In the freestyle relay(s), the top 6 goes to the Olympics.
Yet, all the other events it is only the top 2.
That should change. Every athlete that makes the qualifying time should go to the Olympics. Look at the men's 100 back, the top 6 at the 2008 US trials swam faster than the 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist. Surely the 5th swimmer could have a better performance in the "big" pool.
Sending only 2 in each event "waters" down the potential performances at the Olympics, ultimately making the semi-finals less competitive. (other phrases could be used) The bottom line is, the top 16 at the Olympics should represent the fastest in the world.
Hulk,
In order to get the best of the best have Olympic cuts as we do now. If country x has 20 swimmers that can make the cut so be it. If country Y has no one to make the cut in 200 fly, so be it. If the final of the 200 free is 8 Americans or 8 Chinese so be it. The Olympics is about sport.
We also forget that there are 28 Olympic sports in the summer games. The networks (at least here) almost exclusively show sports that feature US participants. Occasionally they will show a tear jerker about some bloke in the wilds of _________. What do we see or know about field hockey, handball, canoe, judo, archery, modern pentathlon, sailing, shooting. People may say, well I don't care about those sports. Well, I say the Olympics is a celebration of sport and these people who are training also deserve to be recognized.
That said, as a swimmer, I am very glad to see the amount of swimming shown. But I also wouldn't mind seeing the skill of the "lesser" sports.
Anyway, what do they show for the Olympics on TV in Upper Slobovia?
Hulk,
In order to get the best of the best have Olympic cuts as we do now. If country x has 20 swimmers that can make the cut so be it. If country Y has no one to make the cut in 200 fly, so be it. If the final of the 200 free is 8 Americans or 8 Chinese so be it. The Olympics is about sport.
We also forget that there are 28 Olympic sports in the summer games. The networks (at least here) almost exclusively show sports that feature US participants. Occasionally they will show a tear jerker about some bloke in the wilds of _________. What do we see or know about field hockey, handball, canoe, judo, archery, modern pentathlon, sailing, shooting. People may say, well I don't care about those sports. Well, I say the Olympics is a celebration of sport and these people who are training also deserve to be recognized.
That said, as a swimmer, I am very glad to see the amount of swimming shown. But I also wouldn't mind seeing the skill of the "lesser" sports.
Anyway, what do they show for the Olympics on TV in Upper Slobovia?
