Peter Vanderkaay Online

so you all know i got back two days ago, but ... it's taken me this long to upload, resize and rotate all of my pics. it kinda sucks, cuz they're crappy quality. i think a good digital camera is going to be on my christmas list this year. and believe me, it's going to be a quality enough one that there won't be much else on the list. haha. okay, so here's the scoop on the trip to ann arbor. we were part of a 50-something crowd, and no, i'm not talking about middle-aged. i'm talking numbers, period. it was amazing to see the lack of respect that swimming, olympic-level swimming at that, gets on a day-to-day basis ... in a non-olympic year. i mean, come on! this the the defending national championship team! with world record-holders/olympians on the deck. they're the top of their field. what is wrong with this picture? well, anyway ... we groused about this fact throughout the night and on into the next morning. it's not bound to stop any time soon.

when we walked in to the nat, nothing but a pane of glass separated us from an unaware michael phelps, who was in the warm-up/cool-down pool a mere five feet away. i knew from pics that canham nat was smaller than IUPUI's, but i had no idea that there was only one set of bleachers (one level, one side) that were highly visible to the whole UM team. meaning, when we sat down, there was PETER. he was on deck, readying for the 200y IM.

he won by a mile, i might add ...

then later came peter's swim of the 100y free ...

which he won again, quite handily ...

then michael and klete squared off in the 500y free ... klete won!.

the 800y free relay topped off the night ...

it featured all three seniors/roommates/tri-captains (davis tarwater, chris dejong, peter and another guy, also a senior -- jorge something? dunno) ...

lots of action after the meet for a mass cool-down session ...

overall, the meet was highly worth the 2 1/2 hour trip ... there was no charge for parking or admission ... we drove by the vanderhouse ... and we got lots of fun pics. i suggest if you are anywhere in the near vicinity to where a meet is being held that you go!!

if you have any questions, please ask! i would love to share any juicy details i might have but have inadvertedly omitted.

p.s. i did mention that i would be trying to get video footage, but with all the UM swimmers' eyes being less than 25m away ... i couldn't bring myself to be quite that fangirl-ish. i am disappointed that i couldn't bring back more goodies for you ... maybe next time i'll get the nerve and/or care less about my dignity. hope the pics will do.

one more thing ... please don't take the pics. they're technically shared w/my friend, so please don't use them elsewhere, okay? if you have a specific use for any of them, please contact me at vanderkaay_love[at]hotmail.com. i'd appreciate it.

i have more pics that i'll be posting soon ... i just wanted to get the highlights of the evening out there for you all!

lala has updated her personal galleries (no copyright infringement, folks!) and has very generously granted me permission to post her pics. please go show her some love, okay??

ooohhh. somebody make me a siggy, quick! hehe.

i LOVE this sequence of pics ...

yeah, that's him on the right. :)

oh, yum.

i love you, lala.

i love you, petah.

mikey, you're pretty cool, too. but you know ... there are so many other places you get the love. it's peter's turn.

oh lord, please tell me the fug isn't contagious.

hehe. yes, i'm immature.

but petey is apparently not.

it's PART of why we love him.

Suz uploaded a batch of photos from the 800 free relay at Worlds.

this is a personal fave. hehe.

also, someone asked for the webshots photos i found awhile ago. i guess i never posted them cuz they weren't mine or sent to me. i have decided that if people do not want their photos looked at, they probably wouldn't have them on webshots. haha. i personally do not mind at all if people look at my pics, as long as they credit me for taking them. i guess i'll operate on that principle here, too. please, if you are the owner of these pics and would rather they not be posted elsewhere, just let me know. thanks!!

a little hathead maybe?

cutey. with sunburned cheeks.

whoa, shiny shoes.

those four are compliments of Moylinksy.

this one's a personal fave. compliments of coolwhip323.

thanks, greenescape.

at least it's not a striped or checkered speedo. (on aaron. hehe.)

love the lurking petey.

one of my all-time faves, i think. in the shadows, waiting for the big moment.

oooh. who ya growlin' at, peter? maybe it's cuz they didn't give him enough time to even put his jersey on. he kinda sticks out. not that that's a bad thing. heh.

those were all taked by lala from deckchange.com. she is a rockstar.

hope you all enjoyed them!!

