Although I was very impressed with Sabir the swimmer, I was not impressed with Sabir the person. What was up with him flexing his muscles before the 50 FLY? Is this the NFL/ NBA or is this master's swimming? I didn't appreciate the "hey everyone, look at me" attitude. Swim the race, shake hands with your competitors, and be thankful for the gift God has given you. Don't show up your competitor like a Pro Wrestler. I wonder how much muscle flexing Sabir will do before events at the olympic trials! I have much respect for him for his talent and swimming accomplishments. But after his display before the 50 Fly, I have little respect for him as the person.
Originally posted by Paul Smith
Connie: On a serious note it was nice to meet and put a face to the fastest typer on the web!
Same here Paul.
Very good to meet one of the fastest swimmers out there.
Originally posted by mattson
Originally posted by Paul Smith
Sorry, but I'm only a "pool predator"!
Sorry Paul, that makes you a "stairwell predator". You can upgrade to "pool", if you caught Connie in the diving well, like I did. ;) (Closest thing there, to a hot tub.)
Yes, and it was a very memorable meeting :)
Paul...
I went to CU and lived in Breckenridge, CO after I got out....You just traded one wild place for another wild place....I loved the Colorado Mtns...and the people that lived there....Boulder is one of my Top Ten places on earth...Go Bufs...
I have been meaning to post my opinion on the Race club appearance at Nationals, but it appears someone beat me to it. After reading the many opinions I can say I don't think there will be any long lasting effects on kids everywhere. However, I felt like their swimming at USMS nationals took something away from masters swimming. Masters is supposed to be about people who love to swim AND have lives too. People that swim USMS have jobs and families. These are guys who may swim at the Olympics in a couple of months and that is ALL THEY DO..IMO they had no buisness swimming competitively at USMS Nat. They were there for one reason.....to make money$$$$. Of course they were so sweet and nice and hamming it up. USMS is full of swimming junkies who will eat it up all the while throwing money at them. It's one thing to have some fun at meet, but about doing it with a little class.
They may have been there to make money, and they certainly were nice. So? I thought it was great that they recognized USMS as significant enough to warrant their attention. After all, we all love swimming, don't we? If you can make money on it, all the better. Judging from the response they received, I'd guess most swimmers were glad to have them there. Sorry you didn't see it that way.
I agree with you Sam.
As to the topic of the Race Club not belonging at USMS Nationals... Masters is open to everyone. Are we going to have "maximum" time requirements?....If you swim faster than this time, you can't compete? Go to the Race Club website and read their writeup on our Nationals. They say nothing but good things about Masters swimming. If they can bring more swimmers into USMS, their involvement can be nothing but a positive influence! I don't see how it can be seen as a bad thing for Masters!:confused:
What exactly is the difference between masters and senior nationals or Olympic Trials? I am not saying there should be a time limit, but there is a sort of unspoke consideration. Why don't you see Michael Phelps at USMS meets or Ian Crocker, Eric Vendt, Chad Carvin or Jenny Thompson? I understand why the Race club is trying to make money...it's definitely hard to come by in swimming. It just seems to me that there was something taken away from the masters national meet by them being there (to make money).
I agree with Paul, all USMS sanctioned meets are open to anyone with a valid USMS membership. The Race Club members certainly qualified. I did not attend the Indy meet, but our swimmers who attended were unanimously happy that the Race Club showed up and swam fast. This isn't the first time that elite level swimmers have attended USMS championships. Jon Olsen and Gary hall have attended USMS Nationals at Santa Clara in the past, Olsen in '99 and I can't remember Hall's dates maybe early 90's. I recall that every time GH stepped to the blocks there was a ripple of excitement through the crowd. I also remember the 200 Free race('99) with Jon Olsen, who was preparing for Olympic Trials, and John Keppler, a former Olympic Trials participant went head to head with Olsen swimming a 1:38.03 to Keppler's
1:40.54. Folk's were 10 deep around the pool, and everyone was screaming encouragement as the race proceeded. I still get goosebumps just picturing it. There was similar support for non elite swimmers in all the age groups. I can't total all the Nationals I've attended in nearly 14 years of coaching Masters Swimmers, but I've never heard anyone complain after watching a fast swim.
Go to www.theraceclub.net/column_usmsnationals.php
to read what the Race Club swimmers thought of the meet.
Just an after thought; Trina Radke a former and maybe future Olympian has been training with Ross Geary at Foothill Jr College, and has swum in a number of Pacific Masters Meets this past season. I know some very competitive swimmers in her age group who had no problems being knocked down a place in many events because of Trina's participation. Not one swimmer felt diminished by her presence.
