Darian Townsend entered a masters meet in Mesa over the weekend and broke five world records in the 25-29 age group. This was Townsend's first masters meet. For those of you who are not familiar with him, Townend is a three-time Olympian and gold medalist from South Africa.
Swimswam.com posted a story about Townend's incredible meet. Here's the link: swimswam.com/.../
I found the comments quite interesting especially this one by "HMMM":
I have no problem with athletes making money off of Masters but why have a separate division called Masters if there are no rules or restrictions? None of the sponsored people you mention in their 50′s are training for Rio are they?. Most people in Masters believe they are swimming against recreational swimmers which is why there is a separate Masters division and those records are set by recreational/retired swimmers. If Phelps remains retired and wants to swim Masters, well there goes a few records in his age group but none of us in our club would have a problem with it. We discussed that very subject this morning after practice and Phelps, like Rowdy Gaines is retired and would welcome him. Many of us have swam against and met Rowdy and it is a true honor to share the pool with him in a Masters meet. But our entire team would have a huge problem if Lochte decides to swim a Masters meet while he is still fully training for the Olympics and blows all the records out of the water. If Lochte swims 12 events, he is going to walk away with 12 records. Why have a separate record book? If he can do that, you might as well just call us all USA swimmers and do away with the Masters division. There are meets where fully training pros swim and they are called Grand Prix’s, Nationals, and Worlds. Call us old fashioned, call us Masters swimmers, but we all think Masters should be separate from the training pros..
So I'm curious what the rest of you think. Should someone like Darian Townend or Ryan Lochte be allowed to swim in masters meets when they are professional swimmers who are training full-time? And maybe "allowed" is a poor choice or word. The bottom line is do you think they have any business swimming masters meets?
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Former Member
My reasons are irrelevant and unimportant. I coach a huge Masters team and have about a dozen Top Ten swimmers in various age groups and multiple events. None have ever complained about getting smoked by a fast elite swimmer. In fact, all love it when we get the chance to go up against the best. I heard the bell at my 900 on a 1000 once because of a super stud next to me. While my first reaction was despair, I then realized how awesome it was to be beaten by one of the best in the world.
?
I have to agree with Geek. I swam at a meet his team puts on in December of 2011. In two of the events, I stood on the blocks next to two members of Team Elite. I knew my chances of winning those races were about as good as geek growing facial hair. But those were two of my favorite masters meet moments.
I raced to the best of my ability in each event. When the "elites" finished, they started cheering for the rest of us in each heat. They were the first to congratulate the rest of the swimmers. In the warm-down pool, they even offered pointers to people.
If they pay their annual membership fee, they should be allowed to compete in usms. Their times should count for top ten and/or record, even if they are currently on a national team.
If they follow usms rules, there isn't a valid reason for excluding them.
My reasons are irrelevant and unimportant. I coach a huge Masters team and have about a dozen Top Ten swimmers in various age groups and multiple events. None have ever complained about getting smoked by a fast elite swimmer. In fact, all love it when we get the chance to go up against the best. I heard the bell at my 900 on a 1000 once because of a super stud next to me. While my first reaction was despair, I then realized how awesome it was to be beaten by one of the best in the world.
?
I have to agree with Geek. I swam at a meet his team puts on in December of 2011. In two of the events, I stood on the blocks next to two members of Team Elite. I knew my chances of winning those races were about as good as geek growing facial hair. But those were two of my favorite masters meet moments.
I raced to the best of my ability in each event. When the "elites" finished, they started cheering for the rest of us in each heat. They were the first to congratulate the rest of the swimmers. In the warm-down pool, they even offered pointers to people.
If they pay their annual membership fee, they should be allowed to compete in usms. Their times should count for top ten and/or record, even if they are currently on a national team.
If they follow usms rules, there isn't a valid reason for excluding them.
