Swimming

Beaches in Maryland and across the U.S. are closing more often, the result of high bacteria levels caused by rain washing pollution from suburban sprawl into waterways, a new report says. Two of the unhealthiest beaches in the country last year were on the Chesapeake Bay, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council report card on swimming areas. Hacks Point, a small community beach on the shores of the Bohemia River in Cecil County, was one of six beaches nationally labeled a "beach bum," because bacteria levels exceeded federal health standards 60 percent of the times it was tested by the government last summer, the NRDC report says.

At 17, Katie Hoff and Kimmie Meissner are already Olympic veterans, each making her mark by bending water to her will. Hoff, of Towson, cuts an imposing figure as the fastest swimmer in the world in the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley. Meissner, of Bel Air, glides on the surface as the reigning world and national figure skating champion. This week the teens are half a world away from home, trying to burnish their international credentials with an eye toward the next Olympics.

Courtney Kalisz was on the road at 5:45 a.m. almost every day last week, headed for the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where she did a 90-minute swimming regimen followed by an hourlong out-of-pool workout. And that was considered an easy week. Kalisz, a 17-year-old Olympic hopeful from Bel Air, was taking a breather between two major events in her swimming life. She returned Monday from the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she won a silver medal, and leaves today for the Swimming National Championships in Indianapolis.

?Hip-hop gave [Don] Imus the language. He wouldn?t have known what a ?ho? was if it weren?t for rap records.? T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting, author of ?Pimps Up, Ho?s Down: Hip Hop?s Hold on Young Black Women? Article, PG 4A Up Next Sunday Design with DNA It's the stuff of murder trials and paternity suits, but DNA is inspiration for art and jewelry, too. You can have a painting made of your DNA or stuff it in a locket. IN MODERN LIFE Wednesday Swimming in calories For the latest Make Over My Meal, we're redesigning breakfast for a Roland Park family with two sons who need enough calories and nutrients to sustain them through their early-morning swimming practices.

Howard needs 50-meter pool An article Dec. 16 in the Howard Sun discussed the Howard County budget wish list and spoke about the need for a 50-meter pool in the county. I am very involved with swimming in Howard County on many levels, and I believe that not only is a quality 50-meter pool necessary, but also that it is affordable and would be profitable. The following are reasons why we need such a pool: Howard County has excellent swimmers and a great club swim team (the Clippers), but the inadequate pool space for practice and meets drives many swimmers away.

Sophomore distance runner Kyle Stanton of Hammond began swimming at the age of 4 and swam competitively with the Columbia Aquatic Association until the eighth grade, when he turned his attention to running. In his second varsity cross country season last fall, Stanton took ninth in the Howard County meet. This spring, he ran his first sub-five-minute mile, clocking in at 4 minutes, 56 seconds in a distance medley relay, and he enjoyed his best two-mile time (10:49) to win a tri-meet against Mount Hebron and Marriotts Ridge.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA -- Early yesterday morning, one of Michael Phelps' closest friends sent him a text message. It was a prediction. This is how fast you're going to go in the 400-meter individual medley, it read: "4.06.40." It was a bold, almost blasphemous forecast, considering it would mean that Phelps would break his own world record by nearly two full seconds. And as it turned out, it wasn't correct. Phelps was even faster. The 21-year-old Rodgers Forge native swam the 400 IM in 4:06.

MELBOURNE, Australia -- His road, or better yet, his swimming lane to Beijing winds through, of all things, a famous tennis facility, Rod Laver Arena. Who knows? Maybe after Michael Phelps removes his goggles for the last time, tennis players will be competing at Michael Phelps Arena. But that's getting well ahead of things considering there are possibly two more Olympics and several World Swimming Championships in his future. For now, Melbourne and a temporary pool in Rod Laver Arena are close to final exams for Phelps, who is aiming for eight gold medals in this eight-day meet.

As Tiger Woods embarked on winning a fifth green jacket at this year's Masters, he took a moment to reflect on another athlete, someone nearly 10,000 miles away whose athletic uniform wouldn't come close to satisfying the dress code at Augusta National. "Anyone who is a sports fanatic, you are always going to be intrigued by other sportsmen, and what they are able to accomplish. What he's done, truly remarkable," Woods says. "Not only is he winning, but he's also setting records, world records.

Arena Football -- The Arena Bowl, which came to New Orleans last summer as part of the Arena Football League's efforts to help the city recover from Hurricane Katrina, is returning next summer. AFL commissioner David Baker said the decision to return stems in large part from the city's fan support for the league. The local team, the New Orleans VooDoo, sold out every game upon starting up again last season in the repaired New Orleans Arena, which holds 16,021 for arena football. NHL -- Scott Niedermayer returned to the Anaheim Ducks' lineup last night, playing for the first time since he hoisted the Stanley Cup in June.

