"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
While reading your posts, I was doing some self-analysis (as a new "swimmer") to what kept me from joining before.
In running, if I want to check my fitness or just run for fun or because of other people doing it, I just sign up for an easy race and cruise it so I finish in the Middle of the pack and enjoy the post race party. As a Triathlete I can do the same thing.:groovy:
Since I never swam competitively I have no idea if I could do it. Besides there is no "pack" so if (when) I get lapped its all me in the lane. Why would I want to do that to myself. Most adults didn't like to be :blush:. My fears of what could go wrong range from falling backward off the blocks, to losing my suit diving in, to losing count of laps (I could go on but I think you get the idea). Plus the idea of wasting a weekend at a meet to swim 3 races for a total time of less than 10 minutes doesn't seem a good use of my limited time.
Making my family watch me at a meet is probably grounds for divorce, but a beach vacation for a Tri or visit a major city (Boston, NY, DC) for a marathon are very appealing. Look at how many marathoners take 4-6 hours to finish and they have a blast. Lap swimming just doesn't have that appeal. No one brags about swimming 50 meters (no matter how fast) except to other competitive swimmers.
:2cents:
The only real group USMS can draw from are competitive swimmers. They are comfortable with competing and as time goes on miss it.
I think Tris offer an opportunity to catch more swimmers who (like me) started late and can be seduced in to racing. The "pool" to draw from just isn't that big.:2cents:
While reading your posts, I was doing some self-analysis (as a new "swimmer") to what kept me from joining before.
In running, if I want to check my fitness or just run for fun or because of other people doing it, I just sign up for an easy race and cruise it so I finish in the Middle of the pack and enjoy the post race party. As a Triathlete I can do the same thing.:groovy:
Since I never swam competitively I have no idea if I could do it. Besides there is no "pack" so if (when) I get lapped its all me in the lane. Why would I want to do that to myself. Most adults didn't like to be :blush:. My fears of what could go wrong range from falling backward off the blocks, to losing my suit diving in, to losing count of laps (I could go on but I think you get the idea). Plus the idea of wasting a weekend at a meet to swim 3 races for a total time of less than 10 minutes doesn't seem a good use of my limited time.
Making my family watch me at a meet is probably grounds for divorce, but a beach vacation for a Tri or visit a major city (Boston, NY, DC) for a marathon are very appealing. Look at how many marathoners take 4-6 hours to finish and they have a blast. Lap swimming just doesn't have that appeal. No one brags about swimming 50 meters (no matter how fast) except to other competitive swimmers.
:2cents:
The only real group USMS can draw from are competitive swimmers. They are comfortable with competing and as time goes on miss it.
I think Tris offer an opportunity to catch more swimmers who (like me) started late and can be seduced in to racing. The "pool" to draw from just isn't that big.:2cents:
