Lest we forget before we bid farewell to 2007, SwimNews recalls some of the highs and lows of the past 12 months:

THE HIGHS

Outstanding performance of the Year: Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman
Poignant Passing of a Moment: Spitz Rises
Another Legend Remembered: Dawn Fraser
Male Swimmer of the Year: Michael Phelps (USA)
Female Swimmer of the Year: Laure Manaudou
Closest shave for top male honour: Ryan Lochte
Closest shave for top female honour: Libby Lenton
Performance Director of the Year: Alan Thompson (AUS), who held the faith as his men went down to England in 2006 and was proved right by the good work of his coaches and male swimmers as they restored their pride with a set of fine efforts in 2007 that promise much for 2008 and beyond
Coach of the Year: Ray Benecki
Sage of the Year: Mark Schubert, who set the tone for one of the great team performances in swimming history
Team Performance of the Year: USA, Melbourne 2007.
Passing of a Monument Award: Tracey Wickham's 400m freestyle standard when coached by Bill Sweetenham in1978, first as a world-championship record, then as an Australian record that Wickham welcomed
Male s/c Swim(s) of the Year: Laszlo Cseh
Female s/c swim(s) of the Year: Kate Ziegler
World Records of the Year: Kate Ziegler, 1,500m freestyle; and Michael Phelps, 200m butterfly.
Nation On A Roll Honour: France
Braveheart of the Year: Grant Hackett
Breakthrough of the Year: Stefan Nystrand

And THE LOWS:

Scandal of the Year: Rebeca  Gusmão
Most poorly treated coach: Philippe Lucas
Saga of the Year: Laure Manaudou (too many links can spoil a most welcome Yuletide break...)
Disgrace of the Year: the handling of the Ian Thorpe case , which ended with the retired Olympic champion being exonerated but feeling as though his reputation would never be fully restored
and, among those we said farewell to: Maria Lenk, Tex Robertson, Michiko Kihara, and Hannah Wickham.
And a big thumbs down to all those who failed doping tests and those who know they should have failed doping tests but didn't.

And AU REVOIR TO:

Brooke Hanson, whose smile of success lit up the 2004 world s/c champs like a Christmas tree.

And NOT TO FORGET:

The many folk at FINA and beyond, the hidden heroes, the backroom boys and girls who give of their time to make the aquatic world flow. Special mention goes to Nick Thierry, publisher of SwimNews, and to the International Swimming Hall of Fame, who have done more to keep your lore and history alive than just about anyone else you would care to mention.

And with that, as Olympic year dawns, SwimNews wishes everyone a very happy, healthy and, for those in their element, successful and speedy 2008.