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.
Originally posted by Tom Ellison
Regardless of the left...or the right....and NOTHING to do with min wage.....SHUT THE BORDERS.....and.............. I DO NOT GIVE A RATS A-- ABOUT LEFT OR RIGHT...JUST SHUT THE BORDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No idea how I assumed you preferred isolationism.
Originally posted by Tom Ellison
Heck, do not take my word for this....just ask any top ranked college swimmer in the USA what his or her ultimate goal is "in swimming"....and I bet dollars to donuts they tell you...TO SWIM IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES!
This is probably the ultimate goal of the swimmers, but the ultimate goal of college programs is to win NCAAs, and they're the ones offering college athletic scholarships--not USA Swimming.
Justforfun,
Sooooooooooo... was this what you were looking for when you posted your initial questions?
NOTE: Congratulations!!!!!! “Foreign swimmers training in the U.S.” has just passed “Transsexuals in the Olympics” and is now the 6th most active thread ever on this forum.
Originally posted by tjburk
I think it is a difference of opinion, so please don't call me or any other American bitter because we want what's best for our country.
How is limiting competition for our student athletes the best for our country?
Originally posted by tjburk
Can somebody tell me a College or University that is totally self sufficient? And does not rely on Federal Funding of some sort? I am sure there is one somewhere.
I doubt the $.50 of your federal tax bill that ends up funding a cancer study at a public university in North Carolina will adversely hamper the US's chances of gold at the next Olympics.
Originally posted by TheGoodSmith
One would hope that the athlete would use them wisely for scholastic endeavors to help professional advancement later in life, but this is NOT the motive behind an athletic scholarship.
This couldn't be further from the truth. When you consider that something like 're lucky if that's the case), realize through the admissions policy that extra curriculars make for a well rounded student and the committment to sports shows much more than just athletic ability. I am not denying that successful sports programs add prestige to a university, but the vast, vast, vast majority of college sports programs are a financial strain on a university.
And, so what if a college coach wants to further his career. Don't we all?
quote:
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Originally posted by Tom Ellison
Heck, do not take my word for this....just ask any top ranked college swimmer in the USA what his or her ultimate goal is "in swimming"....and I bet dollars to donuts they tell you...TO SWIM IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES!
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Geek, A few posts after I posted that, I clarified my stance to read as follows, for I had previously omitted illegal in my post.
"Connie:
You immigrated to this country legally and became a productive citizen, and in doing so actions like that are what made our country great. I am not espousing that we close our borders to everyone. "
You guys and girls can twist things around all you want for the sake of an argument!!! It's amazing!! But I still stand with Tom in saying...we have never...I REPEAT NEVER...anywhere suggested not letting anyone swim here that wants to!!! Please, bring them on from all over the world!!! But, let their country's Olympic Team pay for their ride!!! Not my hard earned tax dollars!!!!
