All competitors of the games got a backpack and ID tag with picture and free access to all transport and games events, so it it nice and very easy to spot people all around the city that are here for the games (30,000 people!) Everyone around is pretty friendly, some come to compete, some come to have fun, some come to prove that they can (see picture above), some come on holidays and find that swimming 800m is the way to relax and get stress out (weird).
As for the Games, I am pleased to say that I have a bronze medal on the 800 free (Saturday) and today 4th in the 400 free, and bad bad bad bad on the 50 fly. The 800 was a tough race, as painful as I remembered last time I swam 800 in a swim meet (age 15), but for some reason now I seem to enjoy pain a lot more =) I beat my time from when I was 15 by 5 seconds. The time was 10:03.33, average of 1:15.4/100m. I must say that I was pretty happy.
The 400 today was not as good. I went 4:52.60 I think, which sucks as my 400m split on the 800 was 4:55.xx. I went out hard and paid the price: 1:06, 1:14, 1:17, 1:16. I was not pleased at all, I did not beat my time from where I was 15, and got 4th place. 4:47 would have got me 3rd again and in a good day (and a smarter race strategy) think that might have been possible. Anyways, now I have something to gauge myself against in the next couple of months.
Ahh, the 50 fly. mmm... let just forget about th 50 fly shall we? To be honest I was tired, sore (from being out all day yesterday + openinig ceremonies + 400 2 hours before). I knew coming into the games that I have lots of endurance and not lots speed, so longer events are the ones I had more chance. 50 fly:terrible, 400 free:4th, 800 free:3rd. Next Saturday is the 3km Open water. Hopefully I do well on that one, I will make sure I rest in Melbourne the next 3 days.
Here are some pictures. Until Melborne or back in Sydney next weekend.
Bronze Medal Back
Bronze Medal Front
Youngest and Oldest Competitor of the Games (24yr+10months and 101yr+6months = 76yr+8months different "a lifetime")
Friends from Paraguay I met at the Opening Ceremonies
Darryl works in the same building in Vancouver! (I knew he was coming, we always chat in the change room as he also rides to work every day)
Downtown Sydney
Sydney Olympic Pool
The Harbour, ohh so pretty...
Facundo
8 comments:
Facu,
I am glad to see that you are having fun, inlcuding when you race 800 meters. I feel better because I know how much I pushed you when you were 15 (Should I feel sorry?) ;-)
Dad
FYI Melbourne is by far the best city in OZ, grew up in Adelaide, lived in Melbourne for 3 years before I moved to Canada.
Sydney makes nice postcards but Melbourne is were it is at. Weather is so-so but culture is awesome.
Make sure you get to degraves alley of flinders lane for coffee or tea, do the wgolden mile walking tour as takes you down all the little alleys.
Also if you are hungry head to grandma funks on Swan St in Richmond
For bars check out the
Gin Palace
Tony Starrs Kitten Club
The Croft Institute
For attractions
Gold Museum Is good (next to parliament)
You have to see the casino just for the shear size and ridiculousness of it all (Fire show at night is good though)
St Kilda for Melbourne's Kits
MCG and Tennis Centre
If you have energy - run the tan - ask a local (near botanic gardens)
congrats buddy, thats fast!
That is a SWEET medal man! Congratulations.
Get some rest. That's a lot of races in such little time.
See you in a couple of weeks.
Thanks Jeremy! Lots of tips =)
Melbourne is nice as well, but just like you said, the weather has been horrible for the 3 days I have been here. Rain and 40-60kph gusts and 12-15C. I have seen more rain here than in 6 weeks in Surfers Paradise... ohh well...
I have run the tan, however I did not time myself. I decided to enjoy it rather than to see how far off I was from the record =)
I really like all the little alleys or "little" streets like little bourke and so on.
Thanks a lot!
Facundo
Way to go Facundo - you'll definitely be leading the lane when you get back :)
It's totally cool that they even put your name on the medal right away.
Hope the open water was awesome - how's that suit working?
Dominant Facundo! Now you have to wear your super suit at VAC morning swims!
Congrats Facundo :P. Sorry to hear about the Open water race. Enjoy your time there, I will see you again before you know it. hehe
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