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
I wonder if it a combination of opportunity to learn to swim and outside demands that might be keeping the numbers down.
We used to require Boy Scouts to earn the Swimming and Lifesaving merit badges if they wanted to earn their Eagle, now both are options that could be replaced with hiking or cycling for swimming, and emergency preparedness for lifesaving. A scout never has to get into a pool or a lake at all.
We used to have high school swimmers that did not train for AAU teams and were able to develop into fairly competitive swimmers. Now I don't think it is possible to start swimming in High School and be competitive.
The Houston Burb that I live in has neighborhood pools that have local summer league teams and there is one USA team. None of the High Schools have pools and they all share a District Natatorium that is also used by a local junior college.
And now we have year round baseball, year round basketball, and year round soccer to compete with. Come High school and we have the Great Satan - Band with competing AM and PM practices, mandatory Saturday practices, marching and contest seasons. It gets phys ed credit plus grades and fourth years get honors credit, rather than just credit.
Lots of options, fewer opportunities. Just my thoughts.
I wonder if it a combination of opportunity to learn to swim and outside demands that might be keeping the numbers down.
We used to require Boy Scouts to earn the Swimming and Lifesaving merit badges if they wanted to earn their Eagle, now both are options that could be replaced with hiking or cycling for swimming, and emergency preparedness for lifesaving. A scout never has to get into a pool or a lake at all.
We used to have high school swimmers that did not train for AAU teams and were able to develop into fairly competitive swimmers. Now I don't think it is possible to start swimming in High School and be competitive.
The Houston Burb that I live in has neighborhood pools that have local summer league teams and there is one USA team. None of the High Schools have pools and they all share a District Natatorium that is also used by a local junior college.
And now we have year round baseball, year round basketball, and year round soccer to compete with. Come High school and we have the Great Satan - Band with competing AM and PM practices, mandatory Saturday practices, marching and contest seasons. It gets phys ed credit plus grades and fourth years get honors credit, rather than just credit.
Lots of options, fewer opportunities. Just my thoughts.
