-
Senior Member
Array "Full-time" athletic efforts vs. part-time jobs How many hours can an elite athlete afford to work during a week at a professional job (not his sport) and still make maintain his ability or improve? -
Senior Member
Array Of course, the main example of success in this situation would be Keeth Smart. He graduated from St John's in 2001, and then while working full-time for Verizon (40-45 hours per week) he managed to become #1 in the world rankings for Mens Sabre in 2003 and make the 2004 Olympic Team.
Last edited by Goofy; 12-02-2005 at 06:57 PM.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. -
Senior Member
Array Wow, that makes it even more impressive. I didn;t know he held down a full time job at the same time. Ich steige ab, Hab keine Zeit, Muss jetzt zu den anderen Pferden, Wollen auch geritten werden
C'est pas la chute, c'est l'atterrissage. -
Senior Member
Array I believe Keeth was given a leave of absence to train before the Olympics. "Arm yourself, Watson, there is an evil hand afoot ahead." -- Dennis Pierce, 2010 Bulwer-Lytton contest, detective fiction category runner-up. -
 Originally Posted by Sciurus-Rex How many hours can an elite athlete afford to work during a week at a professional job (not his sport) and still make maintain his ability or improve? The problem with answering this question is that there is no baseline for comparing different athletes. As there is no professional fencing allowing for a focused, full time training and performance career over a period of years, there is no way to answer this with any authority.
As things are now, the only answer for top athletes is to devote as much time and energy possible while making a living doing something else. Which generally means no life outside of fencing and work. It kind of blows, but there it is. -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by jrgunn As things are now, the only answer for top athletes is to devote as much time and energy possible while making a living doing something else. Which generally means no life outside of fencing and work. It kind of blows, but there it is. Actually most European countries train their senior athletes full time and pay them.
China does too. The Chinese have housing and salaries and they get a bunch of money if they will. Tan Xue probably got 100,000 for winning her silver in the Olympics.
Fencing in the US is not considered a job.
Athletes in Europe get their education paid for, their training and are given a salary starting as young as 16. Most of the Senior Italian fencers are police.
Traditionally in the US sports are for amateurs except for football or basketball. Things seem to be changing though but not anywhere close to the way it is in other parts of the world. A friend will bail you out of jail,
a true friend will help you hide the body...: ) -
Fencing Expert
Array Actually some US fencers are getting salaries directly from the USOC, because of their individual/team results at the Olympics. However, don't get too excited, it's not that much money, but it's almost enough to live on. -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by Mo Actually most European countries train their senior athletes full time and pay them.
China does too. The Chinese have housing and salaries and they get a bunch of money if they will. Tan Xue probably got 100,000 for winning her silver in the Olympics.
Fencing in the US is not considered a job.
Athletes in Europe get their education paid for, their training and are given a salary starting as young as 16. Most of the Senior Italian fencers are police.
Traditionally in the US sports are for amateurs except for football or basketball. Things seem to be changing though but not anywhere close to the way it is in other parts of the world. 100k isnt nearly enough. I could earn 100k doing slave labor at a minimum wage and still not do the same amount of work that these great fencers do to get where they are. You've gotta do it for the love, cause the money aint worth it. "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. And from this side only! The flight of a half-man, half-bird. Dinosaurs nuzzling their young in pastures where strip malls should be. Cookies on dowels. All those moment, lost in time. Gone, like eggs off a hooker's stomach. Time to die" -Phil Ken Sebben -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by jrgunn As there is no professional fencing allowing for a focused, full time training and performance career over a period of years, there is no way to answer this with any authority. What are you talking about? We have a number of fencers here at the Olympic Training Center who do nothing but fence. Right now, it's me and Niul Manske, but soon we'll have Seth and Cody, too. Don't let 'em drop it. Don'tlet'emdropit. Stop it... bebop it.
~Charlie Mingus -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by Army Fencer What are you talking about? We have a number of fencers here at the Olympic Training Center who do nothing but fence. Right now, it's me and Niul Manske, but soon we'll have Seth and Cody, too. dude, you really do nothing but fence??? what the heck is that?? heaven on earth?? lucky punk!! what about med school?? -
Senior Member
Array Med school's on hold until after the Olympic Games, but I'm working on getting into a clinic here in the area once a week. Don't let 'em drop it. Don'tlet'emdropit. Stop it... bebop it.
~Charlie Mingus -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by Army Fencer Med school's on hold until after the Olympic Games, but I'm working on getting into a clinic here in the area once a week. how much med school do you have left anyway?? -
Senior Member
Array Technically, 2 years. But they may want me to take one more year, depending on how stupid I get out here as an athlete. Don't let 'em drop it. Don'tlet'emdropit. Stop it... bebop it.
~Charlie Mingus -
 Originally Posted by Army Fencer Technically, 2 years. But they may want me to take one more year, depending on how stupid I get out here as an athlete. O.k: Then your the man to ask about this question of full time training v.s. holding a job at the same time. What is the balance IYO? Care to share your experience? -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by Army Fencer Technically, 2 years. But they may want me to take one more year, depending on how stupid I get out here as an athlete. Don't worry all third years are reaaaallly green when the start their clinical rotations. The best improve over the first two or three weeks, and the worst stay that way.... clueless. I think that getting older (being more mature) will help you more than an extra year.
Best regards,
A med school attending -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by glowstix dude, you really do nothing but fence??? what the heck is that?? heaven on earth?? lucky punk!!  what about med school?? that, and troll the Internet message boards for fencing chat. -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by jrgunn O.k: Then your the man to ask about this question of full time training v.s. holding a job at the same time. What is the balance IYO? Care to share your experience? I thought I was pretty clear. I don't hold down a regular job. Fencing is my job in the Army.
I left (took a break from) medical school because I knew that I couldn't do both at the same time. I tried and I was successful (top 8 back in April), but I knew that I couldn't keep it up. Don't let 'em drop it. Don'tlet'emdropit. Stop it... bebop it.
~Charlie Mingus -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by Sciurus-Rex that, and troll the Internet message boards for fencing chat. I prefer the term "peruse." 
Seriously though, my fencing.net consumption has decreased steadily since I've been here. I think it's because I don't have anything to procrastinate from other than the few books I'm reading. Don't let 'em drop it. Don'tlet'emdropit. Stop it... bebop it.
~Charlie Mingus -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by JEC Don't worry all third years are reaaaallly green when the start their clinical rotations. The best improve over the first two or three weeks, and the worst stay that way.... clueless. I think that getting older (being more mature) will help you more than an extra year.
Best regards,
A med school attending I think I will be much better prepared for medicine after this experience for precisely the reasons you suggest. That's one of the reasons I didn't feel too terrible about leaving, despite the inherent risk involved with the decision and the fact that I was leaving my friends.
I'm doing my best to prevent cluelessness, but I know it goes with the territory. Don't let 'em drop it. Don'tlet'emdropit. Stop it... bebop it.
~Charlie Mingus -
Senior Member
Array  Originally Posted by Army Fencer I thought I was pretty clear. I don't hold down a regular job. Fencing is my job in the Army.
I left (took a break from) medical school because I knew that I couldn't do both at the same time. I tried and I was successful (top 8 back in April), but I knew that I couldn't keep it up. It was very clear, to me at least. But you can still offer some insight, infact more so than most people. The question now becomes, given your training schedule right now and your performance / rate of improvement (given that such things are generally hard to quantify except in retrospect) do you think you would have any time to train as much as you do, and also hold down a part time job, and if so how often would you be able to work.
Conversely, do you think it would be viable for you to sacrifice some/any of your training time in order to hold down a part time job, and still maintain an approximate level of conditioning and ability? This question is important to people who want to train as much as possible but aren't free to do so professionally. "Their interpretation is, however, refuted most elegantly by your system of radioactive atom + amplifier + charge of gun powder + cat in a box"
-Albert Einstein, in a letter to Erwin Schrödinger Similar Threads -
By AndrastVitesse in forum Fencing Discussion
Replies: 9
Last Post: 05-29-2005, 11:20 PM -
By Morgan Burke in forum Rec Sport Fencing
Replies: 2
Last Post: 02-21-2005, 03:28 PM -
By Morgan Burke in forum Fencing Discussion
Replies: 0
Last Post: 03-10-2003, 10:33 AM -
By Morgan Burke in forum Rec Sport Fencing
Replies: 0
Last Post: 01-02-2003, 04:55 AM
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
Forum Rules |