A Day In The Life Of FINA Man: Lush Life And The Dizzying Elixir Of Low Expectations

John Leonard, the Executive Director of the World Swimming Coaches Association and its American member organisation (ASCA) just spent the day with a FINA blazer. Here’s what he concluded

I am unstintingly critical of almost everything that FINA does or undertakes. Today I spent an hour speaking with an acquaintance who “volunteers with FINA” and is not an American. He comes from a nation that can fairly be described as “third world swimming nation”, without prejudice or distain, just said factually as it relates to international swimming results. My judgment is that he is a good man. But. He comes from a culture radically different from the USA. This colors his expectations in radical ways compared to the “typical American” expectations.

Here’s my short list of what and how:

First, in his daily job, he shows up at 10 AM works till 1. Takes 2-3 hours for mid-day meal and “so on”, and then returns to work from 4-6. Then dines and makes his way home. In fairness, he does not own a car and relies on public transportation to get to and from his suburban home. Often this is a 90-120 minute project, each way. The actual number of hours “on the job”, less than 5 hours a day. But it’s a long tiresome day. Second, he doesn’t actually accomplish much in his job. The Economy is “regulated” and he doesn’t understand how his efforts, such as they are, contribute to anything for his employer. Evaluation of his “work” is more along the lines of “are you a good  member of the ruling class?” (in which case you are paid something….about what everyone else makes in salary.) A “no” answer is devastating to the family finances.

Those two things contribute to what feels like “hard work” and a “hard life”. Despite …

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