I wasn't a competitive swimmer growing up, I come from a running background and it wasn't until I got into triathlon and open water swimming did I really train and compete, but nothing near the level of many of you on this forum. Sadly swimming doesn't get the respect or attention as other more mainstream sports in the US, but I know many young swimmers at the high school and collegiate level and know very well how dedicated they are and the crazy amount of training they do. The ironic thing is that as intense a lifestyle it can be, you all are a very happy, funny bunch that seem to really love your sport. I was watching a few interviews from the FINA Grand Prix from Long Beach, Calif., and everyone they interviewed laughed, giggled, joked around, got nervous or embarrassed when complimented and just seemed to be enjoying themselves. This is a really nice departure from the millionaire pro athletes with over inflated egos and their constant chest pounding. I greatly look forward to the summer Olympics every 4 years just to watch the swimming events. So though it may seem like no one gives you credit for you hard work, I have more respect for competitive swimmers than any other athletes.
Former Member
I wonder what the actual number of people is around the world watching the Olympics. Anyone have a guess?
I've heard the number one billion thrown around, but that may just be hype by the IOC and NBC. :dunno:
I believe NBC has the exclusive rights and provides the feed for the non-US networks. But you're right that it's not clear whether 62 million is US only or worldwide. (It seems high to be U.S. only, but low to be worldwide.)
I believe NBC has the exclusive rights and provides the feed for the non-US networks. But you're right that it's not clear whether 62 million is US only or worldwide. (It seems high to be U.S. only, but low to be worldwide.)
If that's right then the actual number could be much higher... Hmmm.... That makes for a good business opportunity...
What a great post! I grew up in California where it wasn't so "lame" to be a swimmer but I now live in Texas where football is GOD. I think most swimmers know just how much work it takes to be good and are pretty confident in their athleticism.
I used to coach a USS age-group team at a Jr. college in Oklahoma. My assistant and I would always giggle when the football players would saunter in all cocky and then proceed to swim below the level of our pre-competitive swimmers...:drown:
same with out wrestlers. they do it in the diving well though, we all get in the lanes next to hem and do the worst form we can do and try to beat them by just an inch then the last 5 yards sprint it and kinda crush their pride. It's all in good fun we all know each other. Our captain snuck into there group and just did 1 arm free pull all out and lapped all of them multiple times. So next year they will pick 3 of our worst swimmers, and well put in our fastest as the 4th against there 4 fastest in a relay for fun.
In my high school we had a water polo match between the wrestlers and the swimmers.This was standard gym class water polo rules i.e. none.The wrestlers defended the shallow end and the swimmers the deep end.No wrestler ever crossed past the middle of the pool(though no swimmers spent much time in the shallow end.)The relative stalemate was broken at about half way through the contest.The wrestling team was rather large and since this was early in the season not all the wrestlers knew each other,so when a swimmer volunteered to be the goalie for the wrestlers they let him.He was a REALLY bad goalie:rofl:
Just make a reality show about the making of the 1984 sculptures in front of the LA Collesium. :eek:
Back in grad school, I was part of an intramural water polo match against one of the football fraternities. (This was in the old "dungeon" Carnegie Mellon pool, not the nice one with glass walls.) Took the first warm up shot, ball clanged off the top of the cast iron goal crossbar and rebounded off the (low) ceiling and the deck several times. Not good accuracy, but in hindsight the sound/visual made the game a lot easier. Fun seeing football-sized players trying to swim away from their goal during the game (including their goalie).
same with out wrestlers. they do it in the diving well though, we all get in the lanes next to hem and do the worst form we can do and try to beat them by just an inch then the last 5 yards sprint it and kinda crush their pride. It's all in good fun we all know each other. Our captain snuck into there group and just did 1 arm free pull all out and lapped all of them multiple times. So next year they will pick 3 of our worst swimmers, and well put in our fastest as the 4th against there 4 fastest in a relay for fun.
Um, angering Wrestlers is not the best idea. As someone who wrestled in high school, I find that it's a toss between what hurts worse a swim practice or a wrestling practice. Nothing like doing 100 neck bridges with a 200 pound guy on your chest to really focus the meaning of pain.
same with out wrestlers. they do it in the diving well though, we all get in the lanes next to hem and do the worst form we can do and try to beat them by just an inch then the last 5 yards sprint it and kinda crush their pride. It's all in good fun we all know each other. Our captain snuck into there group and just did 1 arm free pull all out and lapped all of them multiple times. So next year they will pick 3 of our worst swimmers, and well put in our fastest as the 4th against there 4 fastest in a relay for fun.
Um, angering Wrestlers is not the best idea.
Yeah, I'd agree... I think a Speedo atomic wedgie will look as bad as it will hurt...
Many swimmers were professional wrestlers.
To name a couple George Larson swam for Canada in the Olympics and British Empire Games he wrestled as the Masked Marvel in Hamilton and Tom Collins in the major circuit slam.canoe.ca/.../677993.html.. Tom Park my brother a great marathon swimmer for sure He wrestled the Lt heavy weight circuit on the west Coast.
Look, the lack of money has nothing to do with the ability for swimming to go mainstream, in terms of public interest. It all comes down to marketing and brand recognition, and some ways are more cost effective than others.
It has only been relatively recently that the rules have changed for amatuer sports, and that means this really can become a huge business opportunity.
In australia ive seen thorpe on billboards more than any other athlete. so it does have the potential to go big time. particularly in coastal communities.
