How many guys from other countries does it take to win a National Championship?
Good thing they all attended classes on campus the entire year..... :-)
Makes everyone feel proud to see the American Record holder on the 4th place podium.
Parents
Former Member
The vast majority of the people paying the bills at universities are not competitive swimmers and have no interest in the sport. They certainly don't put their money down expecting that it will be spent to improve the US Olympic Team.
They certainly don't put their money down expecting that it will be funnelled to individuals that don't stay in the US or willing to represent the US athletically either.
I can make a better case that the presence of foreign students (athletes or otherwise) has a more positive impact on the education of the general student than substituting him for a homegrown jock with sub-par admission statistics.
Or a kid from another country pushing out a homegrown kid with similar talent and the same dream.
Athletic scholarships are not a God-given right. If a homegrown talent wants one, he can swim fast enough to earn one. If he loves the sport and wants to swim in college, he can do so without one.
Unfortunately so many other countries do not offer the same financial opportunity to Americans despite your claims that they have so much to teach US programs. Feel free to come to the US and pursue your athletic dreams.... but do it on your own funds. If you want money from a US institutions, then stick around and make the team at the US Trials. Don't wimp out and go back to a supposed country of origin for the easy ticket to the Games based on your American training and financed education..... and if you can't find the courage to represent the US athletically, then at least acknowledge publicly your American coaches and programs. This recognition is so seldom done in international competition.
Like it or not, there is a huge link between NCAA and USA Swimming.............. Similar coaches.... same kids..... same dreams. The US Olympic coach is often an NCAA coach. He does not divide his brain in half in the summer.
The vast majority of the people paying the bills at universities are not competitive swimmers and have no interest in the sport. They certainly don't put their money down expecting that it will be spent to improve the US Olympic Team.
They certainly don't put their money down expecting that it will be funnelled to individuals that don't stay in the US or willing to represent the US athletically either.
I can make a better case that the presence of foreign students (athletes or otherwise) has a more positive impact on the education of the general student than substituting him for a homegrown jock with sub-par admission statistics.
Or a kid from another country pushing out a homegrown kid with similar talent and the same dream.
Athletic scholarships are not a God-given right. If a homegrown talent wants one, he can swim fast enough to earn one. If he loves the sport and wants to swim in college, he can do so without one.
Unfortunately so many other countries do not offer the same financial opportunity to Americans despite your claims that they have so much to teach US programs. Feel free to come to the US and pursue your athletic dreams.... but do it on your own funds. If you want money from a US institutions, then stick around and make the team at the US Trials. Don't wimp out and go back to a supposed country of origin for the easy ticket to the Games based on your American training and financed education..... and if you can't find the courage to represent the US athletically, then at least acknowledge publicly your American coaches and programs. This recognition is so seldom done in international competition.
Like it or not, there is a huge link between NCAA and USA Swimming.............. Similar coaches.... same kids..... same dreams. The US Olympic coach is often an NCAA coach. He does not divide his brain in half in the summer.
