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
Skip.......
What country won the gold in the 400m free relay at Greece while training a majority of its members at a US college?
The 400m free was one of the last "Americas Cup" achievements for the US. We don't take losing this event lightly.
When the US wins the 400m free relay in Beijing, I will hold my beer high in the air to salute.
Until then........ battles must be won. This is not about friendly international cultural exhanges on the blocks. This race (and the medley) demonstrate the depth, power and superiority of a country's cumulative swimming program. We need to take this event back and grind them into a fine powder.
End of discussion.
John Smith
Skip.......
What country won the gold in the 400m free relay at Greece while training a majority of its members at a US college?
The 400m free was one of the last "Americas Cup" achievements for the US. We don't take losing this event lightly.
When the US wins the 400m free relay in Beijing, I will hold my beer high in the air to salute.
Until then........ battles must be won. This is not about friendly international cultural exhanges on the blocks. This race (and the medley) demonstrate the depth, power and superiority of a country's cumulative swimming program. We need to take this event back and grind them into a fine powder.
End of discussion.
John Smith
