ethiniticity

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 08:04:20 GMT

Many Asian countries stopped pushing swimming as a major sport after WWII. Now they are on a come back. Still, in Japan, the number one participatory sport for women is long distance running. that very much blows the stereo type most in the USA have of Janpanese women. Also, many swimmers come from swimming families. There has really been a tradition of asian swimmers in the US, has there?

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 16:07:32 GMT

Kitajima is just over 5 feet 7 inches, if he is measured at 5' 10" he was cheating again:D I think size and ethnicity has nothing to do with it. In Southern Kalifornia there are large districts with asian majorities, and they have GREAT swim teams. Last year I was fortunate to coach a 12 year old asian boy, all he did was 2:19 for his 200 yard breaststroke:p As to genetics, consider Claudia and Sylvia Poll from Costa Rica. Of German extraction, they both are over 6 foot tall. Yet is a distance race a smaller size like Janet Evans may be helpfull. She was barely 5'4 inches when she destroyed the World records of the 400, 800 and 1500 meters. We are fortunate to have a sport like swimming where the size of your heart and will power mean as much as genetics.

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 15:57:45 GMT

I understand that Natalie Coughlin's mother is Filipino, and Natalie is 5'7" which is not super tall for a swimmer. I have never been to China, but I've heard that there are some very tall people there. China is a HUGE country, with people of all shapes and sizes, and Asia is an even HUGER continent, with people of many different races. I don't think we can label them all as "short". I have heard a convincing argument about certain races or geographical areas not producing swimmers which is that there are not pools or swimmable waterways available for training where they live. In many countries in the world water is so scarse, it is needed for drinking, and the population does not have the luxury of water to swim in. I believe that all races, if provided with the water and facilities, are capable of swimming competitively.

RE: ethiniticity

knelson — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 12:02:14 GMT

Originally posted by Alicat Is "competitive” swimming a cultural thing and therefore HUGE in some countries like Australia or US and not such the rage like in Africa or the Middle East? Granted the last Olympics (2004) we saw some really awesome races from countries that no one thought would be competitive. Something pretty impressive about the Olympics this year was swimmers from five continents won medals. I doubt that has ever happened before!

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 11:37:33 GMT

I believe Yao Ming (Houston Rockets) is over 6 feet. Many people don't realize that the genetic differences between races are less than the differences between any two (unrelated) individuals. The concept of race is not grounded in science (unlike the classification of species, etc.).

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 06:51:31 GMT

is listed on various NBA sites as being either 7' 5" OR 7' 6" (not a huge difference when you're THAT tall). One of my sports med docs (also Chinese) has a picture taken of the two of them---the doctor is only about 5' 7"---comes to just above his elbow!

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 05:03:36 GMT

Both the Kirk sisters are half-asian. Their mother is chinese. But I agree that having to be over 6 foot for men and 5'8" for women makes it hard for asians and hispanics to succeed at the higher levels of swimming and that also goes for us short white people as well.

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 14:20:33 GMT

Go back a little further the Japanese swimmers were the ones to beat, in the 1932 Olympics. Their mens team won many more golds than even the USA team. I was not born then but my coach always told us your body size was not important and always referred to the way the Japanese swam in 1932. George

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 14:11:28 GMT

Wow flashback to the dolphin kick posts for Kosuke Kitajima --bad memories man, bad memories... Some of the best swimmers have been on the smaller side, Janet Evens for example, most of her record breaking swims were done before she actually hit her major growth spirt. Asian countries have not really hit it too big in swimming in the past few years --lets say 10 years, unless it was for controversy for steroid use in the women's sector. Is "competitive” swimming a cultural thing and therefore HUGE in some countries like Australia or US and not such the rage like in Africa or the Middle East? Granted the last Olympics (2004) we saw some really awesome races from countries that no one thought would be competitive. Do athletes train in one country and represent in their homeland have better results (yea I kinda think so after seeing some of the Olympic athletes who train in the US or swim in US colleges and place awesome in the Olympics for their homelands!) However, I tend to think that the US is a very wealthy country and swimming is a sport that requires families, the individual to foot a big bill for the enjoyment of the sport (club fees, USA swimming membership, travel, meets, suits goggles, caps, training tools, etc) and it is not until a swimmer hits a certain time zone/cut that the national team will pick them up for sponsorship/scholarship. Maybe some other countries don't subscribe to this type of athletic system and therefore the athlete has to pick up the financial burden in other ways in addition to training. But after all this rambling, does it matter what ethnicity some one is in regards to how they will perform as a swimmer? No way! Genetics plays a part in one's physical attributes and talents, but the environment can play a bigger role and compensate for genetics. Most important is the desire and enjoyment of the swimming.

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 12:20:07 GMT

Well, How about breaststroker Kosuke Kitajima from Japan.The guy is just 5'10'', but amazing!

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 10:01:16 GMT

Agreed, ethnicity has nothing to do with it. Technique and training will make you the best swimmer you can be.

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 08:25:17 GMT

Originally posted by spintwo Why don't we see any big Asian swimmers? Are their body composition just not suitable for swimming. I'm of direct Asian descent and I want to know if I can become good in the sport. Ang Peng Siong "Fastest Swimmer In The World" 1982 www.apsswim.com/angPS.htm

RE: ethiniticity

Former Member — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 07:03:05 GMT

Ethinicty has nothing to do with becoming a good swimmer. Lots of hard work and good technique will make you a good swimmer :)