To get different angles I jumped into the water almost every day to change positions and lenses. I spent almost 8 hours over the last two weeks in the Olympic pool doing 25 dives to adjust, replace or rescue the remote controlled underwater camera. This was definitely longer in the Olympic pool than stars like Michael Phelps from the U.S. spent. To get this special perspective from below, we brought 6 Peli Cases containing some 200 kg (440 pounds) of equipment including 150 meters (yards) of power and network cables to the Aquatics Centre to place the underwater camera in the water.  Often, I discovered that it is possible to sweat underwater. Those with diving knowledge know that 20 minutes for a dive, including getting into full scuba gear, getting into the pool and getting on your back under the water, is a very short amount of time. This would have been impossible without the friendly help of Simon and his dive crew.  READ ON: Underwater Olympics by Reuters photog Michael Dalder
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To get different angles I jumped into the water almost every day to change positions and lenses. I spent almost 8 hours over the last two weeks in the Olympic pool doing 25 dives to adjust, replace or rescue the remote controlled underwater camera. This was definitely longer in the Olympic pool than stars like Michael Phelps from the U.S. spent.

To get this special perspective from below, we brought 6 Peli Cases containing some 200 kg (440 pounds) of equipment including 150 meters (yards) of power and network cables to the Aquatics Centre to place the underwater camera in the water. 

Often, I discovered that it is possible to sweat underwater. Those with diving knowledge know that 20 minutes for a dive, including getting into full scuba gear, getting into the pool and getting on your back under the water, is a very short amount of time. This would have been impossible without the friendly help of Simon and his dive crew. 

Eighteen gold medals for Michael Phelps after winning his final-ever Olympic race. PHOTO: Michael Phelps, Matthew Grevers (L) and Brendan Hansen (R) of the U.S. celebrate after team mate Nathan Adrian swam to win the gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 4, 2012. REUTERS/Jorge Silva  FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games
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Eighteen gold medals for Michael Phelps after winning his final-ever Olympic race.

PHOTO: Michael Phelps, Matthew Grevers (L) and Brendan Hansen (R) of the U.S. celebrate after team mate Nathan Adrian swam to win the gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 4, 2012. REUTERS/Jorge Silva 

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games

MEDAL ALERT: Team USA wins gold medal in men’s 4x100 medley relay in Olympic swimming. Michael Phelps takes home 18th and final gold medal.

China’s Sun Yang smashed his own world record to win the men’s 1500 metres freestyle on Saturday and complete the long-distance double at the London Olympics. Sun followed up his win in the 400 freestyle on the opening day of competition to win the gruelling 30-lap race in a time of 14 minutes 31.02 seconds, slashing more than three seconds off the previous world record of 14:34.14 he set at last year’s world championship in Shanghai. Canada’s Ryan Cochrane took the silver medal in 14:39.63 while Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli, the Beijing Olympic champion, collected the bronze in 14:40.31. South Korea’s Park Tae-hwan, silver medallist in the 400, came fourth as the first seven finishers all broke the magical 15-minute barrier There was high drama before the start when Sun lost his balance and tumbled into the water after an official aborted the start when someone in the crowd yelled out. READ ON: Sun wins 1500m final in Olympic swimming
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China’s Sun Yang smashed his own world record to win the men’s 1500 metres freestyle on Saturday and complete the long-distance double at the London Olympics.

Sun followed up his win in the 400 freestyle on the opening day of competition to win the gruelling 30-lap race in a time of 14 minutes 31.02 seconds, slashing more than three seconds off the previous world record of 14:34.14 he set at last year’s world championship in Shanghai.

Canada’s Ryan Cochrane took the silver medal in 14:39.63 while Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli, the Beijing Olympic champion, collected the bronze in 14:40.31.

South Korea’s Park Tae-hwan, silver medallist in the 400, came fourth as the first seven finishers all broke the magical 15-minute barrier

There was high drama before the start when Sun lost his balance and tumbled into the water after an official aborted the start when someone in the crowd yelled out.

READ ON: Sun wins 1500m final in Olympic swimming

France’s Florent Manaudou celebrates winning gold in the men’s 50m freestyle final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 3, 2012. [REUTERS/Toby Melville] FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games
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France’s Florent Manaudou celebrates winning gold in the men’s 50m freestyle final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 3, 2012. [REUTERS/Toby Melville]

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games

Winner Michael Phelps of the U.S. celebrates after the men’s 100m butterfly final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 3, 2012. [REUTERS/Gary Hershorn] Phelps’ win in his last-ever individual race put him at 21 Olympic medals for his career. FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games
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Winner Michael Phelps of the U.S. celebrates after the men’s 100m butterfly final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 3, 2012. [REUTERS/Gary Hershorn]

Phelps’ win in his last-ever individual race put him at 21 Olympic medals for his career.

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games

Michael Phelps of the U.S. smiles after winning the men’s 200m individual medley final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 2, 2012. [REUTERS/Toby Melville] FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games
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Michael Phelps of the U.S. smiles after winning the men’s 200m individual medley final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre August 2, 2012. [REUTERS/Toby Melville]

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games

MEDAL ALERT: Michael Phelps wins gold medal for men’s 200m individual medley in Olympic swimming.

Phelps becomes the first male swimmer to win the same event at three successive Olympic games. This is his 20th Olympic medal. Full coverage here

U.S. President Barack Obama is proving to be a swimming fan.

Less than a day after sending out a rare personal tweet to congratulate the most decorated Olympic athlete ever, Obama called Michael Phelps on the pool deck to hail his performance.

Phelps, still reeling from the previous day’s tweet, described the call as “pretty cool”.

“I answered the phone and the voice said ‘Michael?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Please hold for the President of the United States,” he told reporters on Thursday, after qualifying for the 100 metres butterfly semi-final.

“I was like, ‘wow’.”

READ ON: President Obama calls Michael Phelps before Thursday’s race

Nathan Adrian of the U.S. reacts after winning his men’s 100m freestyle semi-final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre July 31, 2012. [REUTERS/Toby Melville] FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games
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Nathan Adrian of the U.S. reacts after winning his men’s 100m freestyle semi-final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre July 31, 2012. [REUTERS/Toby Melville]

FULL COVERAGE: The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games