Here.
So you are saying that if you were there, you would swim both? Even though swimming the one could possibly take you out of the running for your best event? I don't think anyone here would do that....not the smartest thing to do in my opinion.
I most admire swimmers that can say "to hell with it - I'm going to race - even if I get my ass kicked." I think that's what Phelps (great example is the 200 free in Athens) and Lochte (every time he races Phelps and Peirsol) do.
That's one of the things that bugs me about Coughlin. And now Dara too. I understand and sympathize with Dara's decision but for someone who is said to be SOOOOO competitive, she is backing down.
I must say though that it is a problem if the USA doesn't have a medal contender in the women's 100 free.
So then Phelps was wrong for backing out of the 400 Free, 100 Back and 200 Back at Trials? Oh and he only swam prelims in the 100 Free but that's Ok? He qualified in all of those....does that mean he is wrong and setting a bad example to the kids for not swimming them?
It was the evil-smith who did it, but with the logic displayed here swimming the 1,000 with the intention of only trying on the first 100 must be selfish too.
Does it matter that this is the Olympic games? If that is the difference here, then lets not apply the lessons of Dara to our kids. It either applies all the time or none of the time.
It seems to me that the Good Smith is interjecting his personal dislike for Dara into this argument.
The point of the Olympic games is to win medals. I leave it to the athlete to determine how to best achieve that.
So then Phelps was wrong for backing out of the 400 Free, 100 Back and 200 Back at Trials? Oh and he only swam prelims in the 100 Free but that's Ok? He qualified in all of those....does that mean he is wrong and setting a bad example to the kids for not swimming them?
I have no problem with Phelps. No one expects he (nor Lochte) to compete in every possible event. Just because they qualify in 8-11 events doesn't mean they should compete in them. There is no question attempting that many events will harm their swims - and in turn harm the USA team's performance.
Phelps needed a recent 100 free time to earn his relay spot.
In my view - Phelps is the the current "ultimate swim warrior" because he is willing to race 5 events, including the 400 IM and 2 200s.
Lots of posts here assuming that Torres dropped the 100 just to focus on the 50. What about the two relays for which she is now qualified by virtue of her 1st place 100 free? If she thinks dropping the individual 100 will help her swim better in the U.S. team's relays, then great! She said at the Trials that 'she only has a few good swims in her.' Sounds like the opposite of selfish to me. If her relay teammates leave Beijing with gold instead of silver or bronze, I think they'd agree.
* Not to imply that she is carrying the relays. Rather, that often every tenth of every relay leg counts.
Wow - I would not have thought in a million years as this being selfish -- I am not even sure how one can label this as being "selfish".
John - I usually respect your views even if I don't always agree with them - but now it just looks like a personal issue you have with Dara Torres.
She ALWAYS said that she wanted to qualify for the 400 Free relay and the 50 Free. How is it selfish that she is dropping out of the 100 Free ? The American TV viewing audience should be upset ? Other swimmers should be insulted ? She is not swimming the event because it will impact her other races. She just happens to swim less races than Phelps or Lochte.
The same people now saying she is selfish are also saying she can't be "legal".
This is not being selfish - it's being smart. Here is an example of a selfish swimmer - Britta Steffen will refuse to swim the 4x200 Free relay for Germany. The relay is on the same day as the 100 Free Semi - with the 100 Free final coming up the next day. She maintains that she can not swim both events - and Germany loses any medal hopes in the relay without her. The selfish swimmers drops a relay in favor of an individual event - the team swimmer drops an individual event in favor of a relay.
I most admire swimmers that can say "to hell with it - I'm going to race - even if I get my ass kicked." I think that's what Phelps (great example is the 200 free in Athens) and Lochte (every time he races Phelps and Peirsol) do.
This is all well and good, and everyone admires a swim warrior. But we are talking about an old sprinter here. Recovery required, even for Mr. Dodging the 200 Free at Worlds and Nats! I think it was smart to pull out of the 100 free if her goal is to maximize success in the 50s and relays. Isn't that a fairly normal competitive attitude -- preferring to perform superbly in one event as opposed to pretty well in two? Or at least as equally valid an approach as striving to be a swim warrior? Both are admirable for different reasons.
If she was really only going for the 400 free relay, though, she didn't need to swim the 100 free in finals. (I don't think, however, that it was such a shocker that she made the team in that event.) And, as Geek notes, that second win really sealed her "star power." She is not just about swimming anymore. Her feats transcend swimming and even longevity in sports. She is a brand now. She could hawk anything, including granny granola bars at this point. (I do wish she'd stop pointing out how old she is, although I guess her surroundings reinforce that fact continually. Failure to see the electronic timing board is nearsightedness, not age.)
