Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:03:32 GMT

Men: Rowdy Gaines - Tough as nails. One of the first to come back to swimming post college and compete at the international level. A class act who might have won numerous Gold medals in the 80 Olympics that Carter rediculously boycotted. Continues to represent our sport in the best of manners. Women: Shirley Babashoff - The victim of East German cheating in the 70's who was cast out of swimming for bringing the steroids issue to the forefront. Two Olympics, 2 World championships accounting 13 Silver medals all lost to the East Germans. All this time and she was correct all along.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:22:07 GMT

These are all great choices but let us not forget from where we came...Duke Kahanamoku, Johnny Weissmuller, Adolph Kiefer, Alan Ford, Chet Jastremski, Katie Ball, Mary T Meagher and Donna DeVarona. I knew all the guys you mention personally great picks. The women I did not know personally.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:36:44 GMT

These are all great choices but let us not forget from where we came...Duke Kahanamoku, Johnny Weissmuller, Adolph Kiefer, Alan Ford, Chet Jastremski, Katie Ball, Mary T Meagher and Donna DeVarona.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:16:50 GMT

Summer Sanders . . .

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 08:45:45 GMT

Even though I was a breastroker in the mid 1980s - and therefore had a chance to swim with/against some of the best breastroke swimmers of all time (Moffet, Lundquist, Gill, Moorhouse, Davis, Schroeder, etc, etc) - I would say Vladimir Salnikov. Salnikov was an absolute beast. Close second - Tracy Caulkins, Sippy Woodhead, Mary T., Michael Gross, Matt Biondi (SCY), and Goodell. Just my $0.02...

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

pwolf66 — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:01:37 GMT

Summer Sanders . . . /Homer mmmmmmmmmmmmm Summer /Homer Then again, what WAS she thinking hosting Nick's Figure it Out? Whoops. Paul

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

orca1946 — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:12:35 GMT

Many after ,but Spitz was the 1st to grab USA & get us thinking of a whole new world :applaud:

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

pwolf66 — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 10:12:46 GMT

Janet Evans. I know someone must have mentioned her already but in an era dominated by taller swimmers, she proved that just because you don't fit the profile, doesn't mean you can't be the best. Paul

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:05:14 GMT

I got on the elevator at the Thayer Hotel to go down to breakfast. Spitz was the only other occupant. He was carrying a box of Uncle Sam cereal/ I bought a box as soon as I got home. Did it do any good for your swimming? I've never seen that brand, but I'll look for it in particular now.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

FindingMyInnerFish — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 08:52:59 GMT

All great swimmers, but there's also Don Schollander... Goes back a ways, but first American swimmer to win 4 golds... then a 5th in Mexico City in 1968. First swimmer I noticed and followed. Janet Evans not only b/c of her record, but just I admire her the way I've admired Joan Benoit Samuelson as a runner--strong woman athletic role model, class act!

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 17:07:15 GMT

The Duke.. Duke Kahanamoku. A true water man lifestyle. Thats what I like about Duke, he did many other water activities in addition to swimming. Also...Matt Biondi, Brad Schumacher. Water Polo + Swimming is a great combination! Also.. the Indian Chief from the place called "Washington State." In 1924 he drove his model T, all the way to Indianapolis to compete in the Olympic trials. The Chief never entered any forms, didnt have registration #'s or anything. The officials were going to disqualify him, but the other swimmers (Which Duke was in attendance) talked them out of this, and the Chief got to compete in the meet. He's one of favorite swimmers and I dont even know his name. Shinob Dood - agwaajiing.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 15:10:15 GMT

David Wilkie will always be of a Scot! And proud of it. If it hadnot been for Don Scholandar, McGregor would have won in 1964. I swam with him in the 90's in Scotland. Most beautiful fly stroke I have seen.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 15:06:27 GMT

Right I am a goof 100m Brst Adrian Moorhouse, GBR 1:02.04 Károly Guttler, HUN 1:02.05 Dimitri Volkov, USSR 1:02.20

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 15:05:52 GMT

The story broke in 1996 Atlanta Games using bromantan, although classified as a stimulant, bromantan is believed to be capable of hiding the abuse of more serious drugs such as steroids and other related substances. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has described the effect of bromantan as equivalent to that of mesocarb. Mesocarb is known to possess anti-depressant and anti-psychotic properties and is already in the list of banned drugs. The IOC has also described bromantan as a dangerous cocktail of steroids, stimulants and masking agents. According to an Olympic official, bromantan was first manufactured by the Russian army to increase their soldiers' physical endurance during long and strenuous military exercises. Then Russian athletes got hold for it. It was reported that those who were on bromantan could compete to their maximum capacity without feeling exhausted. It was alleged that the drug was abused for years by athletes of the former Soviet Union. Russian officials were quoted as saying that Soviet athletes used bromantan at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 14:50:10 GMT

Everyone is on line while I am scurring through past issues of Swimming World. You are right on Volkov, but I think he finished third. He badly cut his foot a month before the Olympics. But he was a body length ahead at the 20 meter mark, after the start and underwater stroke. 1988 1. Adrian Moorhouse, Great Britain, 1:02.04 2. Karoly Guttler, Hungary, 1:02.05 3. Dmitri Volkov, Soviet Union, 1:02.20

