2008 Santa Clara International Invitational May 15 - 18

I appreciate the thoughtful post Frank made, I'll reserve my comments regarding the rest of the negative posts. I have great respect for all masters swimmers, I owe everything I'm doing now to USMS. I took 2 years off after college and started from nothing. The Masters program gave me my true life's passion back after I thought it was gone. After college I started my business and currently work more than 50 hours a week. I do my best to balance work and swimming just like the rest of you. Am I a true masters swimmer?... I know I am. Why? Because I have a real life, support myself and my hobbies, and love swimming more than anything. I know having my own blog and posting my feelings opens me up to criticism. I've accepted this. Did I break a masters world record and it didn't count? Yes. Why? Because I'm a masters swimmer who achieved a 57.00 in the wrong meet. The only reason I'm involved in USA swimming is because I'm trying to live my dream of participating in the trials this year. If you have a problem with this, then change the rule to all non-sanctioned times can count toward a masters record... not just the world records. I find this time in my swimming career exciting because I train myself and I've only done 3 long course meets in my life to get my trials cut. I'm not a fantastic swimmer, I'm somebody who loves swimming. I know exactly where I stand and what a 57.00 ranks among the best of the best, and I'm still proud. Again, thank you Skip for the post, and thanks to anybody who chooses to support a fellow Masters swimmer. I've often commented on the best thing about masters swimming is that we all support each other, people who know me, understand I uplift anybody around me at a meet. I hope to see some of you in CA, --Kevin

I appreciate the thoughtful post Frank made, I'll reserve my comments regarding the rest of the negative posts. I have great respect for all masters swimmers, I owe everything I'm doing now to USMS. I took 2 years off after college and started from nothing. The Masters program gave me my true life's passion back after I thought it was gone. After college I started my business and currently work more than 50 hours a week. I do my best to balance work and swimming just like the rest of you. Am I a true masters swimmer?... I know I am. Why? Because I have a real life, support myself and my hobbies, and love swimming more than anything. I know having my own blog and posting my feelings opens me up to criticism. I've accepted this. Did I break a masters world record and it didn't count? Yes. Why? Because I'm a masters swimmer who achieved a 57.00 in the wrong meet. The only reason I'm involved in USA swimming is because I'm trying to live my dream of participating in the trials this year. If you have a problem with this, then change the rule to all non-sanctioned times can count toward a masters record... not just the world records. I find this time in my swimming career exciting because I train myself and I've only done 3 long course meets in my life to get my trials cut. I'm not a fantastic swimmer, I'm somebody who loves swimming. I know exactly where I stand and what a 57.00 ranks among the best of the best, and I'm still proud. Again, thank you Skip for the post, and thanks to anybody who chooses to support a fellow Masters swimmer. I've often commented on the best thing about masters swimming is that we all support each other, people who know me, understand I uplift anybody around me at a meet. I hope to see some of you in CA, --Kevin