U.S. athletes meet at Lahti to seek more USATF support
At least 30 Americans gathered for an “athletes-only” meeting Wednesday morning at a covered cafe patio across from the Lahti stadium, revisiting an old complaint: Why can’t USATF do more for world-class U.S. masters athletes? Anselm LeBourne, who had taken silver in the M50 800 and later would win gold in the 1500, organized and led the meeting. I wasn’t there, since the General Assembly was bigger fish to fry, but several witnesses told me that athletes discussed the need for access to cheaper (or free) U.S. uniforms for world-meet entrants and the need to prevent conflicts between national senior games and USATF nationals. (A resolution to that effect is being drawn up.) An advocacy group is being created, I’m told. Athletes also called on USATF to provide massage therapy and medical aide for Team USA at worlds — as the Brits do. One U.S. multi-eventer spent more than $400 at Lahti for such treatment. Becky Sisley, our active athletes rep, and Indiana sprinter Robert Thomas were other key speakers. There was unanimous consent to getting something done, I’m told, and an email distribution list is in the works. If you were there, share your recollections.
9 Responses
I have taken a few American athletes to the German medical specialists on duty at World Championships, they immediately helped without asking questions. But I was wondering why it took German Samaritans to help ailing Americans. With the relative large number of athletes competing only one thing is certain, there will be casualties. Help will be needed. (Maybe we could vote for a medical professional as one of our delegates to the WMA. That would be one useful delegate!)
One of the things our national federation (Netherlands) does for us is sending a physiotherapist and a teamleader to international championships. The therapist has almost never rest…
I have been to 4 World Games and can attest for the need for qualified medical specialist , especially massage therapy . I fully support this idea but good luck getting USATF to do anything like this for Masters, but you don’t know until you try !
I raised this issue during the WMA meet in Puerto Rico in 2003 when I saw other teams with massage therapists and chiropractors on call. What I found out is that while a small number are paid for by the national governing body, in other cases the athletes pay for it themselves and it is organized by the national governing body. For example, that year the Brits had both. British athletes were offered the opportunity to buy in to care before going to the meet by paying X pounds for unlimited care and Y for more limited service. When I suggested that we at least do that to some of the leaders of our Masters Committee at the time no one was interested in pursuing it.
So, again, I propose that the Masters Committee organize this with the team members offered the option of paying for it as they enter (which has to be done through USATF in any event). It’s easy enough for the people delivering the services to have a list of who has paid and who hasn’t. It worked for the Brits in 2003; no reason it can’t work for us.
That seems reasonable to me and if I were attending I would certainly participate.
I like the idea of USATF helping coordinate an option where masters athletes can pay for a physio. I also think you should have access to steeply discounted Team USA gear.
I don’t really get the conflict between Senior Games and USAs? They moved the USATF Masters Championships a good month earlier than normal to accommodate the Senior Games.
I hope lots of you show up at the USATF Annual Meeting in Indy. Can’t make it there? Start going to your Association’s meetings.
Its funny that this subject came up I made this coment be for the wma started,We should have some kind of discount airfairs hotel,uniform,ect,Most of the better masters runners dont go to the wma,s becouse of money,if not for my injury I would have had money problem,for the fees to get me to lahti.now I have to try to get ready for indoor and kanloops.
The Brits do pay for their massage/chiropracters but it is not organised by the national body. We have a separate self organised body called British Masters Medical. Athletes choose to pay ÂŁ30/championship for 4 treatments. Any additional treatments cost extra. Money is also raised by other events to enable sufficient medics to attend with their travel and accommodation paid for. To be able to do this they give their time from busy self employment for the benefit of the athletes. Hope you are able to get something up and running for yourselves but it takes a lot of organisation. Good luck
Having read the comments so far on medical/training/massage support I am interested in what other folks do. If we can help coordinate something from Indy working with the Masters Committee that would be worth trying.
We looked at discounted travel earlier this year but couldn’t find a way to make that work. There has already been a discount given on uniforms for those going to WMA, but that is something we can look at again, as USATF’s new sponsorship agreement with Nike has some different provisions with respect to merchandise and there may be a way that could be brought to bear, particularly for those who medal in our own Championships.
All masters should know that you have a vocal advocate in Robert Thomas, who lives in Indy and works as hard for masters track as he runs it. My goal is to work with the Masters Committee to accommplish as much as we can with the resources we have, and at the same time grow those resources.
Congratulations to all on the tremendous performances!
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