"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
Of great importance or service would be the definition implied here. USS uses elite swimmers (Phelps, Hansen, Crocker, etc.) to generate intrest in age group swimming when just a tiny fraction of swimmers will ever make it to their level or even have the opportunity to swim in the same pool. The same idea applies to USMS...desiring to be a part of something that "that swimmer" is part of. I'm not a marketing guru, just presenting some ideas.
Of course this can have the opposite effect in some grown ups who might feel intimidated about getting into the water or competing. Kids tend to want to "be like Mike," whereas adults look at themselves and say to themselves "Crap, my 5' 8" 190lbs butt has no way of being like Mickey Mouse let alone Mike," and thus feel to intimidated to try. That's my caveat against using an elite swimmer. I've heard this from a personal trainer who explained this phenomenom and thus didn't overdo it with the workout clothes she wore for her sessions.
No Disrespect, but only 1 person can finish first. If promoting wellness through swimming is the goal, then Dara is the wrong choice, IMHO.
If the target segment is ex College and HS swimmers that drifted away (no pun) then maybe she is the right choice.
Of great importance or service would be the definition implied here. USS uses elite swimmers (Phelps, Hansen, Crocker, etc.) to generate intrest in age group swimming when just a tiny fraction of swimmers will ever make it to their level or even have the opportunity to swim in the same pool. The same idea applies to USMS...desiring to be a part of something that "that swimmer" is part of. I'm not a marketing guru, just presenting some ideas.
Of course this can have the opposite effect in some grown ups who might feel intimidated about getting into the water or competing. Kids tend to want to "be like Mike," whereas adults look at themselves and say to themselves "Crap, my 5' 8" 190lbs butt has no way of being like Mickey Mouse let alone Mike," and thus feel to intimidated to try. That's my caveat against using an elite swimmer. I've heard this from a personal trainer who explained this phenomenom and thus didn't overdo it with the workout clothes she wore for her sessions.
No Disrespect, but only 1 person can finish first. If promoting wellness through swimming is the goal, then Dara is the wrong choice, IMHO.
If the target segment is ex College and HS swimmers that drifted away (no pun) then maybe she is the right choice.
