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.
Former Member
Gosh, you all are a bit hard on poor Amy today---at least she didn't pee in her opponents lane....:rofl:
Former Member
You've misquoted me, please review.
"Last edited by aquageek : February 1st, 2008 at 02:47 PM. Reason: Updated to Jayhawk's grammar standards"
Thank you for that nice birthday present... :party2:
I sit because I'm lazy and old. Not replacing the roll or not lighting a match/potpourri bomb after dropping the kids off at the pool might be a better criteria to determine someone's "manliness."
Yup, i'll name her... AVD...
I don't know that it was sinister, as I don't know if the sinister motive is actually viable (hmmm, mythbusters, where are you???)
But it was certainly something used to psych out her opponents. I always thought it was an ahole move, but funny too. I sometimes do this when a friend or the blue muppet and I are in adjacent lanes.
Is this just ill-mannered pscyhing or something more sinister?
Purely ill-mannered psyching from an ill-mannered, repugnant swimmer, IMO. When she got her clock cleaned by Inky she said something like "if I were a man I could swim that fast, too." I always thought maybe she should take a look in the mirror.
Purely ill-mannered psyching from an ill-mannered, repugnant swimmer, IMO. When she got her clock cleaned by Inky she said something like "if I were a man I could swim that fast, too." I always thought maybe she should take a look in the mirror.
ZING!!!
Former Member
I believe it was Amy Van Dyken (actually went to my high school--Cherry Creek H.S. in Colorado--affectionately referred to as "America's High School") who was fond of spitting in people's lane. Agree--funny but kinda gross (Don't like to see women spitting or pooping--I'm kinda Victorian that way).
I also believe it was the 2000 Olympics that she had her ass handed to her each time she did it by Inge de Bruijn the Dutch swimmer.
I doubt it would make you positive for steroids (even if you choked and aspirated the entire pool) but I wouldn't be surprised if both of them tested positive.
Spitting in lane may upset some girls and make them wince but it could also just piss off the other swimmer and give them an edge. All psych games run that risk.
Former Member
Amy Van Dyken does not bring to mind the grace of past champions and decribes herself as mean and stubborn.
www.geocities.com/.../amybio.htm
Any woman can be mean and stubborn if you know how to provoke them...
:bitching:
