Though this topic has received some attention in various threads over the years, it is the dead of winter, and I think that those of us in the Northeast, at least, could do with a little blood boiling to warm up the extremities!
To this end, I am wondering how many of my fellow swimmers have had swim times disallowed ex post facto in USMS sanctioned meets, and if so, for what reason?
As some of you who read my blog may recall, I have had a number of TT-worthy times disallowed for various reasons over the years, ranging from lack of timeliness in submitting the paperwork, to swimming a couple races in the "Open" category.
Recently, I have had my first and only All American swim retroactively yanked, some five weeks after the Top 10 list was officially published. Obviously, this is not as bad as those unfortunate souls who have had World Records declared ineligible for consideration.
Nevertheless, it does sting. I invite you to read the details of my De-All'ing (from my perspective) here: byjimthornton.com/.../
Note: I do not question the right of USMS to have rules more stringent than USA-S and FINA. What I do believe is unfair to us swimmers is when these rules apply to us but not to those in charge of making sure that all the i's are dotted and the t's crossed when they secure sanctions for meets and collect the meet fees. My own AA-rescinded swim was done at Michael Phelps's famous pool, the North Baltimore Aquatics Club, in a meet that had a USMS sanction number. Skip Thompson, who traveled from Michigan to swim in this meet, told me he asked about the pool measurement and was told that it was on file. There were no bulkheads involved. I did not make the mistake of swimming in an "open" event. I feel I did everything right this time!
I also feel that the USMS rule book is so dense and complex that it's hopeless for swimmers to know if they are complying. I feel like the mole in a game of bureaucratic whack-a-mole!
Anyhow, if you have your own examples of TT or All American or even World Record times that were rescinded after the fact, please use this thread to post them!
At the SPMS meet in Long Beach I noticed the lane lines were loose and told a referee.I was told they had to be loose or it risked moving the bulkhead.I don't know much about how they stabilize bulkheads,but there seems to be a potential for continuing issues with bulkhead pools.I think everyone but USMS says if it was measured once as OK it's OK. USMS says measure it before and after the meet.This means that a pool can be measured,sanctioned and still have the swims not count(which as I noted happened to me.)On the other hand we measure achievement to .01 sec.At the 2001 NW Zone meet that was disallowed a younger friend beat my ZR in the 50M BR by .01 sec.I felt bad for him to lose the time,but 1cm short in a 25M pool at that speed is worth about .01 sec.I don't have a suggestion on how to handle this,just that it is complicated.
At the SPMS meet in Long Beach I noticed the lane lines were loose and told a referee.I was told they had to be loose or it risked moving the bulkhead.I don't know much about how they stabilize bulkheads,but there seems to be a potential for continuing issues with bulkhead pools.I think everyone but USMS says if it was measured once as OK it's OK. USMS says measure it before and after the meet.This means that a pool can be measured,sanctioned and still have the swims not count(which as I noted happened to me.)On the other hand we measure achievement to .01 sec.At the 2001 NW Zone meet that was disallowed a younger friend beat my ZR in the 50M BR by .01 sec.I felt bad for him to lose the time,but 1cm short in a 25M pool at that speed is worth about .01 sec.I don't have a suggestion on how to handle this,just that it is complicated.
