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
You say.... "What is the meaning of a relay event if the swimmers aren't related in any way other than their desire to win gold or a world record?"...... This is an event a level beyond USMS Nationals. Tell me, what substantive relation do any US swimmers have when they compete on relays with other US citizens at intl. USS competitions? They do it to swim fast. Team TYR will do it for similar reasons and above all to have a good time. Incidently, our relay all knows each other already. I swam against Greg Rhodenbaugh 100 years ago at the Ohio Highschool State Championship and in college and Rich Saeger as well in college both at Conference and NCAAs.
You say.... "Four fast swimmers who get together for Worlds are basically doing the same thing as four fast Olympic level swimmers getting together and finding some obscure country that will give them all citizenship so they can win Olympic gold, except easier." ...... You are missing the point regarding the level of competition. No one is changing countries here. This is World Masters event not a USMS Nationals event. Now, if it was Solar System Masters Championships, we'd certainly recruit from other countries.... :-)
John Smith
You say.... "What is the meaning of a relay event if the swimmers aren't related in any way other than their desire to win gold or a world record?"...... This is an event a level beyond USMS Nationals. Tell me, what substantive relation do any US swimmers have when they compete on relays with other US citizens at intl. USS competitions? They do it to swim fast. Team TYR will do it for similar reasons and above all to have a good time. Incidently, our relay all knows each other already. I swam against Greg Rhodenbaugh 100 years ago at the Ohio Highschool State Championship and in college and Rich Saeger as well in college both at Conference and NCAAs.
You say.... "Four fast swimmers who get together for Worlds are basically doing the same thing as four fast Olympic level swimmers getting together and finding some obscure country that will give them all citizenship so they can win Olympic gold, except easier." ...... You are missing the point regarding the level of competition. No one is changing countries here. This is World Masters event not a USMS Nationals event. Now, if it was Solar System Masters Championships, we'd certainly recruit from other countries.... :-)
John Smith
