You know, I've heard a few people say, "this is only masters, it's no big deal."
Yet, as I meet more people I learn about stories of people enjoying the sport, and the years of dedication they've given to swimming. 60+ years old, still healthy, still strong, going 32 for 50 fly... ???!!
Being fast at 20, great, way to go.... Try a lifetime of dedication, that's even greater.
Parents
Former Member
I think there's a much better realization in Masters (as compared to high school, college, and USS) that it's only swimming. Nationals is a good example of this. Why are so many of us going to Austin? Yes, we want to swim fast against the fastest swimmers. But I wouldn't be going if it weren't such a social occasion. The whole fast swimming thing is secondary to a weekend with my friends on the team and a chance to meet you guys.
Maybe not everyone feels that way, but it can be a completely foreign attitude in "serious" swimming. A friend of mine used to swim for Stanford, and at big meets Skip wouldn't let his swimmers talk to anybody outside the team, including friends and family. Skip's philosophy was apparently that a swim meet is a war, and in a war you have to be focused on destroying the enemy.
I think there's a much better realization in Masters (as compared to high school, college, and USS) that it's only swimming. Nationals is a good example of this. Why are so many of us going to Austin? Yes, we want to swim fast against the fastest swimmers. But I wouldn't be going if it weren't such a social occasion. The whole fast swimming thing is secondary to a weekend with my friends on the team and a chance to meet you guys.
Maybe not everyone feels that way, but it can be a completely foreign attitude in "serious" swimming. A friend of mine used to swim for Stanford, and at big meets Skip wouldn't let his swimmers talk to anybody outside the team, including friends and family. Skip's philosophy was apparently that a swim meet is a war, and in a war you have to be focused on destroying the enemy.
