I just competed (and I use the term loosely) in the 2003 National Senior Games and found it very disappointing to see that Master swimmers have pretty much taken over the awards platform. This event used to be mainly for recreational athletes who either could not or did not want to compete at a higher level. This was our opportunity to have a moment in the spotlight by competing against athletes who were “equal” to our level of skill. Our moment to believe we were the best in our group and to share our victories with our friends.
By coming to this event, you (the Master swimmers) have assured that no one who is a recreational athlete will ever get a medal and you have pushed the minimum standard time so low that many athletes no longer qualify to even come to the National event. In talking with over 85 athletes of various ages, it was generally agreed that within the next few years, this will be “just another Master’s venue”. You already have four National Events EACH YEAR, the SC Yards, SC Meters, LC Meters, and the YMCA Nationals. Why can’t you leave ONE event that takes places every OTHER year for the swimmers who will never be at any of your meets? Out of the 85 swimmers I spoke with, an overwhelming percent said they would probably not go to the event in Pittsburgh, PA since there would probably be more Masters there and no place for them.
I realize that this event is open to all seniors, but I ask you, how would you feel to have your only chance to win a medal taken away by someone who probably has a box full of them? If you look at the times, you will see that that the top three places in nearly all events went to Masters who all hold top 10 times in USMS. So the athletes, who are not Masters, had to settle for ribbons. There were so many disappointed families, friends, and swimmers who had hoped to win a medal and stand on the awards platform and share their shining moment with their families. Instead it was Masters and the majority of them didn’t even bring families. It was “just another meet” for them.
I’m sure I’m going to be made the “bad guy” by writing this, but my mother is 83 years old and watched her medal go to a Master swimmer and my heart broke for her. She may not be here for any future games and she really worked hard to do well, then you guys showed up. Please, leave the recreational National Event for us and be happy with your four events each year.
“We had a wonderful time at the meet. We danced and swam and enjoyed the company of our fellow athletes.”
Now this is my kind of meet!!!! I can’t wait until I turn 50.
I did not say I was dissappointed by the competition. Quite the contrary, there were some excellent swimmers there, but none of us placed in the top three. I realize that NSGA and USMS have very similar directives, and that only a few swimmers fall into the elite catagory. Unfortunately, those are the ones who came to the event. Why they would want to swim where there is obviously no competition, I'm not sure. When I asked several of them why they came, the basic was "we like to win and get medals and set records." If they had been a little friendler and less aggressive, we might have felt differently about them. I have many very good friends who are registed master swimmers, but don't go the National events because of the level of competition.
We had a wonderful time at the meet. We danced and swam and enjoyed the company of our fellow athletes. The "elite" group of swimmers did not participate in much of this. They take their swimming very seriously and don't have time for foolishness. This was the comment made to me by two of the Master swimmers. They expected to win, to receive the accolades, and were not very interested in the "recreactional" swimmers or having fun.
We have taken it us with NSGA, and they have said they do not know how to keep them out, but if we could come up with a clear and fair plan, they would take it under consideration. We asked them to consider two levels of swimmers, but that takes too much time. So unless we can come up with a plan, we are stuck with the "elitists". So now the decisions start about if we should go to Pittsburg or just look at forming our own group similar to NSGA and making sure that the playing field stays level.
Well, Rob, here we are, dancing to the YMCA song. I'm the one in the middle with their arms up. I'm 56 years old. So hurry up and turn 50 so you too can have fun.
Margaret,
Let me try to get in a gentle response before someone flames you. I would, however, suggest to you that your expectations are misplaced.
Why do you swim?
If someone where to ask me that question, I would talk about the soaring majesty of the Coronado Bay Bridge and the sense of awe I felt as I swam through its shadow. I would talk about the last 50 meters of some of my best 400 free races, the sense that I had paced it just right, and the feeling that this truly is my best event because I felt like I had used all of me to do what I was doing. I would talk about the profound sense of satisfaction as I watched one of the kids I coached complete a fly race, without getting DQ'ed, and afterwards asking to swim it again at the next meet. I'd mention the crowds of wonderful people I'd met, the bond I shared with some of them as teammates )that comes with all the facades slipping away as everyone strains to do that 7th out of 8 repeats of 200 at 5:53 am). I'd talk about the times I shared with them organizing meets or open water swims, and I'd mention the fact that I feel the loss of their passing more keenly than that of some of my distant relatives. I'd talk about the intense feeling of freedom that comes with that first, well-rested 25 yards of fly that feels like I could do this forever. I would tell you about swimming on a relay at 2001 Nationals with a father/daughter duo, and then swimming on a relay at 2002 Nationals with my own father and sister. I'd mention the increasing sense of accomplishment as a youngster when I first went under 30.0 for a 50, then 1:00 for a 100, then 2:00 for the 200. Would I talk about those few (very few) bronze medals from High School Districts, College Conferences, or Masters Pan-Pac Championships? Sure, but they are a small fraction of why I swim.
I would gently suggest to you that if you are swimming because you can go to a meet you have become accustomed to attending, and because they hang a gold medal around your neck for showing-up, then you have only scratched the surface of the big, wide wonderful world that is competitive swimming.
