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
There is a 100% chance that 2 of my relay records will be broken at Worlds by a "super team". My attitude is that it's about time these records get wiped off the books.
I know you may find this hard to believe, but I care about how I perform based on my own goals, not about records. In one of my most disapointing masters meets ever I set 3 world records but did not swim as well as I had hoped and expected based on my training. These meets should be about hanging out with your friends, making new ones and swimming as well as your potential allows. Records, top 10, etc. are secondary considerations.
What is the "head to head" challenge all about? It is a very strange comment from someone who won't use his real name.
Rich
There is a 100% chance that 2 of my relay records will be broken at Worlds by a "super team". My attitude is that it's about time these records get wiped off the books.
I know you may find this hard to believe, but I care about how I perform based on my own goals, not about records. In one of my most disapointing masters meets ever I set 3 world records but did not swim as well as I had hoped and expected based on my training. These meets should be about hanging out with your friends, making new ones and swimming as well as your potential allows. Records, top 10, etc. are secondary considerations.
What is the "head to head" challenge all about? It is a very strange comment from someone who won't use his real name.
Rich
