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 loved playing sharks and minnows as a kid. We'd play in our 12 foot deep, 12.5 yard wide diving well. It was great fun. Sometimes there'd be like 20 or so kids playing. It got really tough to make it across when you had 5-10 kids trying to pull you up! Also, water polo days in lieu of practice were like dreams come true. We never played "legit" water polo, though. It was more like "kill the kid with the ball". But it was great fun!
I wasn't on a swim team as a kid, and in fact I didn't really swim as a kid other than froggy style breaststroke around the pool. But, I LOVED playing sharks and minnows. That game was awesome. :bliss:
I loved playing sharks and minnows as a kid. We'd play in our 12 foot deep, 12.5 yard wide diving well. It was great fun. Sometimes there'd be like 20 or so kids playing. It got really tough to make it across when you had 5-10 kids trying to pull you up! Also, water polo days in lieu of practice were like dreams come true. We never played "legit" water polo, though. It was more like "kill the kid with the ball". But it was great fun!
I wasn't on a swim team as a kid, and in fact I didn't really swim as a kid other than froggy style breaststroke around the pool. But, I LOVED playing sharks and minnows. That game was awesome. :bliss:
