The fall has been busier than usual. It's the pre-Olympic period and the focus is on the big prize next August. But first you have to get there. Take the Canadian Open Water Trials, held in Fort Meyers, Florida, on 21 October. You had to finish among the top two in order to swim at next year's FINA World Championships, which in turn will be the way to get to the Olympics. Jesse Jacks explains it all on page 24.

Swimmers are facing Canadian Olympic Trials in early April, where event winners will gain automatic selection, a welcome selection criteria. Competitions around the world are mostly short course in this fall period, but there have been very fast long-course meets, most notably the Dutch Open in Eindhoven in early December, with some of the top Canadians taking part. Brent Hayden beat Pieter van den Hoogenband (who was in his home pool) in the 100 freestyle 48.67 to 48.78. Hayden also won the 50 free in 22.23. VDH won the 200 free in 1:46.46, with Hayden third. Annamay Pierse lowered her 200 breaststroke record to 2:25.22 for the third time this year.

Earlier, at the Bell Grand Prix in late November, the prelims were short course while the finals were over 50 m. Katharine Dunn came to report on this competition. She is originally from Halifax, but now lives in Boston, where she got her journalism degree.

There are major developments in the sordid doping scene. In September, the biggest-ever drug bust took place in the USA with almost all the drugs coming from China. Nikki Dryden writes about this. Craig Lord writes on how drug testing hasn't worked and explores alternatives. Later in this issue, he writes on the 10-year anniversary of the downfall of triple Olympic winner Michelle Smith de Bruin.

Justin Finney is back with a feature on Audrey Lacroix's turnaround after missing the 2004 Olympics; she is now a leading contender in the 200 butterfly. He also writes on Alain Lefebvre, FNQ Technical Director, and his approach to improving swimming in his province. Justin also explains how Harold Cliff, former CEO of Swimming/Natation Canada, has become the most sought-after Meet Director for world-level competition, having run the Montreal 2005 and Melbourne 2007 World Championships, and now in charge of the USA Olympic Trials in Omaha next summer.

There are other profiles on Darryl Rudolf (Jesse Jacks), Ryan Cochrane (Adam Sioui), and Rebecca Soni (Russ Ewald).

Jozsef Nagy writes about 'What's Next in Breaststroke?' Who better the tackle this topic! Men's breaststroke is lagging the general surge across all other events, so it's probably overdue for its own surge. Annamay Pierse and Scott Dickens have benefitted from his coaching in 2007.

Cecil Colwin writes on stroke analysis and how to interpret what we see, with spectacular underwater pictures of Michael Phelps by Zurich-based Patrick B. Kraemer.

We mourn the passing of Gwen Smith at age 82 in mid-November in Edmonton. Mother of the swimming Smiths, she had a most accomplished life of service. Her obituary is on page 46, and thanks to Jamie Hood from Swim Alberta for help with this.

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