One Hit Wonders

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

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