I have been so busy with the XI FINA Masters World Championships, I have not been able to report some of the other things that I learned at the FINA Bureau meeting in Dubai last month.
One of the great things about going to the meetings is the ability to develop personal relationships with the members of the Bureau. On Saturday afternoon, the Bureau meetings were finished. I was walking through the lobby of the beautiful Fairmont Dubai, at one table was Cornel Marculescu, FINA Executive Director, Bill Matson and Dale Neuburger, our FINA rep.
I got called over to them and we talked about the championships to be held at Stanford. After a couple of glasses of wine, somehow the conversation got on the topic of evening out the competition. I told them that when I was in high school in San Francisco, they had a system of exponents for teams and a person could have no more than x amount of points (points were given for age, height and weight). This way you could have a basketball team of people of about like physical ability playing the game.
Bill Matson said that FINA Masters Committee was looking at differenciating the records. The FINA Bureau wants to be more inclusive and the ability to have more records. When you have different types of records more people can go after them.- it will create more excitement and maybe more people will want to swim Masters As FINA is divided into different geographical segments North America, South American, Europe, Asia and Pacific the FINA Masters Committee will be recommending that the records be kept for those areas. (I thought I heard that this was being proposed by the French who wanted there swimmers to be able to get international recognition – there best women Masters swimmers are in the same age group as Laura Val).
Dale said that the US is been opposed to this and that he and June Krauser have been working to keep it in committee, but it looks like he does not have the votes to keep it there. The US thinks that there should be only one set of records and in the current format.
He also said that there is going to be “super category” of Masters records. Masters Masters (age 40-59) and Senior Masters (60+). Cornel said that Walt Reid, who keeps track of all the International Masters Records, while initially opposed to the idea, has developed the software to handle all the new data that will be coming in.
Dale said FINA Masters will be recommending that the Federations have new categories for swimmers who were not age group swimmers (he thought this was marketing than from the competition committee). I laughed and said yea – right – the next thing you would do is to keep records on the BMI (Body Mass Index Scale). Cornel said that was considerd but they would like to see some other changes made first.
Bill said that all that is left to do is that it has to pass the FINA Masters Committee. They will be meeting in Riccione, Italy just before the X FINA Masters World Championships. (Dale thinks that the French and Europeans have the votes to get it through). After it passes there, it will go the the FINA Congress (In past years, it met at the same time as the Olympics, but starting with this Congress, it will meet at the World Championships).
Anyway, that is what I learned at Dubai. And thought you might like to know.
michael
Former Member
Originally posted by Ion Beza
You don't but me I do complain that the challenge was not emphasized enough.
You always complain about something it's hard to keep track of what your latest beef is.
Ever heard the story of a boy that cried wolf?
I think some of y'all like to argue just to argue! Grab some popcorn everyone, the show is about to start again and again and again! Once again, Ion has come in and diverted a perfectly reasonable, fun and funny thread into the Ion show!
Ion, take a number from the little hand grenade looking thing and go sit in the corner until we call you!!!! Please!:D
Originally posted by Ion Beza
Not entirely.
I said that I value the internal but that I am not a monk and I performed well last year when cheered on by teammates.
One who was a champion of oneself is Tim Shaw, described in the book 'Four Champions, one Gold Medal'.
But he was not immune to external rewards either.
When he had anemia in 1976 and people were turning away from him in meets, he was affected too.
Ion, you have very different expectations of yourself, than you have of others. You expect people to support you and build you up, while you tear them down.
It doesn't work that way.
And, your statement that you're not a monk contradicts with your recent boast about your strength of character.
Your 'I'm not a monk' statement tells me there is lack of mental toughness that would make a person into a top competitor.
Ever heard a story of a speed skater Dan Jansen???
(sorry guys, speed skating is my other favorite sport)
And, I have a privilege to swim with Brian Godell. I'm sure somewhere deep down inside he likes a pat on his back, but the guy is so humble, you'd never know it. And it most definately does not affect his performance.
Ion, you have a lot to learn when it comes to emotional intelligence.
I have Jan/Feb Swim on my desk(don't have Connie's issue cause I tossed it before I knew she was in it, dang it!).
They highlight Caroline Drattli who is 41 and holds bunches of world records. Her training ethic certainly shows that she does not "rely" on her age group days, but is working hard now to achieve what she wants. No she does not put in 2 a days, or 8000 yard work-outs because it looks to me like she desires balance with family and other activities. I liked the article, I enjoy reading about the stars in the sport. It is followed by helpful breastsroke article.
There is an article about Brenda Bredvic and applying her art to her swimming. She was not an age group swimmer, took up swimming as rehab. This is an article about your average swimmer who has an interest in art and melds the two. Looks to me like this is an article more in line to what you want.
Coach Eddie Reese article was fun. An old guy who has coached a long time but been out of the water, gets back in and has to endure the scrutiny of the kids he coaches. Yes he was he was a good age grouper, but he is a guy who had been out of the water for 40 years. I found it light hearted and funny.
An article about a non swimmer who collects swimmer memorabilia, again an average Joe.
There is a picture of Gus Langner, 95 swimming his postal swim. Don't know if he was age group or not, but anyone 95 doing a postal swim has my vote as being inspirational!
I happen to think they do a pretty good job of covering the entire scope, world class, to average Joe.
Originally posted by Ion Beza
I differ with this:
Inspirational challenges are welcome by me.
There have been plenty of them for you right here in this forum. I haven't seen you taken any.
Originally posted by Ion Beza
For you, as little as you want.
For me, more emphasis than what you are happy with.
If this emphasis is intruding in your private life and you don't want more of this, then there are other challenges that can be emphasized.
Ion, you wouldn't be happy withh 9 gold medals, you lack something on the inside that three pounds of gold couldn't fill up.
The sad thing is, you're the only one that can fill that up, and no amount of praise or recogniotion is gonna do it.
Till you fill it up for yourself, that void stays with you no matter where you are.
Y'all are in luck. I rooted around this morning and unearthed my Eastern European Mad Communist to English dictionary. It's relatively small as it was written by someone with poor unqualficiations. However, obscurantism was an entry and has three known definitions, as follows:
1. obscurantism - A condition, or state of being, where one fabricates medical and developmental issues to explain substandard athletic performance. Most notably characterized by a lack of facts, lashing out a peope of different age/sex groups and ability to change stories on a dime when confronted with facts. A lesser known fact is that obscuratants may have bad hair due to improper use of V02Max shampoo.
2. obscurantism - lack of proper technique, most notably characterized by flop dives and double bilateral breathing.
3. obscurantism - synonymous with Ionish, a childlike desire to be accepted.
The antonyms of obscurantism are:
1. realism
2. Tom Ellisonism - noble condition where one relies on hard work, technique and does not make excuses.
If anyone requires my dictionary for further research, please let me know.
I did not know that, so since I have no advantage, I am not lazy. Actually it is true, I am not lazy, but do lean toward the fat side(especially if I don't swim), blows that theory!
Originally posted by Tom Ellison
Wow Connie:
I sure as heck would not want to be your boyfriend if you found another girls underwear in the bed……SMILE….and ….just kidding…..
You missed you calling my friend….You would have made an excellent Marine Corps Drill Instructor! You’re a tough guy in a very pretty ladies body….and that is a compliment.
BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Conniekat... my motto is: "Have claws - will travel." ;)
Hey, I'm just a poor little girl all alone and 6000 miles away from family, I have to fend for myself.
:D
PS. I've never had a boyfriend that would even think of finding himself near another girls underwear..... wonder why ;) ...okay, kidding, maybe, meybe not, yea, no, sure, maybe, hmmmph!
