Geek, please.. don't get me wrong. The man is amazing! I was one cheering him on during that race. But the fact is, he knowingly went against the team rules. Whether he won Gold,or came in dead last doesn't change the fact that he broke a rule. He paid the price. He moves on. I personally agree with Tom, and think he should have been given the boot after the relay stunt! Of course, that's my own personal opinion. If one of the kids on my age group or High School teams did that, they would be sitting and watching swimming from the stands, whether they were State Qualifiers or not.
Makes me wonder if an individual could qualify for the Olympics individually? I mean if he is the fastest in his given event in the country? What about other countries that may only have one swimmer representing them? Individuals qualify for championships at every other level? What if he represented the U.S. but was on team "B" for example? Might sound stupid but it just makes me wonder.
Don't know for sure, but each country that is a member of the IOC can send representatives. I am thinking only one team per country, otherwise that British sprinter could have gone alone.
The fact that he wore the wrong "uniform" was adressed with a fine and should be over. The fine is justified. To me, this is not a major deal.
I agree with tjburk - the relay stunt told me a lot about Gary. Maybe Gary really isn't a self centered, whiny crybaby - but my only knowledge of his personality is that he did skip the race even though he was the alternate. If I ever met him in person, I would think he is the crybaby until I learned otherwise. This is definately a major deal.
Originally posted by tjburk
Don't know for sure, but each country that is a member of the IOC can send representatives. I am thinking only one team per country, otherwise that British sprinter could have gone alone.
The only way to be able to participate in the Olympics is by being sent buy your country's recognized Olympic organizing body (in our case USOC) which, in turn usually extends this authority to it's recognized national governing body for each sport (in this case USA Swimming).
Both USOC and USAS may impose whatever restrictions they please on individual participation (as long as such restrictions do not run amok of IOC and FINA rules).
No individual has the right nor the privilege to participate in the Olympics without being selected/designated by his country's Olympic and sport organizing bodies.
I really believe that Gary was upset over teh 4x100 relay primarily due to his experience at Sydney. He really wanted revenge on the Aussie's and stated in an interview that he takes that event very personally.
His comments about Phelp's getting the nod over him in order to get another chance at gold wasn;t off the mark. I believe that he and Phelps have very similar times in teh 100 free, Hall may be a few ticks faster even. His not attending the event to support his team is the only real issue that I had with him during these Olympics. His gripe was with the coaches decision, not with the swimmers. I believe that he should have at least been there to root them on. However, given the very personal nature in which he takes the event, I can definitely see why he was upset about the snub.
So why was our third or fourth fastest swimmer (with Olympic experience) left off the relay?
The uniform rule was enforced in this case precisely because it was Gary Hall, to prove a pont.
Again...
Gary Hall Jr. has a great swimming record and many Olympic Medals to show for his years of hard work. The ONLY REAL problem I have with the issues surrounding this Olympic Games is his no show for the Men’s 4 X 200 Free Relay. He was the back up swimmer on that relay and by NOT showing up at the Olympic Aquatic Center in Athens for that relay put his entire team in the breach.
As for his wearing his own sponsors robe, well, I see both sides on this issue but the guy has earned the right to be a bit off the wall. Having said that, the real issue should be his putting his team as RISK by not showing up for the 4 X 200 Free Relay!