Suz just added some worlds photos from peter's 800m free prelim. a sample from her site, swimstars.org:

haha. and this isn't a new one, but as i was uploading some stuff to my photobucket, my eyes were drawn to it. i just couldn't resist sharing it again. i hope you don't mind the repost.

yay!! peter gets some recognition at The Michigan Daily. here's a Q&A that was posted there.

Peter Vanderkaay won a gold medal in the 800-meter relay at the FINA World Swimming Championships in July. (File Photo)

The 2005 FINA World Swimming Championships this summer in Montreal (July 16-31) set the stage for international recognition of Ann Arbor as the new swimming capital of the United States. Under the direction of Michigan coach Bob Bowman, five swimmers — ­current Wolverines Peter Vanderkaay and Davis Tarwater along with Club Wolverine swimmers Kleet Keller, Chris Thomson and eight-time Olympic medal winner Michael Phelps — proved to the world swimming community that something’s in the water at Michigan. The Michigan Daily talked with Vanderkaay about the World Championships.

The Michigan Daily: How would you describe your experience in Montreal? Were you happy with your races?Peter Vanderkaay: I was happy with the way the meet went. There were a lot of exciting swims. I had good races and broke school records in both of my events (200- and 400-meter freestyle), so I was happy with how the meet ended up.

TMD: What was it like being able to compete with the same 800-meter relay team (Vanderkaay, Phelps, Keller and Ryan Lochte) that won the gold medal in last summer’s Olympics in Athens (Greece)?PV: It was cool to be able to put the team back together again. Being able to swim with those guys is a lot of fun, and it made it feel like we were back in Athens again.

TMD: Did your relay team plan on going for the American record? What was your reaction when you guys broke the record?PV: We actually thought that we had a chance to break the world record (7:04.66). I guess the American record was our backup plan if we didn’t reach our goal. We were a little off the record (1.92 seconds), but breaking the American record was still pretty great. We were the favorites in the race, so we weren’t too surprised at winning it.

TMD: What is the M.O. that is attached with competing in the World Championships, and how could you compare it to the Olympic level?PV: The World Championships are the same as the Olympics, only they happen in the off years between Olympics. The meet draws out the best swimmers in the world. This year, there were a couple of top swimmers who decided not to swim (Australian Ian Thorpe opted out this year), but that didn’t make too much of a difference in the competition.

TMD: Do you have a different racing mentality when you compete at the international level versus college or on the national scene?PV: I try and keep my strategy the same when I’m racing. I’ll swim races a little differently depending on who I’ll be swimming next to in the heat. I usually try and go out at the same pace with the competition next to me and then adjust accordingly. International races can be a little intimidating, but I just stick to my own swimming and own gameplan.

TMD: Was your training for this meet different than other meets since you weren’t in school and had more time?PV: I did a lot more long-course training and increased my dry-land workouts for this meet. With more time to deal with in the summer, it’s easier to get more focused for the meets ahead of time.

TMD: Who were you most looking forward to competing against in Montreal?PV: There wasn’t a particular swimmer that I wanted to swim against. I was just happy to swim for the United States and get caught up in the competition and excitement of the meet.

TMD: After breaking out in the fastest 100 meters in your heat of the 400-meter freestyle, could you walk me through your race strategy for your swim? PV: I tried to go out faster than normal in my first 100 meters. I tried not to make it feel too hard, but it may have been a little too much because I faded a bit over the next 200 meters. I could see some of the other guys inching up on me, and I tried to hold them off. I ended up sixth in the race after being seeded fifth in the preliminaries, but I swam a lifetime best time, so I was pleased with the race overall.

TMD: After Phelps surprisingly failed to make the finals in the 400-meter freestyle race, did he talk to you about what happened? PV: (Michael) said he didn’t feel good in the race and that he felt really tired on the end leg of the swim. The race didn’t get him down though, and he was ready for the other events he had coming up. The 400 was the one race he didn’t train for.

