arrived in an unconventional way. My mom found out at a young age that she wasn’t able to have children, so when my parents decided in their 40s to start a family, they explored surrogacy and adoption options.At the time, my dad, Dick, was a corporate executive and my mother, D.A. (Dorothie Ann), was a doctor. They had busy, successful careers and traveled all over the world on vacations.MORE HOUSE CALL‘Gilmore Girl’ Lauren Graham on Growing Up Around the World Jan. 10, 2017Robert Wagner’s Hollywood Dream Jan. 4, 2017Meredith Monk’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Moment Dec. 28, 2016Fannie Flagg: Nurtured by Birmingham’s Theatrical Side Dec. 20, 2016But once they decided to have a child, they put everything else on hold and worked through an agency to find a surrogate. It’s a complicated process, but eventually they found the right fit—an amazing woman. Read more….

Source: Missy Franklin’s Quest to Recapture the Joy of Swimming – WSJ

PHOENIX, Ariz. — This was supposed to be the year Dagny Knutson became a household name by thrashing the competition in the pool in Rio de Janeiro.In 2010, Knutson was widely considered the next breakout American swimming star. At the urging of USA Swimming officials, she said, Knutson turned down a college scholarship and entrusted her career to the Olympic national governing body for the sport.And then it all went awry.In six years, Knutson has gone from odds-on Olympic star to cautionary tale through a series of twists and turns including a fired coach, an eating disorder and an unresolved fraud lawsuit against an Olympic sports insider who Knutson claims betrayed her to maintain friendships with USA Swimming officials.Knutson’s story, according to her and her lawyers, evinces the massive power imbalance in Olympic sports, where management enjoys monopoly control and athletes have little leverage.“As athletes, we have to trust USA Swimming has our best interests at heart. And when they take advantage of that, we can’t do anything about it . . . Because they have all the power,” Knutson said. “I can’t think of any other explanation for why they did what they did, other than they don’t care.”    READ MORE……

Source: She was on course for stardom. Then she entrusted her career to USA Swimming – The Washington Post

(AFP) – American swimming legend Michael Phelps will be given the BBC Sports Personality lifetime achievement award on Sunday (Dec 18) after crowning his incredible career with five Olympic gold medals in Rio.Phelps took his record Olympic haul to 23 golds and 28 medals in all, claiming individual 200 metres butterfly and medley titles and three relay triumphs.Phelps also won silver in the 100m butterfly, with his performances in Brazil justifying his decision to come out of retirement.

Source: Swimming: Phelps to get BBC lifetime achievement award, Sport News & Top Stories – The Straits Times

High School Swim Coach Oxford Academy Swim Team – Cypress, CA 90630 Part-time3 swim coaches needed for the Oxford Academy high school swim team. Mon-Fri from 6-8 PM at Kennedy High School starting mid-February to mid-May 2017. Some experience with competitive swimming or coaching is preferable. Please contact the provided emails for more information.

Job Type: Part-timeJob

Location:Cypress, CA 90630

Source: High School Swim Coach job – Oxford Academy Swim Team – Cypress, CA | Indeed.com

WASHINGTON – Connie Smith’s sister was in a horrific traffic accident three years ago in Chillicothe.Shellie Blair’s right leg had to be amputated recently because of injuries she suffered in the crash.Smith was determined to find a way to make her sister’s rehabilitation from the amputation more palatable. She came across the Michigan-based Mermaiding Swimming Association, which sanctions classes where participants learn to swim like a mermaid, complete with tail. READ MORE

Source: Mermaid swimming class inspires confidence, aids rehabilitation

The North Penn girls swim team dives into this season as defending PIAA champions in Class 3A.“We are strong in numbers and strong in depth,” said coach Jeff Faikish, who has coached the boys team at NP for the past four seasons and now takes over as head coach of girls squad as well. “We have exceptional diving and a great mix of young performers, loaded with veterans………….

Source: SWIMMING: North Penn girls, La Salle boys look to defend PIAA titles | Sports | montgomerynews.com

Olympic champions Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md./North Baltimore Aquatic Club) and Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Md./Nation’s Capital Swim Club) were honored Sunday for their remarkable accomplishments in 2016 at the FINA World Aquatics Gala, ahead of this week’s FINA World Championships (25m) in Windsor, Canada.Phelps was named the world’s top male swimmer for 2016 and also received a special award from the international governing body – “Aquatic Legend, the Greatest of All Time” – for his career accomplishments. Ledecky received the female Best Olympic Swimming Performance honor.

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Source: USA Swimming – Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky Honored By FINA for 2016 Accomplishments

BY MIKE WATKINS//CORRESPONDENTDavid Plummer’s heart-wrenching disappointment of finishing third at 2012 Olympic Trials and missing making the Olympic team in the 100 backstroke is well documented.  It’s almost exclusively the driving force over the past four years to return to 2016 Trials and claim his rightful spot on the team headed to Rio. “It wasn’t easy to forget about 2012, and that definitely motivated me moving forward,” said Plummer, a gold (2011) and silver (2013) medalist at the FINA World Championships. “For me, there was always something left to accomplish – another goal to reach so even on the days when it was tough to wake up or push through the pain, I had a reason to keep going.

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Source: USA Swimming – The Moment: Plummer Makes His Mark