Are the Faroese Better? (And Other Questions You Should Already Know the Answer to)

Before I pat myself on the back for being the first swim blogger outside of the country to be all over this Faroe Islands phenomenon, I have to apologize. Since getting married my blog updates have been sparse and punctuated by grouchy facebook messages. Well, hopefully it all stops to day with this rambling, shoot from the hip post. Lets get to it:

1. The Faroe Islands: Are you tired of me talking about the tiny archipelago? Too bad, because I can't get enough. Just this last week, a Danish swimming blog featured a short post that, translated, basically asks "Are the Faroese just better?". The post was in response to recent developments in Faroese swimming. Just this past week, two Faroese 14 year olds went under 16:30 SCM in the 1500. I'll be the first to say we should all not get too excited about 14 year olds swimming fast, but the times were far faster than their Danish compatriots.

In order to fully grasp the grudging acceptance this is getting in Denmark, you need the 30 second history of the two nations. The Faroes is still nominally part of Denmark, although they have an independent government and language. Pal Joensen, whom I have written about several times, will represent Denmark in the Olympics owing to the Faroese not having an IOC membership. Many Danes see the Faroes as a provincial hillbilly part of the country, while many Faroese likewise chafe at the notion that they are in any way "Danish". The fact that the province will likely by 2012 have the star of the big country's team with more on the way is sure to ruffle a few feathers on both sides.

2. Comeback rumors swirling: And I guess I am the propogator of at least one of them. Unfortunately, it seems we will still have to wait a day for the one that's got me truly excited. In the meantime, you can snack on Casey Barrett's insinuation that Janet Evans will be returning to train under Mark Schubert for the 2012 games. I'm not as excited about this one, probably mostly because Evans is over 20 years beyond her peak. That said, I will probably end up really enjoying it, if for nothing else that she would likely accomplish very impressive swims and a 39 year old female distance swimmer competing at the highest level is completely unprecedented.

3. Recruiting- With each passing recruiting season, I become convinced that there is a book to be written about college recruiting. Instead of being from the perspective of the coach, there should be one entirely about the athletes. Instead of being about the lavish treatment, it should be about the downright wacky and mean things that end up happening. Here are the best stories I have picked up from this past recruiting season:

-One female swimmer told me that a coach approached her after a meet and the exchange went like this:

Coach: How tall are you, about 5'10?"

Swimmer: No, like 5'7

Coach: How much do you weigh?

Swimmer: I'm not telling you that!

Coach: (puzzled look)

I've since joked with the swimmer that I am going to lead off my July 1st phone calls next year with every female recruit by asking them their height and weight. Watch out Cal!

-Another swimmer, whose parent was an alum of the recruiting coaches school, and who had a 50 and 100 free time faster than the recruiting schools record, was approached by school with the offer of "a roster spot and the possibility of being a relay swimmer". Shockingly, the swimmer declined

Of course, I have to forgive all coaches as I forgive myself- sometimes this game can cause us to say and do whacky things. I just hope no one manages to write down mine.