Yet...... another comment on "elitism" in masters swimming. This ongoing battle of two imaginary groups....... the selfish former elite swimmers and the non elite counter parts.
Yes..... The Evil Smith and I have taken great pleasure throughout the last decade trying to secretly split USMS into these two groups. Our efforts to perpetuate this divide and fuel our intolerance for "learners" is now being undermined..... :-)
One Big Happy Family: Marcinkowski’s Masters
reachforthewall.com/.../
"Butcher, Zerkle and others say numbers have soared because Marcinkowski has tried to strip the elitism from masters swimming, often thought to be populated with former competitive stars who have little tolerance for learners."
Parents
Former Member
We recently had a few new people decide to get registered so they could sign up for some meets this Fall.
I told one guy that if there a dozen heats of the 50 free (a very popular event)...that the first eight or so would be filled with people from all ages and abilities. I would guess that only 10 or 15% are considered "the elite"...whatever that means. ....Maybe those who do really well?.
Sure there are experienced swimmers at the meets, but they seem to be way outnumbered by more everyday average folks who are there to have fun. Not once have we witnessed a better than thou attitude.
Maybe this kind of behavior is more noticeable at the bigger meets?
We recently had a few new people decide to get registered so they could sign up for some meets this Fall.
I told one guy that if there a dozen heats of the 50 free (a very popular event)...that the first eight or so would be filled with people from all ages and abilities. I would guess that only 10 or 15% are considered "the elite"...whatever that means. ....Maybe those who do really well?.
Sure there are experienced swimmers at the meets, but they seem to be way outnumbered by more everyday average folks who are there to have fun. Not once have we witnessed a better than thou attitude.
Maybe this kind of behavior is more noticeable at the bigger meets?
