Below are the number of entrants for each event at the Junior Nationals for 2008. What do these figures mean for men's swimming long term? The number of boys in the sport trails girls quite siginficantly in many events. In relays where a team tends to show its depth, boys are out numbered by girls nearly 2:1
If things continue or get worse we've got problems ahead of us in 2 Olympics.
It's a good thing collegiate budgets aren't cutting mens swimming these days.... :-)
ncsassociation.homestead.com/PsychFINAL.htm
.............Women Men
1650/1000... 78.. 75
Med. Relay... 97.. 51
100 free... 264.. 140
100 ***... 179.. 102
200 back... 173.. 111
200 fly... 149.. 91
800 fr rly... 81.. 43
50 fly... 170.. 106
50 ***... 151.. 82
200 free... 252.. 159
400 IM... 183.. 106
400 free rly... 84.. 45
100 back... 194.. 152
500 free... 188.. 112
200 ***... 152.. 82
100 fly... 242.. 161
200 fr rly... 84.. 45
50 back... 135.. 115
200 IM... 268.. 169
50 free... 282.. 153
800/1500 fr... 98.. 67
400 med rly... 105.. 54
I find it rather hard to believe that the significant increase in boys participation in swimming the last 20 years is from fat boys. Maybe that's why Phelps, Lochte, Pierson, etc joined swimming, maybe you are on to something there. Were they all tubby kids? Maybe USA Swimming needs to go on a fat recruiting road trip.
I will agree with you that there is very little chance the US can maintain their current level of dominance. That is because we have a once in a half-century (or better) crop of freakishly great athletes now, that simply won't continue. Also, globalization of all sports has leveled the playing field. Not to mention, women are now participating around the world. Wait, stop the presses, women participating, the end of men's sports as we know it!!!
An alternative reason for the long tail of boy's records is the relative maturity of boys swimming versus girls.
I've thought of another band the forumites trapped in the 70s should embrace - Bruch Springsteen. You can adopt Glory Days as your group's rallying song for glory faded.
I find it rather hard to believe that the significant increase in boys participation in swimming the last 20 years is from fat boys. Maybe that's why Phelps, Lochte, Pierson, etc joined swimming, maybe you are on to something there. Were they all tubby kids? Maybe USA Swimming needs to go on a fat recruiting road trip.
I will agree with you that there is very little chance the US can maintain their current level of dominance. That is because we have a once in a half-century (or better) crop of freakishly great athletes now, that simply won't continue. Also, globalization of all sports has leveled the playing field. Not to mention, women are now participating around the world. Wait, stop the presses, women participating, the end of men's sports as we know it!!!
An alternative reason for the long tail of boy's records is the relative maturity of boys swimming versus girls.
I've thought of another band the forumites trapped in the 70s should embrace - Bruch Springsteen. You can adopt Glory Days as your group's rallying song for glory faded.
