"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
I've often heard here that "master's swimming is for everyone" or "master's swimming is about fitness" or "you don't have to compete to be in master's swimming". If you require meet participation or any "time trials", you'll chase away more people than you'll recruit. But maybe that's all part of your diabolical plan....
Hi Barb,
Forcing members to compete is a bit too much. As a matter of fact...out of the 40 members in our club...I'd say that only 6 of us attend any of the meets.
The majority are there for fitness, and to improve the swimming leg of their triathlon. I was only making reference to the discounted insurance where there could be an incentive to stay physically fit. (As others have said...that'll never happen.)
Back to the thread...
The primary reason people in our YMCA's "swim classes" join USMS ...is to be able to participate in meets. I've trained on my own for the past two years, but that doesn't prevent me from being a USMS member. It's required for meet sign-ups. Other than that, there's no huge incentive to join. The SWIM magazine does a great job, but that alone isn't a big enough hook.
And I agree with Dorothy about the inconvenience of traveling over 2 hours sometimes just to attend a meet.
Pool facilities are very limited in some places...and work and family commitments are unavoidable for the majority of us.
I've often heard here that "master's swimming is for everyone" or "master's swimming is about fitness" or "you don't have to compete to be in master's swimming". If you require meet participation or any "time trials", you'll chase away more people than you'll recruit. But maybe that's all part of your diabolical plan....
Hi Barb,
Forcing members to compete is a bit too much. As a matter of fact...out of the 40 members in our club...I'd say that only 6 of us attend any of the meets.
The majority are there for fitness, and to improve the swimming leg of their triathlon. I was only making reference to the discounted insurance where there could be an incentive to stay physically fit. (As others have said...that'll never happen.)
Back to the thread...
The primary reason people in our YMCA's "swim classes" join USMS ...is to be able to participate in meets. I've trained on my own for the past two years, but that doesn't prevent me from being a USMS member. It's required for meet sign-ups. Other than that, there's no huge incentive to join. The SWIM magazine does a great job, but that alone isn't a big enough hook.
And I agree with Dorothy about the inconvenience of traveling over 2 hours sometimes just to attend a meet.
Pool facilities are very limited in some places...and work and family commitments are unavoidable for the majority of us.
