“Among the world record-breakers this day was three-time Olympian Gary Hall, Jr., who swam butterfly in competition for the first time in his career and broke Brian Alderman’s WR for men 30-34, 25.16, with a powerful, fluid 24.91. Hall and his dad, Dr. Gary Hall, Sr., also a three-time Olympian, chatted with other participants, signed autographs and promoted their Masters swim camp in Islamorada, Florida”.
GASP! How dare a “pro” swimmer like Gary Hall show up at a masters meet. He should feel horrible that he “stole” a world record and a “national championship” designation from a “real age grouper”. Shouldn’t he only be allowed to race at the Olympics? Once an Olympian always an Olympian…
He raced short course masters national championships in early 2004, and could only manage 3rd in the 50 yard free behind Sabir Muhammed. Lost to Sabir in the 100 yard free at that meet as well.
Olympian Ron Karnaugh holds eight 30-34 NJ Masters swim records, and five or so in the 35-39 (basically any event he wants to race, he gets the state record). I think he has about 10 National records in the 35-39 AG.
The vast majority of masters swimmers were age group swimmers when they were young. Hence, when someone like Gary Hall shows up at a masters meet, he’s just beating the same people he was beating when he was younger. His presence, in essence, just restores the natural competetive order. The masters guys think it is cool that they get to race against an Olympic medalist. Getting beat in a race by Gary Hall is actually much cooler than winning against a bunch of no names.
Triathletes on the other hand usually don’t take up the sport until later in life and many have a false sense of where they actually rank in the grand scheme of athletic skill. Frankly, while triathletes “get” training, most don’t really understand competition. Therefore, their first reaction is to get pissed when someone “good” shows up and takes away “their” podium spot.
Gary Hall also holds the AR in the 100SCY for the 25-29 age group.
Shiela Taormina holds all the SCM freestyle world records in the 25-29 age group except for the 50m. These swims all came in early 1996, the same year she won a gold in Atlanta. She also holds the 100fly world record for 25-29 in addition to a bunch of SCY and LCM american records. Recent Olympian Rachel Komisarz also holds some masters american records.
Rowdy Gaines holds a bunch of LCM world records in the 30-34 and 35-39 age groups. Obviously these records have been around for a while. I don’t think there have been too many complaints.
totally agree. Age group racing gives dudes a false sense of where they fit into the pecking order of triathlon. Guys win hardware racing local olympic tris in 2 hour and half Ironmans in 4:30. Gimme a break. In the pecking order of competitive triathlon, its sub 1:48 and sub 4:05.
Yeah, he was a teammate of mine in HS, then went on to Olympic and World levels. He was pretty good in HS, got really good in college, and is still pretty damn good. I didn’t complain when a couple of years ago he set a national record in the 200y breast at a masters meet (something like 2:01) and killed us all. I was happy to have been in the same heat!
On a related note, I am happy that I age up soon for tris, and don’t have to race Steve Larsen for the 35-39 crown at Kona! In fact I won’t even be going to Kona. Maybe I will someday before he turns 40! It happens all the time in cycling, you race against plenty of ex-pros, and swimming too, triathlon is no different. Talent is talent. No need to stop just because you don’t make a living doing it anymore.
Yeah, he was a teammate of mine in HS, then went on to Olympic and World levels. He was pretty good in HS, got really good in college, and is still pretty damn good. I didn’t complain when a couple of years ago he set a national record in the 200y breast at a masters meet (something like 2:01) and killed us all. I was happy to have been in the same heat!
On a related note, I am happy that I age up soon for tris, and don’t have to race Steve Larsen for the 35-39 crown at Kona! In fact I won’t even be going to Kona. Maybe I will someday before he turns 40! It happens all the time in cycling, you race against plenty of ex-pros, and swimming too, triathlon is no different. Talent is talent. No need to stop just because you don’t make a living doing it anymore.
If you do breaststroke in NJ, then you know Benn Doyle. I used to swim with him at FSPY Masters. I did 29:57 and 1:04.97 in 30-34 (started swimming at age 26).
He went to Brophy right? I was still in lonely 4A back then so only saw him in high school swimming at State and the Xavier Invitational (we use to love that meet cause it had the 100IM).
