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
What do you think causes the disparity?
John Smith
Excellent question, I have no idea whatsoever. I definitely acknowledge the disparity but I don't see it as the demise of the sport as you do. I think a better thing for you to research (not me, I'm beat on the number crunching) is some times comparison of 197X versus now. Now, I know you feel swimming had it's hey day back then (oddly enough that corresponds exactly to your hey day) and wish to discount all current exceptional achievement due to advances such as goggles, chlorinated pools, tech suits, starting blocks, etc.
I see a whole lot of fast boys swimming every day so I don't think there is any male crisis. And, if you are a teen boy, what is a better sport for, um, mingling than swimming? Heck, if you are an adult boy, for that matter, although I will acknowledge I did lose my man card credibility when I didn't appropriately oogle (S)he-man at the recent meet.
What do you think causes the disparity?
John Smith
Excellent question, I have no idea whatsoever. I definitely acknowledge the disparity but I don't see it as the demise of the sport as you do. I think a better thing for you to research (not me, I'm beat on the number crunching) is some times comparison of 197X versus now. Now, I know you feel swimming had it's hey day back then (oddly enough that corresponds exactly to your hey day) and wish to discount all current exceptional achievement due to advances such as goggles, chlorinated pools, tech suits, starting blocks, etc.
I see a whole lot of fast boys swimming every day so I don't think there is any male crisis. And, if you are a teen boy, what is a better sport for, um, mingling than swimming? Heck, if you are an adult boy, for that matter, although I will acknowledge I did lose my man card credibility when I didn't appropriately oogle (S)he-man at the recent meet.
