I spawn this thread off the "illegal drugs" thread because this is not really a discussion on illegal drugs in masters meet.
To be honest to you guys, the thread really broke my heart. I'm a newbie in masters swimming and I've been working my a** off to improve my strokes and time, so that I can eventually win something in a masters swim meet. I will never ever cheat, it's against my principle.
Well ... if people are cheating in masters meet, then I start to wonder what's the point of working so hard on improving my stroke and time. Swimming is not my career, I love doing it and it's a healthy hobby for me. What's the point of entering a master's swim meet? Isn't it stupid to be so hard headed? Maybe you guys can give me some reasons why I should continue to work hard and having "winning a masters swim meet" as a goal.
Thank You!
Parents
Former Member
The discussion about "cheating" in the other thread may be interesting, but it is basically pointless. First, let's define cheating. It is breaking the rules. If a swimmer breaks the rules in terms of technique or execution and is caught by the ref, s/he is disqualified.
As for performance enhancing substances. Well, if someone is taking EPO or steroids prescribed by a physician to address a medical necessity, then so be it. Those instances are, I'm guessing, few and far between and nothing worth worrying about.
As to those souls who may ingest illegal or legal substances in order to swim fast at a masters meet, then just feel sorry for them. How pathetic must one's life be that s/he is so driven to win a masters event that they would put something in their body that could hurt them just to get an advantage over their competitors.
Pity those sad, pathetic losers and go about your own business as if they don't exist . . . because (a) they probably don't and (b) if they do what do you really care and why would you waste time worrying about them?
The discussion about "cheating" in the other thread may be interesting, but it is basically pointless. First, let's define cheating. It is breaking the rules. If a swimmer breaks the rules in terms of technique or execution and is caught by the ref, s/he is disqualified.
As for performance enhancing substances. Well, if someone is taking EPO or steroids prescribed by a physician to address a medical necessity, then so be it. Those instances are, I'm guessing, few and far between and nothing worth worrying about.
As to those souls who may ingest illegal or legal substances in order to swim fast at a masters meet, then just feel sorry for them. How pathetic must one's life be that s/he is so driven to win a masters event that they would put something in their body that could hurt them just to get an advantage over their competitors.
Pity those sad, pathetic losers and go about your own business as if they don't exist . . . because (a) they probably don't and (b) if they do what do you really care and why would you waste time worrying about them?