Most of the family was pretty messed up. I think only one of the sisters (but damn they were all hot) didn’t go to rehab, everyone else did. Then there’s the whole ordeal with Hall Sr. eye clinic and shipping in the retired folk from Sun City. And let not forget Grandpa Keating!!!
Hardly any training, and still toasted everyone!!! Would have been interesting if he would have trained, maybe Popov would have had more competition then!
Most of the family was pretty messed up. I think only one of the sisters (but damn they were all hot) didn’t go to rehab, everyone else did. Then there’s the whole ordeal with Hall Sr. eye clinic and shipping in the retired folk from Sun City. And let not forget Grandpa Keating!!!
My high school (University High in Tucson) bounced back and forth between 5A and 4A. My junior year (Gary’s senior year), we were in 5A with Brophy Prep. I think the only reason he set any records in high school is because we had a kid on our team (Abe Wick) who would set state records in the prelims in the mornings, so Gary would try just hard enough in the finals to beat Abe and get his record back. It became such a grudge match between the two of them, that they both ended up swimming lead-off legs in the relays at states and Xavier Invite to go head-to-head and be able to swim record-eligible splits.
To add insult to injury, after getting booted from UTexas, Hall transferred to UofA where Abe was swimming collegiately at the time.
At least he worked out enough after high school to get some upper body muscle. In high school, he was the sickest tall skinny kid I had ever seen. You could count each individual rib on his chest!
Always amazed me how everyone conveniently forgets the malpractice lawsuits and the Charles Keating stuff. Talk about a family that got everything handed everything to them on a silver platter.
I forgot about the incredibly hot sisters. Thanks for the memories…
LOL…memories for sure. Abe was a stud! He swam for HOT down in Tucson (I’m guessing you might of too) and remember seeing him at many a meet at the UofA pool.
Both the Hall boys were skin and bones…and I am pretty sure they were assless. I have never seen someone SO tall that wore a speedo what was all of 3 inches in the back. Completely assless, I am convinced.
Yeah that name is familiar, but cannot claim to know him. He was/is a minute or faster for the 100 if I remember. I do most of my meets in Pa., but on occasion I get home for a meet. The last time I swam a “big” meet, like zones or colonies was back in the late 90’s. I ran into Ron K, and was pissed that he looked the same as he did in HS. There is another name, Wally Dicks, how’s that for a fast breaststroker? Those guys, and you for that matter, are too fast for me. Impressive times there, Ken. I am a 1:07 right now on a great day, I did a 2:26 for the 200 last winter. I was always a much better 200 than a 50-100, but, I think I saw a 1:04 for the last time back in college. If I false start in a relay, I may get a 30 point. To start when most people are 5 years past a career, and to post those times is a great achievement, a great achievement. I am repeating for emphasis. Do you still swim at FSPY? I grew up in Cranford, swam at one time for Gator, Westfield and Berkley and HS for Satan Hell Prep. Alot of great swimmers came from that part of the world.
Yeah that name is familiar, but cannot claim to know him. He was/is a minute or faster for the 100 if I remember. I do most of my meets in Pa., but on occasion I get home for a meet. The last time I swam a “big” meet, like zones or colonies was back in the late 90’s. I ran into Ron K, and was pissed that he looked the same as he did in HS. There is another name, Wally Dicks, how’s that for a fast breaststroker? Those guys, and you for that matter, are too fast for me. Impressive times there, Ken. I am a 1:07 right now on a great day, I did a 2:26 for the 200 last winter. I was always a much better 200 than a 50-100, but, I think I saw a 1:04 for the last time back in college. If I false start in a relay, I may get a 30 point. To start when most people are 5 years past a career, and to post those times is a great achievement, a great achievement. I am repeating for emphasis. Do you still swim at FSPY? I grew up in Cranford, swam at one time for Gator, Westfield and Berkley and HS for Satan Hell Prep. Alot of great swimmers came from that part of the world.
Benn did 58.99 in 30-34 with FSPY, back around 1990. Man, has it been that long? I gave up Masters swimming in 1990 or so; I do nothing but freestyle for triathlons these days. We tried to get Craig Beardsley to swim for us at Nationals, but he declined. My cousins (the Weils) grew up in Cranford and swam up there; my uncle taught and coached football at Weeq… something high school.