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.
I think its great we have the older guys making the team, and professionals like Phelps and and Hoff. However, there's not a lot of swimmers with the talent of Phelps and Hoff to get the sponsorships at a young age to stay in the sport and skip college. College is still the main feeder for the Olympics, and keeps the swimmers in the sport, and improving, and many eventually mature post graduate years. And the USAS is the feeder for colleges. If the colleges aren't there... The stress on many college programs is worrisome. I was traveling last week, swam at an out of town masters associated with a D-1 university. While not a top program, they've had NCAA finalists, and an alumnae was an OT finalist last week. Talked to the masters coach. The university team had 14 scholarships for the women, 2.7 for the men... and $62.5M for the new football stadium. Somethings not adding up for the long term.
I think its great we have the older guys making the team, and professionals like Phelps and and Hoff. However, there's not a lot of swimmers with the talent of Phelps and Hoff to get the sponsorships at a young age to stay in the sport and skip college. College is still the main feeder for the Olympics, and keeps the swimmers in the sport, and improving, and many eventually mature post graduate years. And the USAS is the feeder for colleges. If the colleges aren't there... The stress on many college programs is worrisome. I was traveling last week, swam at an out of town masters associated with a D-1 university. While not a top program, they've had NCAA finalists, and an alumnae was an OT finalist last week. Talked to the masters coach. The university team had 14 scholarships for the women, 2.7 for the men... and $62.5M for the new football stadium. Somethings not adding up for the long term.
