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Phelps and Lochte both broke the world record in the first event of the night the 400 IM. Phelps was first and Lochte second. They were shooting fireballs and sparklers off the pool deck! The atmoshphere is unreal! This is the first world record I've ever whitnessed! I got it on video!

The opening ceremonies just ended, the anthem was incredible, the lights, the lasers, the sound system!

The opening ceremonies just ended, the atmosphere is amazing here, its like an NBA playoffs game plus swimming!

The announcer just ended with "let's pick our olympic team!"

I'm amazed the time is almost here, I swim tomorrow morning in the 2008 Olympic Trials. I've had quite a few questions about when I swim and where to find results or video.

I swim tomorrow around 12:26pm but today they were running about 10 minutes early. The preliminary session WILL NOT be on TV, it will only be broadcast online. Plan on watching online starting at 12:00pm CST which is 1:00pm EST. I had trouble getting NBC's site working on Firefox so be sure to use Microsoft Internet Explorer, they also require a Windows Media Player plugin.

I'm watching the premiminary session right now. They just finished up the Mens 400IM. Ryan Lochte is seeded first and Michael Phelps is second. They both looked very relaxed while they both swam 4:13's.

If anybody reads this soon hit the contact page and let me know if this session is on:

www.nbcolympics.com

They should have live video online.

Like clockwork, I've put myself on a great sleep schedule of 8.5 hours of sleep, I've been waking up rested without an alarm. This tells me that I'm getting enough sleep and don't need to interrupt my sleep with an alarm. I feel good, I'm headed to go get some breakfast now and then head to the pool right on schedule.

The meet packet they gave me listed a pre-scratch preliminary timeline. This is a list of event start times before anybody drops any events (scratches). This information is important for anybody who is planning on watching a preliminary heat online at www.nbcolympics.com since the preliminary heats won't be televised. There will be 11 heats of the Mens 100 Backstroke. The first heat will start at 12:26pm Central Standard Time. This is 1:26pm EST.

I'm attending the coaches meeting. The presenter is going over the philosophy of the event, lessons learned from test event, athlete services, coach services, access control, sport presentation and special effects.

Mark Schubert (National Team Head Coach) noteworthy quotes:

"I welcome you to the greatest swimming event in american history."

"Every athlete here is so very successful."

"18% of the athletes swam best times in long beach (2004 trials). This year we will crush that statistic."

I had a chance to try on my LZR suit and did another 500 meters. The suit is definitely tight. They told me I should be wearing a "Small Long" style full body suit, but I chose a "Small" due to the fact I thought the small long was channeling water down my chest area. These suits are very difficult to put on.

I just dove in the competition pool for warmup. I began with a 100 free like I always do then flipped and began swimming backstroke. A few seconds later I notice I'm swimming under the 30 foot banner under the video screens of the Olympic Rings. It gave me chills and I got a big smile on my face. I'm really here. Its really happening.

The pool is good, its just the slightest bit cold, great for fast swimming. The info sheet says its 80 degrees. The warmup lanes move fairly quickly as swimmers alternate burst speed and slow swimming. There isn't a non-physically fit body on deck.

All is well, I showed up at the qwest center right on time, took a look at the pool, and headed over to the speedo booth to check on the status of an LZR race suit (the one in the news). After some contunued confusion about not having a coach or team, they worked with me and gave me a suit. I haven't tried it on yet, I'll do it after I warm up. The pool deck of the competition pool is full of swimmers and coaches, there is a good mix of music playing at a low volume. I see lots of smiles and handshakes between swimmers and coaches.