Swimming World's top 12 master swimmers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well - whatever the system may be -- I do think one has to at least compete in more than one Masters meters competitions in a given year to be considered. While we are at it, can we add all the times from the Olympics too for the 25-29 age group and the 30-34. Oh - Mark Foster is in the 35-39 age group - he probably should also be listed. Phelps should in next year ... If you think she should be in there, get her to swim a Masters meet and do the same times. I can understand why you and others think that swims at USAS meets shouldn't "count." Although I always submit my times from such meets for Top Ten consideration, it wouldn't bother me personally if they didn't count. And I was somewhat surprised when I first discovered they did. I also don't like this strange duality that USMS accepts such times for its records but FINA doesn't. So you can have the weird situation where USMS records are faster than the "World" records. BUT... After thinking about this for some time, I realize that I am against anything that erects artificial barriers between USAS and USMS (and similar dual organizations in other countries). It bugs me that USAS won't as a matter of course just accept my USMS times as entry times, and it makes me jump through hoops needlessly. And have you ever seen the rules for dual-sanction meets? They are bizarre: separate warmup lanes, etc. I think kids benefit from seeing old guys and gals swim some fast times. So do their parents! Where I swim, masters workouts and age group workouts occur simultaneously and in the same pool, and the kids are impressed that a group of old fogeys still get up at 5am to swim. There is a need for two separate organizations, of course, but some overlap and crossover is nice. Sometimes it seems almost like there is hostility instead. As far as World Records, and "older" swimmers like Foster, etc...well, why shouldn't a "world record" mean that it is the fastest time ever swum by someone within that age bracket? Sure, a professional (older) swimmer like Dara Torres has advantages over "regular" people. So what? Life isn't fair. The playing field isn't level for all "true" masters swimmers either. Sorry for the thread hijack. I too believe that SVDL deserves a little more recognition for her achievements. It is a little ironic to me that three swimmers whom I think regularly turn in some of the most outstanding swims in any given year (Dennis Baker, SVDL and Mike Ross) are not mentioned at all for two years running. But the group that was chosen is an amazing one, and my perception is probably skewed by the fact that all three swimmers I mentioned are close to my age.

Well - whatever the system may be -- I do think one has to at least compete in more than one Masters meters competitions in a given year to be considered. While we are at it, can we add all the times from the Olympics too for the 25-29 age group and the 30-34. Oh - Mark Foster is in the 35-39 age group - he probably should also be listed. Phelps should in next year ... If you think she should be in there, get her to swim a Masters meet and do the same times. I can understand why you and others think that swims at USAS meets shouldn't "count." Although I always submit my times from such meets for Top Ten consideration, it wouldn't bother me personally if they didn't count. And I was somewhat surprised when I first discovered they did. I also don't like this strange duality that USMS accepts such times for its records but FINA doesn't. So you can have the weird situation where USMS records are faster than the "World" records. BUT... After thinking about this for some time, I realize that I am against anything that erects artificial barriers between USAS and USMS (and similar dual organizations in other countries). It bugs me that USAS won't as a matter of course just accept my USMS times as entry times, and it makes me jump through hoops needlessly. And have you ever seen the rules for dual-sanction meets? They are bizarre: separate warmup lanes, etc. I think kids benefit from seeing old guys and gals swim some fast times. So do their parents! Where I swim, masters workouts and age group workouts occur simultaneously and in the same pool, and the kids are impressed that a group of old fogeys still get up at 5am to swim. There is a need for two separate organizations, of course, but some overlap and crossover is nice. Sometimes it seems almost like there is hostility instead. As far as World Records, and "older" swimmers like Foster, etc...well, why shouldn't a "world record" mean that it is the fastest time ever swum by someone within that age bracket? Sure, a professional (older) swimmer like Dara Torres has advantages over "regular" people. So what? Life isn't fair. The playing field isn't level for all "true" masters swimmers either. Sorry for the thread hijack. I too believe that SVDL deserves a little more recognition for her achievements. It is a little ironic to me that three swimmers whom I think regularly turn in some of the most outstanding swims in any given year (Dennis Baker, SVDL and Mike Ross) are not mentioned at all for two years running. But the group that was chosen is an amazing one, and my perception is probably skewed by the fact that all three swimmers I mentioned are close to my age.