"Dara Torres should be the face of United States Masters Swimming"
Brent Rutemiller, October issue Swimming World Magazine
"Of Course, Torres isn't on this trip alone. Aside from the support of Hoffman, her daughter and her coaches, Torres relies on a team. She has a nanny who tends to Tessa, a strength coach, and physical and massage therapists who work her like a piece of dough."
John Lohn, October Swimming World Magazine
With all due respect to Mr. Rutemillier & Mr. Lohn I would suggest that they spend a little more time around the people who not only compete in the meets of our sport but with the people who are the backbone as volunteers in the day to day running of it....Dara's only contribution has been making a few workouts early in her comeback, attending a couple of meets and signing autographs and collecting checks for clinics.
If you want a "face" of Masters Swimming look to Susan Von der Lippe who beat Dara as the first person over 40 to qualify for Trials....and she did it training with a masters team 3x a week...working par time, no nanny, no trainers....no PR person....that to me this is the core of what we are in my opinion.
How about Rob Copeland who somehow manages to run this entire organization, swim extremely well, post on our forum....all without a massage therapist and pilates instructor....again this is what Masters represents...to me.
Dara has done something remarkable for anyone her age... give her credit..but lets see if at some point she wants to time at one of our meets...or be on one of our committee's to help promote masters...without an appearance fee.
Parents
Former Member
A day in the life of an average "Masters" swimmer:
4:30 AM - Up and drive a half hour to the only pool in the area that is open that early. (I do this that early because I then have to go to work for 8 hours)
5:15 - 6:30 Get in 3500-4000 SCY 4500 if I am lucky
7:30 At work
1130 - 1230 (1:00 If time permits) Lunchtime swim - Again, lucky to get in 3000-3500 SCY 4000 if I am lucky
4:00 Leave work and go to the pool to coach the kids
6:30ish or 7 Home to eat dinner and make sure all the homework and life stresses for 3 high schoolers and one middle schooler are taken care of.
7:30 Leave me alone - Jeopardy is on!!!! :groovy:
8:00 - 11:00 Watch some TV in between helping with all the homework and stuff
11:00 Usually in bed - sometimes midnight.
Up the next day to do it again......this is my M-W-F routine.....T-Th are usually a little different with Soccer practice. And of course the whole thing can be thrown off by somebody missing a ride to one of their activities.
Absolutely nothing against Dara......she is truly an inspiration to all of us!!! I even defended her in the other thread about doping......but does she have to deal with this type of stuff daily like most of us do?
A day in the life of an average "Masters" swimmer:
4:30 AM - Up and drive a half hour to the only pool in the area that is open that early. (I do this that early because I then have to go to work for 8 hours)
5:15 - 6:30 Get in 3500-4000 SCY 4500 if I am lucky
7:30 At work
1130 - 1230 (1:00 If time permits) Lunchtime swim - Again, lucky to get in 3000-3500 SCY 4000 if I am lucky
4:00 Leave work and go to the pool to coach the kids
6:30ish or 7 Home to eat dinner and make sure all the homework and life stresses for 3 high schoolers and one middle schooler are taken care of.
7:30 Leave me alone - Jeopardy is on!!!! :groovy:
8:00 - 11:00 Watch some TV in between helping with all the homework and stuff
11:00 Usually in bed - sometimes midnight.
Up the next day to do it again......this is my M-W-F routine.....T-Th are usually a little different with Soccer practice. And of course the whole thing can be thrown off by somebody missing a ride to one of their activities.
Absolutely nothing against Dara......she is truly an inspiration to all of us!!! I even defended her in the other thread about doping......but does she have to deal with this type of stuff daily like most of us do?
