[leakinInTheBlueSea]

That’s awesome... I was not of that caliber (swam D1, but without much success), but had the privilege to swim with a number of Olympians in the 80s/early 90s. I could not imagine what it was like for the olympians that never got their chance in 1980... trained with one of them for a while past his prime and could not bring up the subject... just didn’t feel right.

[PA Engineer]

1980 was rough.

I stopped competitive training in 1976 (still worked out but not 18 times a week). Was working and going to school. We just did not have the resources that athletics have today.

I do believe 1980 is what caused the early death of the swimmer I competed against. He medalled in 76 and I heard he went down hill after 80. Later I was told he completely let himself go (gaining over 300 lbs) and died of a heart attack.

I still think about it today. The luxury of hindsight allows me to condemn Carter. I wasn't pleased about it at the time and I know there was generally a great deal of disappointment. It was what it was. Carter was horrid. Here we are still with Afghanistan.

It hurt so many olympians because there was a higher degree of dedication. It wasn't just hours training, but the efforts required because the resources were not there. The rules were much stricter with amateur athletics and sponsorships.

We did not have the backing (financial, coaching and planning) we have today. My trip to the games was payed for by families at our local swim club and high school.

The 18 sessions of training per week does not tell the entire story. There was the driving back and forth, meets and waits for pool time. On top of that was homework and a hire academic expectation amongst swimmers and their families.

This took a tremendous toll on the athletes.

[So Cal Rocket]

I swam 100 and 200 freestyle in High School... I gave up the sport when I got beat by a girl.

Of course, that girl was Shirley Babashoff, who competed on the boy’s team.