thumbs down isnt the word for what i was thinking of channel 9 last night. we saw half the swimming --not even that i bet. its a national disgrace if they cant handle the full program then let someone else do it. its about time they stepped down and let the smaller channels handle it SHAME ON YOU CHANNEL 9
Well I don't think any other network would do it. Seven and Ten have blown just about all thier budgeted money on sport with the AFL, so they couldn't give a s**t who gets the rights to swimming.
I am not particularly partial to Ian Thorpe out of the swimming pool but I hate to see him like this.
Thorpedo out of shape Jacquelin Magnay, Jessica Halloran and Philippa Bourke August 4, 2006
Is this the beginning of the end of Thorpe's magnificent swimming career?
HE MUNCHES on pizza and hamburgers and slurps cola. He hasn't been training. And Ian Thorpe, the five-time Olympic champion, is getting fat.
The influences of the Hollywood Hills where Thorpe, 23, has moved to a house - previously frequented by John Lennon - have been less than disciplined. Is this the beginning of the end of Thorpe's magnificent swimming career?
On a recent weekday when the Trojan swim group at the University of Southern California gathered at 6am for its first session of the day, a squad member said he had seen Thorpe just three times.
Thorpe came to Los Angeles last month for a three-month refresher that may be extended to the 2007 world championship trials in December.
Another swimmer said Thorpe had been at the pool the day before. When asked how he found him, the young man replied wryly, "big, fat and hairy".
He quickly added, "No, he carries a lot of weight on him on purpose as part of his swim strategy." In the past fortnight the Herald has seen Thorpe train at the pool once, in the afternoon, in a relaxed, sociable way.
If Thorpe was in serious training under his Australian coach, Tracey Menzies, he would be in the pool twice a day and have a weights or land fitness session in between.
Instead he is out socialising with his neighbours, the actors Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger. Thorpe's hand, broken in April when he slipped in the bathroom, has not quite healed.
Thorpe's new coach, Dave Salo, said Thorpe came halfway around the world to find motivation.
"He needs to swim because he needs to, not because the whole of Australia wants him to," Salo said. "Otherwise, if he had stayed, I think he probably would have quit."
Thorpe has employed various strategies to maintain his motivation for the slog of training: he changed coaches after the Sydney Olympics, dumping Doug Frost for Menzies; he switched to the shorter sprints, which are more challenging for his huge frame, rather than persisting with the middle distances.
Out of the pool he has immersed himself in businesses including jewellery, fragrances, underwear and bottled water. But Thorpe has not competed for two years, having battled glandular fever, and in that time his weight has fluctuated dramatically, depending on the intensity of his work.
His old friend Grant Hackett, the Australian swimming captain, said Thorpe had shown before that he could have a break and return to win an Olympic medal. He said he could do the same for Beijing in 2008, despite missing last year's world championships and this year's Commonwealth Games. Thorpe has not swum in international competition since the Athens Olympics.
"There's no doubt if Ian wants to come back and swim fast and be as competitive as he was before, he can," Hackett said.
"But it's just a matter of whether he's motivated and enthusiastic about swimming, but I'm sure he can and I certainly think he's putting things in place to make sure that he can do that."
Thorpe told Salo he needed to escape media scrutiny in Australia and that before coming to the US he wanted to give up the sport. "He was close to quitting," said Salo, who coached the US Olympic stars Aaron Piersol, Lenny Krayzelburg and Amanda Beard.
"The Australian press and public is very much enamoured with him and most Americans don't know who he is."
But the former national coach Don Talbot said Thorpe had nothing more to prove. "I'm concerned that he's [not] going to be able to rediscipline himself because, I believe, he has too many irons in the fire."
Instead of training hard in the pool during his three-month refresher trip to California, the swimmer is munching on pizza and hamburgers, Fairfax newspapers report.
He also has spent time socialising with his Hollywood Hills neighbours, actors Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams.
Thorpe has been spotted in the training pool only once in the past fortnight, the papers said.
The swimmer's hand, broken in a fall in May, is still healing.
His new coach, Dave Salo, said the Australian was in Los Angeles for a holiday in the hope of finding motivation.
"He needs to swim because he needs to, not because the whole of Australia wants him to," the papers quoted Salo as saying.
Thorpe has not competed for more than two years, and was forced out of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games earlier this year with glandular fever.
Recently Grant Hackett has announced his engagement to his Girlfriend. I have always had a lot of time for Grant. He is a wonderful role model and a great Australian. He always seems to have a smile on his face and doesn't take himself too seriously.
