Foster Appeals

[londoner62]

Mark Foster has launched his appeal to go to Athens according to todays Daily Telegraph. http://www.newsnow.co.uk/cgi/NGoto/56111195?

Apparently he is being backed by Gary Hall http://w3.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/other/story.asp?StoryID=52889 to be given one more chance in Madrid next month.

Personally, I say as he is inside the Olympic Qualifying Time, and he has made the time required by BS last nonth, that he should be allowed to represent his flag.

Paul

[chris_lamb]

Personally, I say as he is inside the Olympic Qualifying Time, and he has made the time required by BS last nonth, that he should be allowed to represent his flag.

But he wasn't inside the time when it mattered at the trials. If he was injured he could have had the opportunity to try at the european champs[1] but only if he had chosen not to swim at the trials.

[1] or something

[joelle]

If Foster was allowed into the team, it would open the way for swimmers both now and in the future to get into international teams without qualifying fairly like everyone else. Allowing him in would have massive implications for everyone - a very big decision for Bill! :devil:

[chris_lamb]

Allowing him in would have massive implications for everyone - a very big decision for Bill! :devil:

No - a very big decision for British Swimming and the British Olympic Association. Bill should definetely not be making the decision.

[Kaci]

There has to be a cut off line, if your not inside the time your not going. We had the same situation over here, one of our swimmers was .8 or something outside the time for Commonwealths. He appeals and he ended up going.

[londoner62]

Bit of an update of the story according to the local paper. http://w3.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/other/story.asp?StoryID=53163

[Steve]

Bit of an update of the story according to the local paper. http://w3.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/other/story.asp?StoryID=53163
Although the ASA clearly think that the evening news have got it wrong:

http://www.britishswimming.org/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,5026-142440-19728-28293-124712-9137-5014-layout73-159656-news-item,00.html

[croberts]

But he wasn't inside the time when it mattered at the trials. If he was injured he could have had the opportunity to try at the european champs[1] but only if he had chosen not to swim at the trials.

[1] or something

Also, if Foster was so injured as to have it interfere with his ability to qualify, I would like to hear him explain his 22.22 from the Netherlands just weeks before the Trials. This seems like a clear cut case of someone who knew the standard they had to achieve, miscalculate the effort they'd have to put in and is now reaching for an excuse.

[crawler]

In all of this the aspect that keeps coming back to me is Mark's comment that he had not even read the selection policy.
Now ok let's assume that such a high peformance athlete does not deign to read this stuff, but surely someone (coach, etc) should handle all the fine detail, and a selection policy just might have been considered important enough to warrant the time!
Even if his team consists only of one, Colin Jackson, this seems extraordinary (I have to plough through endless open meet rules lol) :read:

This would have at least enabled him to inform them of his injury and so extend qualification possibilities.
Europeans will be v interesting if he does win and/or breaks the QT.

[KatieBun]

But he wasn't inside the time when it mattered at the trials. If he was injured he could have had the opportunity to try at the european champs[1] but only if he had chosen not to swim at the trials.

[1] or something
Chris, this comment is contradictory to your attitude on the Thorpe poll thread. Thorpe wasn't injured either, on the day. He got it wrong! He was there when it mattered, but he messed up! Craig didn't. (Sorry if this doesn't look relevant. I think it is. It's all about entering through the back door!) Oh dear, that's unfortunate phraseology, isn't it?

[chris_lamb]

Chris, this comment is contradictory to your attitude on the Thorpe poll thread. Thorpe wasn't injured either, on the day. He got it wrong! He was there when it mattered, but he messed up! Craig didn't. (Sorry if this doesn't look relevant. I think it is. It's all about entering through the back door!)

I think there is a difference between the two. Neither qualified by right to go to the games in the event.

Foster is claiming that it is unfair that he did not qualify, and wants to be given another chance to qualify. There is nothing in the selection criteria that allows him to swim. It would be - at the very least - bending the rules to select him.

In Thorpe's case, it is down to the rightfully-selected swimmer choosing to withdraw. This is entirely down to the individual, and they should not be pressured into it. Thorpe has already qualified for the team, and the rules allow for him to be brought in if someone withdraws. It would be within the rules.

[KatieBun]

I think there is a difference between the two. Neither qualified by right to go to the games in the event.

Foster is claiming that it is unfair that he did not qualify, and wants to be given another chance to qualify. There is nothing in the selection criteria that allows him to swim. It would be - at the very least - bending the rules to select him.

In Thorpe's case, it is down to the rightfully-selected swimmer choosing to withdraw. This is entirely down to the individual, and they should not be pressured into it. Thorpe has already qualified for the team, and the rules allow for him to be brought in if someone withdraws. It would be within the rules.
True enough, but in principle it would still not be sporting to allow Thorpe the privilege.!

[Bootie]

Also, if Foster was so injured as to have it interfere with his ability to qualify, I would like to hear him explain his 22.22 from the Netherlands just weeks before the Trials. This seems like a clear cut case of someone who knew the standard they had to achieve, miscalculate the effort they'd have to put in and is now reaching for an excuse.

Before watching the trial on TV, the BBC interviewed Foster who said he was feelin great but did mention right at the end the "shoulder niggle" but that it was nothing. In my opinion he had already "banked" his excuse should he not qualify.

After the race the "shoulder niggle" became "carrying a shoulder injury", the cause of the non qualification suddenly became more serious.

Should Mr Foster not accept that he didn't qualify and leave it at that, he has after all attended the Olympics on several occasions before.

[Bazza]

Yes but he has never won a medal there (though he surely should have), and badly wants one firstly because they are the most meaningul and secondly to complete the set as he puts it. Also like many swimmers he wants to call it a day after the Olympics, one last hurrah and going out on top, rather than disappearing with a whimper because he didn't qualify!

I still say I would take him, but it's looking less likely he will go.

[Steve]

Yes but he has never won a medal there (though he surely should have), and badly wants one firstly because they are the most meaningul and secondly to complete the set as he puts it. Also like many swimmers he wants to call it a day after the Olympics, one last hurrah and going out on top, rather than disappearing with a whimper because he didn't qualify!

I still say I would take him, but it's looking less likely he will go.
Although I have heard him quoted (most recently here: http://www.pullbuoy.co.uk/show?43) as saying that he will keep going after Athens, at least to the 2006 commies but maybe even to 2008...:eek: