Thanks to everyone involved in the Ft. Lauderdale Nationals. I had a great time and met some exceptional people. I especially want to thank Doug Malcolm for the competition in the adjacent lane. It looks like (from USMS data) you have not competed for quite a while and had a great meet! I had not competed for over 20 years when I entered the 2001 Nat's at Santa Clara and have done pretty well for the past few years. Doug exemplifies what our sport should be all about; a true competitor who brings out the best in someone like me who may not have accomplished the standards acheived in Ft. Lauderdale without someone like him next to me. I never got a chance to thank you so I am doing so now. Keep up the good work!
I would also like to congradulate John Blank for being the first male competitor over 45 to break one minute in the 100 yard breaststroke; a great accomplishment! I have never broken a minute in that event and am full of envy.
Lee Rider
All this talk about what's fair or not fair with small and large teams reminds me of dog shows for kids where everyone wins a prize for best something. Also, "Swedish" competitions for children where "everyone wins."
I understand the benefits of giving children (and adults!) the opportunity to participate and feel like they won something. On the other hand, attempting to "level the playing field" too much is a cruel joke to people who all of a sudden find that, for better or worse, much of our society and world operates in a competitive athmosphere.
I met my "goals" at Nationals by bettering my times in each of the three events I swam. (This has been my first year of competition since 1968!) But I really came in 1st place by being, without a doubt, the fastest 57 year old bald guy with blue swim suit and initials EGH. (It took a few minutes to make sure that nobody who swam faster had my iniitials!)
On the other hand, I'm very aware that Andrew Mc Pherson and Chuck Olsen were the real winners and that they did so because they were better technical swimmers, who were better trained and better conditioned and had made a much deeper commitment to the sport. This is really important to me, and I believe a lot of other people as well. The reason is that by respecting what the real winners have accomplished, I and others can concentrate on what WE have to do to improve, rather than moan that somehow the rules were not fair.
I love US Masters Swimming. I returned home knowing that I bettered my best times, who the real winners were and giddy with inspiration to train smarter and harder. I already look forward to the 2006 Nationals!
All this talk about what's fair or not fair with small and large teams reminds me of dog shows for kids where everyone wins a prize for best something. Also, "Swedish" competitions for children where "everyone wins."
I understand the benefits of giving children (and adults!) the opportunity to participate and feel like they won something. On the other hand, attempting to "level the playing field" too much is a cruel joke to people who all of a sudden find that, for better or worse, much of our society and world operates in a competitive athmosphere.
I met my "goals" at Nationals by bettering my times in each of the three events I swam. (This has been my first year of competition since 1968!) But I really came in 1st place by being, without a doubt, the fastest 57 year old bald guy with blue swim suit and initials EGH. (It took a few minutes to make sure that nobody who swam faster had my iniitials!)
On the other hand, I'm very aware that Andrew Mc Pherson and Chuck Olsen were the real winners and that they did so because they were better technical swimmers, who were better trained and better conditioned and had made a much deeper commitment to the sport. This is really important to me, and I believe a lot of other people as well. The reason is that by respecting what the real winners have accomplished, I and others can concentrate on what WE have to do to improve, rather than moan that somehow the rules were not fair.
I love US Masters Swimming. I returned home knowing that I bettered my best times, who the real winners were and giddy with inspiration to train smarter and harder. I already look forward to the 2006 Nationals!
