Im canceling my subscription to Swimming World.
Yes all of the swimmers picked were VERY worthy and nothing against any of them or their accomplishments.
But your going to tell me that the panel who choose these 6 men and 6 women (and 8 runner ups) didn't deem Susan Von der Lippe worthy of this honor:
I guess something like a total of almost 30 Top 10 times in all 3 courses didn't count? nor did the tally of #1 times on those lists? And simply breaking 5 SCM world records over 2 days is...as we all know...a joke.
And I know this is a reach now...stay with me on this...but being the oldest female swimmer and the first over 40 to make Olympic Trials cuts all while working a job, raising kids/a family, training only 3x a week....yeah, yeah I know thats pushing it...so I won't even mention she made her second trials cuts a month ago since that was done over at an evil USS meet and SW is probably correct in their belief it "doesn't count" in the masters world.
Susan...nice try in 2007...but you'll need to step up a bit more in 2008 if you want to be considered.
Paul,
You sure are getting curmudgeonly as you approach 50. Cancel your subscription to Swimming World? Man, they just featured a Masters swimmer on the cover. How cool is that. And as great a swimmer as Susan is, I think Laura Val’s selection as the most outstanding swimmer was the absolute correct choice. She is awesome and has been for decades.
Listen, I agree the selection process is confusing. I thought they were joking when they selected me as I couldn’t recall swimming one meters meet in 2007. But it is what it is and a lot of people volunteer their time to help raise the profile of our sport.
One other thing. If Susan’s times in non-Masters meets should count, why shouldn’t Dara’s or Mark Foster’s, as they also compete in Masters? In my opinion I think they all should count. Men’s 35-39 SCM 50 free record 21.3!
Rich
Paul,
You sure are getting curmudgeonly as you approach 50. Cancel your subscription to Swimming World? Man, they just featured a Masters swimmer on the cover. How cool is that. And as great a swimmer as Susan is, I think Laura Val’s selection as the most outstanding swimmer was the absolute correct choice. She is awesome and has been for decades.
Listen, I agree the selection process is confusing. I thought they were joking when they selected me as I couldn’t recall swimming one meters meet in 2007. But it is what it is and a lot of people volunteer their time to help raise the profile of our sport.
One other thing. If Susan’s times in non-Masters meets should count, why shouldn’t Dara’s or Mark Foster’s, as they also compete in Masters? In my opinion I think they all should count. Men’s 35-39 SCM 50 free record 21.3!
Rich
