Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:50:47 GMT

Originally Posted by SwimStud I'd can the whole commercial farce which are the Olympics, and just have 2 or 3 entries from each country do the Decathlon...and bring back proper wrestling too! =============================== I like most of the events that are currently part of the Olympics, but with the exception of the team sports...I'd like to see the athletes perform like they're traditionally supposed to...naked.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:01:32 GMT

That's where I stopped reading. I disagree with the IOC for allowing what I think is a detrimental sideshow. That's my strong opinion. Nothing I posted warranted a personal attack. I am trying to figure out how letting him swim was a "detrimental sideshow"? How is that exactly? Ok, he wasn't the best swimmer in the world....so what? I actually think the comment Rainman said would probably be shared by quite a few on here.....not many came to defend you did they?

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:31:43 GMT

After Eddie the Eagle "soared" in Calgary British funding for Winter Sports was severely cut. This sort of behavior is pretty standard anywhere; the Brits have probably got their fair share of bureaucratic twerps. e.g. Look what they did to Mark Foster for the last Olympics. It has been my experience that many sporting bureaucrats have big egos too and like to throw their weight around, making their presence felt.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:26:11 GMT

After Eddie the Eagle "soared" in Calgary British funding for Winter Sports was severely cut. When today's British athletes talk about Eddie in Calgary they feel his legacy was a negative step backwards for the image of winter sports in Britain. They can say that Keith, but as a Brit born, I feel it put us more on the map and made folks aware of the lack of winter athletics in the UK. We're not a snow sport country. Look where our (GB) medals, or rare golds have typically come from over the years: Athletics Swimming Rowing/Sailing Shooting OK Ice Dance (Torvill and Dean) is a winter sport but all you need is an ice rink, skates and the nerve to wear a ridiculous jumpsuit (kidding folks). Typically we manage to grab a few from the type of activites a small Island Nation should be competetive in. Funding for sports in the UK is not as great as in other places anyhow, add in the lack of a NCAA type college league (yeah the unis play but the scope is not as big). When you add in the lager lout culture, the general culture of it being about a good effort (jolly good show old chap) rather than winning is everything mentality, you can see why we don't rake up tons of medals, under achieving is a very British way of life in sports. I just don't see the infrastructure and gearing of sports there to drive talent on--unlike here where perhaps it is the other extreme at times. As I have said before, elite athletes are pretty self centred and it's all about them (in general). That's not a dig, that's how they have to be to stay focused and get to the top. So when some start crying about the image of their sports, I think they need to get over it. I don't consider myself to be a football hooligan, a monty pythonesque persona, a benny hil characterl, or any other silly British stereotype of folks from my ancestral home--if others want to think we're all like that, then that's ther issue, and we can all be inane about racial stereotypes.. These athletes are scapegoating Eddie for the general malaise of British Olympic Funding (that's an oxymoron) IMHO. While I agree with your sentiment (was it you?) that the Aussies were a bit wrong to mock the guy, it wasn't the big finale, and 1 or 2 media goons are always on hand to get cheap laughs. If he got a few kids swimming, or even 1 pool built then it is an overall positive.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:07:41 GMT

I am trying to figure out how letting him swim was a "detrimental sideshow"? How is that exactly?Underlying the media froth about the genuine heartfelt "this is what the spirit of the Olympics is all about" there has also been an element of mockery and lampooning of these "lovable losers." Australian tv placing a moving record line ... (which was not actually a record) was done to carry the gag rather than as any indication of achievement. Those sorts of reactions are bound to be provoked when the criteria is lowered to silly extremes. The result is often embarrassment back home and really does a disservice to promoting the sport. After Eddie the Eagle "soared" in Calgary British funding for Winter Sports was severely cut. When today's British athletes talk about Eddie in Calgary they feel his legacy was a negative step backwards for the image of winter sports in Britain. I actually think the comment Rainman said would probably be shared by quite a few on here.....not many came to defend you did they? He's the only person here that posted a personal attack. I'll leave it at that.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

