Gazing through the haze

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BEIJING -- The full impact of this Olympic experience didn’t truly dawn on newly minted Olympian Christine Magnuson of Tinley Park, Ill., until she walked into the Water Cube on Monday for swim practice.

Not that she could see everything.

‘It was a little hazy yesterday, we could barely see a [starting] block,’ said Magnuson on Tuesday.

Not good on many levels, starting with health. Especially for someone who has had problems with allergies and breathing in the past. But so far, so good, Magnuson said.

Just a real retro feeling all around on Monday, a little bit of old-style Los Angeles air for two people who have spent a lot of time in Los Angeles -- USA Swimming’s Mark Schubert and Dara Torres, the five-time Olympian who grew up in Beverly Hills.

‘I walked in with Dara and she’s looking up here and she’s going, ‘That can’t be what I think it is?’’ Schubert said. ‘I go, ‘Nah, it’s not.’ But we were real happy to see clear skies today. It’s pretty spectacular.’

Specacular indeed when we’re talking about clear skies indoors.

The Australians tried to get an explanation for the haze on Monday, but Alan Thompson, Swimming Australia’s head coach, said none was forthcoming. But it was better for the Australians on Tuesday, too.

Could a bad air day indoors impact performance?

‘I grew up in L.A. and it’s certainly not any worse in L.A. than in the ‘70s, and we used to perform real well,’ Schubert said. ‘I think the effect will be minimal.’

-- Lisa Dillman