here's another recent swimming article
U.S. needs true sprinters
Phelps willing to compete in 100 free, but he's better at other strokes, distances.
www.indystar.com/.../article
It all depends on the superstar swimmer of the moment. That's who the kids gravitate to.
1988 Olympics: Matt Biondi and Janet Evans. So things were pretty even in terms of sprinters and distance swimmers.
1992 Olympics: Mike Barrowman. Lots of breastrokers.
1994-1997: Gary Hall. Sprinters up the wazoo. The press wonders if any American will break 15 minutes, as three Australians blast through the barrier.
1998-2000: Tom Dolan. Distance swimming on the upswing. Also the time when the first American man breaks 15 minutes.
2000-present: Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. Emphasis returns on middle distance free and strokes.
Sure, there were other stars at the time. But these were the biggies. And since they were prominent, all the up and comers looked at them and said, "That's who I want to be." And they worked to become them.
It all depends on the superstar swimmer of the moment. That's who the kids gravitate to.
1988 Olympics: Matt Biondi and Janet Evans. So things were pretty even in terms of sprinters and distance swimmers.
1992 Olympics: Mike Barrowman. Lots of breastrokers.
1994-1997: Gary Hall. Sprinters up the wazoo. The press wonders if any American will break 15 minutes, as three Australians blast through the barrier.
1998-2000: Tom Dolan. Distance swimming on the upswing. Also the time when the first American man breaks 15 minutes.
2000-present: Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. Emphasis returns on middle distance free and strokes.
Sure, there were other stars at the time. But these were the biggies. And since they were prominent, all the up and comers looked at them and said, "That's who I want to be." And they worked to become them.
