I am looking for a list of Olympian Masters and what Olympics and events they particpated in. If you have such a list or know where one is, please let me know. Individual anecdotes are OK too.
Background:
I want to write to "Splash" magazine and ask them to feature some of the people on such a list when they write about great swimmers. I'm tired of reading (and having my kids read) about so-and-so great swimmer, who got to the Olympics, did great, and now swimming is behind them (i.e. they don't swim anymore). On the "mission statement" of Splash, they give lip service to a lifelong involvement with swimming, but they never seem to come up with an example of such a person.
wiredknight
I will give everyone an example of an impostor, charlatan, fraud, and faker of what ever word you want to use. About 20 years ago I coached someone who said he was an alternate on the 1936 Olympic team. When I wrote that in an article on the team in our newsletter, another swimmer who was not on an Olympic Team but was a World Record holder in the 100 Free in 1942 disputed the claim because he would remember this. I went to the International Swimming Hall of Fame Library and went thru every AAU Swimming and Diving Guide during that time period that they use to publish every year until 1980 for Swimming and did not find his name. I went thru all of the magazine and newspaper articles about the Olympic Trials and Selection Meets and did not find his name. I even went thru all of the Indoor and Outdoor AAU Swimming Championships and still came up empty. I asked Preson Levi, who at that time was the Head of the Library if there was anywhere else I could find anything and he said no. I came away with the conclusion that this swimmer had a memory loss or he was an (use any of the words you like). He only swam 1 year and he moved away. I don't even know if he is living still. To be honest, he did not swim like he was almost on the Olympic Team by the way of his technique even with age considered. When I discovered the USA Swimming listings, again I did not see his name on the Trials Selection Meet. I have heard of others claiming to be alternates of some Olympic Team but never seeing there name in any of the past results as proof or evidence of this achievment disputes the claim.
I will give everyone an example of an impostor, charlatan, fraud, and faker of what ever word you want to use. About 20 years ago I coached someone who said he was an alternate on the 1936 Olympic team. When I wrote that in an article on the team in our newsletter, another swimmer who was not on an Olympic Team but was a World Record holder in the 100 Free in 1942 disputed the claim because he would remember this. I went to the International Swimming Hall of Fame Library and went thru every AAU Swimming and Diving Guide during that time period that they use to publish every year until 1980 for Swimming and did not find his name. I went thru all of the magazine and newspaper articles about the Olympic Trials and Selection Meets and did not find his name. I even went thru all of the Indoor and Outdoor AAU Swimming Championships and still came up empty. I asked Preson Levi, who at that time was the Head of the Library if there was anywhere else I could find anything and he said no. I came away with the conclusion that this swimmer had a memory loss or he was an (use any of the words you like). He only swam 1 year and he moved away. I don't even know if he is living still. To be honest, he did not swim like he was almost on the Olympic Team by the way of his technique even with age considered. When I discovered the USA Swimming listings, again I did not see his name on the Trials Selection Meet. I have heard of others claiming to be alternates of some Olympic Team but never seeing there name in any of the past results as proof or evidence of this achievment disputes the claim.
