One Hit Wonders

kim linehan had world records in the 400, 800 and 1,500 around those years you can get info at www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../All_Time_LCM.asp Originally posted by Dobbie The recent post on David Hasselhoff got me thinking about one hit wonders in Swimming. Tracy Wickam for 1978's world records in 400 & 800 Free ......4:06 & 8:24 I think....and didn't it take Janet Evans to break these records ?????? Someone may remember this.... Any other one hit wonders ??? (or brief stays at the top?)

Dobbie: I hardly think of Tracy Wickham as a one hit wonder or a term that regulars on this forum are used to a "flash in the pan". Anybody that holds a World Record in swimming has to be extremely talented to get to that level because it takes dedication and hard work. When I think of people that I know that achieved World and even American Records, I think of the price they had to pay and the steps they had to achieve to get there. Tracy Wickham had the World Record in the 400 Free at 4:06.28 and the 800 Free at 8:24.62 in 1978, and those World Records lasted for 9 years until 1987 when Janet Evans broke them. Those times would have been very competitive and very close to winning a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. In fact Tracy's 400 Meter time would have defeated the 2004 Olympic champion Laure Manaudou whose time was 4:06.44 and her swim was 16 years previous. The term one hit wonder or flash in the pan thats been used on this website is generally a term used for someone that is here one day, gone the next. I just do not think of swimmers setting World Records as one hit wonders especially Tracy, who is inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame for her swimming accomplishments. I have vast respect for the swimmers in the Hall of Fame and who are we to judge those accomplishments and achievments. Here is a link of Tracy's accomplishments: www.ishof.org/92twickham.html

What about some of the young female breastrokers in days past?? I don't think any of them had World Records....but didn't we send a couple to the Olympics (as teenagers) and then never hear of them again? I read in one book about how it was a joke about the newest "phenom" young teen girl breastrokers that you should check the bottom of their foot for an "expiration date".... I think this was back in the 80s? And...NO....I'm not talking about the ones that are still swimming today, like Amanda.... Actually, I don't mean to be disrespectful to these folks....even getting anywhere near that level....whether you stay there or not....is quite an accomplishment.

Originally posted by ande kim linehan had world records in the 400, 800 and 1,500 around those years you can get info at www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../All_Time_LCM.asp I remember when I swam for FMSA in Fort Myers she swam for SYS (Sarasota Y Sharks) she is a great person. She also had other swimmers with her that were pretty fast. We used to have water polo matches between FMSA and SYS.

I hardly think of Tracy Wickham as a one hit wonder or a term that regulars on this forum are used to a "flash in the pan". Hey Skip Tracy was my pick ...who's yours ? I agree with with you 100% . My language was a bit breif and off.It was midnight when I wrote it. Let me re-phrase it. Can anyone remember extremely talented supersatars who's careers were short lived for one reason or another....Obviously Tracy was a victim of the Moscow Olympic's politics and I agree with what all Skip's says and more. People often ask who are Australia's greatest swimmers and when it comes to females I've always mentioned her up there with Dawn Fraser and Shane Gould. As I said it took Janet Evans to break her records and she swam against East Germans.What's more she is a lovely person with time for people.She retired at 18 or 19 I think...

Jillen Sirokey was the other 14 year old breaststroker on the 1996 and as far as I can tell that seemed to be her last big meet ... I wonder if she kept swimming or if she retired at 14? Does anyone know?

Anyone want to speculate on why these young girls can become world class breaststrokers at such a young age? There must be some physiological reason. I suspect it has something to do with the anatomy of the pelvis and this changes with puberty in such a manner that their kick isn't quite as propulsive as it was.

Speaking of 14 year old breastrokers, there was another one I recall seeing besides Amanda Beard and Jill Siroky and her name was Jenna Street. I remember seeing her on TV and being in the finals with the other two. After 2000, at 18, I believe she quit swimming. Here is a link of accomplishements: www.angelfire.com/.../

Originally posted by alexknibbs ... and, on a similar topic, what about the 'nearlymen' (and women)? From the UK, the one swimmer that always stands out in my mind in Mark Foster. One time fastest man in the world over 50 metres .. but he never got a single Olympic medal - despite competing at several Olympics. Other notable examples??? We will never know if Mark Foster would have gotten a medal in 2004 in the 50 Free, because he did not meet the expectations of National Team Director Bill Sweetenham. He was .007 off the qualifing standard of the Top Ten in the World. Even though he won the British trials and was the silver medalist in the 50 Free at the 2003 World Championships in Spain with a time of :22.20 and narrowly losing to Popov did not matter. www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../7321.asp I cannot believe that they would do this to a person like Foster, who is argueably one of the best and most consistent swimmers Britian has ever had thru the years. How many people have a chance to make 5 Olympic teams? Not many. Even without an Olympic medal he had a great career. www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../11017.asp

... and, on a similar topic, what about the 'nearlymen' (and women)? From the UK, the one swimmer that always stands out in my mind in Mark Foster. One time fastest man in the world over 50 metres .. but he never got a single Olympic medal - despite competing at several Olympics. Other notable examples???