Losers who daydream and miss their heat

I wonder ... If this were, oh, Gary Hall Jr. (or even Sr.) missing his heat of the 50 fly because he was gabbing away, would we (swimmers, spectators, officials) allow him to swim in an empty lane in a subsequent heat because -- oops! -- they missed their heat? I have a feeling no one would mind it. Spectators would line the pool as they did in Indianapolis to see Gary churn out a 50 fly. They'd cheer loudly, applaud the amazing time, and fight to make sure it gets recognized as a record/first-place ranking in the meet results. But if it's John Smith, or some guy who is not expected to place, we'll say it's their fault and they should have paid attention. You miss your heat, you miss the event. I don't care if it's 15 years from now and Michael Phelps makes his first USMS nationals appearance and gets stuck taking autographs. Pay attention. You have hours to trash-talk or please your fans after the race. That said, if John wants to lobby for a rule change, so be it.

I wonder ... If this were, oh, Gary Hall Jr. (or even Sr.) missing his heat of the 50 fly because he was gabbing away, would we (swimmers, spectators, officials) allow him to swim in an empty lane in a subsequent heat because -- oops! -- they missed their heat? I have a feeling no one would mind it. Spectators would line the pool as they did in Indianapolis to see Gary churn out a 50 fly. They'd cheer loudly, applaud the amazing time, and fight to make sure it gets recognized as a record/first-place ranking in the meet results. But if it's John Smith, or some guy who is not expected to place, we'll say it's their fault and they should have paid attention. You miss your heat, you miss the event. I don't care if it's 15 years from now and Michael Phelps makes his first USMS nationals appearance and gets stuck taking autographs. Pay attention. You have hours to trash-talk or please your fans after the race. That said, if John wants to lobby for a rule change, so be it.