nafod wrote:I was watching Usain Bolt last night, and thinking the track events should be like swimming. The 100 yard "freestyle", following by 100 yard backward running, 100 yard side-hopping, 100 yard skipping, walking on your hands, etc. Then Bolt could have as many medals has Phelps.
I know you're probably half-joking, but (butterfly notwithstanding) if I was dumped in a large body of water and had to swim to shore, I'd be glad to know more than just one style of swimming.
Neither the 100 meter hurdle swim or underwater distance swim would be great spectator events.
Track and field certainly has their share of not-so-great-to-watch events...
Mao wrote:Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party
Boris wrote:I know you're probably half-joking, but (butterfly notwithstanding) if I was dumped in a large body of water and had to swim to shore, I'd be glad to know more than just one style of swimming.
as i recall, my brother said the navy's preferred stroke for "frogmen" (in the days before seals) was the sidestroke.
Really Big Strong Guy: There are a plethora of psychopaths among us.
Boris wrote:I know you're probably half-joking, but (butterfly notwithstanding) if I was dumped in a large body of water and had to swim to shore, I'd be glad to know more than just one style of swimming.
as i recall, my brother said the navy's preferred stroke for "frogmen" (in the days before seals) was the sidestroke.
I believe it's called the combat crawl. Half side stroke half free style.
Both kids swim. Well my oldest is graduated but my youngest has 3 more seasons. It's a tough sport but great for the kids who aren't made for other sports.
Phelps did for swimming what Armstrong did for cycling minus the lawsuits, dickery, and massive amounts of PEDs.
seeahill wrote:I probably haven't mentioned that I swam four years at the University of Wisconsin.
My experience is sidestroke for Long Slow Distance.
I swam a meet or two at UofWisconsin. I'm sure that it probably has a new facility since those days though.
When did you compete?
It was a long time ago for me, 1962-66. We got a new pool in 63. I was freestyle sprints and butterfly. Hit in the 49s in the 100, 21.9 was my best 50. Now 10 year old girls are doing that.
seeahill wrote:I probably haven't mentioned that I swam four years at the University of Wisconsin.
My experience is sidestroke for Long Slow Distance.
I swam a meet or two at UofWisconsin. I'm sure that it probably has a new facility since those days though.
When did you compete?
It was a long time ago for me, 1962-66. We got a new pool in 63. I was freestyle sprints and butterfly. Hit in the 49s in the 100, 21.9 was my best 50. Now 10 year old girls are doing that.
Late 80s for me.
You're too modest. Those are still solid times today. Elite women swimmers are crazy fast now - I think Missy Franklin did something like 1:38 in the 200yd Free at NCAAs a couple years ago . I think that US woman swimmer in these Olympics went a :55 in the 100m fly.
nafod wrote:I was watching Usain Bolt last night, and thinking the track events should be like swimming. The 100 yard "freestyle", following by 100 yard backward running, 100 yard side-hopping, 100 yard skipping, walking on your hands, etc. Then Bolt could have as many medals has Phelps.
Or they could just institute the 100m, 90m, 80m, 70m, 60m, all the way down to the 10m. I think Bolt might struggle for some of those.
nafod wrote:I was watching Usain Bolt last night, and thinking the track events should be like swimming. The 100 yard "freestyle", following by 100 yard backward running, 100 yard side-hopping, 100 yard skipping, walking on your hands, etc. Then Bolt could have as many medals has Phelps.
I know you're probably half-joking, but (butterfly notwithstanding) if I was dumped in a large body of water and had to swim to shore, I'd be glad to know more than just one style of swimming.
Neither the 100 meter hurdle swim or underwater distance swim would be great spectator events.
Track and field certainly has their share of not-so-great-to-watch events...
Opinions vary and it's certainly more interesting to see in person but if they had halfway intelligent people running things I believe they don't have an event that wouldn't interest even the most casual fan.
WildGorillaMan wrote:Enthusiasm combined with no skill whatsoever can sometimes carry the day.
nafod wrote:I was watching Usain Bolt last night, and thinking the track events should be like swimming. The 100 yard "freestyle", following by 100 yard backward running, 100 yard side-hopping, 100 yard skipping, walking on your hands, etc. Then Bolt could have as many medals has Phelps.
I know you're probably half-joking, but (butterfly notwithstanding) if I was dumped in a large body of water and had to swim to shore, I'd be glad to know more than just one style of swimming.
Neither the 100 meter hurdle swim or underwater distance swim would be great spectator events.
Track and field certainly has their share of not-so-great-to-watch events...
Opinions vary and it's certainly more interesting to see in person but if they had halfway intelligent people running things I believe they don't have an event that wouldn't interest even the most casual fan.
Your double negative make it difficult to understand what you are trying to say...
My point however was not about viewer interest (I believe swimming as a spectator sport to be on par with GS, and I like swimming), just about the validity of the existence of different strokes as distinct entities.
