"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.
You demi-gods that do to the National Championship (not just "Nats") all have real lives, families, and stories!
You want sexy? USMS needs to tell the stories that are buried in these threads! Teen girls with self-esteem. 80+ years beating National records. 15 mile swims. Its all where, but USMS isn't capitalizing on what swimming as a Master is all about.
Yes, half naked people sells photos, but human drama get's new members.
I'm a newby so I see it from outside. Am I that far off?
That's why I said earlier, let's focus on the comeback stories and start ups, and not necessarily just the super elite. A lot of amazing people have amazing paths that have led them to masters swimming and masters swimming success.
I think the USMS mag focuses on some of these, like Margery Mayer, or the Islandsox 20 mile (and other) OW attempts.
But since most of have real and complicated lives, it would also be nice to hear about the non-Dara Torres type battling the odds to overcome adversity, etc. For example, and this is just one of many, (S)he-Man (speedy though she is) battling eye problems, eye surgery, scoliosis, searching out cures, doing whatever she needs to stay in the pool and compete, even with kids. Or Coach Beth McGee battling shoulder problems and insomnia, raising children, helping elderly parents, and still, despite lack of a "team," landing in the top ten. Or Stud and Ensignada overcoming meet anxiety and debuting at zones. Many, many such examples. Kind of like the Olympiad series. As a masters, I like a dose of reality thrown in with all the racing and stats and rankings. Although watching the best is a always super thrilling too. We need to embrace both perhaps.
I'm sure someone will take you up on your offer soon!
You demi-gods that do to the National Championship (not just "Nats") all have real lives, families, and stories!
You want sexy? USMS needs to tell the stories that are buried in these threads! Teen girls with self-esteem. 80+ years beating National records. 15 mile swims. Its all where, but USMS isn't capitalizing on what swimming as a Master is all about.
Yes, half naked people sells photos, but human drama get's new members.
I'm a newby so I see it from outside. Am I that far off?
That's why I said earlier, let's focus on the comeback stories and start ups, and not necessarily just the super elite. A lot of amazing people have amazing paths that have led them to masters swimming and masters swimming success.
I think the USMS mag focuses on some of these, like Margery Mayer, or the Islandsox 20 mile (and other) OW attempts.
But since most of have real and complicated lives, it would also be nice to hear about the non-Dara Torres type battling the odds to overcome adversity, etc. For example, and this is just one of many, (S)he-Man (speedy though she is) battling eye problems, eye surgery, scoliosis, searching out cures, doing whatever she needs to stay in the pool and compete, even with kids. Or Coach Beth McGee battling shoulder problems and insomnia, raising children, helping elderly parents, and still, despite lack of a "team," landing in the top ten. Or Stud and Ensignada overcoming meet anxiety and debuting at zones. Many, many such examples. Kind of like the Olympiad series. As a masters, I like a dose of reality thrown in with all the racing and stats and rankings. Although watching the best is a always super thrilling too. We need to embrace both perhaps.
I'm sure someone will take you up on your offer soon!