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 14:35:52 GMT

Was it Dimitri Volkov, who won the Olympic 100 *** in Seoul.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 14:25:14 GMT

Frank, I am talking about a breaststroker. Not Salnikov.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Frank Thompson — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 09:55:08 GMT

Was it Dimitri Volkov, who won the Olympic 100 *** in Seoul, perhaps the best start and underwater stroke in history. Hi George: Not to be nit pickey but Dimitri Volkov got the bronze. Adrian Moorhouse of England won the 100 *** in Seoul and Karoly Guttler from Hungary won the silver. I happen to remember this because England had ony two Men's Olympic Champions since Henry Taylor won the 1500 Free in 1908 and that would be Moorhouse and David Wilkie in the 200 ***, in 1976 and the only Olympic Gold medal winner in men's swimming events who was not from the USA.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Frank Thompson — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 09:31:04 GMT

May I ask who the swimmer was that was accused? Was it Pankin, Kossinsky, or someone else?

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Frank Thompson — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 09:19:42 GMT

[QUOTE=breastroker;66124 Frank, The Russians were on a steroid that only existed in the Russian army. It was finally detected I think in 1988, and they did NOT disqualify the Russian breaststroker! Wayne: I heard about rumors to this effect many years ago but its never been proven and I think its pointless to speculate. The swimmer in the Russian army that some accused of steriod use was Vladimir Salnikov, the first man to go under 15 minutes in the 1500 Free and was a member of the Russian Army while he was training. He along with Roland Matthes and Nikolai Pankin have been accused and all of them have never tested positive in a drug test while they were competition. These swimmers are some of the greatest swimmers that have ever lived and if they or anyone else have never been tested positive of a drug test, than all it is speculation. Some people have accused every swimmer that has ever competed for an Eastern Bloc nation from 1992 on back. I not saying everyone was clean but by no means do we know for certain who was clean and who wasn't and I think its totally unfair to base judgements without proof. The only way to get rid of the speculation is for the IOC to have a trial and prove the use of drug taking and they have already said they are not going to do this.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Frank Thompson — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 08:47:50 GMT

The actual time that Mark Spitz did for the 200 Yard Fly was 1:46.89, which broke the American Record that was held by Gary Hall at 1:48.44 in 1971...I believe that the :47.98 time in the 100 Yard Fly from the same meet was just as impressive if not more so. Your recall is impressive, far better than mine - especially considering that record of 1:46.89 is still the pool record at Army and I spent about 6 years looking at it nearly every day, while coaching the club team for two years and for four years as an assistant with the varsity. I remember the 200 Fly so well simply because I walked on the pool deck for my first experience watching an NCAA championship and about a minute later got to watch that swim. I also recall that Ken ? from Michigan State (and Shore Aquatic Club in NJ) was 2nd in 1:51. These swims were mindblowing to me because I had just completed my college career and my 200 Free was 10 seconds behind Spitz's 200 Fly. Also saw Jim McConica in that meet and now get to race him at Masters Nats - actually I get to swim in the same event as him. Saying that I race him would be stretching it to the breaking point. Terry: Actually the guy that got second with a 1:51 was a teamate of Mark Spitz at Indiana named Bob Alsfelder who I remember because he swam AAU meets in Ohio and he was from the Cincinnatti area. He was 4th at the 1972 Olympic Trials losing the 3rd place spot to Gary Hall by .25 seconds. Spitz, Hall, and Backhaus went 1-2-3 in the 200 Fly at the 1972 Olympics. I have attached a link to the stories and what Bob Alsfelder is up to today. www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../9274.asp www.cincypost.com/.../furman011400.html

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 11:02:24 GMT

Dawn Fraser would have won in 1968 for her 4th in a row, but the powers that be at the time did not allow her to swim. Her book is great reading, so much truth in it. Dara Torres was certainly the most beautiful. Tracy the most talented Frank, The Russians were on a steroid that only existed in the Russian army. It was finally detected I think in 1988, and they did NOT disqualify the Russian breaststroker! My favorite swimmer was John Moffet. He coached masters and did a couple of videos. Easy to talk to, although he said I would never get what he was telling me to do. I actually did learn a huge amount from John.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 10:44:30 GMT

No it was my reply to Tewksbury, not nice and rather rude so removed it. But he surely was a great swimmer and defender of Canadian swimming when the brothers were in charge of Swim Canada. I believe it was he alone who got those guys out of control.

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 10:22:22 GMT

I agree with this quote here On this forum? How about George, who gets up early to answer any questions, has a history from way back and still swims. Cheers to George who does know the taste of waters all around the World, cold warm dirty or salty. No I better not say that. Oups... did I say anything that you didn't like maty? Was certainly not on purpose. Sorry and congratulations again for the career that you've had and the sound advices that you give. Cheers !

RE: Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Former Member — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 10:12:26 GMT

No I better not say that.