Canadian trials on CBC

What, you don't think people swim in Canada!?? Their trials have been going on this week, too, and there have been some pretty fast swims.

Canada? You must be joking.

wow-keep me updated

Thank you, Swimlong, for your excellent response to what seemed to me to be another example of our American propensity to insensitivity/national chauvinism. I was embarrased by the first comment, and agree with you that in this instance and context, we are swimmers first rather than nationalists.

I also agree with swimlong. Swim for fitness. Swim for fun. If you happen to be fast enough....swim for your country. I think any country's Olympic trials would be interesting to watch. Thumbs down on the attitude in the earlier post!

Originally posted by swimlong "Canada? You must be joking." This quote has bothered me for several days. I wonder what you meant by it? Same for me. I decided to let it go, though. No, I've never lived in Canada, and will always root for the U.S. swimmer to win over the Canadian, but that doesn't mean I don't follow Canadian swimming somewhat and wish their swimmers well. Not to mention, how much swimming do we get to watch on TV? Not much. I'll take what I can get!

"Canada? You must be joking." This quote has bothered me for several days. I wonder what you meant by it? Is it a slander of Canadian swimmers? Ethnocentric blathering? Ignorance? A critique on the woefull lack of swimming coverage by the Canadian media? All/none of the above? The USA beats Canada, hands (fins?) down, no doubt - anyone who can count Olympic medals and world records understands this. However.... given that this is a Masters swimming site, where "fun, fitness, friendship and participation" are touted - where is this comment coming from? Do you feel better, faster, more manly, more muscular, more VO2 capable simply by virtue of the geographic area where your mother gave birth? If so, maybe your mom should be getting the accolades, not you or the US swimming team... I am not replying to the post to debate "who's better - Canada or the US". I'm about celebrating swimming - good efforts, good performances, whatever. It may be a world record, a personal record, or a personal goal that doesn't necessarily relate to times or race placement. I may swim beside you at a future meet. You won't recognize me as a Canadian - I don't have a maple leaf tatooed anywhere - but hopefully you will recognize me as a fellow swimmer, competitor, and person. And if you beat me, I'll congratulate your win and thank you for the competition. And if I beat you, I'll congratulate your effort and thank you for the competition. Because without other swimmers, there would be no race. Canada? I'm not kidding. We're swimmers, too.

Swimming Canada has about 50,000 competitive swimmers, roughly the same proportion of swimmers as in the USA. I caught the CBC coverage this afternoon, thanks Kirk for posting the notice.

I noticed Canada is following the lead of several others countries that require their swimmers make very stringent time standards in addition to placing top two to ensure their spot on the Olympic team. For example, in the men's 100 *** only one swimmer made the time standard. He makes the team. The second place swimmer didn't make the cut, so he's off the team, BUT the third place swimmer, Morgan Knabbe, is on the team since he bettered the standard last summer in Barcelona. In the women's 200 IM, which is a pretty strong event for the Canadian women, no one made the cut, so no one makes the team! I really hate this system. Would these swimmers have embarrassed Canada in Athens? I seriously doubt it. It's bad enough when only two people get to go in each event, to further reduce the number is patently ridiculous in my book. I really hope some of these countries reconsider their policies.

Population of US approx 293 million. Populastion of Canada 30 million, ( 1/10th of US ) Population of Britain 60 million, ( 1/5th of US ) Population of Australia 20 million, ( 1 /14th of US ) We should think about these statistics whenever we compare countries results, especially at Olympics, World Championships and World records. On a population basis the other countries especially Australia should be unable to compete against the US. The fact that they can come close, and with Australia maybe win a straight medal count in comparison to the US means that they are actually performing better than America. Also the performance of American swimming should be adjusted for the huge population advantage before figuring out how well the swim programme is really doing. Simply put, the US should always win overwhelmingly against any other country as they have far more people to draw from.