Why is it that Masters level swimmers who participate in USS sanctioned meets under a separate USS registration can't have their times automatically qualify for USMS rankings and USMS National records? What is the reason for this separation? The rules with USMS and USS seem parallel enough to allow USS swims to qualify under USMS ranking and records. Do we care if elite older swimmers in their 30's (say Gary Hall Jr.) effectively end up owning the USMS national record by default? Is USMS afraid of merging to closely with USS? Why wouldn't USMS want to recognize the true best performance by and old man/women in the pool regardless of whether their card said USS or USMS on it?
John Smith
"Maybe carried to a logical extreme, your argument is right and Olympians should be able to claim USMS records because what you're really after is a true list of the best times performed by anyone in any meet in that age bracket. Part of me is just worried that the vast majority of masters swimmers, who aren't as talented and willing to get their butts whupped in USS meets, might find that purism disheartening. They might just want USS-only Olympians to stay in their own USS venue so that they can have some fun at their own masters meets swimming against super talented masters swimmers or those who are just trying to stay fit and have fun competing."
Leslie, I wanted to get back to what you wrote earlier (above) and make two comments:
1) I think the number of active USS swimmers who swim USMS meets is VERY small and probably always will be.....but I would like to see that change. When guys like Gary, Sabir, Josh Davis, etc. do show up (like Indy a few years ago and Worlds)..the reception they get is incredible and the overall interest in swimming only gets better.
2) As for any of us getting our butts whupped and choosing to be disheartened vs. motivated than shame on us and for the example we send to our kids and other swimmers! VERY few athletes every go on to elite status, far more who toil thru the agr group circuits have to learn to live with and learn from debate everyday.....it saddens me that much of societys direction these days is one of taaking competition out....worrying about peolpes feelings getting hurt so no more first place awards, no more valedictorians, no more dodge ball...etc. etc. The world is a competitive place and even in masters All of us have to learn to find motivation thru defeat, thru injuries, thru lack of proper coaching, thru crappy pools, thru bad weather........
"Maybe carried to a logical extreme, your argument is right and Olympians should be able to claim USMS records because what you're really after is a true list of the best times performed by anyone in any meet in that age bracket. Part of me is just worried that the vast majority of masters swimmers, who aren't as talented and willing to get their butts whupped in USS meets, might find that purism disheartening. They might just want USS-only Olympians to stay in their own USS venue so that they can have some fun at their own masters meets swimming against super talented masters swimmers or those who are just trying to stay fit and have fun competing."
Leslie, I wanted to get back to what you wrote earlier (above) and make two comments:
1) I think the number of active USS swimmers who swim USMS meets is VERY small and probably always will be.....but I would like to see that change. When guys like Gary, Sabir, Josh Davis, etc. do show up (like Indy a few years ago and Worlds)..the reception they get is incredible and the overall interest in swimming only gets better.
2) As for any of us getting our butts whupped and choosing to be disheartened vs. motivated than shame on us and for the example we send to our kids and other swimmers! VERY few athletes every go on to elite status, far more who toil thru the agr group circuits have to learn to live with and learn from debate everyday.....it saddens me that much of societys direction these days is one of taaking competition out....worrying about peolpes feelings getting hurt so no more first place awards, no more valedictorians, no more dodge ball...etc. etc. The world is a competitive place and even in masters All of us have to learn to find motivation thru defeat, thru injuries, thru lack of proper coaching, thru crappy pools, thru bad weather........
