I like the article in swim Magazine about Rita Egan and Sylvia powell. These women are not your typical slim young swimmers that are elite swimmers but like the rest of us ordinary. Actually, given my previous background in swimming I'm also won of these average jills. As a youth I swam the 100 meter *** at 1:30 and as a 46 at 1:43.31. So, many of us do it for enjoyment and some exercise knowing that we will never be at the top of the pack. I think we should have more of these stories?. And Ion believe me you are not that bad. You did a 2:31 200 meter freestyle. I recently swam a 3:15. So don't feel bad and their is alot more competition in the men than in the women in 45 to 49. Not saying that their are not good swimmers in the women.
Ion, you certainly have a right to express your opinion that you don't like the content of SWIM magazine. Where you are out of line is dismissing Rita's story simply because she is overweight. I happen to know Rita. She was a fixture at all the Kentucky meets before she moved away. And she's a delightful person. Relentlessly cheerful, positive, funny, intelligent, supportive. I never swam at a meet with her that she didn't come up to me and congratulate me on my own swimming. She has good strokes, and as she says herself is actually not a bad breaststroker. I find her story inspirational. In spite of serious health problems, she continues to make the effort to get to the pool and work out. Yes, she might do herself another favor by skipping the ice cream and cookies afterwards, but the same could be said of me (and probably a hefty -- pun intended -- percentage of USMS members).
I enjoy reading articles about the truly gifted Masters swimmers, and about stroke technique, but a steady diet of only that would bore me. I appreciate Phil and Bill's efforts to broaden the scope of the magazine, so that everyone can find something that interests them. I found the "funky pool" article to be a lot of fun, and also enjoyed getting to know Mike Collins a little better. You didn't like the article about Rita? Fine. But some of us enjoyed it very much.
Ion, you certainly have a right to express your opinion that you don't like the content of SWIM magazine. Where you are out of line is dismissing Rita's story simply because she is overweight. I happen to know Rita. She was a fixture at all the Kentucky meets before she moved away. And she's a delightful person. Relentlessly cheerful, positive, funny, intelligent, supportive. I never swam at a meet with her that she didn't come up to me and congratulate me on my own swimming. She has good strokes, and as she says herself is actually not a bad breaststroker. I find her story inspirational. In spite of serious health problems, she continues to make the effort to get to the pool and work out. Yes, she might do herself another favor by skipping the ice cream and cookies afterwards, but the same could be said of me (and probably a hefty -- pun intended -- percentage of USMS members).
I enjoy reading articles about the truly gifted Masters swimmers, and about stroke technique, but a steady diet of only that would bore me. I appreciate Phil and Bill's efforts to broaden the scope of the magazine, so that everyone can find something that interests them. I found the "funky pool" article to be a lot of fun, and also enjoyed getting to know Mike Collins a little better. You didn't like the article about Rita? Fine. But some of us enjoyed it very much.
