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
I was on the Curl team from 85-86. Just after starlit was shut down I guess, but all the other swimmers were constantly talking about the place, and what poor condition it was in. What was the lawsuit about? And where was it located by the way, near Woodson H.S.?
I dont' know how to do multiple quotes per post yet. So, I'll just post twice.
The lawsuit; I met the swimmer that sued the 4 men who owned the pool (I believe they were all doctors!), a couple years after it happened, and he gave me the scoop. He was in the showers when something electrical shorted and he got electrocuted from the showerhead, through his body, and down to the drain. It knocked him unconcious and blew out his toes. He said he was in pretty bad shape for a while. It was sad to hear the story but great to hear that he made out healthy.
The pool was located right next to W.T. Woodson H.S. so we could walk to school from practice and back again after school. Convenient. Here's the google map of it: The school on the left of Pickett Rd. The brown roof on the right is where the pool used to be.
maps.google.com/maps
I was on the Curl team from 85-86. Just after starlit was shut down I guess, but all the other swimmers were constantly talking about the place, and what poor condition it was in. What was the lawsuit about? And where was it located by the way, near Woodson H.S.?
I dont' know how to do multiple quotes per post yet. So, I'll just post twice.
The lawsuit; I met the swimmer that sued the 4 men who owned the pool (I believe they were all doctors!), a couple years after it happened, and he gave me the scoop. He was in the showers when something electrical shorted and he got electrocuted from the showerhead, through his body, and down to the drain. It knocked him unconcious and blew out his toes. He said he was in pretty bad shape for a while. It was sad to hear the story but great to hear that he made out healthy.
The pool was located right next to W.T. Woodson H.S. so we could walk to school from practice and back again after school. Convenient. Here's the google map of it: The school on the left of Pickett Rd. The brown roof on the right is where the pool used to be.
maps.google.com/maps
