The 2012 United States Olympic Trials - Swimming
will once again be held at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
The 2008 Trials set a new standard for swimming excitement and 2012 promises to bring even more poolside thrills to America's Heartland.
Check back often for updates as we draw closer to naming the team that will represent the United States in the pool at the London Olympic Games.
When: Mon June 25th - Mon July 2nd 2012
DAYS Till
Where: Qwest Center Omaha
455 North 10th Street Omaha, NE 68102
PSYCH Sheet
RESULTS
One cool thing is the website has USA Olympic Swimming Trials Results from 1920 - 2008
CUTS
APPROVED TECH SUITS
Link to 2012 Olympic Swimming
but the coolest thing is our 2012 LCM Nats is in the same pool starting Thu July 5th, 2012
2012 USMS Summer LCM Nationals
Qwest Center, Omaha, NE
Thu July 5 - Sun 8, 2012
Long Course Meters
Qualifying Times will be available in early 2012
2012 Olympics USMS Forum Site
I wouldn't go that far. These are still darn fast times and anyone who makes them should feel very proud. However, with guys going 3:40-low in the 400 and sub 15- in the 1500, it's probably unrealistic that someone who just makes the cut in either of those events is going to breakout to be a contender.
I knew someone would take issue with my choosing the word "slow." :) Yes, you catch my drift. Swimmers who just squeak under the cuts aren't going to be a factor at the meet...
For how long has it only been LCM cuts? I thought it was that way all along?
Since 2004. Luckily USA Swimming has a pdf of historical cuts for Nationals and OT's located here:
www.usaswimming.org/.../Standards_Template_Past.pdf
It confirms what you said, too. The cut in the 400 free was 3:59.79 in 1988. For 2012 it's 3:59.99, so it's actually gotten slower by two tenths.
Pat,
I feel your pain. I never swam in an Olympic Trials meet.
In 1984, I didn't go to trials but made OT cuts about month after the meet in the 50 fr, 100 fr & 100 fl.
I watched the 1988 trials in Austin but wasn't training much at the time.
From the fall of 1990 to the summer of 1992 I attempted to make the
1992 50 free trials cuts. The cut was 23.49 and my best swim was 23.65.
So I missed it by 16 hundredths, but I had a blast training.
Oh well.
Ande
I can't speak for the other cuts, but the men's 400 free cut hasn't changed since 1988 (maybe even earlier than that). I know all too well because I missed it then by a margin that still pains me. The 400 IM appears to have gotten a few seconds faster, though, probably a combination of back rollover turns and Kitajima-legalizing the dolphin on the *** pullout.
BINGO, the times are what they are to give many swimmers a chance and the experience. Especially great for up and comers who need another 4 years to develop.
There might not be as many entrants for 2012 as there were in 2008, especially with Men because of the cut off date for QT's
"Qualifying Period Oct 1, 2009 to entry deadline"
Which means
Men have to wear textile jammers &
Women have to wear Textile zipperless Kneeskins
APPROVED TECH SUITS
Yeah, the cuts aren't that fast. I'm sure lots of events will have more than 100 qualifiers. Is this really a good idea? Shouldn't Trials be a truly elite meet? I don't know. It does give lots of kids who really don't have a chance at making the team experience at a meet of this magnitude. It also brings in a lot more money to USA Swimming and Omaha. I have a feeling that second point may be the real reason they keep the cuts on the 'slow' side.
Yeah, the cuts aren't that fast. I'm sure lots of events will have more than 100 qualifiers. Is this really a good idea? Shouldn't Trials be a truly elite meet? I don't know. It does give lots of kids who really don't have a chance at making the team experience at a meet of this magnitude. It also brings in a lot more money to USA Swimming and Omaha. I have a feeling that second point may be the real reason they keep the cuts on the 'slow' side.
Here is what I think happened:
(this part I know to be true): In 2000 it was decided that there would be no summer nationals meet because that meet is always slow in the Olympic year. Trial cuts were slowed so that low-elite swimmers - the ones who are in between National cuts and the former Trial cuts - would have a focus meet to swim at that summer. So that was the first mega-meet trials.
It didn't take much to realize the economic impact of a meet that size so when the Summer Nationals was put back in place in 2004 they kept the tiral cuts "slow" so the meet could be sold to the host city for more money. Just a guess, but I bet Omaha pays USA Swimming atleast $250,000 to host the meet.
I agree with you, Tom. LCM swimming is different and the Olympics are LCM, so cuts should be. However, I only remember going after LCM cuts back in college, but maybe that's because the focus was on NCAA cuts during SCY season. For how long has it only been LCM cuts? I thought it was that way all along?
Well, I'm also in the never made OT's boat. I understand the reasoning of having the cuts only in LCM, but it's still painful when the cut would have been right around my yards time. As much as I enjoy my club team over the summer, the teammate talent level and practices just weren't the same as college. To make matters worse, they made the 200 fly cut slower in 2008 and 2012 by almost a full second. It's almost like they're begging me to quit my job and try to get it again :)
This is a great thread. I like hearing about your background and experineces with OT cut times. Making cuts is secondary to the dream and the effort to try. You guys should all be proud. Keep the stories coming.
