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
Former Member
I'm just chuffed that you manage to make a thread called Olympan Masters all about me. Thanks ;)
Chuffed?
Definition (1), or (2)? :)
(1) chuffed
–adjective British Informal.
delighted; pleased; satisfied.
(2) chuffed
–adjective British Informal.
annoyed; displeased; disgruntled.
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I've been lucky enough to hold two Olympic Gold medals in my lifetime (so far).
BJ Bedford let me wear her gold medal from the women's 4 x 100 medley relay at the Sydney Olympics when we took a picture together at the USOTC in Colorado Springs. BJ and I both attended the Peddie School, and I first met her when shooting a cover for Swimming World Magazine back in the early '90's. The cover also featured swimmer Nelson Diebel and coach Chris Martin at the Peddie School's Clinton I. Sprout Pool.
Tom Jager spoke at the Oregon Masters awards banquet in 2005 and passed the medals around for all to see. So I got to touch the gold medal he won swimming the prelims of the 4 x 100 medley relay at the Los Angeles Olympics. It was pretty scuffed up and scratched from years of being handled by fans.
I really wanted to bid on Anthony Ervin's gold medal when he sold it on eBay. I would've given it back to him. But the best memorabilia I have to offer is an autographed swim cap with Tracy Caulkins' and Michael Phelps' names on the same cap, and another with Mary T. Meagher and Ian Crocker on the same cap. Somewhere, I have a ticket stub from the 2004 Janet Evans Invitational signed by Janet.
:bolt:
I have an autographed cap from Rowdy that says "Go *my name* Go". I'm not wearing that in the water EVER. I've said this before but a chance to go to one of his clinics is money extremely well spent, super experience.
Rowdy didn't ask me to sign anything of his, oddly enough.
we all know who you are...*your name*
go back to posting on the gyno thread ... I think we might see tears soon, such sensitivity, such humanity.
Yes, we have this type of "mindless bickering" and taunting ...
And then we lose a good poster like Donna who, whatever the mysterious status of the paperwork or film clips or other Olympic alternates, contributed scads of useful information about training and stroke technique as well as encouraging newcomers. I found her comments to be extremely knowledgeable.
Tough not to take it personally. But, Donna, Matt's comments are ultimately correct and what matters. As a wise uber-swimmer recently told me, passion is a good and essential thing. Best not to waste it on nonsense. You just keep training for your Utila swim with great gusto. But get it well documented.
G'day.
I’m not a big fan of how this is being handled either. And in reviewing deleted postings I found absolutely NO posting in which Gail called Donna or anyone else a "liar".
And there it finally is, my name. I was waiting to see who finally didn't beat around the tired old bush anymore. Yes, folks, I am the alternate who never was because there is NO documentation on my attendance at the 68 Olympics in Mexico City. No record of me anywhere, so I am THE imposter. Slap my hands, but be sure to try to tell my father who was in the stands that day that I was not there; he may, as old as he is, 97, may try to deck you. And to no avail, once again, feel free to denigrate me and those others who worked their way to the Olympics and have been lost forever due to paperwork problems or name changes.
I just hope that with my coming out of the closet here that the thread can continue on with those Olympians with paperwork who are enjoying USMS swimming and competing to this day. And for those skeptics, I am still proud of the journey I spent my life to obtain. And to Gail Roper, I know you are only doing your job, please do it better for the future Olympians. I have lots of news articles and film, but I know this was not enough for you.
To everyone, things like this happen, please keep swimming and competing!
So long folks!
Donna
