Craig Lord's rather inflammatory article www.swimnews.com/.../6918 on the possibility that USMS will depart from FINA vis a vis allowed swim suits raises a fundamental issue:
If masters swimming allows a more lenient policy regarding suit technology than FINA swimming, will this help or hurt our status in the swimming world?
I love the high tech suits, and I think FINA has been boneheaded in many ways, but I personally think that the creation of a two-tier system--regular swimming and masters "handicapped" swimming--would be bad for our sport and only marginalize us in the world of athletics.
If the choice comes down to two options--abide by FINA's suit rulings OR permit suits like the B70 for masters (if it is outlawed by FINA for "real" swimmers), which side would you support?
Parents
Former Member
Kristina, while you're doggie paddling in the kiddie pool, I'll play in the sandbox outside the kindergarten classroom. Despite our Ivy League educations, we obviously have no grasp or understanding of the issues only Mr. Lord-Savonarola can opine about. Perhaps, if we are very fortunate, we can one day be sufficiently re-educated and erudite so that we "may come to understand" his hyperbole.
Beyond that, I love masters for the kind of things I have seen from Shane Gould: the example, the role model, the lifelong learning about water and water skills. Gould has so many lessons from which we can all learn, and from which the sport itself can learn, lessons that could help avoid repetitive strain injuries, lessons that could help kids learn about water in an enlightening way that helps them to become better swimmers and have more fun.
Quiet! I'm still trying to learn about water! Maybe I'll get it after my 11.5 K OW this weekend.
Kristina, while you're doggie paddling in the kiddie pool, I'll play in the sandbox outside the kindergarten classroom. Despite our Ivy League educations, we obviously have no grasp or understanding of the issues only Mr. Lord-Savonarola can opine about. Perhaps, if we are very fortunate, we can one day be sufficiently re-educated and erudite so that we "may come to understand" his hyperbole.
Beyond that, I love masters for the kind of things I have seen from Shane Gould: the example, the role model, the lifelong learning about water and water skills. Gould has so many lessons from which we can all learn, and from which the sport itself can learn, lessons that could help avoid repetitive strain injuries, lessons that could help kids learn about water in an enlightening way that helps them to become better swimmers and have more fun.
Quiet! I'm still trying to learn about water! Maybe I'll get it after my 11.5 K OW this weekend.
