"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.
I am not sure where you got the impression that our committee leaders want to avoid growth to protect their own lane space. The leaders I have had the privilidge to work with do not examplify that attitude at all. In fact, they conducted a series of workshops at this years convention on ways to get more swimmers in the pool.
Mark....I need to to retract my statement on the committee's...it was an all encompassing statement and not accurate. I do however still contend that there are a number of members of USMS on all levels that do feel this way about growth....I've heard it first hand many times.
SCY, the definition "Of great importance or service would be the definition implied here" still needs to have context. Showing Dara may entice former world class swimmers to make a comeback in their late 30's/early 40's....it may also chase away the core membership (fitness oriented) because they would feel even more intimidated.
I don't have the answers...just lots of questions....and I admit it pisses me off a bit that SW steps in and tries to tell us what our "face" should look like...then again if no one else is willing/able to do it than why not?
I am not sure where you got the impression that our committee leaders want to avoid growth to protect their own lane space. The leaders I have had the privilidge to work with do not examplify that attitude at all. In fact, they conducted a series of workshops at this years convention on ways to get more swimmers in the pool.
Mark....I need to to retract my statement on the committee's...it was an all encompassing statement and not accurate. I do however still contend that there are a number of members of USMS on all levels that do feel this way about growth....I've heard it first hand many times.
SCY, the definition "Of great importance or service would be the definition implied here" still needs to have context. Showing Dara may entice former world class swimmers to make a comeback in their late 30's/early 40's....it may also chase away the core membership (fitness oriented) because they would feel even more intimidated.
I don't have the answers...just lots of questions....and I admit it pisses me off a bit that SW steps in and tries to tell us what our "face" should look like...then again if no one else is willing/able to do it than why not?
