Goals have been clearly set for some time so those who qualify to the standards we’ve set will know they’re capable of returning from Athens having achieved something – they’re not simply going to the Olympic Games as excess baggage.
This is a quote from a very Henryk Lakomy, Sports science & fitness director at British Swimming.
So they feel that Mark Foster is excess baggage ! :mad:
He could win a medal, but i guess we will never know and that is one less medal for Britain. Ah well, there is always the breaststroke. Which seems to be the only stroke that UK swimmers can do well !:mad:
Originally posted by aquageek
1. I believe there are probably cases where a coach used unreasonable criteria but that doesn't mean someone deserves a spot on any team.
I should have used a better phrase than "unreasonable". If the coach says that they will take the fastest person in a particular time trial, and then decides after the fact to take the second fastest person for new reasons (like race, the parent is a golfing buddy, etc.), then I would say that the fastest kid deserves the spot.
2. This is not a law.
If you are discriminating by race or religion, yes it is a law.
If your money (by taxes or tuition) or going into support of the team, you have some responsibility on how it is used. And those spending it have some responsibility to make sure that selections are based on merit rather than personal whim.
3. A person who feels they are derserving of an Olympic spot is no different than a parent who thinks their kid deserves a spot on the football team.
Are you equating a likely majority of the Australian people, who think that Thorpe deserves to swim the 400, with these litigating "entitled" parents? Interesting take.
4. Everyone feels entitled these days. It's really annoying.
How Ionesque of you. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you meant "too many people feel entitled..."
Originally posted by aquageek
1. I believe there are probably cases where a coach used unreasonable criteria but that doesn't mean someone deserves a spot on any team.
I should have used a better phrase than "unreasonable". If the coach says that they will take the fastest person in a particular time trial, and then decides after the fact to take the second fastest person for new reasons (like race, the parent is a golfing buddy, etc.), then I would say that the fastest kid deserves the spot.
2. This is not a law.
If you are discriminating by race or religion, yes it is a law.
If your money (by taxes or tuition) or going into support of the team, you have some responsibility on how it is used. And those spending it have some responsibility to make sure that selections are based on merit rather than personal whim.
3. A person who feels they are derserving of an Olympic spot is no different than a parent who thinks their kid deserves a spot on the football team.
Are you equating a likely majority of the Australian people, who think that Thorpe deserves to swim the 400, with these litigating "entitled" parents? Interesting take.
4. Everyone feels entitled these days. It's really annoying.
How Ionesque of you. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you meant "too many people feel entitled..."
