The following has appeared on a swim forum in the UK
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I’ve been looking at recent masters results. It’s clear that swimmers are producing much slower times without bodysuits. Furthermore, many swimmers are disillusioned and are on the verge of giving up completely. It would be a travesty if these swimmers (they are mostly the over 45s) were lost to the sport altogether.
The majority of masters swimmers prefer to compete in bodysuits. Of that there is no doubt, as witnessed at masters meets up and down the country. It is a disgrace that masters swimmers have been included in the ‘new rules’ concerning elite swimming. I find it quite sad that many swimmers are talking about cutting up their suits, taking out zips and even asking whether they are allowed ‘modesty panels’ in their suits any more.
As always, we are getting no advice, guidance or even leadership from the toothless Masters Committee, whose gingivitic and malocclusive tendencies are attracting Big Nev’s interest, but that’s to be expected.
But it doesn’t have to be like this. Masters swimmers in Italy are not accepting this farce. They are still holding meets where swimmers can choose to wear bodysuits.
There was a recent questionnaire sent out to 4,000 masters swimmers in France. 2,700 swimmers replied, stating they wished to keep their bodysuits for competition.
Masters swimmers in Germany are on the verge of revolution! They accept that masters swimmers are not going to be a threat to any Olympian’s records. Many have now entered masters meets in Italy where they can wear their suits if they want. Also, some meet organisers in Germany are holding similar meets.
Instead of following any directive from our anaemic and tedious Masters Committee, I’d like to see masters swimmers in the UK make a stand against the stupidity surrounding the banning of bodysuits. It will cost me time and money but I’m prepared to organise this.
We need meet organisers in the UK to hold ‘optional suit’ masters meets. Swimmers can choose whether to wear a suit or not. If they are going for a record then the suitless option is a must - but only for a while. I believe that if we boycott masters meets where suits are now allowed, meet organisers, the Masters Committee and the ASA would have to take notice. At the moment they don’t give a toss. At the forefront of the ASA’s mind would be the loss of revenue. Believe me, they see masters swimming as a joke anyway, they would happily let masters swim in bodysuits if it meant they could keep the revenue pouring in.
Getting meet organisers to run ‘bodysuit’ meets would be easy. They would be oversubscribed, every time. Not only from our swimmers but from overseas entries too. I can see one-day meets turning into weekend ones. The organisers could make a lot of money from these well-attended meets. Pulling the plug on masters meets because of low entries would be a thing of the past.
These meets would be the thin end of the wedge in bringing about a change of rules. It‘s the boycotting of ‘non-suit’ meets that would bring a change of rule overnight.
The decathlon would be meaningless because ‘suited’ swims wouldn’t count towards it - but in reality, it is a meaningless competition anyway for all but ten swimmers in the UK who have a chance of winning it.
Don’t underestimate what can be done. Masters swimmers are a powerful group in swimming. The Government is putting very large amounts of money into the greasy hand of the ASA to promote health and fitness for adults. The ASA wouldn’t like the kind of publicity we can give them.
If you feel you can support this initiative I’ll make a start. Masters swimmers in Italy, France and Germany are ready to come on board. Many masters swimmers in America are also willing to make a stand against their governing body. Naturally, support from suit manufacturers is there already. I’ve spoken to four of the biggest.
Former Member
a talking donkey. .
A talking jackass. Interesting idea. Must be based on you and d2's love affair. You must be who the jackass is based on.
Your spelling and punctuation are second only to your eloquent use of the English language.
I am in the early stages of writing a book and I was wondering if you would help with the editing. It would also be real special if you would allow me to use some of your lines.
The book is a buddy adventure with two guys as the main characters, only, (and here's the kicker) one of them is a talking donkey. They will go on the road doing all kinds of zany stuff yet a lesson will be learned in each chapter, and the talking donkey will kind of sum up the lesson. That's where your wit and wisdom will come in to play. I can visulize the donkey saying such gems as, "We all know that no one can beat geek at being a couch slug." or "Geek would be better suited for a gremlin." Great stuff like that!
Anyway, let me know what you think. Spell checkers don't catch a lot of the errors I am prone to make. I'm sure that a talent like you doesn't come cheap, but I would be willing to part with some of the profits.
Gee, tanhks for pontiing out taht I ani't the bset spller in the wrold. Myabe one day I wlil be gdooer at it lkie you are.
A talking jackass. Interesting idea. Must be based on you and d2's love affair. You must be who the jackass is based on.
and
Gee, tanhks for pontiing out taht I ani't the bset spller in the wrold. Myabe one day I wlil be gdooer at it lkie you are.
See, that is exactly what I'm talking about. Brilliant. If only I could bottle and sell your mighty skill.
We could change the donkey to a monkey if that helps your creative juices flow. I'm thinking a little monkey with really bad breath. (I'm sure you could come up with some great ones for that) Really the options are quite endless.
Since we seem to be partners now I was wondering if I could borrow some start-up money for our project? I'm pretty good with numbers and stuff so you can trust me.
Thanks wook,
Your pal
I believe that Ion was banned from the forum, maybe for life. Here's a random sample of the legacy he left behind:
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
Makes me miss Tom Ellison.
and
See, that is exactly what I'm talking about. Brilliant. If only I could bottle and sell your mighty skill.
I just figured out your problem. You are jealous of other people. You want to have friends but you are all alone.
You wish you could have close bonds with others. You are jealous of the friendships, like what geek, fort, myself and others on this forum have developed.
You are saddened that you have no one to crack jokes, give some ribbing too.
Don't worry Mrs. Ninny, maybe one day you will be able to develop a friendship with someone in your life.
PS. If you don't like the comments that Geek and I throw at each other, don't read our posts.
PSS. Yes, I know my grammer and spelling skills suck. We all can't be perfect like you though.
Wook,
PSS. Yes, I know my grammer and spelling skills suck. We all can't be perfect like you though.
You don't need to whisper.
I'll consider those comments as comming from an talented yet troubled artist. I can take it, after all isn't that what friends and business partners do?
Your insight into my personality is stunning. (Why would I have thought otherwise) Are you a psychiatrist? If not you should be. In our brief friendship you have correctly identified my problem. It is indeed a strong bond like you and Bill have, that I crave. I can now move on with my life (and writing our book).
Speaking of our book, what would be the best way for you to give me the money you promised? I'm kind of short on cash right now.
Your Pal
Wook,
You don't need to whisper.
I'll consider those comments as comming from an talented yet troubled artist. I can take it, after all isn't that what friends and business partners do?
Your insight into my personality is stunning. (Why would I have thought otherwise) Are you a psychiatrist? If not you should be. In our brief friendship you have correctly identified my problem. It is indeed a strong bond like you and Bill have, that I crave. I can now move on with my life (and writing our book).
Speaking of our book, what would be the best way for you to give me the money you promised? I'm kind of short on cash right now.
Your Pal
I suggest you talk to one of your banks in cali about getting a loan to start on your epic saga. They will be able to justify the loan for a great american novel.
I finally have my first stalker, and he wants to do unnatural things to my leg. Watch out wookie, this guy/gal is trouble!
Geek, I suggest you talk to Fort about getting a restraining order issued.
My ex-pal Wook,
I'm saddened that you are backing out of our deal. I can't blame you, I can only blame my hubris. It was foolish of me to think that you would stoop so low as to work with me when you have Bill and your mighty brain.
I will keep working on our, oops, my book. I know that there will be some errors in the book that would have been caught by your keen editing skills. I also know that without your delightful quips it won't be the best seller we both dreamed about.
I will trudge along in my grey world. Alone. Sad.
Your ex-pal
Wow!
I thought I would find some wistful or angry whining about the evil FINA and what they are taking away from the masters community, but no.
Instead, there are several pinheads in a playground war of, "no you won't, yes I will." All three of you can't find something better to do? Or isn't recess over yet?
You all must be wearing helmets in class because if you were any good at this, you would all have threatened each other with laser guided weapons and got this thread shut down. then you could all go play with your mentor, Ion. Quit wasting good bandwidth.
