If I am reading this right, Swiminfo.com is reporting that Craig Stevens is indeed going to back out of the 400 and leave it up to Australia Swimming to "pick another member of the Olympic Team" to swim that race in Athens. If I am ANY other country, swimmer, the 3rd place finisher at the Trials or an organization interested in ethics, then I am raising a stink on this one!!!! Thorpe DQ'd and the Aussies are going to skirt the rule and get him in anyway. They would be relegated to the status of Ben Johnson, Rosie Ruiz, and the 60+% of MLB who are on steriods! This is FREAKIN' UNBELIEVABLE. I have no respect for any of the aforementioned and if this happens, none for Ian Thorpe and the Australian swim federation (or whatever official name they hide behind) are in that seeming, stinking pile.
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Former Member
Shaky,
Your point is well taken, but go the other way - Stevens is number 2 and he doesn't want to give up his spot, but the Aussie swim federation drops him in favor of Thorpe, because they are allowed to appoint whoever they want (doesn't sound too fair). As for the rules and how they can be bent or skewed. I believe it was Jeff Kostoff who helped a team mate qualify for the nationals in the 1500 (I believe it was the 1500, maybe 1650, and I can't remembr the team mates name). Now this team mate was still a few seconds from the time standard and Kostoff had all ready qualified so at this qualifying meet, at the first turn Kostoff misjudged his turn and ended up in his teammates lane (Kostoff is disqualified but continues to swim ahead of his teammate who benefits from drafting and makes his qualifying time once again no rules broken but definitely lack of sportsmanship ).
Lastly call it like is, if they are going to reserve the right to appoint who they want then call it the Olympic Team swimming tryouts.
Shaky,
Your point is well taken, but go the other way - Stevens is number 2 and he doesn't want to give up his spot, but the Aussie swim federation drops him in favor of Thorpe, because they are allowed to appoint whoever they want (doesn't sound too fair). As for the rules and how they can be bent or skewed. I believe it was Jeff Kostoff who helped a team mate qualify for the nationals in the 1500 (I believe it was the 1500, maybe 1650, and I can't remembr the team mates name). Now this team mate was still a few seconds from the time standard and Kostoff had all ready qualified so at this qualifying meet, at the first turn Kostoff misjudged his turn and ended up in his teammates lane (Kostoff is disqualified but continues to swim ahead of his teammate who benefits from drafting and makes his qualifying time once again no rules broken but definitely lack of sportsmanship ).
Lastly call it like is, if they are going to reserve the right to appoint who they want then call it the Olympic Team swimming tryouts.
