Well, ladies and gents, it has happened again. With the olympic swimming events having finished up, one thing is clear. Men’s USA Elite swimming has continued it’s nearly decade long downward plunge into the depths of mediocre olympic preformances. Look for the elite men’s team to coninue on this dive in future olympiads, as the future for men’s elite level swimming is looking merkier than ever. While the american men fade, look for ian thorpe to attempt to match mark spitz’ historic gold medal count, he’s so hot right now.
Special thanks to robert, lew (he’s such a kidder), and all other contributers to the slowtwitch TI, title IX, and age goup swimming flame wars of old.
I am pleased to see U.S. Men’s Swimming doing so well. And, yes, I’m surprised. I’m also surprised to U.S. Women’s Swimming dip ever so slightly, if you are talking about Olympic performances.
I’m not sure we need a separate thread for this point of yours which you’ve already made once before here.
Anyway, congratulations on being right that men’s swimming is not falling apart. Now, go out and recruit another 5,000 boys for USA Swimming because the girls still greatly outnumber the boys.
I made the point before the olympics, both several years ago and several weeks ago, and wanted to rub it in a little now that it was all said and done.
population pool and pool of competitors doesn’t matter much in a sport that focuses on the preformances of about 12 individuals. As long as the few badasses find their way (they have up till now, and they will continue to do so) nothing is going to change.
I’ll go recruit some more boys to swim when i can look my little brother in the eye and promise him that if he trains hard year round for 10 years, and is consistently top 8 in a very competitve state in every event he swims, he’ll have an equal shot at swimming for a college team as 2nd year seasonal female swimmer who swam prelims for her high school relay team.
