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 My own AA-rescinded swim was done at Michael Phelps's famous pool, the North Baltimore Aquatics Club, in a meet that had a USMS sanction number.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Anyhow, if you have your own examples of TT or All American or even World Record times that were rescinded after the fact, please use this thread to post them!
Since I lost 6, Top 10's in the 2011 Montreal Nationals, I am in favor of the above-captioned rule. So, Chris, you think that because there is no rule saying that you can not remove a Top 10 time after it has been approved and published, that USMS does have the authority and has it absolutely? I think that might be an open question. Why have a deadline if it is meaningless and can be disregarded? And, if that is true, can you change the 2011 SCM Top 10 to reflect my Montreal times? After all, there is no rule that says you can't do that either. Remember, the integrity of the sport is the most important thing and what's right is right!
So, do you want me to email you my times from Montreal, or can you pull them up on the internet?
I attended the 2012 Canadian Nationals, and knew about this very thing happening from 2011. I am a TTR for the Inland NW, and know about the rule of the measurements on bulkheaded pools (prior to the meet, and after each and every session of the meet, etc.). I had talked with a couple others who were going to be going to the meet as well, that would be concerned about the potential of their times counting for USMS TT. Chris Stevenson knew I was going to the meet as well, and did send me a note on this very subject about the measurement rules for TT.
After getting there, we basically decided to bag the idea, as it was going to be "too much" to try to hold everyone up while we attempted to measure for "our standards" in a foriegn country's meet. Yeah, I had some times swum there that would've been faster than times I did here, but oh well...it's just another meet, right? We had fun anyway. :)
Since I lost 6, Top 10's in the 2011 Montreal Nationals, I am in favor of the above-captioned rule. So, Chris, you think that because there is no rule saying that you can not remove a Top 10 time after it has been approved and published, that USMS does have the authority and has it absolutely? I think that might be an open question. Why have a deadline if it is meaningless and can be disregarded? And, if that is true, can you change the 2011 SCM Top 10 to reflect my Montreal times? After all, there is no rule that says you can't do that either. Remember, the integrity of the sport is the most important thing and what's right is right!
So, do you want me to email you my times from Montreal, or can you pull them up on the internet?
I attended the 2012 Canadian Nationals, and knew about this very thing happening from 2011. I am a TTR for the Inland NW, and know about the rule of the measurements on bulkheaded pools (prior to the meet, and after each and every session of the meet, etc.). I had talked with a couple others who were going to be going to the meet as well, that would be concerned about the potential of their times counting for USMS TT. Chris Stevenson knew I was going to the meet as well, and did send me a note on this very subject about the measurement rules for TT.
After getting there, we basically decided to bag the idea, as it was going to be "too much" to try to hold everyone up while we attempted to measure for "our standards" in a foriegn country's meet. Yeah, I had some times swum there that would've been faster than times I did here, but oh well...it's just another meet, right? We had fun anyway. :)
