Shubert digs Masters Swimming

I invite Mark to swim in a Masters Meet or a USA Swimming Meet Let's find out what sort of times he can swim here's the link to the NY Times article www.nytimes.com/.../29torres-t.html to make his quote a little eaiser to find: EVEN TORRES KNOWS that if she manages to earn one of the two spots available on the Olympic team for the 50-meter freestyle, or one of the six available on the 100-meter freestyle (which includes a relay team), this will be her last trip to the Games. Mark Schubert, the national team’s coach in 1984, told me he’s sure Torres will hold master’s swimming records in freestyle sprints at age 50 and 60 and 70. But — let’s face it — compared with the Olympics, even the Masters World Championship is a glorified losers’ round, and holding a master’s world record is hardly an exciting achievement for an athlete who hit the world stage just as she entered high school and who has nine Olympic medals to her name. Driving home one night from a sushi dinner, Torres’s partner, David Hoffman, admitted that he’ll be relieved when Torres emerges from her Olympic training tunnel. “We don’t spend as much time together,” he told me as he idled his car outside their home. “We can’t go on a vacation.” Torres had driven home separately with Tessa. Hoffman watched the swimmer standing in their driveway at dusk, her mind clearly turned toward getting Tessa to bed, so that she could get nine hours of sleep herself. “I can’t wait until this is over,” Hoffman sighed. “It’ll have been two years.” « Previous Page1 2 3 4 5 6 Next

The context of the quote is that this is Torres' last shot at the Olympics and that competing at the elite masters level -- which Torres could obviously continue to do -- just isn't the same. The wording is irritating but can anyone disagree with the larger point? And it isn't clear to me that it is SCHUBERT calling masters swimming a "glorified loser's round," or if those are the author's words. I bet the LAST time DT competed in the Olympics, everyone was sure it was her last time competing at that level...

From the famous words of Whitney Houston, "Aww, hell to the naw!!!". There are alot of talented people in Masters Swimming. Plus, there are some Masters swimmers who could compete at Torres's level but might not have the time to pursue Olympic and World Rankings. They are too busy with work and families or don't have the resources to put all their energy into swimming.

I read the article this morning and the posts. I think C. Stevenson is right. These are probably not Shubert's words but the author's. It might be even more interesting to see her in a Masters meet. I think her "glorious losers" remark seemed out of place in what I found to be an interesting article. I am looking forward to seeing Dara Torres qualify in the 50. She really is an amazing swimmer. As to Tom's remark: "...there are some Masters swimmers who could compete at Torres's level but might not have the time to pursue Olympic and World Rankings. They are too busy with work and families or don't have the resources to put all their energy into swimming." I don't buy it. I think that kind of talent is very rare and she has the hunger to go after it...which is also remarkable. There are some absolutely amazing Masters swimmers, old and young, and I watched some incredible swims in Austin, but swimmers like Torres, Phelps, Lochte are on another level, and I don't think it's taking care of our kids or businesses that keeps some Masters swimmers from competing at that level. Tom sounds a bit too much like Stanley Kowalski "I coulda been a contenda...." instead of a parent...which is what I am. Greg, I agree (and so nice to meet you at Nats, BTW!!). No way are the vast majority of masters swimmers as talented as Dara. But for Mark Shubert to make that comment or say something that could be that mischaracterized is rubbish. I completely admire true masters swimmers competing at the level they do. I think it's amazing, whether they're like you or Tall Paul and setting WRs or like Stud, kicking ass personally. It's easy to be a superstar when you're young and unhindered; not so easy when you're older and have so many demand on your time and energy.

It's easy to be the haughty snob when you're the old man on the mountain.

Mark Shubert from the NY Times article on Dara: "But -let's face it- compared with the Olympics, even the Master's World Championships is a glorified losers' round, and holding a master's world record is hardly an exciting achievement. . . " Yeah, real nice commentary huh! I guess if exciting means valuable in terms of dollars earned in endorsements, he is probably correct. It's difficult for me to place the title of loser on any USMS or FINA Masters record holder. But then again, what do I know...Schubert is the USA Swimming Head Coach after all.

I invite Mark to swim in a Masters Meet or a USA Swimming Meet Let's find out what sort of times he can swim And swim with a bunch of losers? Please! ;)

Chris..... I do not agree with "the larger point" and calling masters swimmers losers because they were mentally mature enough to make the tough choice to move on from the sport years ago and pursue other areas of life with equal fervor. Tell me again why making 5 Olympic teams is so much better than 4 ? Sure, good point. And the number that is impressive is "41," not 4 vs 5. Still, I continue to believe that SVDL's accomplishments in masters (based on her training) are at least as impressive as Torres'. I was irritated by the "losers" comment, sure. But the parts of that paragraph that REALLY raised my eyebrows were David Hoffman's comments ("he'll be relieved when Torres emerges from her Olympic training tunnel" and "I can't wait until this is over.") "Other areas of life," indeed.

I read the article this morning and the posts. I think C. Stevenson is right. These are probably not Shubert's words but the author's. It might be even more interesting to see her in a Masters meet. I think her "glorious losers" remark seemed out of place in what I found to be an interesting article. I am looking forward to seeing Dara Torres qualify in the 50. She really is an amazing swimmer. As to Tom's remark: "...there are some Masters swimmers who could compete at Torres's level but might not have the time to pursue Olympic and World Rankings. They are too busy with work and families or don't have the resources to put all their energy into swimming." I don't buy it. I think that kind of talent is very rare and she has the hunger to go after it...which is also remarkable. There are some absolutely amazing Masters swimmers, old and young, and I watched some incredible swims in Austin, but swimmers like Torres, Phelps, Lochte are on another level, and I don't think it's taking care of our kids or businesses that keeps some Masters swimmers from competing at that level. Tom sounds a bit too much like Stanley Kowalski "I coulda been a contenda...." instead of a parent...which is what I am.

And it isn't clear to me that it is SCHUBERT calling masters swimming a "glorified loser's round," or if those are the author's words. It looked to me as if they were the author's words, not Schubert's. It's possible the author was trying to paraphrase Schubert. But the sentiment is certainly consistent with the sometimes haughty attitudes New Yorker's have come to know and love from the NY Times (particularly the sports section).