Even our friend Aquageek gets a mention!
www.wsj.com/.../in-u-s-masters-swimming-training-is-more-important-than-the-race-1438622826
I think the article is fine as far as it goes, but it would be nice if they at least mentioned that competition IS a big facet of masters swimming for lots of us. Sure lots of USMS members do not compete, but how many other adult sports can boast of having an annual national championship event where ~2,000 athletes compete?
The article says:
But for athletes who—because of injury or a been-there-done-that sense of ennui—have crossed their final finish line, U.S. Masters Swimming offers a way to stay race-day fit in the absence of competition. The group doesn’t pressure its members to compete and reassures prospective members that only 25% of its swimmers do compete. That strategy helps explain why Masters Swimming membership grew about 50% in the 10 years ended in 2014, to more than 62,000, says executive director Rob Butcher. “We want people to swim for health and fitness,” he says.
The article isn't likely to draw as many new swimmers as Mark Spitz did a generation ago, but it'll help ...
The article says:
But for athletes who—because of injury or a been-there-done-that sense of ennui—have crossed their final finish line, U.S. Masters Swimming offers a way to stay race-day fit in the absence of competition. The group doesn’t pressure its members to compete and reassures prospective members that only 25% of its swimmers do compete. That strategy helps explain why Masters Swimming membership grew about 50% in the 10 years ended in 2014, to more than 62,000, says executive director Rob Butcher. “We want people to swim for health and fitness,” he says.
The article isn't likely to draw as many new swimmers as Mark Spitz did a generation ago, but it'll help ...
