We have all been getting a charge out of those exceptional Masters swimmers in their 30's & 40's striving to make USS cuts whether nats or olys, competing in both USS & USMS meets, so why should we anything but tickled to see USS swimmers, competing in their proper age groups, swim in our meets. Despite the philosophical underpinnings of our Masters being health & happiness-oriented, the structure is built of age-groups just like the younger folks(although we have larger ones). When you look at the whole structure of USS & USMS as one long continuum, then the Open category is the anomaly, but a good one. Sometimes someone much younger or older than the established order drops into Open comp., and shakes everyone's perceptions. We like that when it is our oldsters doing it; we should like it when some youngsters (to us) shake up our 20-24, 25-29, 30-34 etc age groups.
Long-winded, I know, but I thought we were an inclusive bunch.
Amen, I just got back from an age group meet. Watched Nadine win almost everything she entered. She always looks like she is having a great time, and what an inspiration she was for one of our youngest swimmers who was there at his first long course meet. Nadine let him take all her heat prizes and he was so excited!
There was another Masters swimmer there and while she did not win like Nadine, it is always good to see them at these meets competing!
