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.
Former Member
In my case I don't have a story. Just your average middle age overweight computer nerd, mother of 2, who liked to exercise but was looking for something with less impact. Tried swimming, really like it, and now it is tied with weight lifting for favorite exercise. And it did help me not to be overweight anymore, that and diet.
Sorry Elaine. I had to delete the post three times before getting the picture right. Aquageek, it's is as easy for me as some say the 'fly is for them.
Ion:
Just a suggestion here….
Dorothy and MarkMD are both last bloomers to our sport. NEITHER swimmer has lamented on starting late in life or used that fact to justify times that may not meet NQT’ or Top Ten Times or times that are competitive within their age groups. NOT ONE TIME!
Each of these swimmers has accepted the fact that they came to swimming late in life and are making the best of the sport they now chose to compete and enjoy. I know Mark well, he is my friend and I have talked with him many times regarding his swimming, swimming expectations, goals, stroke, attitude, swim meet strategy, swim times and most of all what he brings…(dedication) to the table we call USMS.
Marks’ attitude is one of the basic foundations or tenants of Masters Swimming. He swims to remain fit, good health, camaraderie with his fellow swimmers and for the love of the sport. Mark enters competitions and swims the best he can and never gives a second thought to WHAT times he COULD have swam had he began swimming as a child. In fact, Mark is relentless in his goal to become a faster swimmer and to someday swim NQT’s..and be more competitive within his age group.
I will not belabor my point here Ion, but suffice it to say, perhaps you should rethink your late bloomer thought process and take the lead from these two swimmers, because they are perfect examples of WINNERS…..Currently, they may not swim times that are competitive within their age groups, but they are serious winners because they do the best they can, they get the big picture as to what Masters Swimming is about and they do not make excuses for times that are slower then people who began later in life. That my friend, in my humble opinion, is United States Masters Swimming.
I don't, I swim, I have fun. I try to improve.
I was also told that I could be a woman body builder because I pack on the muscle really well. This was in my 20's. I enjoy lifting weights but not to that extent, blah. Plus, I like to eat too much! :)
I think that some people, like Ion have a hard time letting what was, be what was. The other thing is the fact that Ion does put tremendous effort into his swimming and gets beat by what he perceives as people who do not work hard. I have seen this time and time again in the age group program. So and so's kid goes to practice works their butt off, and then this other kid who barely goes, steps up on the blocks and performs. It is a fact that people have talent in varying degrees, and there is not a darn thing any of us can do about it. Yes improvement can be made through hard work and technique, but there are times that won't be enough. My advise to the parents of the hard worker who vents is to look at their kids own personal progress and improvements, not compare to others. That is my advise to Ion also.
I guess I am just surprised to see this surface at an adult level. Most people learn this early on in life.
Anyway, geek, you gotta story, or you just a fish who swims and enjoys the water like the rest of us?
Gosh Tom, I am blushing, thanks.
Seriously, I decided I am just going to outlast the competition. Longevity is in my family, and I noticed the numbers of swimmers go down seriously after a certain age. If I can't get there by time, I will get there by age! :)
Of course Nadine will follow along and break every record I am going to get in the 90 year category and break it since she is 10 years younger than me. Dang!
Surprisingly, that is what I discovered. It just feels really, really good to swim. It made me understand why my children go to practice without too much complaining. Why they can be in a terrible mood before practice and come out whistling.
I can feel good after a hard weight lifting session, or a cardio class of some sort, but not the way I feel after swimming.
It also made me understand how difficult it is. And how a child can not be expected to go to a meet and attain best times everytime. Another thing I see parents do. I think every swim parent should get in and try a meet. It will make them understand how much meets take out of their kids and that every competitor just does what they have in them that day. No child purposely throws a race.
Another topic, I know.
Since the thread was dedicated to Ion:
I don't dispute the fact that he has done well in spite of his late start. He's posted some solid times and is close to the NQT for the 1000, no small feat for a late starter. His dedication to the sport and his work ethic are impressive. What I object to is the way he tries to arbitrarily handicap the system to place himself at or near the top of USMS swimmers, in the process discounting or dismissing the efforts and achievements of others. I don't believe this represents good sportsmanship, which is part of being a great athlete.
Zoomer,
(a calm question- not at all sarcastic, truly) I don't know how you came up with the idea that this thread was to inflame Ion? It was taking a constantly negative "thing" and putting a positive spin on it. Ion's posts did inspire it. I have better things to do than try to inflame Ion, besides I've decided I'm discontent and need some challenges, inflaming Ion isn't a challenge (from what I've seen). Now, keeping me from becoming inflamed, that's another story!
I am really hoping to hear what goes on in the lives of other Master's swimmers. There is such huge diversity out there! On our own team we have Olympians and 50 year olds learning to swim; millionaires and USS coaches barely making a living, we have teachers, cops, judges, doctors, nurses, etc... and everyone is truly fascinating. I think that's one cool thing about Masters- everybody is old enough to have had an interesting life, or at least interesting experiences.
Again, let me reiterate my intent was not to inflame Ion. I'm sorry that that was your interpretation. Going to Nationals?