TMD: With five Wolverines competing and coach Bowman as one of the coaches at the World Championships, how do you feel about Ann Arbor being named the up-and-coming swimming capital of the nation?PV: I think it’s great that Ann Arbor has become the central leader in developing the top swimmers in the nation and world. It’s a huge opportunity for me to be here and be a part of the growth of the program. I also think it’s great because we’re doing it under the Michigan name.

much thanks to swimgrl522 for the pic! it's not a lot, but it's vanderbeautiful. i've been dying to update here, but there sadly hasn't been much vandernews.

Suz posted an article on Peter's appearance at a fundraiser for a diabetes camp this weekend over at her site. These comments were posted there, and they were quite complimentary toward our beloved Peter.

Posted by Shelby Hillier @ Aug 16 2005 10:41 am My family and I are very thankful to Peter and his family for attending this event. My 8 year old daughter, Carleigh swam the 2.25 mile race and Peter was there at the finish line to greet her & told her she did a great job!...she's still talking about the whole experience...she definately grew that day both as an athlete and a person. So thank you to Peter & his family, you made that day extra special for us and we will never forget it.

thank you, yelak!! :)

she is the proud owner of an autographed pic of peter and the 800 free relay from athens ... which she so kindly scanned for us to enjoy!

she also had the great foresight to scan the return address where peter wrote his own name (he addressed it personally ... how sweet!).

aww. now we're all crushing on peter's handwriting. i'm sure he'd be delighted to know.

i may have to resort to writing my first ever fan letter just so i can get one of my own ... :)

thanks again, yelak! you are a rock star ...

totally rediscovered this video link the other day. it's a clip of peter and his brothers driving by in a convertible during his homecoming parade in Rochester ... after the olympics.

don't know who the guy who made the video is or what his connection would be to peter or the vanderkaays ... he just mentions that he was told by his boss that peter was coming by in the parade. he seems to have a connection the rochester marching band, too. it you go to his site, make sure you download the correct video. he has them misnamed ... so the marching band video is the one you want, not the one that says it's just peter. it's a supreme vanderdisappointment to waste time downloading the wrong one! :)

here's the link. enjoy!!

so here are some additional photos (mostly from last week that i was just too lazy to upload ...). i'm also too lazy to scroll down and see if i've already posted some of them! hope you don't mind the double posting, if that's the case. :)

::gasps:: are those ... normal colored goggles?? or is it just the glare from the sun making them look different? :P

haha ... hi kletus. would you move a little to stage left, please??

unwatermarked versions of two i know i already posted ... for signature creating/viewing pleasure. btw, if anyone would like to donate one/create one for me, i would love you forever. i can never seem to find the time to make one for myself. i'm such a slacker ...

the vanderlurker ... the headphones are so vandersexy. haha. one day i'm going to come back and edit these posts. enjoy the snark while you can, ladies. :)

from olympic trials, i believe ... from peter bick's personal collection. visit his site!! he's got some beautiful shots of brendan hansen, in particular.

i think that's all for now ... i may find more later. i really should get organized with my vanderphoto collection. geesh.

petey giving ben michaelson a hand after pulling out a win in the 400m free relay ... go CW. you guys rocked the meet!!

i was going to reserve this topic of discussion for a post of its own but i didn't want to be too ridiculously obsessive about it.

yeah right.

sooo ... the voice. did everyone see the interview (after his 200m free upset win over hackett at the duel)? i sure hope so. no one should be deprived of the vanderhott. okay, so i'm thinking the board insanity is spilling over into my posts here. i should stop. but really. if you didn't see it, go find it online. i'm hoping someone (Suz?) was astute enough to catch it and upload it. it is so worth your time. feel free to discuss each and every nuance once you do ... i'll be waiting. where are you, jenn? :)

Peter led off Club Wolverine's A team with a 1:48 something or other ... then went in michael, then klete. chris dejong anchored, and the guys won easily.

pics from getty:

pretty boys ...

