What does it mean when we look at the performance of the US men's swimming team at Beijing without Phelps....... i.e. without the man carrying the team? Is he merely the "Vince Young" of a slightly above average football Team?
We essentially lose the 400 free relay, 100 fly (Ian moves form 4th to 3rd), 200 IM and 400 IM (Lochted moves to silver), 200 free and 200 fly. That's makes 6 less golds and one extra bronze.
The US would effectively only win 2 individual events...... the 200 and 100 back.
Is Phelps a true representation of the state of US men's swimming or and exception?
www.nbcolympics.com/.../index.html
Hoffman,
Those numbers look pretty flat to me. If you normalize the data with the general population growth the news is not impressive.
John Smith
Stop making up stats, for the love of Moses. USA swimming was about 187.5K members in 1986 and about 280K in 2007, an increase in membership of 49%. The US population in 1986 was approximately 241m and it is currently estimated at about 306m, and increase of 27%. You are only off by about 80% in your claim, try again.
So, to use real numbers, if USA swimming grew at the same rate as the US population (a red herring of a statement to begin with) you would more expect to see the 2007 USS figures at 238K. USS has outpaced membership to USA growth by 22%.
I would conclude from these figures, not feelings, that USS has grown significantly faster than the US population as a whole. Further, knowing the current trends in population growth, I contend this is even more impressive given the changing demographics of our nation.
Hoffman,
Those numbers look pretty flat to me. If you normalize the data with the general population growth the news is not impressive.
John Smith
Stop making up stats, for the love of Moses. USA swimming was about 187.5K members in 1986 and about 280K in 2007, an increase in membership of 49%. The US population in 1986 was approximately 241m and it is currently estimated at about 306m, and increase of 27%. You are only off by about 80% in your claim, try again.
So, to use real numbers, if USA swimming grew at the same rate as the US population (a red herring of a statement to begin with) you would more expect to see the 2007 USS figures at 238K. USS has outpaced membership to USA growth by 22%.
I would conclude from these figures, not feelings, that USS has grown significantly faster than the US population as a whole. Further, knowing the current trends in population growth, I contend this is even more impressive given the changing demographics of our nation.
