Olympic Trials 2012

OK, I was being nice last time, but this comment tells me you need a little slap in the face of reality. You will not be successful alone. Period. Even if you pack up today, move to Berkeley and pay Mike Bottom to coach you, the odds are pretty slim you will make US Olympic trials in swimming, arguably the most competitive event there is in this country. The times you posted are decent, but you have a long long loooong way to go and I can guarantee you that you do not know what you need if you think you will be successful without a coach. Why would you take the time and and "be nice" like you said you were doing when you really didn't think I had a chance at it. I don't want to hear, "yeah you can do it", when you really don't think I can. I would rather hear how little of a chance I have and how hard it's going to be. That will make it much more rewardable if I do make it, rather than being told I can do it and then end up not being able to. You don't have to try to "be nice" I'm a big boy now and I won't get my feelings hurt on an internet forum.

heres what I think you should do, train moderatly not hard for about two years and try to learn every thing about swimming that you can. If your times steadily improve and you see a posible opportunity to make an olympic trail time start training your ass off. Its definatly a posibility right now but in two years you will know for sure if you have a ligitament shot at making an olympic trail cut.

IIf this is something that you really want to accomplish, I am all for it. But I don't think you will be successful unless you are certain that, when you accomplish the goal, you will be comfortable knowing that the only one you proved anything to was yourself (and maybe a few anonymous people on a meaningless forum). I am friends with 3 swimmers who had trial cuts, and I wouldn't define any of them by that accomplishment. Hopefully you understand what I am getting at.

I met a coach this weekend at a meet in Charlotte who said he would be interested in coaching me because he thought I had some talent that needed to be put to use. The only problem is that he lives 2 hrs. away. I am going to take this on in a more structured manner than I had orignally planned. I will set small goals along the way. Even if I never make it to trials I'm sure I will get faster and maybe even win some big masters meets. When I have an oppurtunity I want to pursue it as far as possible. Like many of you said I don't wanna ever have to wonder if I could have made it. I have also been thinking about the great deal of time and discipline this will take, and how it will be hard to have a noraml life and normal job. This weekend I am going to discuss with that coach about it and see what we come up with. The bottom line is, I want to get as fast as I can ever possibly go and I want to know when it's over that there is nothing I could have done to get even one hundreth of a second faster (under the circumstances of having to have a normal job and life lol). I'm not doing this to prove anything to anyone except for myself.

If this is your goal, find a good program, move there, and train with them. That's the only way. Period.

There are hundreds of people out there who have already made the goal of going to the 2012 Olympic Trials. Some of them might swim the same times as you, are the same age as you and believe in their quest as much as you do. If I were your coach I would tell you to forget the quest for 2012. The coach would have to be a miracle worker in the truest sense to get you to drop even three seconds in your 100 free. But, many coaches might want to take it on, but you don't know unless you ask. If I were your coach, I would tell you to train for a meet this summer, then readjust goals. You can't think four years ahead because goals like this require intermediate ones. If you make it, I will personally come to the meet and be your loudest and most excited cheerleader. Because that would be a fantastic story, better than Dara Torres or Pablo Morales. Awesome post Jeff.

If this is your goal, find a good program, move there, and train with them. That's the only way. Period. Hmm? I know of a certain USMS member moving to Austin this summer...could he have bigger plans that he is not sharing?

Hmm? I know of a certain USMS member moving to Austin this summer...could he have bigger plans that he is not sharing? Funny. Actually I have a great coach and a great training partner. Which is why my times have improved.

Okay, here's the scoop: set your goals higher. I agree with all the common sense that you've rec'd so far, but I say, dream even bigger. You are 20? The world is your oyster, make of your swimming career a pearl. Trial cuts? Ultimate goal is that gold medal; all the intermediate stages no less valid, satisfying to achieve- but to fuel the long hours and deprivations that surely must be endured, why not go for the gusto? Give it everything you've got and you won't be asking, years later, "Could I have?".

i'll second gull's suggestion. i basically did the same thing last year ('06) for Masters Worlds- i felt i needed more consistent LCM training and a coach who actually knew something about backstroke. (and, it helps my old lease was up and i hated the job i was in, but i'll be telling any future employers that i moved for an upgrade in training if they ask about the 2 month gap in my resume. :laugh2: ) but seriously, if this is something you're committed to, then you will have to make some sacrifices, like moving to train with a specific team/coach. trust me when i say that it may seem like a royal pain now, but if you achieve your goal, in the long run it will be worth it. i know it was for me- i finished top 5 for both my 100 and 200 back at worlds... Now that is dedication, moving to train for a USMS meet. :bow: