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
Whoa! This thread just got bumped and I didn't have to do it...seriously, there are always new contributors to these forums, please throw in your memories; I am convinced that we are creating something worthwhile here. I still would like to hear more from the 50's and earlier, so corner those swimmers currently getting a round of applause at meets and pass on what you can glean from their memories. Social history is usually what does not last, drowned out by the martial prowess of the victors of various wars, this is precious stuff, so let's dig it out.
Whoa! This thread just got bumped and I didn't have to do it...seriously, there are always new contributors to these forums, please throw in your memories; I am convinced that we are creating something worthwhile here. I still would like to hear more from the 50's and earlier, so corner those swimmers currently getting a round of applause at meets and pass on what you can glean from their memories. Social history is usually what does not last, drowned out by the martial prowess of the victors of various wars, this is precious stuff, so let's dig it out.
