2008 Santa Clara International Invitational May 15 - 18

I think ehoch is talking about swimmers in all meets, not just Masters. Randall Bal went 53.66 last year. Aaron Peirsol is going to turn 25 before the Olympics. This is why Masters records in the lower age groups aren't very meaningful.

All of this brings up the age old (no pun intended) discussion. What is a "Masters Swimmer"? Is it someone over the age of 18? Is it someone who has a USMS card? Is it someone who swims in 1 meet their whole life and sets all kinds of records? Is it someone who is over the age of 35? My OPINION is that a Masters Swimmer is someone who trains and competes, if they so choose, in USMS but has a life with job, family, etc. They swim for fun, conditioning and good old fashioned competition. Sure, but there are plenty of masters swimmers in other countries (ie not just USMS).

change the rule to all non-sanctioned times can count toward a masters record... not just the world records. Kevin, USA-S meets do count towards USMS records, it is FINA that has the rule about non-sanctioned meets. I could argue either side of why this is so, but I don't believe it is really that big a deal. I'm sure you will do a similar time if/when you rest for a masters LCM meet. If it doesn't happen soon, then hopefully you have many years ahead of you competing in masters meets. Best of luck to you at Trials.

Hey Kevin! We met during the TYR Grand Prix. I had no idea you were going for an OT cut. I know you had some great times during the three TYR meets. I wish you the best of luck in Omaha and hope you continue swimming masters. Hopefully you'll do the TYR grand prix again this year!

All the posts saying "he's not really that good" are a little weak, IMO. Yes, there are people who can beat him, but as far as I can tell he is the fastest 100 backstroker who is a current masters swimmer. That's pretty good. How many current masters swimmers have made Trials cuts? Not many. I just looked at the rankings on the FINA site and a 57.00 would have ranked him 141st in the world last year.

All the posts saying "he's not really that good" are a little weak, IMO. Yes, there are people who can beat him, but as far as I can tell he is the fastest 100 backstroker who is a current masters swimmer. That's pretty good. How many current masters swimmers have made Trials cuts? Not many. I just looked at the rankings on the FINA site and a 57.00 would have ranked him 141st in the world last year. I'm with Kirk. All I know is that when word gets out that a USMS swimmer has/ or is close to achieving a trials cut a little ripple goes through the competitive masters who know what it takes to get to that point. I also suspect that a lot of admiration and respect goes out when Dennis Baker or Kevin makes a cut and swims at trials. You just know that a lot of folks in the stands are talking about Masters Swimming, maybe for the first time. Good Luck in Omaha Kevin.

All of this brings up the age old (no pun intended) discussion. What is a "Masters Swimmer"? Is it someone over the age of 18? Is it someone who has a USMS card? Is it someone who swims in 1 meet their whole life and sets all kinds of records? Is it someone who is over the age of 35? My OPINION is that a Masters Swimmer is someone who trains and competes, if they so choose, in USMS but has a life with job, family, etc. They swim for fun, conditioning and good old fashioned competition. If you looked at USMS nationals this year, for the most part it was the true meaning of Masters Swimming. I am sure Aaron, Neil, Brendan, Ian, etc. could have hopped in and swam amazingly well setting all kinds of records. What Josh Davis, Jeff Commings, Mike Ross, and the Smiths did as well as Susan VDL and many others on the women's side is what top level masters swimming is about. Just a few thoughts to ponder. Have at it...

Sure, but there are plenty of masters swimmers in other countries (ie not just USMS). Yes, sorry about that miss. I figured since we were on the USMS board I would discuss USMS.

One other thing, in the discussion board about the Senior Circuit meet that Ande started, Michelle Chow posted the following: Darn! Conflicts in schedule. My girls have a karate tournament, birthday party, Hurricane Harbor day, and Science Fair during TSC #3. Last week of school is this TSC #4 but would have loved to swim 1 event and watch the meet. Alas, I am signed up for paper plates & napkins for the end of the year parties. Ande, what happens in the year following Olympics - do the time standards get faster or slower? Do they tend to stairstep up or down? Looking foward to more of "The World According to Ande" at our next meet! I am going to do some of the sprint sets you suggested. Sprinting has made a huge difference in my times this year so I want to refine and truly commit to the 4 x 50's and see what I can do next year! This epitomizes what masters swimming is all about, and I can definitely relate. A website of a 20 something guy who PROBABLY has never stopped swimming since college talking about all of the records he has broken or would have broken is meaningless. Don't get me wrong, HE IS A FAST SWIMMER, but doesn't hold a candle to folks like Michelle, Ande, Josh, etc. and all of the outside pressures we all have to deal with.

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