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.
some thoughts/opinions:
- John & Sam, you sound like a couple of cranky old ladies and have seriously hijacked this thread; settle it in the pool, may I suggest you two go for cumulative time for the 50, 100 & 200 back in Coral Springs?!
- Bad behavior? Gary was out of line as were the two idiots in Seoul.......but neither compares to the contiuning antics we see every four years of our lovely mens track team!! Bottom line is if its not going to be enforced by the coaching staff and/or the USOC then we live with it.
- Geek....thought you we're posting from the NC pen this whole time, at least thats what Gull told us!
- Sam......come on dude, you and Killen both share the same "hat" and JS called you on it!!
some thoughts/opinions:
- John & Sam, you sound like a couple of cranky old ladies and have seriously hijacked this thread; settle it in the pool, may I suggest you two go for cumulative time for the 50, 100 & 200 back in Coral Springs?!
- Bad behavior? Gary was out of line as were the two idiots in Seoul.......but neither compares to the contiuning antics we see every four years of our lovely mens track team!! Bottom line is if its not going to be enforced by the coaching staff and/or the USOC then we live with it.
- Geek....thought you we're posting from the NC pen this whole time, at least thats what Gull told us!
- Sam......come on dude, you and Killen both share the same "hat" and JS called you on it!!