Hackett's love goes distance Sydney Confidential July 31, 2006 12:00
FORGET about competing for gold - it was popping the question to girlfriend Candice Alley that got the butterflies swimming in Olympic distance hero Grant Hackett's stomach.
After an 18-month courtship, the champion and his singing sweetheart have announced they will race to the altar after the world swimming championships next March.
Hackett, 26, presented the 23-year-old performer with a 4.2 carat princess-cut diamond and platinum ring during a balloon ride on her birthday last month.
As one of the country's wealthiest sports stars he didn't skimp on the sparkler - which is believed to be worth $250,000 and one insider says is "much bigger than Bec Hewitt's".
But for all his bravado in the pool, Hackett said the June 23 proposal was "harder than swimming for gold".
"It was a big, big build-up," the world 1500m freestyle champ told New Idea.
"It was killing me. I wanted to tell the whole world but I couldn't. I could barely sleep each night beforehand because I was so excited."
The loved-up couple met at a swimming awards bash where Melbourne-based Alley was performing in December 2004.
"I thought the balloon ride was a great idea and I was really impressed he'd gone to so much trouble for my birthday," Alley said.
"Then, as we descended over a lake, he pulled out the ring and proposed. It was an amazing moment."
Thorpedo unfit? You're joking, says mum August 4, 2006 - 1:23PM "Ian doesn't do anything unless he is 100 per cent" ... Margaret Thorpe Ian Thorpe's mother today hit out at a newspaper story which claims the Australian swimming champion "hasn't been training" and is "getting fat" while living in Los Angeles. "(I'm) a little amazed by what's being said," Margaret Thorpe told ABC radio. "(Ian) has told me he is training and he is very happy over there and that's what I'm going to believe. "The only people who are going to believe them is the people who want to believe them." Mrs Thorpe was speaking about a Herald front page picture story headlined "The good life catches up with Thorpedo". The newspaper story began: "He munches on pizza and hamburgers and slurps cola. He hasn't been training. And Ian Thorpe, the five-time Olympic champion is getting fat." Dave Salo, Thorpe's coach at the University of Southern California, keeps Thorpe's Australian connections updated on his progress during his planned three month stay in the US. Salo told Fairfax that Thorpe had moved to LA seeking motivation and he believed the 200m and 400m freestyle world record holder probably would have left the sport if he'd stayed in Australia. "He needs to swim because he needs to, not because the whole of Australia wants him to," Salo said. "Otherwise, If he had stayed, I think he probably would have quit." Mrs Thorpe today insisted her son was training hard at USC and was still looking ahead to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She said constant media scrutiny of her son's life in Australia was one of the main reasons he'd temporarily relocated from Sydney to Los Angeles. "That's right, he has gone over there to be able to concentrate on training," she said. "Ian doesn't do anything unless he is 100 per cent. "This is all leading up to Beijing."
I have no idea why you insist in starting a new thread for each topic when one is already listed - its it you just seek the attention or are you blind to see the search option at the top
FACT: Reality TV isn't REALLY reality! Silver Class eBlaher
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Quoted from ALLEYCAT
I have no idea why you insist in starting a new thread for each topic when one is already listed - its it you just seek the attention or are you blind to see the search option at the top
If you cannot immediately find an appropriate topic to place your post, please do a complete search of the board before posting a brand new topic. The search function can be found by clicking on the search button up the top ^ or by going to:
I created a 'swimming and swimmers' thread 17 days ago to post on Ian Thorpe's weight issues and fitness level. I did not however want to start an entirely new thread just on him so made it so that anyone can post on any swimming event and/or swimmer. This encompasses all swimming and all swimmers! All you had to do was search for anything on Ian Thorpe, BM and you would of found the thread. Once more your thread subject 'Thorpey, fat? Huh?' smacks of sensationalism. I am merging this thread with the Swimming and Swimmers thread! Cheers Suzi... read my signature!!
Olympic gold medallist Alexander Popov has urged Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe not to let his talent go to waste.
Thorpe has not competed at an international event since the 2004 Olympics, fuelling speculation that he has lost his enthusiasm for the sport and may never return to the pool.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist took a six-month break after the Athens Olympics to recharge his batteries and has also been hampered by illness and a broken hand.
Thorpe is widely regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance swimmers of all time after amassing five gold medals as well as three silver and one bronze medal during the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.
And Popov, who dominated swimming throughout the 1990s, believes Thorpe should mount a comeback because he would still be able to compete at the highest level.
