A beard figured prominently in what German media are calling the country’s “debacle” so far in swimming. No German has come close to winning a medal, with even medal possibles failing to advance to the finals.

Under a lot of criticism is backstroker Helge Meeuw, who failed to even make the finals of the 100 meters despite his high world ranking. Meeuw has been criticized for not shaving his beard, in a sport where lack of hair has been shown to improve times. On NBC’s broadcast, analyst Rowdy Gaines ripped Meeuw before, during and after the race for not shaving the beard, questioning why he would not do everything possible to gain an edge in a sport where medals are decided by hundredths of a second. I wonder the same thing.

Boosted by gold medals today in shooting, judo, weightlifting and synchronised diving, China drew even with the US in the overall medal count. After two days of competition both China (6-2-0) and the US (2-2-4) have won 8 medals.

Michael Phelps won his first gold medal in his first Olympics race, blowing away the field in the 400 IM and setting a world record in the process.

Watching underwater video, it appears as if Phelps is half-fish the way his legs act like flippers. He is stunning to watch in the water and his goal of eight golds seems well within reach.

Swimming is underway at the Water Cube, and something is missing. On the starting blocks for Larsen Jensen’s 400m freestyle heat there wasn’t a square foot of visible flesh between the eight athletes. This is unacceptable. In the name of advanced technology and faster times swimmers are dawning full body outfits that would have the ancient Greeks rolling in their graves. (Mercifully, the divers are sticking to tradition - toned bodies in tiny trousers. The genius lies in the simplicity.)

Lochte is a threat to Michael Phelps’ quest for eight gold medals when they race in the 400 IM later tonight. Lochte, 24, and Phelps are good friends, but not in the pool. Lochte, 6-2 and 185 pounds, sounds like a surfer and has a laid-back vibe.

In this photo courtesy of the USOC and NBC, take a look at Lochte’s green Polo boxers that peek out over his pants (full photo after jump).

For the Olympic swimmers at least the choice is crystal clear: shave!

Michael Phelps will no longer display his Fu Manchu style when he does the first for-real dive into the Water Cube pool today.

Excess body hair, in any part of the body, would make the decisive difference, were it just a tiny fraction of a second. That’s exactly what counts - especially if you happen to belong to the crème de la crème of swimming.

How dare NBC’s Olympics site encroach on Outsports’ turf! The site today has a cool feature where you have to guess which male swimmer has which abs. Wish I had thought of it myself. After a few seconds, the closeup dissolves to show the swimmer and his name. One more reason to watch swimming and one more reason to HATE the full-body swimsuit. Play “Guess the Abs”.

Hat tip to Juliet Pyles.

Swimmer Mark Foster, 38, will carry the flag for Britain at the Opening Ceremony in Beijing. Yep, he is 38 (with an amazing body you can see in more detail after the jump) and swims in the 50-meter freestyle.

While half-listening to Brian Williams read the news on NBC last night, I perked up when the chatter turned to the Olympics. I was well rewarded.

The piece about the games made mention of Michael Phelps arriving in Beijing and attempting to quietly make his way to the Water Cube for practice. Phelps was sporting a not-so-cute new mustache (what is it with pro jocks and their outdated facial hair?) and an oh-so-very-cute plaid swimsuit.

Ah, yes. Seventeen days of Olympic beauty.

Having recently started a new training regimen myself, I am more aware now of the intensity of focus required to achieve extraordinary results in sports, or simply fitness.  For those of you following yummy Michael Phelps’ journey through China’s Olympics this year, don’t miss this excellent article in the New York Times about him.  It paints a picture of a singularly focused individual.  But, as with many Olympians, the portrait eerily hints at what can also be the dangerous side of such commitment: isolation and the inevitable question of: “What do I do next?”

Dave Lohse, associate athletic communications director at the University of North Carolina and a longtime Outsports member, talks with us about working with Greg Louganis at the ‘88 Olympics, what he’s hearing from Beijing, what to watch for in Olympic swimming, and gay Olympians. Plus, he thinks that swimming is probably one of the most popular sports with Outsports readers; where in heavens name could he have ever gotten that idea?

See all of the Outsports podcasts, including this one.

French swimmer Alain Bernard, a medal favorite in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events. He has one of the best bodies I have ever seen on a swimmer (his competitors call him the “Horse.”) See why after the jump. Photo: