It's been cool for me over the last few years seeing and competing against a number of guys from both my age group and collegiate days. However, when I think back to my college team, in particular, I'm struck by how many guys are NOT back swimming and competing in Masters. I realize this is probably the wrong audience to ask (since we're back in the pool), but, since for me swimming & competing go hand in hand and I love swimming, I'm still puzzled why more people don't come back to the sport and to racing?
Really? I got the different vibe as it was just fantastic to see any former Olympians still in the pool.
I keep trying to tell him that but he won't listen. As wookie said, he's proven himself to himself, why return now with a target (good or bad thing?) on his back when he doesn't have time to train. I guess that's his thinking. Again, I'm working on him. I even suggested he enter under an alias but since many of you met him at Zones, you'll know who he is. Plus... he stands out in a crowd. :D
Masters swimming is full of Olympians, US and foreign as well as NCAA finalists, etc. I have yet to meet one who thinks it's realistic (or sane) to think they can approach the times they did when they were at their peak. IMHO, that is not the competitive message of masters swimming; rather, it is "how fast can I swim at this age, given the amount I train?"
He's never come out and said that as a reason. It's what us swimmers have felt based on what he has said. But I need you all to tell him he's wrong and to swim! I would love to have him at a meet.
When I graduated from college I felt that it was time to "grow up" and abandon my carefree college lifestyle. It seemed more important to focus on establishing myself professionally and enjoy some of the little luxuries I couldn't afford while putting myself through school. So I was a fulltime employee and working on my MS nights/weekends. With the little free time I had, I ended up enjoying expensive meals and acquiring a taste for wine; partying with coworkers on weekends.
The next phase in life, I ended up on adult recreational softball, volleyball, bowling, soccer ... teams going out for beer and pizza afterwards.
I had a misperception that only the best age groupers swam in HS, only the best HS swimmers swam in college, and only the best college swimmers swam with Masters. I joined a health club and swam on my own for the first 14 years of my professional career, now and then.
It took a major knee injury retiring me from all other sports to get me into USMS. Swimming was the only activity I could do; and I realized I needed to do something active that wasn't just an token excuse to go get pizza and beer. I also wanted to have the "being part of a team" social atmosphere. I also had unfinished business in the pool from my college days.
I remember the feeling of terror leading up to my first day of USMS practice. I imagined that everybody on the team would be lean and mean and wearing a team competition suit at practice and holding insane intervals.
I was so pleasantly surprised.
For me it was burnout. Training at a high level for years as an age grouper and college swimmer takes its tool on you. Since I was a distance guy it was even more so......LOTS of doubles. The commitment paid off, but you sacrifice a lot. After college it was time to do all those things I didn't get to do cause I was in the pool. For the rest of my 20's I felt like I wasted them just "having fun" and cutting loose....not particularly concentrating on a career at all.
Fast forward to 2 years ago and Beijing. What I saw in the pool really inspired me, Phelps, the relays, all of it. I was bit by the bug again. But now its about being healthy and mainly HAVING FUN! If I'm not having fun then its time to hang them up again. Now with the loss of my job last month I'm looking at doing what I love and making a living in the swimming world......its in the works.
He's never come out and said that as a reason. It's what us swimmers have felt based on what he has said. But I need you all to tell him he's wrong and to swim! I would love to have him at a meet.
Teach him about the 80-20 rule. It's real, I'm not making it up. In my particular case, the numbers are currently at about 91-25.
For me it was burnout. I went to college without a swim team on purpose. It took my sister going to Nationals to get me back in to it in 2000.
For my coach, it's too much time at the pool now. He doesn't want to spend his "spare" time training when he's already at the pool about 7 hours a day. He's a former Olympian who last competed in 2006.
And in your coaches case, he has probably accomplished everything he wanted to in swimming. Olympic gold and silver, world and american record, ncaa champion and record holder.
He probably is happy with how his career turned out and would rather help others enjoy the sport and become good at it too. Go Vols!
It also seems to me the majority of swimmers in USMS who did compete when they were younger were sort of middle of the road talentwise. Yes, there are some swimmers in USMS who were and are very talented and made it to the top levels of the sport, but these seem to be the exceptions. Also this could just be a perception thing. There are a lot more "middle of the roads" than elites so it might stand to reason there are more of them swimming masters.
I keep trying to tell him that but he won't listen. As wookie said, he's proven himself to himself, why return now with a target (good or bad thing?) on his back when he doesn't have time to train. I guess that's his thinking. Again, I'm working on him. I even suggested he enter under an alias but since many of you met him at Zones, you'll know who he is. Plus... he stands out in a crowd. :D
Masters swimming is full of Olympians, US and foreign as well as NCAA finalists, etc. I have yet to meet one who thinks it's realistic (or sane) to think they can approach the times they did when they were at their peak. IMHO, that is not the competitive message of masters swimming; rather, it is "how fast can I swim at this age, given the amount I train?"
In addition to what Wookie mentioned about my coach, he also doesn't compete due to what he calls the "large target on his back". We saw it towards former Olympic athletes at Atlanta's Nationals. My coach would get the same thing and what would people (or he) think if he didn't match his old times? Without being able to train like he used to (in addition to 14 more years), he would probably not be close to his former Olympic times now and doesn't want that target. But I'm working on him. His sister just got back in to competition. Now to work on him.
Yes, Wookie, go Vols :)
Sorry, but WHO is your coach?
