Boy, I hope I am wrong but in looking at the ages for the American Men's (not women's) team there is not one teenager. Years ago when collegiate mens team were beginning to be cut I always said that it was going to be a gradual process and in time it was going to take its toll on the sport. I do not thing we are there yet but it appears the tide is turnng (for the worse). I realize this is a generalization and there will be many arguments to the contrary such as years ago most swimmers quit the sport after college and now there is $$ to be made through swimming whereas before one had to get a real job and give up the sport. Maybe this is the case and I am being a pessimist but it appears that slowly but surely the Olympic sports are suffering as they get cut on the collegiate level. If the scholarships are not available fewer young men are going to get into the pool. Just my thoughts for this Monday morning and again I hope I am wrong.
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Boy, I hope I am wrong but in looking at the ages for the American Men's (not women's) team there is not one teenager. Years ago when collegiate mens team were beginning to be cut I always said that it was going to be a gradual process and in time it was going to take its toll on the sport. I do not thing we are there yet but it appears the tide is turnng (for the worse). I realize this is a generalization and there will be many arguments to the contrary such as years ago most swimmers quit the sport after college and now there is $$ to be made through swimming whereas before one had to get a real job and give up the sport. Maybe this is the case and I am being a pessimist but it appears that slowly but surely the Olympic sports are suffering as they get cut on the collegiate level. If the scholarships are not available fewer young men are going to get into the pool. Just my thoughts for this Monday morning and again I hope I am wrong.
On a general level, I really don't see the problem of older guys being on the Olympic roster - I think it's awesome. However, I do see your point in how college scholarships are starting to be impacted in the men's department. But since competitive swimming is now becoming a professional sport - maybe we will see more swimmers like Katie Hoff and Michael Phelps not swim in college and go pro (they can eventually go back for school or slowly work on a degree while they are competing because they can afford it) - and I remember Brooke Bennett not swimming in college... taking the cash instead... continuing her career very well. I'm sure there are other well-known swimmers who may have done this, but they are not coming to mind. This doesn't apply to everyone because we all can't be a Phelps or Hoff... so it's a tough subject... but I love seeing the older swimmers making the team!
:oldman:
Boy, I hope I am wrong but in looking at the ages for the American Men's (not women's) team there is not one teenager. Years ago when collegiate mens team were beginning to be cut I always said that it was going to be a gradual process and in time it was going to take its toll on the sport. I do not thing we are there yet but it appears the tide is turnng (for the worse). I realize this is a generalization and there will be many arguments to the contrary such as years ago most swimmers quit the sport after college and now there is $$ to be made through swimming whereas before one had to get a real job and give up the sport. Maybe this is the case and I am being a pessimist but it appears that slowly but surely the Olympic sports are suffering as they get cut on the collegiate level. If the scholarships are not available fewer young men are going to get into the pool. Just my thoughts for this Monday morning and again I hope I am wrong.
On a general level, I really don't see the problem of older guys being on the Olympic roster - I think it's awesome. However, I do see your point in how college scholarships are starting to be impacted in the men's department. But since competitive swimming is now becoming a professional sport - maybe we will see more swimmers like Katie Hoff and Michael Phelps not swim in college and go pro (they can eventually go back for school or slowly work on a degree while they are competing because they can afford it) - and I remember Brooke Bennett not swimming in college... taking the cash instead... continuing her career very well. I'm sure there are other well-known swimmers who may have done this, but they are not coming to mind. This doesn't apply to everyone because we all can't be a Phelps or Hoff... so it's a tough subject... but I love seeing the older swimmers making the team!
:oldman:
