"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.
However, from all of the masters swimmers and even runners, cyclists, and triathletes that I know, many would be eliminated from being considered the "face" of their sport due to working with a team of people to enhance performance. I would estimate that of the adults that I know, about half of them work with some combination of a trainer, massage therapist, physical therapist, chiropractor, pilates or yoga instructor, nutritionist, etc. So, I feel Dara's getting a bit of a bad rap in that area. I know that I was surprised to find that some of the masters individuals I swim with (and this goes for 50 and 60+ yr individuals) have acupuncturists, yoga instructors, pilates classes, and weight trainers. Now, they don't go around advertising this info. It does make sense to me as to why they are so quick in the pool . . . I'm sure there are swimmers out there who are fabulous and they just swim (I know of a few). But usually, there are specific reasons as to why some swimmers are so quick in the pool.
Kristina:
I've observed the same thing, which is why I started the "professional masters swimmer" thread awhile back. Obviously, loads of masters swimmers seek some help to keep themselves in the pool or enhance performance. Good for them! No one should begrudge anyone in their pursuit of excellence or improvement. I wish I could do more myself! I'm sure many of the top athletes in our sport have some sort of team, as you note.
I do see ART/prolo docs once in awhile for shoulder management and get a couple massages a year. But I mostly train alone and hit the weight room alone and have no team whatsoever. It's not a big deal. I'm happy with just being able to train and compete once in awhile. I am damn jealous of those getting weekly massages though ...
Seems like this issue calls for a poll to see what masters swimmers are engaging in what activities to make themselves better in the pool.
I like Stud's idea of across the board representation. We are all different and have different stories, different lives, different goals, different obstacles, etc. Celebrate diversity. I just don't think Dara is THE one face.
However, from all of the masters swimmers and even runners, cyclists, and triathletes that I know, many would be eliminated from being considered the "face" of their sport due to working with a team of people to enhance performance. I would estimate that of the adults that I know, about half of them work with some combination of a trainer, massage therapist, physical therapist, chiropractor, pilates or yoga instructor, nutritionist, etc. So, I feel Dara's getting a bit of a bad rap in that area. I know that I was surprised to find that some of the masters individuals I swim with (and this goes for 50 and 60+ yr individuals) have acupuncturists, yoga instructors, pilates classes, and weight trainers. Now, they don't go around advertising this info. It does make sense to me as to why they are so quick in the pool . . . I'm sure there are swimmers out there who are fabulous and they just swim (I know of a few). But usually, there are specific reasons as to why some swimmers are so quick in the pool.
Kristina:
I've observed the same thing, which is why I started the "professional masters swimmer" thread awhile back. Obviously, loads of masters swimmers seek some help to keep themselves in the pool or enhance performance. Good for them! No one should begrudge anyone in their pursuit of excellence or improvement. I wish I could do more myself! I'm sure many of the top athletes in our sport have some sort of team, as you note.
I do see ART/prolo docs once in awhile for shoulder management and get a couple massages a year. But I mostly train alone and hit the weight room alone and have no team whatsoever. It's not a big deal. I'm happy with just being able to train and compete once in awhile. I am damn jealous of those getting weekly massages though ...
Seems like this issue calls for a poll to see what masters swimmers are engaging in what activities to make themselves better in the pool.
I like Stud's idea of across the board representation. We are all different and have different stories, different lives, different goals, different obstacles, etc. Celebrate diversity. I just don't think Dara is THE one face.
