2009 National Championships (World Championship Trials)

Does anyone know why there are no trials for 50s strokes? The 50 of strokes are not events that are offered in Senior National Championships and have not been offered as far as I remember even before USA Swimming became the governing body of swimming and took over rules from the AAU. The 50 of strokes are only offered for the 10 years and younger and 11-12 age groups in USA swimming events. The 50 Free did not become an event that was offered until 1980, when USA Swimming became the governing body of swimming. FINA started listing World Records in the event in 1980. One of the first early 50 meter US National Champions was Dara Torres in 1982, some 27 years ago. In 1986, FINA started offering the 50 Free at the World Championships and it became an Olympic event in 1988. When the FINA World Cup started, FINA started keeping track of World Records in the 50 of strokes and in 2001 starting offering the 50 of strokes at the World Championships. The 50 of strokes, Women's 1500 Free, and the Men's 800 Free are events offered at World Championships but not at the Olympics. My guess is that USA Swimming will fill the 50 stroke events with swimmers that are already on the team because that is what has been done traditionally. I have never heard of a reason to offer the 50 of strokes as separate events for swimmers to qualify for FINA World Championship events. Maybe in the future if these become Olympic events that might happen. I have always thought that back in the past, 50's were viewed as wimpy and not real swimming events by the Swimming World. It took the IOC/FINA a long time to get the 50 Free on the Olympic program and that event was offered at both the High School and NCAA level since the early 1900's. If you notice today, USA Swimming does not offer 50 of strokes past the age of 12 and USMS is the only organization in this country that offers them. In Europe, they are offered at all levels and countries keep track of records in both SCM and LCM for 50 of strokes at the age group and senior level of swimming.

Does anyone know why there are no trials for 50s strokes? The 50 of strokes are not events that are offered in Senior National Championships and have not been offered as far as I remember even before USA Swimming became the governing body of swimming and took over rules from the AAU. The 50 of strokes are only offered for the 10 years and younger and 11-12 age groups in USA swimming events. The 50 Free did not become an event that was offered until 1980, when USA Swimming became the governing body of swimming. FINA started listing World Records in the event in 1980. One of the first early 50 meter US National Champions was Dara Torres in 1982, some 27 years ago. In 1986, FINA started offering the 50 Free at the World Championships and it became an Olympic event in 1988. When the FINA World Cup started, FINA started keeping track of World Records in the 50 of strokes and in 2001 starting offering the 50 of strokes at the World Championships. The 50 of strokes, Women's 1500 Free, and the Men's 800 Free are events offered at World Championships but not at the Olympics. My guess is that USA Swimming will fill the 50 stroke events with swimmers that are already on the team because that is what has been done traditionally. I have never heard of a reason to offer the 50 of strokes as separate events for swimmers to qualify for FINA World Championship events. Maybe in the future if these become Olympic events that might happen. I have always thought that back in the past, 50's were viewed as wimpy and not real swimming events by the Swimming World. It took the IOC/FINA a long time to get the 50 Free on the Olympic program and that event was offered at both the High School and NCAA level since the early 1900's. If you notice today, USA Swimming does not offer 50 of strokes past the age of 12 and USMS is the only organization in this country that offers them. In Europe, they are offered at all levels and countries keep track of records in both SCM and LCM for 50 of strokes at the age group and senior level of swimming.