swimshark — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 06:57:21 GMT

I get more joy watching 10 real amateurs giving it their all against each other than the crop of pseudo-professionals with every trick, gimmick and article of technology at their disposal to win medals and inflate their egos further. I'd can the whole commercial farce, which are the Olympics, and just have 2 or 3 entries from each country do the Decathlon...and bring back proper wrestling too! Leave Eddie the Eagle out of it. He did his best, and there was no official backing for him. He had to raise his own finances with a record to get there. There are characters at every games--they make it more fun to watch as they usually truly doing it for the love of the game/event. Like Matt said, it didn't hurt anyone, and if that was his best effort, good for him--he got a PB at the Olympic gaes! I agree 100% Stud. I get more from the "little guys" than from any promoted, over hyped big wig at the games. And for the record, I didn't laugh, either. I thought it was an awesome swim.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:16:37 GMT

IMHO, the only disgrace about that swim was the laughing in the background. The fans in the stands weren't laughing. It was disgraceful that the TV commentators mocked him. -Rick I agree. I thought it was bad taste to mock someone who was trying so hard. I believe that Eric the Eel only was able to practice in a hotel pool or something like that - and I'm sure that he didn't have access to the worlds top coaches, either. The fans in the stands said it all, he got a standing O. He swims a lot faster than some other pool piddlers I know. That was awesome to hear that he swims it in a 57 now... good for him.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:07:57 GMT

I will admit Ali lighting the torch in Atlanta was a Hallmark moment. My wife woke me up at 3 am to see the lighting. As to advice you give kids, I tell my daughters to win their event or they don't eat the next day. That is much better advice than "have fun." Throw em in with the sharks....they learn to swim real quick!!!! Good way to weed out the losers too!!!!!!!:rofl::rofl:

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:07:32 GMT

You got that right. Having seen the 8 piece costume that US Olympians are forced to wear tonight, I'd happily trade that in for the traditional mumu of East Bungaloria. Serioiusly, could the opening ceremonies be any stupider, more stupid, stupidest? I'd rather go on a bike ride in a glass shard lined sandpaper thong than suffer through 5 hours of that silliness. Geek, I'm wearing my sandpaper thong right now (translation: watching the opening ceremonies). While I generally agree with you about the ceremonies, I must admit that the parade of athletes has been fun to watch. The Ralph Lauren uniforms looked very nice on the athletes. Observations: --The French president sweats a lot. --I got the HDTV just in time (last week). Awesome. --There are a lot of countries that I've never heard of.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:58:29 GMT

Eric the Eeel went on to cut his time in half in time for the 2004 Olympics (but didn't make it because of a Visa bungle.) Had he the sufficient training to swim the times he later went then I'd have no issue with him participating with a wild card entry. However, in Sydney he'd only just begun swimming and had only just completed a SC swim just prior to the games. The result was seen as an embarrassment by many his native land and that remains the moment that people remember of him.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:49:15 GMT

KeithM - I think you are the only disgrace here. That's where I stopped reading. I disagree with the IOC for allowing what I think is a detrimental sideshow. That's my strong opinion. Nothing I posted warranted a personal attack.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:48:58 GMT

Serioiusly, could the opening ceremonies be any stupider, more stupid, stupidest? I'd rather go on a bike ride in a glass shard lined sandpaper thong than suffer through 5 hours of that silliness. Hey, watch it. Some of us enjoy the sandpaper thong of the Olympics. ;) I will admit that it is long, but I love the spectacle. At the Torino games, did anyone NOT get goosebumps when Pavarotti sang at the closing ceremonies?

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:46:25 GMT

Isn't this the only thing that is important? Doing your best? I repeatedly tell my daughter that the only requirements are a) have fun, b) do your best and c) listen to your coaches. You can not control how fast the other swimmers are, you can only control what happens in YOUR lane. Good advice to be giving the kids!!!!!

