Foreign swimmers training in the U.S.

Former Member
Former Member
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.
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Originally posted by Steve Ruiter I'm lost. Is this where I pick up my Klan robe and mask? This is one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever read on here. It just amazes me that when someone expresses an opinion about the US being somewhat disadvantaged due to foreign swimmers taking scholarships from very talented US swimmers it devolves into veiled comments that that is some sort of racist view. Give me a break! I am done with this discussion. You know where I stand and you can agree with me or agree to disagree. Since now those of us with this view are now perceived as Klansmen, I'll just sit at home in my white sheet and burn crosses in front of all the foreign swimmers yards.
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  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Originally posted by Steve Ruiter I'm lost. Is this where I pick up my Klan robe and mask? This is one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever read on here. It just amazes me that when someone expresses an opinion about the US being somewhat disadvantaged due to foreign swimmers taking scholarships from very talented US swimmers it devolves into veiled comments that that is some sort of racist view. Give me a break! I am done with this discussion. You know where I stand and you can agree with me or agree to disagree. Since now those of us with this view are now perceived as Klansmen, I'll just sit at home in my white sheet and burn crosses in front of all the foreign swimmers yards.
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