This is somewhat related to another post I just started (Top Ten conerns). I noticed in the top ten list a number of swimmers (generally very fast swimmers) who swam their first nationals (or any other masters meet) in 5 years due to being in a new age group. I state this by looking at the past few years top ten lists and not seeing their names. Is this a good thing for masters swimming? Swimmers whose only affiliation with masters swimming is showing up to one meet every 5 years to break a record. These records should be owned by people that are true masters swimmers.
What is a true masters swimmers?- Perhaps doing a few meets a year might work. When I swam on an age group team as a child, I know in order to qualify for our championship meet, we had to swim at least 3 regular meets. Perhaps a rule like that for Nationals could begin to fix this problem-
If not, many of our national records will be held by "ringers"
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Former Member
Speaking on behalf of many other master swimmers who are probably in the same boat...having a family, running a business, and taking care of general upkeep around the house puts a huge monopoly on one's time.
When that one meet of the year rolls around, I'ld like to think that the opportunity to give a best effort shouldn't be missed. And if the result turns out to be one for the record books,...so be it.
I think the bottom line about masters swimming is really the perpetuation of one's youth, and finding time to "play" with like minded people. Even if the play involves self inflicted, oxygen deprived, head pounding torture. It's all good.:D
Speaking on behalf of many other master swimmers who are probably in the same boat...having a family, running a business, and taking care of general upkeep around the house puts a huge monopoly on one's time.
When that one meet of the year rolls around, I'ld like to think that the opportunity to give a best effort shouldn't be missed. And if the result turns out to be one for the record books,...so be it.
I think the bottom line about masters swimming is really the perpetuation of one's youth, and finding time to "play" with like minded people. Even if the play involves self inflicted, oxygen deprived, head pounding torture. It's all good.:D