"He will be fully rested and recovered now so I think he could be even better than before," the 34-year-old Russian said.
"He needed a break to sit back and relax. But I know he could come back and he would just win. He is that good.
"He has done so much. At his age he has the experience to be able to compete against anyone, no matter how long he has been out."
Popov, who spent several years based in Canberra, knows exactly what it takes to return to action after a long lay-off.
The Russian, a gold medal winner in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle events at both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, missed a year of competition after being stabbed in the stomach during a street fight in Moscow.
Despite that horrific incident he was back in the pool in time for the 1997 European championships, where he successfully defended his 50 and 100m titles.
Australian head coach Alan Thompson has hinted that Thorpe may return in time for national trials in December ahead of next year's world championships in Melbourne.
Popov is convinced 23-year-old Thorpe could emulate his successful comeback and win against the likes of American Michael Phelps.
"It comes back quickly. If you have experienced it you know what it feels like," Popov said.
"I think he can get back into the groove pretty quickly. He is still training so if he decides to come back he can do anything he wants.
"It is up to him to decide what he wants to do. If he thinks it is necessary to come back he will do that. I hope he does because he is a great swimmer."
Thorpe wrestles with that sinking feeling Jacquelin Magnay November 21, 2006
IAN THORPE was wrestling with two options last night: follow his gut feeling and retire permanently from swimming or announce a withdrawal from the 2007 world championships with an attempt to keep going until the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Thorpe's confidant and manager, Dave Flaskas, spent three hours yesterday as a sounding board, wanting to make sure his client of 10 years was making the correct decision in wanting to retire from the sport altogether.
The five-time Olympic champion and multi-world record holder will not compete in the world championship trials in Brisbane on December 3, and will thus miss selection for the world championships in Melbourne in March.
But if Thorpe so desired, he still has sufficient time to get into shape for the Beijing Olympics - but only if he can put together solid and consistent blocks of training - something he has struggled with for more than a year.
Flaskas was encouraging Thorpe to be clear in his thinking, not wanting him to announce his retirement and then follow up with a possible comeback for Beijing.
Also at the crisis meeting yesterday, held at Thorpe's waterfront home in Dolans Bay, Sutherland Shire, was Flaskas's wife Michelle, who is a very close friend.
As revealed by the Herald in August, Thorpe has been battling motivation to return to the pool and has been uncharacteristically ill-disciplined about his training regime. He has already spoken to his family, his coaches Tracey Menzies and Milt Nelms, and his major sponsors about retiring.
Thorpe had been supposed to train at Caringbah pool yesterday morning, but when drug testers from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority turned up to take a routine out-of-competition sample, he wasn't there.
The drug testing was planned weeks ago and was part of a pre-championship testing blitz of Australia's top swimmers, a standard practice.
Another of Thorpe's managers, Mark Jones, said of the testing: "It didn't faze Ian, he is used to doing it, it is all part of being a swimmer."
The authority's chairman, Richard Ings, said that until an athlete officially notified it in writing about retirement it was "business as usual".
Thorpe stayed in his house all day, only peeking out at one point when Flaskas was at the door.
Thorpe has not been seen at the pool for weeks and alarm bells rang at the highest levels in swimming when he missed a vital training session with the Australian head coach Alan Thompson last Thursday. "He has spurts of just feeling great and feeling like things are going well and then he gets knocked back," Nelms said on Sunday.
The Australian swim team captain, Grant Hackett, said he empathised with his friend Thorpe after struggling with his own comeback from shoulder surgery.
"It was so difficult to go up and down the pool in training with no real light at the end of the tunnel - you wonder what you are doing it for," said Hackett.
"There are no easy roads. You either do the work or you don't."
It's been obvious for a year or two that he has lost the drive to compete. He is the only one who can make the decision and no-one else has the right to say what he should or shouldn't do. Shane Gould says retiring when she did was a decision she has regretted ever since. As long as Ian Thorpe makes the right decision for HIM then that is all that matters.
Thorpe retires from swimming Tuesday November 21, 2006 By ninemsn staff and wires
Australia's greatest-ever swimmer Ian Thorpe has quit, announcing in a press conference his intention to withdraw from professional competition.
In a prepared statement to the packed conference, Thorpe said his battle with sickness and the revelation that there was more to life than swimming had led to his decision.
"As I got fit, my mind got fit, and I started asking questions," he said. "'What's the relevance of swimming to my life, what would my life be like without swimming?'"