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:31:15 GMT

This years games will most likely have a deju vu of that 100 meter free. news.xinhuanet.com/.../content_8908034.htm "We feel like we've snuck in. We keep saying 'we're here, we're here'. It's just a privilege to be part of something like this. We don't even have an indoor pool, it's all outdoors," Botswana's coach Alison Lagrange said. "This is the first time Botswana has ever competed in the swimming (at the Olympic Games). We've been given a wild card and so we're swimming the 50 meter freestyle. In Botswana, swimming is very new. To get a personal best for them, that's what it's about. This is huge for us," he said.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:05:44 GMT

Eric the Eeel went on to cut his time in half in time for the 2004 Olympics (but didn't make it because of a Visa bungle.) Would he have gotten the coaching, equipment, access to training facilities, and put in the effort to cut his time in half if he hadn't competed the first time in 2000? Can't say for sure, but probably not. A disgrace? No. A triumph for a man and a nation? Yes.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:58:28 GMT

I agree, no big fuss. My point was that USMS is not the Olympics and a 57 really isn't anything spectacular and certainly not Olympic calibre. A 57 is a AAA time for 17-18 boys. hey i've got an idea! lets have the olympics be about the best of the best. get rid of all that flag waving b.s. who cares what country someone was born in/resides in anyway. and there is no reason "non competitive" countries should bore us with their presence it would certainly shorten up the painful opening ceremonies.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:56:24 GMT

No, I cannot currently do a 57 but if I can get citizenship in East Bungaloria for the next Olympics, you will see me hit a 57. I do swim with three guys who can easily do 57s, late 30s/early 40s, which annoys me daily. Ohhhhhh....a sell out huh????? LOL JK

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:55:34 GMT

Sounds like this guy breaks the Late-Bloomer myth huh?

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:47:58 GMT

I agree, no big fuss. My point was that USMS is not the Olympics and a 57 really isn't anything spectacular and certainly not Olympic calibre. A 57 is a AAA time for 17-18 boys. Can you go a 57?

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:32:23 GMT

There are plenty of USMS swimmers who can do a 57, there is nothing especially unique about that time. Sure, at LC Nats, you will encounter USMS swimmers who can go a 57 in the 100m FR. A small sampling of the USMS swimmers out there. Very small. As far as him being "just there to be laughed at and we all got a good laugh" it depends on the person watching I guess. I didn't laugh myself, so don't include me in "we". Was he slower than everyone? Yes. Could they have picked a better venue to introduce their nation to swimming? Probably. But for the 3 minutes it took to run heat 1, why all the fuss?

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:18:12 GMT

KeithM - I think you are the only disgrace here. Check out the articles about how Eric did following the Sydney Olympics. He supposedly broke 57s for the 100m FR, detailed in this article. www.smh.com.au/.../1091557999380.html Even if he's the still the only man from Ecuatorial Guinea to swim, part of a goal of the progam was accomplished. He took to it, and improved vastly, time will tell whether it sparks interest for swimming in that nation. I daresay 57s would be a tall order for a lot of masters swimmers, would it not? I think you are looking at it through the eyes of a typical American elitist swimmer, who has no time for the folks in heat 1, no time for the person trying something new, no time for the feel-good story. You're so wrapped up in times and standards and your own self-importance that you miss what it's all about. Get over yourself.

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

Former Member — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:15:24 GMT

It certainly was a disgrace and it was unnecessary. It's less akin to the Jamaican bobsled team ... which though far down the standings was far from this. Eric the Eel was more comparable to Eddie the Eagle at Calgary in 1988. Another side show. I get more joy watching 10 real amateurs giving it their all against each other than the crop of pseudo-professionals with every trick, gimmick and article of technology at their disposal to win medals and inflate their egos further. I'd can the whole commercial farce, which are the Olympics, and just have 2 or 3 entries from each country do the Decathlon...and bring back proper wrestling too! Leave Eddie the Eagle out of it. He did his best, and there was no official backing for him. He had to raise his own finances with a record to get there. There are characters at every games--they make it more fun to watch as they usually truly doing it for the love of the game/event. Like Matt said, it didn't hurt anyone, and if that was his best effort, good for him--he got a PB at the Olympic gaes!

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

smontanaro — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:32:29 GMT

I've tempered the agony of Costas and Lauer by watching badminton, fencing and a bit of weightlighting. Jeez, that Chinese woman is strong! (48kg class snatch - she lifted 95kg like it was nothing...) S

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

mctrusty — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:21:21 GMT

RE: Olympic swimming's first heat just went off

osterber — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:10:38 GMT

IMHO, the only disgrace about that swim was the laughing in the background. The fans in the stands weren't laughing. It was disgraceful that the TV commentators mocked him. -Rick