U.S. swimming's bid for Olympic gold with 'Call Me Maybe' video

July 27, 2012|By Lisa Dillman

<p>LONDON---Frankly, they looked like they were ready for a star turn on "Glee."</p><p>USA Swimming attempted to go where many teams have gone before, offering up a video clip, lip-syncing and dancing to the pop song "Call Me Maybe." Even a sunglasses-wearing Michael Phelps was pulled into the fray, briefly, bobbing his head in rhythm on an airplane.</p></div></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-ctr-lt-in-top" class="mod-latarticlesadcpc mod-adcpc with-fourth-cpc"><script type="text/javascript"> var adSkipCounter = 0; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "video clip technical editor baseball team";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,8321278795,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; google_image_size="300x250"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="2"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "medium_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=32893166&cat=arts+%26+entertainment&pe_id=32893166&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=6138855783&rnccn=CMI-A-009&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=ctr-lt-in-top", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletextwithadcpc mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext"><p>As it often happens, the vision was a collaborative effort between the likes of swimmer Kathleen Hersey and her Olympic teammates Caitlin Leverenz and Alyssa Anderson. Hersey posted a link to the clip on her Twitter account on Thursday and by late in the afternoon on Friday, the video had 300,000-plus views.</p><p>USA Swimming staffer Mark Russell was the technical "editor" on the project and gamely noted on his Twitter account, "I've listened to Call Me Maybe 6352831 times in the last 2 days. on purpose. and NOT tired of it!!"</p><p>Of course, there are other formidable challenges for Hersey and company. Harvard's baseball team did its own "Call Me Maybe" video in May and is close to getting 15 million views.</p><p>The burning question: Swimmers or baseball players. Who submitted the better video?</p><p>Anyhow, can't wait for the inevitable sequel: "Behind the Music."</p><p><strong>ALSO:</strong></p><p><a href="http://graphics.latimes.com/storyboard-london-olympics-key-moments-watch/">Your Olympics guide, from A-Z</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-sp-on-will-queen-light-torch-20120727,0,6566042.story">Will the Queen light the London Olympics torch?</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-sp-on-womens-soccer-opening-ceremony-20120727,0,5209050.story">U.S. women's soccer team plans satellite opening ceremony</a></p></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para-ad-cpc" class="mod-adcpc"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "video clip technical editor baseball team";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,9488961041,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; 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