I think it was Ande that said "it's not how fast you swim, it's how fast you slow down." I read that a few years ago and keep on coming back to it as I have watched my kids grow in their USA Swimming careers. When kids are around 8-10, many of the races are 50s. Lots of kids can swim relatively fast 50s compared to other kids even when their stroke technique is truly awful. But then once the clock strikes 11 (years old), all of the 50s go away (less one) - and magically many of the kids with bad technique who seemed fast start losing to kids in the 100s and 200s with superior strokes. My question is at what age are we masters swimmers when we start thinking 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly and 50 breaststroke are OK to race again? It is not OK. It brings our sport down to a level where people who train only 100s or less and focus on 25s are taking over our pools. No more I say!!! I think USMS rules should only allow these races for people in their 70s and older. Who is with me?!!!
:worms: :bolt:
If you want to decrease interest in masters competition, get rid of the 50s and the 100 IM. The tech suit issue pales in comparison.
Honestly, I mostly don't like to do the sprint events, though I occasionally indulge myself. But they are fun to watch and if they were gone, there would be no resting between the *real* events, right? :bolt:
More seriously, I think 50s are good complements to the other events. It isn't all that hard to be simultaneously good at the 100 & 200, but to be also good at a 50 takes some work.
And even elite competitions are bringing them back. The 50 free has been in the Olympics only since 1988 and there have been proposals to add the other 50s as well (I don't think they'll succeed). And aren't they doing them at Pan Pacs this week?
If you want to decrease interest in masters competition, get rid of the 50s and the 100 IM. The tech suit issue pales in comparison.
Honestly, I mostly don't like to do the sprint events, though I occasionally indulge myself. But they are fun to watch and if they were gone, there would be no resting between the *real* events, right? :bolt:
More seriously, I think 50s are good complements to the other events. It isn't all that hard to be simultaneously good at the 100 & 200, but to be also good at a 50 takes some work.
And even elite competitions are bringing them back. The 50 free has been in the Olympics only since 1988 and there have been proposals to add the other 50s as well (I don't think they'll succeed). And aren't they doing them at Pan Pacs this week?
