BY MIKE GUSTAFSON//CORRESPONDENT Pop quiz: If I told you at this weekend’s Arena Grand Prix at Orlando that Ryan Lochte was seeded in the 100 backstroke and there was a 17-year-old seeded ahead of him, would you believe me?  If no, read on. If yes, then you probably know the name: Ryan Murphy.  The seed is no fluke, misunderstanding, or false time. Ryan Murphy is really that fast. The 17-year-old Cal-bound high school swimmer is entered in the 100m backstroke at 53.76, a time that would have won Olympic...

  PHOENIX, Arizona, February 13. WE are a little more than four months away from the world championship trials in Indianapolis. For any swimmer who is serious about competing in Barcelona, it's time to get down to business.  Not only does that mean more dedication to training, but devotion to honing race skills that will be needed to get on the worlds roster. That's what this week's stop on the Arena Grand Prix circuit in Orlando, Fla., will provide.  Getting in crucial racing is so important that Missy Franklin is...

The new USA Swimming Safe Sport Handbook is now available from USA Swimming here.

  BY DAN MCCARTHY//NATIONAL TEAM HIGH PERFORMANCE CONSULTANT The organizations condemning the use of sports-supplements by children include the National Institute of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics. According to the National Institute of Health, there is no data on the safety of sports-supplements used by children, their effectiveness, or the long-term side effects on children1. The promise of increased stamina, bigger muscles and quicker recovery time is probably not available in a sports-supplement bottle, nor should it be something parents or coaches feed, inject or smear on their...

    Dear Coach, I will be offering a Club Leadership Business Management course on April 7th immediately following the All-Star meet at Indian River  C.C.  This is a great opportunity to get this class for your Club Recognition.  It is also a good course to understand more about the business side of our sport.  Please let me know if you are planning on attending by Monday March 25th.  That way I will have time to print and ship all of the handouts you will want to take with you. Hope...

  BY MIKE GUSTAFSON//CORRESPONDENT This Valentine’s Day, hundreds of swimmers will congregate in Florida for the Arena Grand Prix at Orlando. The meet will feature some of the biggest names in swimming – Ryan Lochte, Dana Vollmer, and Missy Franklin are just a few. It’s the first time an Arena Grand Prix series event has hit the Florida area, you can be sure fans will flock to see some of their local Olympian heroes (Lochte, Conor Dwyer) compete.  As always, here are your 5 Storylines To Watch…  5. 15-year-old Becca...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Olympic gold medalists Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.), Dana Vollmer (Granbury, Texas), Missy Franklin (Centennial, Colo.) and Tyler Clary (Riverside, Calif.) will compete February 14-16 at the Arena Grand Prix at Orlando. The event, which is the third stop of the six-meet 2012-13 Arena Grand Prix Series, will be held for the first time in Orlando at the YMCA Aquatic Center.  Other Olympians expected to swim in Orlando include Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.), Anthony Ervin (Berkeley, Calif.), Amanda Weir (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Charlie Houchin (Raleigh, N.C.), Kate...

    TAMPA, Florida, February 11. FORMER USA Swimming national team member Lorraine Perkins passed away Sunday evening after a long battle with cancer. She was 42.  Perkins was a standout swimmer at the University of Florida in the Randy Reese era, from 1987 to 1991. Her collegiate career was highlighted by three NCAA titles in the 200 medley relay (1988, 1989, 1990) and the 400 medley relay (1988). Individually, her highest finish at the NCAA championships was second in the 100 backstroke in 1988, her freshman year. She would...

  The dates & locations for the 2013 Zone Select Camps are set and the 224 eligible athletes will receive invitations shortly.  Click here  to view all the info on the Zone Select Camp Program: We have a great opportunity for you to become an assistant coach or manager at each of the four zone sites! Assistant coaches/managers come from within the Zone of each camp and we specifically need some female applicants. If you are interested in applying for one of these positions, please click on the link below...

    Deadline for the Assistant Coach Application for the 2013 Diversity Camp is due on February 15th, 2013. Click here to apply: The deadline to apply for this camp as athlete is also due on Feb 15th. Click here for more information: