Swimming

Now that he’s away from the pool, Michael Phelps can reflect — really reflect — on what he accomplished.

Pretty amazing stuff.

Riverdale’s ordinance governing placement of swimming pools, spas and hot tubs is now less restrictive.

City staff reviewed similar ordinances from other Utah cities and found that Riverdale’s was “excessive as far as where a pool could be located on a residential lot,” according to an executive summary prepared by Randy Daily, community development director.

A recent inquiry from a resident led city staff to review the ordinance, which required pools to be 35 feet from the property line.

WILLARD — A Utah woman who successfully completed her swim of the English Channel did so to prove to her former high school swim team coaches that there is more to the sport than speed.

“On Sept. 3, 2012, I swam 23 to 26 miles across the English Channel,” said Willard resident Joelle Beard, a recreational swim team instructor.

But Beard, a Utah State University student, didn’t do it without first receiving a few “helpful” pointers from Gordon Gridley, of Syracuse, who accomplished the same swim over the summer.

KEY WEST, Fla. — Diana Nyad ended her fourth attempt in nearly 35 years to swim across the Straits of Florida on Tuesday, her dream of setting a record thwarted by storms, jellyfish stings, shark threats, hypothermia and swollen lips.

HAVANA — Will she finally do it?

Endurance athlete Diana Nyad launched another bid Saturday to set an open-water record by swimming 103 miles (166 kilometers) from Havana to the Florida Keys without a protective shark cage.

LONDON — Missy Franklin stared out on the horde of reporters, suddenly sounding very much like a high school senior-to-be. “I don’t like being up here alone,” she said nervously.

Then, just like that, she turned on a big smile and worked the room like a pro.

Thanks to this Colorado teenager, America’s swim hopes are back on track at the Olympics.