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
John -
I'll take the bait... Phelps is an exception, like Mark Spitz.
I think men's swimming in the USA is struggling, and the continued loss of high school and collegiate level opportunities without an adequate replacement is going to hurt us in the long run. Add in the loss of summer-based park programs through the loss of community facilities, and the picture gets bleaker.
I do not believe YMCA, USA Swimming or USMS are adequate replacements. These groups require committment separate and beyond the school experience, outside the campus lifestyle and the sense of belonging to the school/university program that is such a large part of the developing individual's life.
Increasingly, swimming at the elite level is becoming something for the well to do, who can afford the costs of travel, personalized training, and in some cases tutoring to allow the individual to continue the sport.
Not an apocalypse, but certainly a concern.
Yet, individuals will rise where open opportunities give them the chance. As others have said, if not Phelps, then someone else who now gets a chance at performing with those above his skill level in an event, which is part of how we all get better.
John -
I'll take the bait... Phelps is an exception, like Mark Spitz.
I think men's swimming in the USA is struggling, and the continued loss of high school and collegiate level opportunities without an adequate replacement is going to hurt us in the long run. Add in the loss of summer-based park programs through the loss of community facilities, and the picture gets bleaker.
I do not believe YMCA, USA Swimming or USMS are adequate replacements. These groups require committment separate and beyond the school experience, outside the campus lifestyle and the sense of belonging to the school/university program that is such a large part of the developing individual's life.
Increasingly, swimming at the elite level is becoming something for the well to do, who can afford the costs of travel, personalized training, and in some cases tutoring to allow the individual to continue the sport.
Not an apocalypse, but certainly a concern.
Yet, individuals will rise where open opportunities give them the chance. As others have said, if not Phelps, then someone else who now gets a chance at performing with those above his skill level in an event, which is part of how we all get better.
