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Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Aug 1998

Swimming World wrote a great article about the lack of respect our country has for swimming ("Editor's Note," June). I'm a 16-year-old high school junior who has seen the unfortunate results of such disrepect.

My high school gives little, if any, attention to swimming. When there are pep rallies, the school screams over sports like football, softball, volleyball and basketball, but never swimming. The ironic thing is that swimming is the only sport that produced a CIF (California sectional) champion at my school. Swimming-and swimmers-are long overdue when it comes to recognition.

MARIE TRAN

Via E-Mail

It's Different in D.C.

Most of what was written in the June Editor's Note, "No Respect," was correct. However, the comment about the poor turnout at a stroke clinic is certainly not true of the Washington, D.C. area. We had a stroke clinic with some Olympians and other elite swimmers, and there were over 150 kids.

We have had many "big name" swimmers in the area-swimmers like Roque Santos, Tom Dolan and Mark Henderson. They all swam in as many of the local meets as they could, and they were great with the younger kids.

The coaches here also publicize the clinics and camps because they are great teaching tools. The kids learn something new and exciting at every one they attend.

JUDY KAMINSKY

Via E-Mail

Male Superiority

Why does Swimming World persist in listing the women first in summaries of the various national and international swim meets? Is this some sort of chivalrous gesture? What it amounts to is listing the second team first (in reality, the 20th...or, maybe, 200th team) over the men's teams-the real varsity.

And, remember, women's records are not world records-they are women's records. The world records-the fastest times ever swum-are obviously men's records.

JOHN KOENIG, JR.

Athens, Georgia

Give He Credit

I read in shame the way the article was written about Michelle Smith DeBruin ("Busted!...But Battling Back," June). Why is it so hard to believe that a swimmer can improve over such a short period of time?

I currently coach a local club in Belfast, Ireland, and I have a swimmer who is close to qualifying for the Commonwealth Games. She only started swimming three years ago. Does this mean that she is on drugs?

I feel that Michelle is a remarkable swimmer, and it's just unfortunate that the rest of the world cannot give her credit for what she has achieved.

KEITH CAMPBELL

Via E-Mail