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
Parents
Former Member
A recent study showed that 60% of black children do not know how to swim. USA Swimming was involved in the study.
...Of course demographics has a great deal to do with the fact that only 2% of the kids in USA-S are black. Access to pools is surely a big factor. A year round pool is expensive.
But just because it isn't easy doesn't mean we shouldn't try to improve minority participation in the sport...
That first statement is appalling. Kids don't have to get into competitive swim racing to learn how to swim, and they don't necessarily need an expensive state-of-the-art indoor pool.
I grew up in a low-income family/neighborhood, and my brothers and I had basic Red Cross lessons at a no-frills outdoor neighborhood pool that was only open from June to the end of August. Okay, we didn't become particularily good swimmers, but we had the basic how-not-to-drown-when-you-fall-out-of-a-boat skills.
Am I the only one that wonders if the YMCA has sort of drifted away from it's original intents? I once saw an old photo of actor William Shatner as a teenager, teaching inner city kids to swim at a Montreal YMCA. I couldn't help contrasting it to the exclusive and expensive downtown YMCA where I live. Even the suburban ones are pricey. Or is that just where I live? I can't imagine how a low-income single parent could afford them.
A recent study showed that 60% of black children do not know how to swim. USA Swimming was involved in the study.
...Of course demographics has a great deal to do with the fact that only 2% of the kids in USA-S are black. Access to pools is surely a big factor. A year round pool is expensive.
But just because it isn't easy doesn't mean we shouldn't try to improve minority participation in the sport...
That first statement is appalling. Kids don't have to get into competitive swim racing to learn how to swim, and they don't necessarily need an expensive state-of-the-art indoor pool.
I grew up in a low-income family/neighborhood, and my brothers and I had basic Red Cross lessons at a no-frills outdoor neighborhood pool that was only open from June to the end of August. Okay, we didn't become particularily good swimmers, but we had the basic how-not-to-drown-when-you-fall-out-of-a-boat skills.
Am I the only one that wonders if the YMCA has sort of drifted away from it's original intents? I once saw an old photo of actor William Shatner as a teenager, teaching inner city kids to swim at a Montreal YMCA. I couldn't help contrasting it to the exclusive and expensive downtown YMCA where I live. Even the suburban ones are pricey. Or is that just where I live? I can't imagine how a low-income single parent could afford them.