"I haven't balanced out my life as well as what I should have," he said.
Although the 24-year-old said he felt intense pressure to continue swimming, that pressure was coming from others, not from himself.
"It would be dishonest to myself, and to everyone else, if I were to continue on that basis," he said. "I've reached all the dizzy heights of this sport — for all of that I'm extremely appreciative."
Thorpe is regarded as one of the greatest swimmers of all time after winning 11 world titles, five Olympic gold medals and setting 13 individual long-course world records.
When asked whether a comeback was possible, the Olympic champion was dismissive.
"I don't see myself competing again, it won't happen. I won't rule anything out, I never rule anything out, but it just won't happen."
He did not want to reveal his future plans.
Of his decision, Thorpe said: "It's emotional because I see my entire swimming career flash before my eyes.
"I've had a great career. It isn't the best time to be walking away from the sport but it's my time."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Howard wished Ian Thorpe well for his life after swimming, describing the Olympian as a remarkable athlete and a good bloke.
"His retirement is an enormous loss to Australian swimming but it's tough, he started early, all swimmers do," he told reporters ahead of his departure from Vietnam.
"Millions of Australians will remember his wonderful individual performances."
Nine News sources revealed that earlier in the day, the Olympic legend had begun the day that would be his last as a professional swimmer in the water — surfing at Cronulla. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=164058
Thorpedo's decision helper revealed
Former sports psychologist, Deidre Anderson, has been revealed as the woman who counselled Thorpe as he grappled over a decision to retire. Five time Olympic Gold Medallist, Thorpe, who announced he was quitting swimming said he had worked closely with 'someone incredible' over the past few weeks before determining his future lay outside the sport While Thorpe would not name his helper, News Limited newspapers confirmed it was Anderson.
Anderson confirmed to the newspaper her role in Thorpe's retirement, saying her involvement with the star swimmer was a "one-off".
"I came out of retirement to help him. I used to work in that field but I don't any more," she said.
She would not divulge details of her conversations with Thorpe saying: "This is all about Ian. It's his moment and really what I did pales into insignificance compared to what he had to go through."
Please Explain why Nine is airing the best Coverage so late that Children are in Bed for it, moved it to Primetime please? And Fox Sprots does'nt show it live either, what a waste.
Please Explain why Nine is airing the best Coverage so late that Children are in Bed for it, moved it to Primetime please? And Fox Sprots does'nt show it live either, what a waste.
You'd better ask NINE and Fox 'sprots' those questions.
Swimmer charged Arjun Ramachandran March 31, 2008 - 4:18PM
Olympic swimming hopeful Nick D'Arcy has been charged with assault and grevious bodiliy harm following a bar fight in which a former champion had his nose and jaw broken.
D'Arcy's chances of swimming at Beijing are now under a cloud.
The incident, in Sydney's King Street wharf area about 2.30am yesterday, left former Commonwealth champion Simon Cowley with serious facial injuries.
The Australian Olympic Committee and Swimming Australia have also announced they will investigate the alleged fight.
In a statement, AOC president John Coates said D'Arcy, Cowley and other athletes present during the incident would be interviewed as part of the investigation.
AOC vice-president Peter Montgomery would chair the investigation, and would be assisted by Swimming Australia Glenn Tasker and AOC director of sport Fiona de Jong, he said.
D'Arcy, 20, came to City Central police station today for a formal interview with detectives.
He arrived with another man at the inner-city police station shortly before midday in a blue car and entered via a side garage door.
Late this afternoon he remained inside the police station while a posse of media waited outside.
In a statement, police said: "About 2.30am on Sunday police attended a bar in the King Street Wharf area following reports of an alleged assault.
"As a result of the incident a 27-year-old man from Sylvania suffered injuries including a number of facial fractures.
"He was taken by ambulance to St Vincent's Hospital for treatment where he later discharged himself.
"He has since received further treatment at St George Hospital and remains in a stable condition.
"Police today said they charged a 20-year-old Queensland man with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
"He was granted conditional bail and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on April 21.''
Twenty year old hot head jerk! IMHO he should be stripped of his place at the Beijing Olympics. He does not deserve any kind of reward. Give his position in the team to someone who DOES deserve it. Is it just me? or are the spelling mistakes in news reports getting funnier and worse than they have ever been? Can someone tell the journalists they have 'spell check' on their word processing programs?!
