hi all, I'm writing from Italy. Hope not to be politically incorrect, you know, sometimes one uses wrong expressions which may be offensive without knowing it - English is not my language.
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My question: has someone understood why there are no black swimmers at the top of the world rankings? is there a physiologic reason? Thank you Antonio
:cheerleader: Gold in the 2008 relay, 2nd in the 100 free and 1st in the 50 free, at Olympic Trials, this year. "Hello" is right! :banana:
So, Geek, what is your prediction for Cullen at the Olympics?
I was rooting for Cullen Jones in that 50 free. The announcers didn't even mention him as a contender, which I thought odd, given that he had been 2nd in the 100. Glad he made them pay attention!
And this band with the cap keeps the entire head dry? I would be ecstatic if I could avoid shampooing and blow drying my hair every time I swim.... :bitching:
As I said there are many black swimmers nationwide, someday one of these swimmers male or female will become a superstar and that will create more swimming intrest with everyone just as Tiger Woods broke into golf and became a star and he has givin the golf game a bost for all.
Hair care is a important issue with all female swimmers and relaxed styles and perms hair coloring, require alot of care and chlorine is damaging to everyones hair, salon costs yes can be much higher for swimmers, for swimmers who swim for fun and exercise there are swim cap options that can prevent much of the damage.
See www.reocities.com/.../swimband.html
for some details on easy ways to protect hair from chlorine damage. the home made band can be worn under or over a swim cap or both and the combo of cap and band shown on the page is very effective. After swimming a quick blow dry is useually all thats needed, a bit of conditioner applied lightly to the ends also can help before slipping on the band and cap.
If you get it in place just right with the mirror in the locker room it works wonders. You may still experience some sweating if its a warm pool and mistake that for a bit of water entering, it works well for me and others. the trick is pulling the inner cap or band down low over the ears, the ear is where most caps leak, look at swimmers see how many have a bit of the ear showing on their caps edge , silicon is prefered for the inner cap, then the outer bubble strap "double cap" snug in a head size pulled over that. The band also can be placed over a cap to seal the edge as well as inside or both, the tighter the caps however the less comfortable. Bubble caps are available in lots of colors and three head sizes small, med and large. You will have to experiment to see what works for you.
Heres input from one swimmer. the Longhair Community site has a great forum for hair care
Limiting Chlorine Damage - The Long Hair Community Discussion Boards
If you want to expand the Caribbean to include the northern coast of South America, Anthony Nesty of Suriname deserves a mention for sure. His victory in the 100 fly at the Seoul Olympics was one of the greatest races ever!
I remember that race! He was fast as lightning and a very slick swimmer!
Bryant Gumbel's representatives contacted our coach in an effort to do some sort of segment that detailed the problems with the inability to swim and the consequences that result. Especially for minority kids. But the coach said he wouldn't do it. His kids are good swimmers. Fast swimmers. Real competitors. He told the network that if they wanted to come do something that detailed how GOOD his kids were, they could come. He was turned down. I understand where the network is coming from but I also understand where the coach is coming from too.
Three of his kids were highlighted in the documntary about Cullen Jones and Maritza Correia.
Just saw a story in the Seattle Times written by someone in their 30s who finally took the plunge and learned to swim:
seattletimes.nwsource.com/.../2018589756_pacificpswimming15.html
It's always inspiring to hear about someone learning to swim as an adult. I'm sure it's terrifying and embarrassing, but--hopefully--ultimately exhilarating and empowering!
Just saw a story in the Seattle Times written by someone in their 30s who finally took the plunge and learned to swim:
seattletimes.nwsource.com/.../2018589756_pacificpswimming15.html
It's always inspiring to hear about someone learning to swim as an adult. I'm sure it's terrifying and embarrassing, but--hopefully--ultimately exhilarating and empowering!
Good story. I always dread the stories on every warm holiday in which one or more people drown at local lakes. I have often thought that it would be great if the local high school or USAS teams could sponsor a weekend program to at least try to drown proof some of the kids who would not otherwise have access to lessons.
Maybe Masters teams could do something similar for adults.
Good story. I always dread the stories on every warm holiday in which one or more people drown at local lakes. I have often thought that it would be great if the local high school or USAS teams could sponsor a weekend program to at least try to drown proof some of the kids who would not otherwise have access to lessons.
Maybe Masters teams could do something similar for adults.
Sadly we just had drowning at a local pond where the bottom drops from four feet to eighteen feet without any warning. The victim was from the city and was a non swimmer. Having grown up in the borough of the Bronx we had very few kids in the area who had access to pools and in my opinion it was due largely because of economic reasons. Inner city youth have limited resources and their only outlet is either on the courts or on the field.
That said Cullen Jones has made it a mission to expose as many kids as possible to the water and give them a leg up on the basics. (By the way Anthony Ervin is also African American and he too is involved as a youth advocate for the sport.)
Not sure if anyone noticed the 100 free finals at our recent Olympic Trials but Lia Neal (of NYC and AGUA) who just turned seventeen, made the team for the 4 x 100 relay. She came in fourth just ahead of Natalie Coughlin. At 13 years old she smashed the national record in the 100 meter free which stood for 23 years...along with a new 50 meter free record (25.8).
www.nytimes.com/.../us-olympic-swimming-trials-lia-neal-reflects-teams-diversity.htmlsportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../content.13.html
It's true segregation has led to many "white" sports having no black people represented. How can a tradition take off in a culture that has no access to clean pools?
