Sprint News 6/7/12: Dutch Swimmer Beats Cancer; Inside the Mind of a Transfer

…Dutch Swimmer Joost Reijns found out that he has won his battle with testicular cancer this week, that he was diagnosed with in January. After intense chemotherapy and two surgeries, doctors have confirmed that he is free from all cancerous tissues, according to the Dutch Federation. Reijns was a part of the Dutch 800 free relay that took silver at the 2008 World Short Course Championships. The 25-year old freestyler was on a huge vertical path before this set-back, with bests of 49.4 and 1:47.90 in the long course 100 and 200 freestyles, including a silver medal at the Swim Cup in Eindhoven in that 200 (behind only Dominik Meichtry). Reijns’ cancer cost him a spot on the Olympic Team, but he has been back in training for two weeks (before his final surgery) and is aiming for the World Championships in Barcelona in 2013…

…The University of Limerick in Ireland has opened a revolutionary new “altitude training center”. But Ireland, as a small island, is relatively altitude-challenged (a few peaks get up to 3,000 feet). UL has an innovative new program where they’ve created an “artificial altitude residence” that will allow athletes to live and sleep in simulated altitude, and then train at normal altitudes outside of the center (thus being able to continue normal training routines). This could be revolutionary, as it takes the “altitude tents” used by athletes like Michael Phelps to a new extreme. The accommodation can house up to 7 athletes at a time. Even if this doesn’t make Ireland the next endurance-sport super-power, the University seems like they are ready to dedicate a lot of research to investigating altitude training – perhaps bring about a slew of new training theories and techniques. Read this press release for more…

…Foreign dignitaries often make appearances at the Olympic Games, but this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin will avoid London in a cold-war-esque move, according to local British papers. There are tensions between London and Moscow over various political issues (the situation in Syria, the death of a Russian dissident in the UK), and the word “boycott” is being thrown around. Interestingly, the 2014 Winter Games are in Russia. Will we see a return of the sentiment from the Brits? I feel like I’ve heard this story before…

…Former Arizona Wildcat Lindsay Seemann wrote an interesting post on a Canadian coach called simply “Coach Mike’s Blog”, maintained by Canadian coach Mike Thompson. In it, she gives some deep insights into her decision to leave Arizona after two seasons and seek transfer to another NCAA school. Unlike fellow transfer Aubrey Peacock, Seemann and Hallie Stupp are taking their time and still looking around for their next destination. Seemann gives outstanding, well-thought-out insights into what goes through the mind of a transfer in general, and specifically why she chose to leave. She did reveal that she would stay in the United States, however (she’s a Canadian)…