People have tried to make it clear to you, Ion, that you will not be recognized by USMS or SWIM magazine unless you swim a lot faster. They have also tried to point out, in a nutshell, that your attitude comes across as sour grapes.
I am going to postulate that you would like to be recognized for overcoming whatever it is you have overcome. SWIM magazine doesn't have the space to do it. And they certainly don't have the manpower (interviewers and photographers) to cover every story there is to tell, especially in regard to overcoming adversity.
So, here it is. I wish everyone would take the chance to tell their stories. Think of it as a SWIM web page for sharing of personal histories.
I know Tom Ellison has an amazing story that I wish he would put here. I know of many other swimmers who have overcome tremendous adversity. I hope this thread will become an inspiration to us all, and that we will all realize, as I have lately, that: looking at the past can be painful, so don't (as long as you don't repeat it!), who knows what the future holds, so quit worrying about it, and be happy in the present because it's the only thing you really have control over.
Parents
Former Member
I just got back from a wonderful weekend swimming in my regional championship. It truly reminded me what master swimming is all about. I made a great friendship with someone who I competed with in the past and next year I'll be in the same age group swimming against her again. Yet that doesn't matter. What matters is that now we will encourage each other to do our best.
I am in agreement with Mark. My goal is to try and swim faster then I have in other meets. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. This weekend I only brought one of my times down out of seven.
After swimming a total of 2200 yrds in events, I had to get in the water for my last event which was the 400 I.M. My arms were killing me but I made it through. When I got out of the water I said a thank you to my daughter for being such a great cheerleader throughout the meet. She responded by saying "but you didn't win anything". This is when I explained to her that it is not about winning all the time. The most important thing is you get in and do the best you possibly can do on that day.
I might have only brought one of my times down but when I consider all that I have accomplished I am proud that I am even in the water. I may not be the best swimmer but I am a champion in my own heart. And I hope that all of us, no matter what are abilties are, feel the same way.
P.S. My team did win the championship in their division for the first time ever!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
I just got back from a wonderful weekend swimming in my regional championship. It truly reminded me what master swimming is all about. I made a great friendship with someone who I competed with in the past and next year I'll be in the same age group swimming against her again. Yet that doesn't matter. What matters is that now we will encourage each other to do our best.
I am in agreement with Mark. My goal is to try and swim faster then I have in other meets. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. This weekend I only brought one of my times down out of seven.
After swimming a total of 2200 yrds in events, I had to get in the water for my last event which was the 400 I.M. My arms were killing me but I made it through. When I got out of the water I said a thank you to my daughter for being such a great cheerleader throughout the meet. She responded by saying "but you didn't win anything". This is when I explained to her that it is not about winning all the time. The most important thing is you get in and do the best you possibly can do on that day.
I might have only brought one of my times down but when I consider all that I have accomplished I am proud that I am even in the water. I may not be the best swimmer but I am a champion in my own heart. And I hope that all of us, no matter what are abilties are, feel the same way.
P.S. My team did win the championship in their division for the first time ever!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
