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
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
Donna,
You might be the first person to come out of the closet around here but rest assured, you won't be the last (there are a few that I suspect would like to come out as well :) ). Anyhow, your Olympic experience is really most important to yourself I suspect. Who cares what some liver lips on a forum thinks about your claims. If you know you did it, that is what matters. You have the pride and sense of accomplishment that comes from that experience to carry with you forever.
G'day.
And then we lose a good poster like Donna who, whatever the mysterious status of the paperwork
I'm confused. Even the USA Swimming site has the 1968 Olympic Trials results posted: www.usaswimming.org/.../1968.pdf
It seems like it should be pretty easy to see if someone did or did not swim there. Am I missing something?
Am I missing something?
No, you are not missing anything.
USA sends only qualifiers to the Olympics. No alternates. There are extra swimmers to qualify some relays in the morning heats, drawn from the top 6 places in the 100 and 200 Free at Trials.
Yes, we have this type of "mindless bickering" and taunting ...
I enjoyed this thread for its intended purpse, not its ultimate evolution into who may have lied about this or misquoted that.
I agree that Donna brings a lot to this forum.
Just noting possible legal issues involved here with a publication and any possible retraction/correction ... not saying anything everyone doesn't know ...
I notice that Dashelle Stein and Carter Schillig, two other alternates Donna refered to are not on the list of Olympians either. Can't find any info on them anywhere in a quick search.
A friend told me that there was a male diver who was an alternate in '68 and dove in the Olympics. However, the diver actually participated in the Trials.
And there it finally is, my name. I was waiting to see who finally didn't beat around the tired old bush anymore.
So long folks!
Donna
Donna
I'm fervently hoping that this "So long folks!" of yours is concerning this specific thread and not a goodbye to the Forum. Losing you would NOT be good. Right now I'm too dizzy with very strong pain-killers and unable to put it more eloquently but, in a nutshell, "we all want and need you, your friendship, your wit and your swimming news around here."
C U L8R
This is a tough situation for me....I like the thread's concept.....and sadly given the world we live in can understand why it has made a couple of left turns and come to this point questioning someones credentials....
Lets face it in a world where it seems like every time we turn on the news or read the paper or log on we are inundate with stories of cheating, lying and worse...the ones that get me the most upset are the recent convictions of people impersonating military heros (purple hearts, medal of honor, etc.).
In our little forum here I think regardless of how it comes up if there is a question at all of a persons accomplishments Olympic or otherwise that it could hopefully be handled...at least initially...via PM (which in my case it was as I did change from my adopted name of Goodridge after college to Smith which was my birth name....some questioned me on some times/events/etc, rightfully so)....
When we get into the "real deal" as I will say like the Olympics....we know that it carries a lot of clout having that on ones resume and hope that Donna would understand for the sake of all Olympians people will want to verify...that does not however mean it should in any way be done without respect....
And Jim....I agree that its probably not a good idea to delete threads that are going down hill...but rather close them and leave as a public record for people to revisit and see for themselves what may or may not have been written.
