Poll: Favorite Swimmer of all time?

Mark Spitz. Ever wonder how much faster if his times would have been if he had worn a cap over that bushy hair?

It was about as bushy as his hair.

Frank: No, I'm not sure about Biondi. I just read somewhere fairly recently that he had used creatine. I can't recall the source, I read a lot, but it might have been the book I read on the Balco investigation and Barry Bonds. (I'm a baseball fan.) As I recall, Biondi's name was mentioned in connection with creatine, but no other drugs. I think it was also mentioned that he was an anti-drug crusader. I doubt creatine was illegal when he was swimming. I believe it is on the NCAA list now (that list is really long and includes things like ginseng, if I recall correctly). However, I doubt creatine is particularly performance enhancing in swimming except possibly for sprinters, which of course Biondi was. If I find the reference again, I'll let you know. I just remember reading it and being a bit disillusioned.

I think he had a moustache at that time too.

I'll join Beth McGee and Allan Stark in voting for Tracy Caulkins. :bow: I had the great pleasure of coaching in VA when she was swimming for Nashville Aquatic Club and attended at least one a meet a year at which she swam. When she was there I would give my swimmers warmup instructions and sit by the lane in which she was warming up to just watch her. Picked her coach, Paul Bergen's brain often too, learning something priceless each time. That was a fortuitous combination of a special swimmer with exactly the right coach. Tracy was the most lyrically beautiful 4-stroke swimmer I've ever seen and the only person in history to set World and/or American records in all five disciplines, each stroke plus the IM. I still have the Aquaforums videos produced around 1980, featuring her on all four strokes. The other featured swimmers were on one video only. Terry: Agreement with Tracy Caukins. However there has never been anybody that has had a FINA World Record in all 5 disciplines. Tracy had American Records in all 5 disciplines but had World Records in the Fly and IM events just like Michael Phelps has. FINA did not start giving credit for World Records for Short Course Meters until the early 1990's and I think the date was in 1993 at the first FINA World Short Course Championships in Spain. Up to that point they were called World Bests and Tracy had World Bests in both breastroke and IM events. This is always a trick question in swimming trivia because people think that Tracy or one of the Spence brothers have had all available records in all of the disciplines. I know the Spences had all of the available records in all of the disciplines but they were different brothers and that is where the confusion is.

Mark Spitz. Because he ''looks" normal (nothing agains Phelps and others, just my opinion), because of his record, because he became a poster boy and advanced swimming all over the world, because I believe he is around my age (1951), because in 1968 I actually saw a movie at my high school of him with underwater shots swimming in California, at his high school. Weissmuller, I am glad they got a good swimmer to do some of the Tarzan movies because in the late 50s that is what we had to ty and emulate. On this forum? How about George, who gets up early to answer any questions, has a history from way back and still swims. Besides, he doesn't offend any nationalities, as Canada only became partly independent in 1981 and is still part of the British Empire, with the Queen as head of state. Cheers, billy fanstone

Matt Biondi!!

For women I am going with Janet Evans, Tracy Caulkins, Natalie Caughlin, and Katie Hoff as my top 4.....For Men I am going with Steve Lundquist (for his unbeleivable versatility and overall partying skills) ...followed by Micheal Phelps (6 gold medals in an Olympics at this day and age is beyond comprehension), Ian Thorpe, and Matt Biondi (5 gold medals in an Olympics is also pretty amazing!). Newmastersswimmer

On this forum? How about George, who gets up early to answer any questions, has a history from way back and still swims. Besides, he doesn't offend any nationalities, as Canada only became partly independent in 1981 and is still part of the British Empire, with the Queen as head of state. Cheers, billy fanstone posted by fanstone I will second that vote for the most impressive regular poster on this forum. George certainly has a very impressive swimming background. I think Frank Thompson comes in second for his overall knowledge of the sport.....he's mind is a freakin encyclopedia of swimming related information. Newmastersswimmer

Thanks for the vote. But you must realize I am a bad guy. I became a free spirit in 1933 the day I was born. Have very seldom followed rules. When I was in high school they sent me home because I wore Jeans and a Fleecy T shirt to school. They told me not to come back until I followed the dress code, they sent me home the rest of the week. The next week I went back dressed the same they did not send me home. After that a girl in my class asked me - Why don't you tuck your shirt into your pants? I asked her - Why don't you shave your legs.