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?
Screw elite. I'm all about learning to have more fun via Mr. Lord's methodology which obviously involves a very low resting heart rate and clawing my eyes out (I mean sitting! :afraid:) through masters meets.
Yes, why would an "elite" athlete ever put themselves through such unmitigated torture? Especially when they could swim in "the highest plain in that world of activity": a USA-S meet.
Wait, do we do that too? We actually swim in a playground where the fast suit folks will be banished? I don't know about you, but I'm worried about DNF-ing at my meet this weekend. After all, I'm only supposed to be able to doggie paddle without the carapace. At least it will be a good "life lesson" for the kiddies.
Screw elite. I'm all about learning to have more fun via Mr. Lord's methodology which obviously involves a very low resting heart rate and clawing my eyes out (I mean sitting! :afraid:) through masters meets.
Yes, why would an "elite" athlete ever put themselves through such unmitigated torture? Especially when they could swim in "the highest plain in that world of activity": a USA-S meet.
Wait, do we do that too? We actually swim in a playground where the fast suit folks will be banished? I don't know about you, but I'm worried about DNF-ing at my meet this weekend. After all, I'm only supposed to be able to doggie paddle without the carapace. At least it will be a good "life lesson" for the kiddies.
