HCS
07-08-2005, 11:22 AM
This guy was actually cheating.
USA Water Ski officials have yet to disclose any possible sanctions against Dr. Jim Michaels, who appears to have used an illegal device to shorten the buoys on his home course for his slalom run June 24 during the qualifying round of the 2005 Malibu Open.
Divers discovered the rigged course after multiple athletes complained that the course widened before their eyes following Michaels' run. Michaels was the first competitor on the course for the men's slalom event.
Michaels admitted the existence of the moveable buoys, but has maintained that it was used solely for training purposes. He apologized to a gathering of skiers at a chapel service held the morning of the finals, but has said that a friend was responsible for moving the buoys, not himself.
This was to have been Michaels' first entry in a pro event, having posted exceptional results in Mens 4 competition skiing at 34 mph. This revelation brings into question the legitimacy of Michaels' Mens 4 records 2 at 43 off, Aug. 15, 2004; 1 at 43 off, Aug. 24, 2003; and 2 ½ at 41 off, July 20, 2002 all of which were set on his private lake.
The anticipation surrounding this year's Malibu Open had been heightened by Michaels' claims and the suspicion among some pro skiers regarding his self-reported personal bests. Regarding a slalom set he took in September 2004, Michaels said that at 36 mph, "With a tournament driver, with good times, I got 2 1/2 at 43 off. I actually thought I was going to run 43, which is probably why I screwed up. I surprised myself out of 2 and got out of the moment."
USA Water Ski officials have yet to disclose any possible sanctions against Dr. Jim Michaels, who appears to have used an illegal device to shorten the buoys on his home course for his slalom run June 24 during the qualifying round of the 2005 Malibu Open.
Divers discovered the rigged course after multiple athletes complained that the course widened before their eyes following Michaels' run. Michaels was the first competitor on the course for the men's slalom event.
Michaels admitted the existence of the moveable buoys, but has maintained that it was used solely for training purposes. He apologized to a gathering of skiers at a chapel service held the morning of the finals, but has said that a friend was responsible for moving the buoys, not himself.
This was to have been Michaels' first entry in a pro event, having posted exceptional results in Mens 4 competition skiing at 34 mph. This revelation brings into question the legitimacy of Michaels' Mens 4 records 2 at 43 off, Aug. 15, 2004; 1 at 43 off, Aug. 24, 2003; and 2 ½ at 41 off, July 20, 2002 all of which were set on his private lake.
The anticipation surrounding this year's Malibu Open had been heightened by Michaels' claims and the suspicion among some pro skiers regarding his self-reported personal bests. Regarding a slalom set he took in September 2004, Michaels said that at 36 mph, "With a tournament driver, with good times, I got 2 1/2 at 43 off. I actually thought I was going to run 43, which is probably why I screwed up. I surprised myself out of 2 and got out of the moment."