I realize this thread will create a lot of controversy.
Over the past five years I have worked very hard to develop clubs and increase membership in USMS. The very fabric of my work and others in this area is building relationships and comradairre within the LMSC and or Club. Small clubs and large teams are proud of their "elite" swimmers and boast of their successes. With this said, it is very disturbing to me as I read through the FINA World Championships Physch Sheets to see the number of elite swimmers "jumping ship" to other clubs to swim on "elite" relays. If USMS had "Team USMS" I would have no problem with everyone coming together for a team effort. I don't have a problem with four guys coming together who swam in college using the Worlds as reunion of sorts. Where I have problem is the swimmer or swimmers who have been a member of a club or LMSC for years and because of individual egos leaves his team. What this says to me is our "elite" swimmers ego is more important than his or her club. How do you think the other 3 swimmers who normally swims on the relay with the "elite" swimmer feels. We are good enough througout the year, however we are not good enough for the Worlds. Instead of swimming for his or her club so all members of the club can be proud of the "elite" swimmers accomplishments, it is more important to this swimmer he or she represent someone else at the Worlds for personal gratification. If the relay team does win and breaks a WR the record does not show USMS as the record holder, but the name of a club the swimmer transferred too.... what a shame...
It is regretable I bring up this discussion, but it tears at the very fabric of the USMS mission regarding building club or LMSC relationships...I realize what these swimmers are doing is within the rules.. I just think it is wrong.
Mel
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by Paul Smith
Mel,
I consider you a friend and have the utmost respect for you and your opinions as always. I will however disagree and in my own humble opinion see the glass here as "half full" vs. "half empty".
My position has always been that this is the world championships and thus should be a competition held between countries not clubs....just as in USS. Fina on the other hand has a rule that does not allow this to happen, one I hope will be changed down the road.
I'd very much like to see USMS grow, in all areas that we represent; fitness, competition, etc. etc. and I beleive that publicity helps. Not a lot of interest in our media in swimmig to begin with and with Boulder Aquatic masters relays challenging Club Chelsea it would probably be much the same.....however Team USA 160+ up against Team Australia 160+ in the 200 free relay sounds pretty good!
I will be at Stanford proudly swimming for Team TYR along with some friends and competitors that I may or may not ever swam with back in college.....not for ego as you see it, but getting a chance to be a team mate with someone I've never had that chance with before.
As for my club mates back home, if they would prefer that I not be allowed to come back and swim for them next year I'll grant that wish. I've explained to anyone who's asked why I made the decision and have had 100% support....most understood that there is no team scoring at worlds so I haven't taken points away.
And as far as leaving 3 swimmers behind, I see it as a chance for a 4th swimmer who has never been on our relay to have that chance at an incredible meet such as this.....half full!
PS: Indeed some of our foreign friends are banding together as well.....
Good argument.
It is obviously a very personal and individual decision to make and not everybody is going to agree regardless of which path you choose.
Originally posted by Paul Smith
Mel,
I consider you a friend and have the utmost respect for you and your opinions as always. I will however disagree and in my own humble opinion see the glass here as "half full" vs. "half empty".
My position has always been that this is the world championships and thus should be a competition held between countries not clubs....just as in USS. Fina on the other hand has a rule that does not allow this to happen, one I hope will be changed down the road.
I'd very much like to see USMS grow, in all areas that we represent; fitness, competition, etc. etc. and I beleive that publicity helps. Not a lot of interest in our media in swimmig to begin with and with Boulder Aquatic masters relays challenging Club Chelsea it would probably be much the same.....however Team USA 160+ up against Team Australia 160+ in the 200 free relay sounds pretty good!
I will be at Stanford proudly swimming for Team TYR along with some friends and competitors that I may or may not ever swam with back in college.....not for ego as you see it, but getting a chance to be a team mate with someone I've never had that chance with before.
As for my club mates back home, if they would prefer that I not be allowed to come back and swim for them next year I'll grant that wish. I've explained to anyone who's asked why I made the decision and have had 100% support....most understood that there is no team scoring at worlds so I haven't taken points away.
And as far as leaving 3 swimmers behind, I see it as a chance for a 4th swimmer who has never been on our relay to have that chance at an incredible meet such as this.....half full!
PS: Indeed some of our foreign friends are banding together as well.....
Good argument.
It is obviously a very personal and individual decision to make and not everybody is going to agree regardless of which path you choose.