Michael Kenny hoisted his 4-year-old son Bam-Bam onto his shoulders and waited with anticipation for two of the world's most recognizable athletes - Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Phelps to enter Loyola University's aquatics center. "Put your hands up! Put your hands up!" Kenny urged his young son. "Why?" Bam-Bam asked softly. "You might be on TV," Kenny said with a laugh. A few minutes earlier Kenny and his son were in danger of missing the two athletes go head-to-head in a series of swimming events for O'Neal's new ABC show "Shaq Vs.," which pits the basketball star against athletes in their own sports and airs Sept.

ROME - - His words sounded hopeful, rather than pretentious. Whether Michael Phelps was in Barcelona, Athens or even Long Beach, Calif., at big meets and small ones, he has resolutely stayed on message since 2004. Phelps spoke of wanting to elevate the sport during non-Olympic years, keeping swimming afloat once the last anthem was played. Elbow room on the ESPN crawl and highlight shows in 2009 and 2010? You almost felt like saying: Good luck with that. It seemed a far more difficult prospect than winning the eight gold medals he took home from Beijing less than a year ago. Years from now, Phelps' greatest accomplishment at the World Championships may not have been that barrier-breaking, epic victory against Milorad Cavic of Serbia in the 100-meter butterfly, one of his five gold medal results in Rome (the last one came Sunday in a world-record performance in the 400-meter medley relay with teammates Aaron Peirsol, Eric Shanteau and David Walters in 3 minutes 27.28 seconds)

ROME - - Foes used to be easily identifiable for Michael Phelps. Keeping up with the Ians - Thorpes and Crockers - was one thing. But keeping up with the Biedermanns? Welcome to Mr. Phelps' Neighborhood in a swimming universe gone mad at the world championships, with 11 records in the first two days, including five more Monday night. The new world order also featured a shocking result: no Aaron Peirsol in the final of the 100 backstroke. Two of the latest world records were by Americans Rebecca Soni and Ariana Kukors.

ROME - - This might have been a new one in the storied career of Michael Phelps. Phelps went through the paces at a pre-meet news conference at a major swimming event and was not asked about Mark Spitz, not even whether he was relieved, finally, not to be compared to Spitz any longer after eclipsing the icon by winning eight gold medals last summer at the Olympics in Beijing. Instead, there was a light moment Friday near the end of the session about another future opponent looming over Phelps - in a different way than Spitz once did - one towering figure capable of blocking the sun. Shaq.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Phelps stood in line patiently for his name to be announced along with the rest of the U.S. swim team, wearing a baggy blue shirt and black Speedo hat, turned sideways in his typical casual style. When his name was finally called, the crowd inside the Indiana University Natatorium roared with appreciation and Phelps smiled a goofy grin and raised his arms in thanks. The look on his face could have been interpreted any number of ways, but one of them seemed obvious: It was nice, once again, to have people interested in him for what he did in the pool, not out of it. Phelps' performance at the U.S. nationals last week was a success on several levels.

INDIANAPOLIS - -Neither Michael Phelps nor Katie Hoff swam Friday at U.S. nationals. Phelps had to pull out of the 100-meter freestyle with neck pain, and Hoff withdrew from her final two events, putting an end to a meet where she never felt right physically or mentally. And yet North Baltimore Aquatic Club still had plenty to thump its chest about, thanks to a happy-go-lucky 15-year-old who seems to be emerging as the next big thing in American swimming. For the third time this week, Elizabeth Pelton posted a career-best time and finished second in an individual event, earning yet another spot alongside Phelps on the U.S. team headed to Rome for the world championships, which start Friday.

Colleges Giro named UMBC women's lacrosse assistant coach UMBC women's lacrosse coach Kelly Berger announced that Tony Giro, who spent last season as a volunteer on the Retrievers' staff, has been named assistant coach and defensive coordinator. "I'm excited about having Tony on staff," Berger said. "I feel he has many different contributions to make to this program, and I know he has the drive to make UMBC what it needs to be." Last season, Giro assisted primarily on the defensive end, developing game plans and schemes for practices and games.

The sound of music has Michael Phelps back in the endorsement business, just months after a tabloid photo of him holding a bong caused the loss of one sponsor and earned him a three-month suspension from USA Swimming. Phelps, 23, has signed a multiyear deal with H2O Audio, a San Diego-based company that produces waterproof headphones and cases used by divers. The 16-time Olympic medalist joins a stable of athletes, including surfer Laird Hamilton and 11-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Normally, the Charlotte UltraSwim Grand Prix is a pretty tame affair. In a busy year, USA Swimming credentials eight to 10 media members to cover the meet, and that would probably be a generous estimate. But when Michael Phelps announced that the UltraSwim, which begins Friday, would be his first meet since he won eight gold medals in Beijing - and the first meet since his three-month suspension for being photographed with a bong ended - normal and tame got tossed out the window.

Michael Phelps' three-month suspension from U.S. Swimming is officially over, and he'll return to competition next week for the first time since Beijing when he swims in the Charlotte (N.C.) UltraSwim. Phelps was suspended in February after a British tabloid published a photo of him smoking from a bong at a South Carolina party. That suspension expired Tuesday. "I'm happy to be back in the water and be back in semi-shape," Phelps told the Associated Press. He said he's lost almost 20 pounds in the past two months.