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."
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Former Member
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."
This is the #1 reason I now train myself/train alone. I was once a former world class swimmer, but that is beside the point. I'm now 38, slow (at least I think so), and its not ALL about the competition. Its unfortunate that the Master's coach in my area is way too pompous for my taste.
I've actually thought about starting my own team based on the Curl-Burke model. Finding folks is not the problem, for me all the other logistical things are. I've coached kids from 4-18 yrs old back in my 20's so I definitely have the patience and knowledge to teach any level of newbie or experience swimmer.
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."
This is the #1 reason I now train myself/train alone. I was once a former world class swimmer, but that is beside the point. I'm now 38, slow (at least I think so), and its not ALL about the competition. Its unfortunate that the Master's coach in my area is way too pompous for my taste.
I've actually thought about starting my own team based on the Curl-Burke model. Finding folks is not the problem, for me all the other logistical things are. I've coached kids from 4-18 yrs old back in my 20's so I definitely have the patience and knowledge to teach any level of newbie or experience swimmer.
