I would love to see this. The sport needs teams and head-to-head competition if it wants to grow in popularity. What do you think? There's gotta be some rich person out there who can make it happen!
fina has an open water pro series.
for pool events, there would be little appeal watching world record holders perform below that level (and if they were competing regularly, say like once a week, they certainly would). i think it would turn swimming into a traveling circus (like figure skating)
Well, that may be true, but how about meets with LOTS of relays and events that include 25s! How about 25 and 50 for every stroke, 100m relays, and some IMs? Olympic swimmers would probably not bother and that's fine, but it could be a league for sprint stars.
You would definately need the big time Olympic stars on board to make any go of a "pro swim" league. In all truth, even a competative swimmer like myself would have little interest in tuning in more than once or twice per year to watch swimming on TV.
It works at the Olympics because a. it's only every four years b. the athletes represent their countries (national pride) and c. NBC does a good job of hyping Phelps and the other big names.
Track & Field tried this (indoors) in the 1970's and it was a disaster. Doubly so, because this was back in the day when indoor track still had a reasonable support base and revenue and yet they still couldn't make money. I just don't think that swimming has the revenue base to pull this off.
-LBJ
Former Member
Most of the time, swimming is boring for non swimmers to watch. Promoters haven't figured out how to make big bucks from swimming like they have from football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, pro wrestling, tennis, car racing, and X Games.
Sports are entertainment, swimming just isn't that entertaining, excpet for people who are into it.
We appreciate swimming because we are swimmers but how much a year will people spend watching pro swimmers.
Ball sports have many more variables and constant activity
NASCAR has the risk of crashes.
Pro wrestling
X Game sports are exciting to watch.
Beach Volley ball has scantilly clad women.
Unfortunately swimming is fun to watch once every 4 years at the Olympics.
Pro Swimmers make money from swim suit endorsements, product endorsements, doing swim clinics, and giving motivational talks.
Most rich people out there want to keep their riches.
I would love to see this. The sport needs teams and head-to-head competition if it wants to grow in popularity. What do you think? There's gotta be some rich person out there who can make it happen!
Former Member
There used to be the World Professional Swimming Federation which was for Marathon Swimming. A little about it here. Once you open it hit on preview this book books.google.com/books
Former Member
Personally, I hope that swimming doesn't evolve to that. I think it would ruin the significance of the Olympic Games. As it is right now there are sponsored swimmers (TYR, Speedo, Arena, etc) which I think is good to help "pro" swimmers stay in the world of swimming without going completely broke. With that thought, I have no doubt that we all want to see more Lochte, Phelps, etc, etc, but swimming a competitive race every week would be extremely taxing on the body for all swimmers and would be like banging your head against the wall to make improvements/jumps in times :frustrated:
Former Member
Well, that may be true, but how about meets with LOTS of relays and events that include 25s! How about 25 and 50 for every stroke, 100m relays, and some IMs? Olympic swimmers would probably not bother and that's fine, but it could be a league for sprint stars.
i wouldn't have any interest in watching that sort of thing.
Former Member
I know . . . "ThunderPool" . . . "Two dive in, one climbs out"
