Been huge fan of Lionel and watching him the past few years. I still think however, that a Kona title is out of his grasp. Top 10 maybe if he executes all 140.6 miles well, I do not see a top 5 performance this year. At least not until he can demonstrate he can swim with Kienle in Kona.
One thing is that I do not get his justification of doing Kona because he swam with Kienle in June. I get he swam well then, but Samorin and Kona are apples and oranges IMO.
He still has yet to prove he can...
Swim well in an ocean
Swim well in a championship race with a deep field at the IM distance
Swim well in 80+ degree water
Swim well without a wetsuit
Swimming with Kienle in a small championship field at the 70.3 distance in a very calm (canal?) swim in a wetsuit i far different from swimming in the Kailua Bay.
I still see him coming into T1 behind Kienle and having to play "catch-up" all day in Kona, a dangerous game to play.
I do hope he can prove me incorrect, I love the guy and how he goes about everything. Here is to eating my words in 2 weeks.
One thing is that I do not get his justification of doing Kona because he swam with Kienle in June. I get he swam well then, but Samorin and Kona are apples and oranges IMO.
He still has yet to prove he can...
Swim well in an ocean
Swim well in a championship race with a deep field at the IM distance
Swim well in 80+ degree water
Swim well without a wetsuit
Swimming with Kienle in a small championship field at the 70.3 distance in a very calm (canal?) swim in a wetsuit i far different from swimming in the Kailua Bay.
I still see him coming into T1 behind Kienle and having to play "catch-up" all day in Kona, a dangerous game to play.
I do hope he can prove me incorrect, I love the guy and how he goes about everything. Here is to eating my words in 2 weeks.