Just as the NFL is experiencing a drastic increase in injuries; international open water swimming has experienced it's first true tragedy.
The present level of athletes involved are now far better than the rules we have to provide for their safety.
Every facet of the sport should be thoroughly inspected and rethought.
These high performance athletes are not going to adjust their efforts based on the conditions. Nor should they be asked to do so.
Then, going forward, we must all demand that the new standards we establish are adhered to without compromise.
Every national and international race I attended as a coach leading into and including the Olympic Games included a technical meeting. At every technical meeting we were told of the compromises to the athletes safety in the availability to hydrate(lack of single or multiple feeding docks) or lack of supervision on the course. There was always a reason given that had to do with lack of funding or lack of knowledge on the race hosts part. We argued until we finally got through to the organizing committee on the night before the race to add a second feeding station in Beijing.
I wasn't quiet then, I wasn't listened to. I was told what everyone is told: "that's open water swimming, you have a choice to compete".
We have to change this culture of the inmates running the asylum.
There are so many well planned, well supervised well executed swims available to those interested, but the majority of swims and races are events that have just been lucky and not had a tragedy take place yet. I caution the finger pointers to be very careful and take a close look at their house prior to casting stones. The compromise to oversight of athlete safety is occurring on all of the FINA continents.
My challenge is to all who organize events to please leave our egos at the door as we progress toward the safest environment possible for our fitness, competitive, and international level swimmers.
My invitation is to any and all investigative bodies to ask me to relay to them my journal entries from all of the various open water technical meetings I attended in 2006-the present.
I can be contacted directly at:
John D. Dussliere 949.636.3337 (USA)
coachjohn@sbswim.net
I hope this is received in the very positive and motivating vein it is meant.
I spent the weekend in Conshohocken Pennsylvania saying goodbye to a great young man. It was an overwhelming experience. We laughed, cried, and mourned the loss of the best in our sport and more importantly one of the best examples of what a great person swimming produces.
Thank you in advance,
