There's a story on swimswam (swimswam.com/.../) about Anthony Ervin swimming at USMS Nationals and the first comment states:
There is nothing better than going to a USMS meet and seeing swimmers like Anthony Ervin compete. It makes you feel like a 12 year old fan again!
In the same breath I will ask; what is the point of letting their times count as USMS records? They are professional two-a-day swimmers in the same age group categories as young professionals who might make a few practices per week. There is no way real Masters swimmers are able to train to be able to beat them. The professional swimmers wouldn’t be able to beat themselves with the same schedule afforded to the a real Masters swimmer. Thoughts?
My thoughts are that this is ridiculous. Anyone who is registered in USMS has as much right to set a record as anyone else. Who exactly is the arbiter of what a "real masters swimmer" is?
I say let anyone race who's check or credit card clears into USMS!! Of course we all self-select and mental group ourselves. What category are you in? It seems silly to limit USMS for those "too elite". But it does bug me to hear high level elites asking the meet director if she will hold the meet while he goes and gets a hamburger.
I say let anyone race who's check or credit card clears into USMS!! Of course we all self-select and mental group ourselves. What category are you in? It seems silly to limit USMS for those "too elite". But it does bug me to hear high level elites asking the meet director if she will hold the meet while he goes and gets a hamburger.
