Substitute Medalists?

This was the medal ceremony for the 2011 Men's NCAA Championship 100 Freestyle.  Feigen and Brown maybe, but that is definitely not Nathan Adrian in first place.

So, uh… apparently at the NCAA Championship, sometimes the athletes are just too tired or too busy to bother with collecting their medals during the ceremony.  They are essentially bringing in stunt men to do the easy part.

Really?  That really happens?  Substitute medalists?   I guess I get it.  I remember skipping ceremonies at age groups meets a couple of times because I needed to warm down.  Once even because I was on the toilet and there was no way I was gonna make it in time… but NCAA’s?  For real?


Jason Marsteller at Swimming World recently voiced his frustration with imposters taking part in podium ceremonies and all of the problems that causes the media people trying to cover the events.  Jason makes some great points about why this silliness shouldn’t go on and even gives some suggestions of ways we could make it work with the right people accepting the hardware.  

Jason, I feel for you.  I am sure that the commenters just love to point stuff like that out when you get it wrong.  I never noticed the incorrect pics and I was the Podium Pursuit winner fer cryin' out loud.  You could have posted a couple of white boys as first and second in the 200 free and I would have had no clue how historically wrong you were.  My wife tells me all the time how unobservant I am.  Heck, I coached one girl for five years and had no clue she had long hair simply because I never saw her without a swim cap on. It never occurred to me that she had hair at all.

I have to ask, though… if medal ceremony stand-ins are so common, can I sign up to be one somehow?  Does anyone have any connections to help me fulfill my dream of collecting a medal on the podium at the D1 meet?  I don’t really care whose medal it is.  I just think that would be awesome to experience it.  I would even dress as a girl if it was my only shot do this.  

I look damn good in a skirt, if I do say so myself.

 

Even better, let’s set up a contest where whoever can get The Swim Brief the most face book likes from their friends list will get to stand on the podium in place of one athlete at the 2012 NCAA's.  Any of you big time swimmers want to give up a ceremony to help us promote our site?  I promise will write up a blog about how awesome you are in exchange for just one event.  I am not even afraid to make stuff up about you that is way more awesome than you really are.  

Seriously.  Give it a thought.  We’ll make it worth your while.

I promise, if I win, your name won't accompany a picture of my dog when the results are posted at Swimming World.