There has been a lot of discussion since Athens about foreign swimmers training in the United States. Most of them attend U.S. Universities, receive athletic scholarships, and compete at NCAA's. Some notable examples include Duje Draganja (Cal), Fred Bousquet and Kirsty Coventry (Auburn), Markus Rogan (Stanford), and the South African sprinters (Arizona). Some train in the U.S., but don't compete for a university (Inge de Bruijn). All of these athletes benefit from U.S. coaching, from training with U.S. swimmers, and in some cases, from financial support provided by U.S. entities (athletic scholarships). They all turn around and then win medals for other countries.
A couple questions: 1) What do you think about this arrangement generally? 2) Is it of benefit or detriment to U.S. swimming to have these foreign athletes training and competing here? 3) Should we be giving athletic scholarships, which are a scarce resource in swimming, to foreign athletes who will represent their own countries internationally instead of U.S.-born swimmers who will represent us internationally?
I'm sure there are other issues, but these come directly to mind.
Parents
Former Member
Frank,
I fully realize that things will not change. I am in no position of clout to make them change either.
I have no objections to foreigners training and competing in the US. My objection is one of cash flow. Sure it's great to have a fast foreigner to workout against to make you and him better at the same time. Bring everyone over if they can afford to come. Fine with me.
What I object to is inducing this behavior with American scholarship money at the expense of the kids that have worked hard and paid a price here in the States.
If the NCAA would get off its butt and give swimming 25 -30 scholarships/team to play with my argument would probably fall to pieces. But thats not going to happen either.
John Smith
Frank,
I fully realize that things will not change. I am in no position of clout to make them change either.
I have no objections to foreigners training and competing in the US. My objection is one of cash flow. Sure it's great to have a fast foreigner to workout against to make you and him better at the same time. Bring everyone over if they can afford to come. Fine with me.
What I object to is inducing this behavior with American scholarship money at the expense of the kids that have worked hard and paid a price here in the States.
If the NCAA would get off its butt and give swimming 25 -30 scholarships/team to play with my argument would probably fall to pieces. But thats not going to happen either.
John Smith
