I recently heard that a woman swimmer, unnamed, on the elite level, has been known to spit in her opponent's lane before a sprint race.
Is this just ill-mannered pscyhing or something more sinister? I read on one of Gary Hall Jr.'s race club blogs that this might be a technique for getting a competitor to test positive for steroids or other drugs.
This has a somewhat Urban Legend quality to it that causes my spider sense to tingle. Nevertheless, I am wondering if the more knowledgable folks on the forum might have an explanation for the strategic use of spittle.
What a bunch of sissies you guys are! S(m)wimming needs more throw down stuff like this. It's bad enough we all get mocked for wearing our speedos (us men anyway), now the only tough person in the sport is a woman??? Maybe if we had more characters and strange behavior we'd be on TV more than once every four years.
Nats in 09 work for you Geek?
Sure, although it is highly doubtful we'll be in the same heats or that you'd be allowed to swim more than 3 event anyway.
....I may just sell my Gibson for airfare to Austin at this rate if you keep it up...
Austin is well known for their street musicians. I suggest you sell something else (like your copy of "How to do a backstroke turn") and keep the guitar to panhandle for all the bets you are on target to lose.
What a bunch of sissies you guys are! Smimming needs more throw down stuff like this. It's bad enough we all get mocked for wearing our speedos (us men anyway), now the only tough person in the sport is a woman??? Maybe if we had more characters and strange behavior we'd be on TV more than once every four years.
ok, i'll make you a deal. i am swimming in my second USS meet ever this weekend. if i end up in a lane next to one of the college kids (the meet is sponsored by UMD, and half the swimmers are UMD's varsity team), I'll spit, splash and otherwise be a pest.
(and then get smoked in the water):bolt:
However, I gotta give her props for being herself and not conforming to society's standard for women - heck in terms of looks or mannerisms.
In my mind it has nothing to do with her sex. The problem is she didn't conform to society's standard for how to behave as a human being. I find that kind of behavior appalling whether it's a man, woman or child.
Is there the equivalent of a technical foul? This kind of behavior should get someone ejected from a meet in my opinion (it would if I wrote the rules).
Seinfeld once suggested a swimming type of biathlon in which the swimmer would swim to the end of the pool where somebody would be waiting for him, and they would attempt to strangle each other to death. Might get some more media coverage, who knows.
