If any of you out there know any swimmers who swam NCAAs in 1952-1954, or swam for University of West Virginia 1955-1959, could you steer them in the direction of my blog? www.usms.org/.../blog.php
It's a short profile and tribute to Ronald Gainsford, 79, who is a teammate of mine, former All American butterflier, heart transplant recipient, and all around great guy.
I think there is a good chance that some of his former U. Pitt teammates, or some of the the guys he competed against, as well as some of those he coached while at U.W.VA, would remember Ron and possibly even drop him a postcard.
Thanks!
Skip, your encyclopedic knowledge of swimming never ceases to amaze me!
Thanks for the history and background. I will definitely show this to Ronald the next time I see him.
He has told me that he definitely swam what is now known as butterfrog--at the time, *** and fly were a combined stroke. There is a colossal pool here in our area, the North Park pool, which was built during the previous Great Depression as part of the WPA. It's 50 meters wide and, I am pretty sure, 100 yards long. Ronald told me they once held a meet there, and he raced the 150 IM (and I think won it) -- three lengths of this humongous outdoor pool.
Definitely say hello to Gus Stager for me, and tell him I am proud to have swum for Michigan, albeit for only one year, and albeit as the second worst person on the team!
That is more than Michael Phelps can say!
Skip, your encyclopedic knowledge of swimming never ceases to amaze me!
Thanks for the history and background. I will definitely show this to Ronald the next time I see him.
He has told me that he definitely swam what is now known as butterfrog--at the time, *** and fly were a combined stroke. There is a colossal pool here in our area, the North Park pool, which was built during the previous Great Depression as part of the WPA. It's 50 meters wide and, I am pretty sure, 100 yards long. Ronald told me they once held a meet there, and he raced the 150 IM (and I think won it) -- three lengths of this humongous outdoor pool.
Definitely say hello to Gus Stager for me, and tell him I am proud to have swum for Michigan, albeit for only one year, and albeit as the second worst person on the team!
That is more than Michael Phelps can say!