One more boring story, then I'll shut-up. When I was in college I met Cynthia Woodhead (the then World Record Holder in the 200m free) and chatted with her for a bit. I asked her how she felt about missing the 1980 Olympics because of the U.S. boycott. She said that although she was disappointed, she got into swimming and stayed with it for a lot more reasons than just one swim meet. I figure that if a World Record Holder who was denied the chance to properly contend for the title of Olympic Champion can still keep her whole career in perspective that well, then all the rest of us should be able to appreciate how fortunate we are simply to practice our sport, and not get hung up on winning and losing.
"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Matt
Thanks for your reply, but I guess you missed the point. I swim because I love to swim, always have. I have survived lupus, a heart attack, surgeries too numerous to name, and the loss of a child. I swim for the freedom and peace I feel when I'm in the pool. I don't distance swim, open water swim, or go to many meets. The swim meets I do attend, I work very hard to get good times and I know that my competitors do also.
I swim with my 83 year old mother and my 52 year old sister. My best friend for all my life also swims with me. I've never set a record (probably never will), never been to any nationals or international meets other than this one meet.
Swimming itself could never dissapoint me. It was the distain that the Master swimmers showed toward us "slower' swimmers that was very hurtful. We work just as hard as they do and we deserve to be rewarded just like they do. But you have many other venues open to you that we do not. That was my point.
I'm sure I"m going to get blasted, but what a great country I live in that I can (1) have my own opinion and (2) express it. Thanks for the "gentle tap".
I might also point out that most of you live where there are pools and teams and coaches and all that good stuff. I live in a community with no team, no coach and no pool. I "borrow" pools from the high school and in the summer I swim at the city pool. I do not have a "coached" work out. I try to read what others are doing and apply it to myself. There are many, many swimmers that go to the Senior Games who are in the same situation that I am, but we keep trying. I go to as many Senior game meets as I can, but with my job, elderly parents that I care for, and my 15 year old son, I don't have a lot of time. Since I have lupus, I have to get plenty of rest and what little personal time I have in the morning I use to read.
I understand the philosphy of Masters swimming . I believe it is a myth at this time. Join a Masters team with a coach. Believe me, the workouts are designed to produce "competitive swimmers" maybe not elite but certainly not recreational.
Margaret,
Sorry that you were disappointed by the competition at the National Championships for Senior Games.
The mission and vision of Masters swimming has never been to be an elite organization of superior swimmers. In fact the USMS mission “To promote fitness and health in adults by offering and supporting Masters swimming programs.” Is very much in line with the NSGA mission “…Through its programs, the NSGA assists active adults in achieving greater value and quality in their lives by staying healthy, active and fit.”
Many of our members are recreational athletes, with only about 6% competing at one of our two national championship pool events. Our primary goal is “To encourage and promote improved physical fitness and health in adults.”, which again is very much in line with the NSGA vision. So please keep in mind that only a very few of the Masters swimmers fall into the elite category, most of us are in it for the fellowship and camaraderie of like minded adults.
As for the disappointment of athletes, family and friends who settled for ribbons instead of medals, once again I’m sorry to read that you and others were not able to achieve this goal. I know that the medals are an important motivator to a number of swimmers, in some cases so important that the swimmer fails to recognize and appreciate the accomplishment of having a good time or just finishing the race. I know, because I used to focus more on winning then on competing and was often disappointed with personal best times that weren’t medal winners. I now try to cherish the journey as much as the destination and look at swimming based on was I happy with my swim not did I win.
But, back to your thread. If you feel that Masters should not attend the Senior Games you should take this up with the National Senior Games Association. I’d be interested to hear what they have to say about this.
Margaret,
I guess I'm still a bit puzzled. With all the things you have going for you with swimming and attending Sr. Olympics, why do you care so much where you finished? Sure, I like to win, but if the price of victory is excluding from the meet someone who is eligible and interested in competing, then the price is too high. I just don't understand how someone can believe that something is "her medal" (to qoute your first post) when someone else, who is eligible, swam a legal, legitimate time that was faster.
Minor point: If I wanted to, I could go to a trophy store, and buy myself a great, big one. Then I could have my own awards banquet, and give myself the First Annual Award to the person who best represents my ethics and values. And, it would be the sound of one hand clapping. If these inexpensive baubles we call "medals" have any meaning at all, that meaning is that you fairly beat all the other people who showed up. Monkey with that meaning, and you get the sound of one hand clapping.
Major point: don't get hung up over awards, especially if you are like me--a mediocre competitive swimmer. No one, not even a World Record Holder, has any guarantee about where they finish. Craig Beardsley was the World Record Holder in the 200 fly in 1980, but the U.S. boycotted those Olympics. In 1984 he didn't even make the U.S. Olympic Team. No matter how accomplished you are, in the most obscure of sports, TIASNFCWIJALBBTY (There Is Always Some Nut From California Who Is Just A Little Bit Better Than You). Appreciate all the other great things about swimming.
One last boring story about awards, then I'll shut-up. At 2001 LC Nationals, I placed (10th out of 10) in the 800 free, which pleased me greatly. At Nationals, everyone who swims gets a plaque, and if you place in the top 10, you get a small medal plate that has your place and event on it (gold for 1st, silver for 2nd...) I put my 800 free plate on it, and I also got similar plates engraved with my other events, and times. In contrast at 2002 LC Nationals, I did not place in any events, but I did get to swim on a relay with my father and my sister. On my plaque I mounted a photo of our relay team. THAT is how I chose to remember 2002 LCN's, and the 2002 plaque looks way cooler than the 2001.
