I disagree. Maybe some people wouldn't care, but I can tell you I wouldn't be happy that the guy swimming next to me showed up on the blocks wearing fins and paddles, for example. Swim meets are COMPETITIONS. In a competition I think you should care what your competitors are doing.
Actually, in a swimming competition (or any other individual competition) you can only worry about what you are doing. If you worry about what others are doing, then you have already given them an advantage over you, whether you realize it or not.
Except that fins and paddles are currently ILLEGAL. At least until FINA changes that ruling too.
As for competing. Why do we compete in Masters? What extrinsic reward is there for finishing first in a race? Cash? Nope. Free stuff? None that posseses a very high monetary value at best. Fame? Huh-uh, pull the other one. Adoration from other Masters swimmers? Please see Exhibit: Paul Smith.
With all that, what exactly is being taken away from a Masters swimmer who finishes 2nd versus one who finishes 1st? Assuming of course that 2nd place chose to swim in a brief and 1st place chose to swim in a body suit?
I disagree. Maybe some people wouldn't care, but I can tell you I wouldn't be happy that the guy swimming next to me showed up on the blocks wearing fins and paddles, for example. Swim meets are COMPETITIONS. In a competition I think you should care what your competitors are doing.
Actually, in a swimming competition (or any other individual competition) you can only worry about what you are doing. If you worry about what others are doing, then you have already given them an advantage over you, whether you realize it or not.
Except that fins and paddles are currently ILLEGAL. At least until FINA changes that ruling too.
As for competing. Why do we compete in Masters? What extrinsic reward is there for finishing first in a race? Cash? Nope. Free stuff? None that posseses a very high monetary value at best. Fame? Huh-uh, pull the other one. Adoration from other Masters swimmers? Please see Exhibit: Paul Smith.
With all that, what exactly is being taken away from a Masters swimmer who finishes 2nd versus one who finishes 1st? Assuming of course that 2nd place chose to swim in a brief and 1st place chose to swim in a body suit?