Nick D'Arcy accused of big-noting before nightclub punch April 01, 2008 12:00am
SWIMMER Nick D'Arcy, moments before launching the alleged king-hit that could end his Olympic dream, was allegedly drunkenly big-noting himself at a Sydney nightclub.
Fuelled by up to 12 drinks, D'Arcy allegedly reacted with a single blow when former swim champion Simon Cowley told him to tone down his bragging.
Yesterday, as an ashen-faced D'Arcy faced a six-hour police grilling, a badly injured Cowley told of his shock at being smashed in the face while celebrating the announcement of the Australian Olympic swim team.
"I'm feeling pretty ordinary, as you can see," he said.
"I haven't spoken to the police yet so I don't really want to talk about what happened between us." Asked if he knew D'Arcy, Cowley said: "I've never met him. My main priority right now is to get better."
The Sunday morning blow floored Cowley, leaving the 27-year-old with a shattered nose, eye socket and jaw.
Cowley, who remains in St George Hospital, will undergo major surgery on Thursday to repair his damaged face. He also faces the prospect of losing all his teeth.
Police have charged D'Arcy with assault and grievous bodily harm - which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years.
Dual Olympic gold medallist Kieren Perkins said today swimmer Nick D’Arcy had failed as a role model and should be banned from competing at the Beijing Games.
D’Arcy, the Australian 200m butterfly champion, was charged yesterday with assault and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm following a bar brawl in Sydney in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Perkins said, if the charges were proven, allowing D’Arcy to remain on the Olympic team would compromise the nation’s morals.
“I really can’t see how we could possibly take somebody in that scenario onto an Olympic team,” the 34-year-old told ABC radio.
“It is a group of people that are representing our country at the highest international level.
”Yes, we’re sports people. Yes, we want to win. Yes, we want to see that we’re the best in the world - but at what price?
“Ultimately I can’t see how we can justify compromising our morals or our values just because we want to win.”
Perkins, who won back-to-back 1500 metre gold in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, believed swimming should not be as accepting of poor behaviour “as some professional football codes”.
“In this country our sports people are some of our highest role models,” he said.
“If you decide you want to be a high-profile athlete and you’re not prepared to take that responsibility as a role model on, then as far as I’m concerned you should look for another profession.”
D’Arcy will appear in court on April 21 over the alleged assault on retired swimmer Simon Cowley, just two days before the swim team gathers at a camp in Canberra.
He has already withdrawn from the Australian team competing in the world short-course championships in Manchester, England, from April 9-13.
The AOC and Swimming Australia are jointly investigating the incident.
Olympic legend Dawn Fraser last night led calls for D’Arcy to be kept on the team even if he is convicted.
“They are human beings and some of them have spent six years to get into this team,” Fraser said.
“They do play up a little bit because they’ve been training hard and they’ve been swimming and competing. Unfortunately a little bit’s got out of control.”
D’Arcy has already withdrawn from next month’s world short course titles in Manchester and Australian swim team captain Grant Hackett said it would be a huge penalty if he was also dumped from the Olympics.
“It would be absolutely massive,” he said. “I’m sure Nick’s feeling a lot of regrets about the situation.”
Retired swimmers Duncan Armstrong and Matt Welsh also called for D’Arcy to remain on the team. Armstrong said riotous behaviour after swim meets was nothing new.
“What we got up to would turn this current swimming team’s hair white,” he said.
“I mean we used to have to be bailed out of overseas jails, and it wouldn’t have made the papers back here.
“It was the norm in sport back then to be a bit of a larrikin and to get in trouble and get in a bit of a stoush.”
My opinion of Matt Welsh and Duncan Armstrong has just gone to less than zero. Kieren Perkins is still way up there in my opinion. "Riotous behaviour after swim meets was nothing new" from Duncan Armstrong. Probably not Duncan BUT how often does that 'riotous behavious' lead to Grievious Bodily Harm and someone needing surgery? Testosterone, youth, adrenaline and alcohol are an enormously dangerous combination.
The Decision has been made to take Nick D'Arcy out of the 2008 Olympic Swimming Team. I find the comments under these two reports very disturbing. Some people really are very angry people and very scary IMHO. I find when I am reading comments pages like the two below I am utterly astonished at how badly some people spell. When I find spelling mistakes that detract from the story, I go to the next comment very quickly. Good grief, I left school at age fifteen but have not let that stop me bettering myself as time has gone by.
Two days ago he had a tummy (pot belly) yesterday he didn't and those in the know are saying he IS fit for the Olympics and he does not have a tummy/belly.