i am definitely digging the new caps ...

and don't forget to watch NBC's coverage of the Duel tomorrow at 4 EST, and sunday at 12:30 EST. or so i've been told it's so hard to know with the time zone craziness. i'm no good at it.

peter will be wrapping up a long road trip soon ... maybe he'll be back on the vandercam!! here's to hoping it's still up ... :)

go check out Suz's site for pics from peter's award ceremony wednesday! peter's not on the start list for the 200m free, so apparently he's not swimming that today. hopefully we'll see him tomorrow in the 400!!

personal fave:

i wonder if he's wearing U of M boxers. those boys are so school-spirited. :)

i found this humorous ... as i usually do with anything klete-associated. :)

from an article on Kletus' 800m free win over Peter at nationals:

 Like some of the women, Keller and Vanderkaay were coming off the world meet. Keller anchored the 800 free relay to a gold medal in his only race there; Vanderkaay was part of the team, too.

"I sat in the stands all week and perfected my Canadian accent," Keller joked.

Keller, of Phoenix, and Vanderkaay, of Rochester, Mich., train together with Phelps at the University of Michigan.

"I can't let Peter beat me," said Keller, whose winning time was a personal best. "When there's a big meet, I like to swim a fast time. I didn't want to disappoint my grandma, who sat in the sun all day, and my girlfriend who came from Michigan."

Suz has put up some pics on her peter site from his 800m free swim at nationals. he got 2nd place!!

sneak peek:

quite a spiffy new cap ... and what's this? non-fluorescent goggles?

a peter mention in an SI article on the Duel:

 Aussie Grant Hackett won the 400 freestyle in 3:45.31, but he was upset in the 200 free by American Peter Vanderkaay.

"My body felt extremely tired,'' Hackett said. "I've got five or six gears in me, but I was crunching to get into second without a clutch. It was a tough day.''

Hackett breathed on his right side in Lane 4, so he didn't see Vanderkaay over in Lane 1.

"I didn't have a clue he was there. I actually got a shock when I turned around and saw,'' Hackett said. "I didn't even realize he was so far ahead.''

and a non-watermarked photo from Worlds:

again, couldn't be prouder of what peter has done this past week in the pool!!

wow. wow wow wow. i feel like a gushing parent. peter did such a fantastic job tonight swimming for Team USA against Australia in irvine.

he placed 2nd behind the one and only grant hackett in the 400m free, and won the 200m free over grant and kletus.

i. am. so. proud!!!

i know this isn't an olympics or worlds even ... but he just did such a stellar job of representing his country, as always, and putting in the hard work in the pool.

a token pic from getty, in which peter has his very own caption:

for the complete results, check out omega's site. and don't forget, the duel will be televised on NBC this saturday and sunday. check your local listings for times ... around here, it's 1 p.m. on saturday and 11:30 p.m. on sunday.

while i was off on my frenzied search for the classic thorpey/hackey duck impersonation pic ... i visited an old favorite site, grant hackett online ... and found some treasures!!!

hot off the presses ... the 400m free heat and finals, (right click, save target as ...) featuring one mr. peter vanderkaay. the vanderhott will not be denied ...

words are not enough to express my gratitude to grant hackett online ... please go show that site some love, people!!

MONTREAL, Quebec -- University of Michigan senior Peter Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich./Adams HS) captured his second gold medal in international competition as a member of the winning 800-meter freestyle relay at the 2005 FINA World Championships on Friday (July 29). Vanderkaay teamed with U-M volunteer assistant coach Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine member Klete Keller and Ryan Lochte, the same squad from the 2004 Olympics, to repeat their gold-medal performance from the 2004 games, posting an American-record time of 7:06.58.

Phelps got the Americans off to nearly a two second lead with an opening split of 1:45.51. Lochte maintained the two second advantage for Vanderkaay, who posted a split of 1:46.52 to add half a second to the U.S.'s lead. Keller finished off the race with a time of 1:46.33 over the final 200 meters.

Peter was just off Klete's time! i didn't notice that before ...