Unless you’ve been living under a swimming social media rock since Trials, you know the U.S. Olympic swim team is stationed at swim camp at Northside in San Antonio, Texas this week. We got a taste of their good times via Michael Phelps’ recent Facebook Live post, in which we rode along on the team bus with cohorts David Plummer, Anthony Ervin and Katie Ledecky.
Also while at training camp this week, the stars of our sport got a special visit from San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich and team point guard Tony Parker yesterday, July 16th.
Popovich will be in the role of head coach of the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball in Tokyo 2020 and stopped by in his “Vote for Pedro” t-shirt to offer words of inspiration and encouragement to the 45-strong roster who will represent the stars n’ stripes in the Rio pool. Among the words of advice was Popovich’s comment that “good fortune is due to what you do”
Below are some special moments captured by USA Swimming and athletes who were able to mingle with Popovich and Parker at the event.
2020 #Teamusa and @spurs Head Coach Pop, @tonyparker meet Olympic swim team: "Good fortune is due to what you do" pic.twitter.com/n18vUyS9yr
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) July 15, 2016
So much GREATNESS in one photo! (via @USASwimming) pic.twitter.com/LoVZcdZPBW
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 15, 2016
Thanks @tonyparker for chatting with our team & making this bday a memorable one! pic.twitter.com/2ILpBeYyfP
— Kelsi Dahlia (@kelsiwhirl) July 15, 2016
I just heard Tony Parker's French accent in real life, and Coach Pop said that he loves swimmers' shoulders. 🤗 pic.twitter.com/jIlanKa0EE
— Simone Manuel (@swimone) July 15, 2016
Greg Popovich in that tshirt with the beard wins coolest guy of the year award. Is it too late for Omega to slip him into the watches commercials?
Tim Duncan was a swimmer before he switched to basketball. Can you imagine what he could have done in the pool with the right training? He made the right choice though for us Spurs fans.
Kris Humphries was a stud age grouper himself. Made a lot more money in the NBA, though!
On September 17, 1989, Hurricane Hugo crashed into St. Croix and everything changed…Among the casualties was the swim team’s pool, which had filled with debris and needed major repair. When practices were moved to the ocean, Tim had a major problem: he had a mortal fear of sharks. He started skipping practices, and eventually drifted from the team.
Thanks, hurricanes. (Link.)
Of course Coach Pop would have a Vote For Pedro tshirt…
TP is a great leader for French basket and a great inspiration for the youth.
And maybe I’m the only one on Earth but I really believe that France can win the gold in Rio and beat the US team which is a B or C team without LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Russell Westbrook or Damian Lillard.
Manaudou, Stravius and Lacourt magically swim fast all year round, just like Justin Gatlin who can magically run fast all year round.
USA F Team could probably whack France
While it might not be our ‘A’ team, it’s not going to lose to any other country in Rio. It doesn’t have as many superstar names as it has in years past, but c’mon: KD, Carmelo, DeAndre Jordan, Kyrie, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson.
Cool