I read where it is not unusual for the tummy to distend after/during a long distance swim, which he had just completed when the photo was taken.
Fit swimmer Grant Hackett puts fat behind him Article from: Herald Sun Rebecca Williams May 08, 2008 12:00am
GRANT Hackett showed off a rippling midriff yesterday to prove he is not overweight or out of condition.
The swim star looked fit, tanned and toned as he put his body on display for the cameras.
Days earlier, unflattering images of Hackett getting out of the water after the open water 10km Olympic qualifier in Spain sparked debate around the country about his fitness levels.
Arriving back in Melbourne, Hackett headed to the pool for a light training session -- and to make a point about his belly.
"I can push it out or suck it in, but I'm just standing here normally," he said.
"I don't think I've got anything to prove to anyone on this issue."
Hackett explained that he looked bloated after the Spain swim because of the food and water he consumed in the lead-up to the race.
"We have 3 1/2 litres of fluid before the race, so that can obviously bloat you quite a bit," he said.
"We also carbo-load two to three days before that and that was about 1200g of carbos a day for my weight. That obviously plays with your physique for a very short term."
What a great comeback story this one is....Geoff Huegill
Geoff Huegill qualifies for Australia swimming team headed for Dehli
By Liam FitzGibbon and Tom Wald March 18, 2010
Geoff Huegill declared his intentions to return from Delhi with a gold medal after completing his fairytale return to the Australia swim team at the Commonwealth Games trials.
Huegill (23.46sec) will compete at his first major international meet in six years after taking out the 50m butterfly in style at Sydney Olympic Park, with a time just two hundredths of a second slower then his old world record set in 2001.
The win capped a remarkable journey for the Sydney Olympic medallist, who has lost 45kg after his weight ballooned to 138kg following the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The 31-year-old, now a muscular 93kg, rated the experience on par with competing at the Sydney Games in 2000.
"It's been a dream come true,'' Huegill said.
"To come back from the position I was in, it's something I definitely don't take for granted. It's been well and truly worth all the pain.
''... The emotions I feel today are well and truly on par with the way I felt 10 years ago when I stood behind the blocks at the Sydney Olympics.''
Huegill rated himself at only 85-90 per cent fitness, and sent a clear warning to former South African world record holder Roland Schoeman about his intentions in India.
"23.44 is a pretty good world standard time at the moment, so my sights will definitely be coming away with a medal if not gold,'' he said.
"I'm happy to put that out there now. I love racing Roland and he's definitely going to be the man to beat, so it's going to be good to see how he goes now without his supersuit.''
Emily Seebohm demonstrated her growing stature in Australian swimming by becoming the first female in forty years to win the 100m backstroke-freestyle double.
But she had luck on her side in the freestyle after Yolane Kukla backed up her win in the 50m butterfly by being disqualified after leading the field home.
Kukla got too much of the jump on the field in the two-lap race, her false start leading to the DQ quickly replacing the No.1 and time of 54.50 seconds next to her name on the scoreboard.
She was visibly upset with the result and needed to be comforted by Bronte Barratt in the neighbouring lane.
However she rebounded just 20 minutes later to qualify for Friday night's final of the 100m butterfly, holding her nerve to be the fastest off the blocks in the semi-final.
Kukla's resilience in the 100m butterfly showed that she is not easily floored, an important trait for any multi-event swimmer.
With Kukla rubbed out and Cate Campbell having bombed out in the semi-finals, Seebohm (54.70s) became the unlikely champion.
Seebohm later took out her pet event, the 100m backstroke in 59.21s, for a rare double on the night.
"I was a little bit shocked about the freestyle,'' Seebohm said.
Leisel Jones (2:23.45) showed she was still unstoppable at domestic level by producing a convincing win in the 200m breaststroke while Eamon Sullivan (49.35) warmed up for Friday night's 100m freestyle final by topping the times in the semi-finals.
World champion Brenton Rickard (1:00.19) showed a change of coach hasn't slowed him down, taking out the 100m breaststroke ahead of Christian Sprenger (1:00.91).
Hayden Stoeckel (1:58.04) claimed the men's 200m backstroke title.
Always liked Geoff Huegill and thought he had much potential. More than he had shown the first time around. I think it is wonderful he gave up alcohol and did something about his unhealthy weight. Congratulations to all the medal winners. You go you good thing, Geoff!
Pic is from BACK in the fray . . . Australian Swimming Trials at Homebush Aquatic Centre, men's 50m butterfly. Geoff Huegill. Pic: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
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