This new thread occurred to me while reading posts comparing Spitz to Phelps, as well as reflecting upon mortality considering heart attacks etc. In swimming we immortalize individuals or teams for various feats or contributions, but do little to preserve a feeling for subsequent generations of enthusiasts about what it was like to train and compete 'back in the day'. Just what day am I talking about? Exactly: there have been many 'days' or more properly 'eras' that can be narrowly characterized by differences in equipment, distances swum and trained, coaching methods or more widely by larger factors: world war, global depression, racial segregation, inequality of the sexes. All of these can contribute to very different experiences than what are common today to the younger swimmer; hence, 'what was it like'. I visualize a thread that continues to be added to as new people read it and remember their own experiences. As well, experience can vary with national origin, not just era. There have already been posts on this topic scattered in various threads, please feel free to copy or quote material from them to here.
Please remember that this is not about how fast a particular swimmer was, but about the conditions that defined competitive swimming of that day.
We also have a priceless resource out there: aging swimmers in their 80's or 90's who may be less likely to read or hear of this thread; why not ask them for some of their memories or impressions and pass them on to us, while we still can?
Parents
Former Member
Oh man - I totally remember the eye charcoal, no goggles, no caps but had long hair, salt tablets. The stop watch post was hilarious - I totally remember that as well as the "dial a time" where the timers posted your time.
Best memory: Winter meets gave out trophies for 1-6 place, not just medals or ribbons. I loved coming home from a swim trip with a bunch of new trophies.
Swimming at the Y in the 60s - 3 lanes, 17 yards and about 100 kids. After the new high school was built, it was a 5 lane, 20 yard pool. When my family moved to a new town, my parents bought our house based on the school district with the best high school swim program.
Weirdest memory: In the 60s having "fun" days where we would either play games or do relays. One of the games we played didn't have a name, but the team would sit along the edge of the pool with their backs to the water (they were the Viet Cong) and one person at a time would be the Marine by trying to slip into the water and swim the entire length of the pool and exit the pool without being heard. If they expelled any breath or splashed or made any sound, they were "killed." That last one living, won.
Playing cards at meets with friends.
Taking bus trips and singing songs.
Eating at McDonald's was HUGE - we didn't have one in my small town.
Regularly scheduled "duel" meets - It seemed like we had a meet every Saturday.
Living in a small town and having my picture in the newspaper a million times - I have a full scrap book of the clips.
Being jealous of the kids whose mom's let them eat the Jello gelatin mix right out of the box with their finger.
Hating swimming in the summer because it was soooo cold - (we swam outside starting Memorial Day weekend no matter what the temp, rain or shine) - blue lips, numb fingers.
My dad making my sister and I drink protein shakes with every meal from the time I was 7 until about 12.
Sloppy Joes at the concession stand (aka "Untidy Josephs)
Oh man - I totally remember the eye charcoal, no goggles, no caps but had long hair, salt tablets. The stop watch post was hilarious - I totally remember that as well as the "dial a time" where the timers posted your time.
Best memory: Winter meets gave out trophies for 1-6 place, not just medals or ribbons. I loved coming home from a swim trip with a bunch of new trophies.
Swimming at the Y in the 60s - 3 lanes, 17 yards and about 100 kids. After the new high school was built, it was a 5 lane, 20 yard pool. When my family moved to a new town, my parents bought our house based on the school district with the best high school swim program.
Weirdest memory: In the 60s having "fun" days where we would either play games or do relays. One of the games we played didn't have a name, but the team would sit along the edge of the pool with their backs to the water (they were the Viet Cong) and one person at a time would be the Marine by trying to slip into the water and swim the entire length of the pool and exit the pool without being heard. If they expelled any breath or splashed or made any sound, they were "killed." That last one living, won.
Playing cards at meets with friends.
Taking bus trips and singing songs.
Eating at McDonald's was HUGE - we didn't have one in my small town.
Regularly scheduled "duel" meets - It seemed like we had a meet every Saturday.
Living in a small town and having my picture in the newspaper a million times - I have a full scrap book of the clips.
Being jealous of the kids whose mom's let them eat the Jello gelatin mix right out of the box with their finger.
Hating swimming in the summer because it was soooo cold - (we swam outside starting Memorial Day weekend no matter what the temp, rain or shine) - blue lips, numb fingers.
My dad making my sister and I drink protein shakes with every meal from the time I was 7 until about 12.
Sloppy Joes at the concession stand (aka "Untidy Josephs)
