Intimidation factor

I'll look back through my videos and see what I can find for you. :D Not sure what you're talking about but the words "this won't end well" are ringing in my ears

Does the 400 SCM Free from NW Zones 2012 ring a bell? :bow: First event of the meet, good competition, and for some reason I was really psyched up. It's not often I finish a race, look at the scoreboard, and yell "HOLY CRAP!" In fact, it's only happened once :bolt:

My focus is not traditional competitive swimming any longer but that is not to say that I am not competitive. I do go to Masters meets if they are close to home but do not travel for them. I compete against time standards (Goal: Top 10 100 LCM ***) and against my teammates (Goal: Beat Carl in 200 SCY Free at the time of his choice). With respect to intimidation, what used to intimidate me most was physical build. I have never been "svelte" and the flexible muscle kid in the center lane was always intimidating. Now, while still not "svelte", I find the muscle guy (or gal) to be a challenge. The physical appearance of an opponent is now more of an incentive to beat them soundly.

I am usually so focused behind the blocks that I don't notice anything or anyone. I have swum many times right next to people I train with and didn't even know it. So if anyone was trying to intimidate me I was unaware. I tried to be an intimidator once. I was in Germany in '06 just in time for their long course championships. I only swam one event, the 400 free. As a championship event it was just like ours in that heats were swum by age group. I had the second fastest qualifying time in a 10 lane pool. I was in good shape as this meet was a week after our regional championships at home. I had never done this before or since, but just before we were called to the blocks, I went over to the competitor on each side of me and looked them in the eye and said good luck, in English. It must have worked on 'em...

Question: Does appearance, demeanor, or reputation of fellow competitors effect your performance in your races? No. I'm too worried about all the stuff I need to remember (and generally forget) to even notice other people.

Mine is the "fat factor". I'm 225 lbs so others look at me & think they have it made only to find out ---I'm right there with them & sometimes beat them !!

Question: Does appearance, demeanor, or reputation of fellow competitors effect your performance in your races? Intimidation could be of any type really. Whether you're next to someone who looks like a real mean SOB, acts like a mean SOB, or has a reputation of being fast as hell and never losing, etc. Does it effect your performance in any way. Do you swim slower in the presence of such a person, or do they drive you to new bests? Or the converse, if someone looks weak, out of shape, or in some way inferior in skill to your perception of yourself, does it make you swim down to perceived level, or make you want to cause a crushing defeat? Some of this may not be in the main spirit of masters swimming of course. We probably shouldn't go around with the goal and hopes of crushing everyone else in the pool, but I was always curious what other people thought about it. If I'm eyeing up the competition and they look more in shape than I, its hard not to feel like i'm going to take a hard loss in my race. Of course I'd like to think I always push 101% on every race, but its hard to say whether or not I subconsciously hold back or push harder than I would've depending what the field looks like. Part of it probably comes back to the type of swimmer you are too. Do you thrive on competition and winning the race, or is it just 8 people swimming alone against the clock at the same time for convenience? No right or wrong answer, just thought i'd throw it out there. My compeditors pre race behavior doesn't effect me, I take off my glasses right before my race and I can't see anything. Their during race behavior effects me, especially if they are ahead and I can't catch them.

I used to be an expert at psyching people out. Admittedly I was being a total jerk and showing poor sportsmanship, but it is very easy to get inside the head of the competition. Everyone is susceptible to these tricks. I'd figure out the name of their girlfriend or dig up some random factoid from their background. Or sometimes I would cook up something more elaborate. Win or lose, they barely wanted to shake my hand afterwards. About half of my own teammates couldn't even stand me... But that said, I grew up and got over myself. If I had to assess my immature behavior, I'd say I was trying to create such a spectacle that I had no choice but to give full effort to back up my behavior. But I wasn't really aware of it at the time. PS. When Gary Hall Jr. played air guitar a few seconds before a 50, it was about the closest I ever came to identifying with a sprinter. Haha

I am more worried about "did I tie my suit?" before each race than who is next to me. Well, unless it is Geek. Then I am more worried about his thunderous one beat kick.

Part of it probably comes back to the type of swimmer you are too. Do you thrive on competition and winning the race, or is it just 8 people swimming alone against the clock at the same time for convenience? Part of this answer depends on whether or not the other 7 lanes are filled with your peers (as in a national or regional meet). In those cases, sizing up the competition is pretty a normal response. At a back yard masters meet the mood is much more relaxed unless it's the last heat of the 50 free.