7 Seems A Bit Young To Be Doing This

[GRIDWNC]

Why can't a kid just be a kid for a while? I do congratulate him, but go play ball now . . . . PLEASE!

ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ

"Boy, 7, swims from Alcatraz to SF

Glen Martin, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, May 22, 2006

(05-22) 10:10 PDT SAN FRANCISCO - A 7-year-old boy has become one of the youngest people to swim the cold, swift waters between Alcatraz Island and San Francisco, completing the 1.4-mile distance in 47 minutes.

No official records are kept for the feat, but Braxton Bilbrey could be the youngest ever to accomplish it.

Braxton, a second-grader from Glendale, Ariz., made the swim nine months after it was completed by 9-year-old Johnny Wilson of Hillsborough. Wilson swam the distance in just under two hours.

Braxton's coach, Joe Zemaitis, said Johnny's accomplishment was an inspiration for the Arizona youngster.

"He read about (Johnny) in a magazine in January, told me he wanted to break the record, and asked me if I thought he could do it," Zemaitis said. "I told him that if he was willing to train for it, he could probably do it."

Braxton trained for the event by swimming two hours a day four times a week, Zemaitis said.

Zemaitis said Braxton is an average kid in terms of strength and physical stature.

"He's about 4 feet tall and weighs 65 pounds," Zemaitis said. "It's not that he's extremely large or super strong. But he has the determination and mental toughness to swim cold, dark, choppy water."

Zemaitis, a triathlete who has participated in the annual Escape From Alcatraz competition seven times, was one of three adults who swam next to Braxton to ensure the child's safety.

Braxton made the swim look fairly easy, Zemaitis said.

"He had no trouble with the water," Zemaitis said. "It took him about 10 minutes to warm up, and then he really hit his stride."

Zemaitis said money raised by the event will be donated to swimming safety and drowning hazard awareness programs in Arizona.

Zemaitis said Braxton has no firm plans for future events.

"Right now he's going to go back to being a 7-year-old kid and getting ready for whatever he decides to do next," Zemaitis said. "

[Spawn_X]

Cool deal. I bet being smaller/lighter was actually an advantage

[Chister]

Originally Posted by GRIDWNC

Why can't a kid just be a kid for a while? I do congratulate him, but go play ball now . . . . PLEASE!

Because he likes to swim and doesnt like to play ball..

He IS being a kid.

Hell... EVERY kids wants to get in the Guiness Book of Records somehow...

and he did something that may never be taken away.. he is famous in his own mind..

and that is Cool.

You never know.. He may be the next Albatross or Gary Hall or Amanda Beard and gain international recognition at the London Olympics in 2012.

[ironpig70]

yeah we all know having one nut and banging a rock star and 7 tour de frances come from playing in the back yard with like minded kids of your age.

[chris408]

Originally Posted by GRIDWNC

Why can't a kid just be a kid for a while? I do congratulate him, but go play ball now . . . . PLEASE!


"He read about (Johnny) in a magazine in January, told me he wanted to break the record, and asked me if I thought he could do it," Zemaitis said. "I told him that if he was willing to train for it, he could probably do it."

Learn how to read, the kid WANTED to do it. He IS being a kid. He also has done other events and enjoyed it.

[GRIDWNC]

I would be very surprised if this boy wasn't pushed in some way by adults. Whether that was long before he saw that magazine remains to be shown. Our 6 yr old has had some counceling and one thing the Dr. kept saying was let them be "6" mentally and physically.

Then there is the whole issue of diet for a 6 yr old that is GROWING is different than that of an endurance training diet. I hope he got to have a lot of treats just cuz he's a kid instead of not having them because he's in training.

Instilling work ethics early is awesome, but when is it too early? If Braxton goes on to be a world renowned swimmer . . . GREAT . . .more power to him. BUT if he ever says, I didn't get to do/expereince that growing up because of his many swimming goals, then THAT is sad.

[GRIDWNC]

Originally Posted by ironpig70

yeah we all know having one nut and banging a rock star and 7 tour de frances come from playing in the back yard with like minded kids of your age.

And Lance Armstrong was training for what race at age 7??

[ironpig70]

Originally Posted by GRIDWNC

And Lance Armstrong was training for what race at age 7??

don't know but look at what he has become. most great athletes start very young. tiger is another great hell look at the olympics most of them can't drink hell half can't even vote yet.

[zakk]

Originally Posted by GRIDWNC

I would be very surprised if this boy wasn't pushed in some way by adults. Whether that was long before he saw that magazine remains to be shown. Our 6 yr old has had some counceling and one thing the Dr. kept saying was let them be "6" mentally and physically.

Then there is the whole issue of diet for a 6 yr old that is GROWING is different than that of an endurance training diet. I hope he got to have a lot of treats just cuz he's a kid instead of not having them because he's in training.

Instilling work ethics early is awesome, but when is it too early? If Braxton goes on to be a world renowned swimmer . . . GREAT . . .more power to him. BUT if he ever says, I didn't get to do/expereince that growing up because of his many swimming goals, then THAT is sad.

do some research. Plus, your quoting from the Chronicle? its a freakin' tabliod.

Here is the AP story (a REAL news source)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/22/alc....ap/index.html

Stacey Bilbrey originally wasn't sold on the idea of her son swimming from Alcatraz, but she accepted it once he proved he was dedicated to his goal.
"For a 7-year-old to be that motivated and stick with a goal that long is amazing," she said.

I suggest you go out and swim 1.4 miles. Its only a touch harder then playing baseball, unless the pony leauges are juicers too.

[zakk]

Originally Posted by GRIDWNC

BUT if..

you can make anything look bad or just about any way you want to with that word.


Watch this.

Women can't drive worth crap BUT IF they put down the cell phones and stop putting on make-up while they drive, there would be less accidents.

[GRIDWNC]

Originally Posted by ironpig70

don't know but look at what he has become. most great athletes start very young. tiger is another great hell look at the olympics most of them can't drink hell half can't even vote yet.

Even Tiger has said that he missed out on some things because of Golf and he didn't start at 7, actually 6 since Braxton has been "training" since then. If the child never complains about missing a birthday party, playing with friends, "whatever" because of having to "practice", then fine. But if that child misses essential life maturing milestones because of reaching for some sports icon ring, then what is more valuable, REALLY? I would rather see a healthy, mentally and physically well rounded teen/adult , than one that can't fend for themself because they skipped that part of life while reaching for a "record".

Perhaps I need to see more info about Braxton's journey but I still remain skeptic until then.

[Travis Waldher]

Asked what the hardest part was, he replied: "The swimming."

[Travis Waldher]

Originally Posted by GRIDWNC

Perhaps I need to see more info about Braxton's journey but I still remain skeptic until then.

If you follow the link to the CNN/AP article it shows the mother wasn't too keen on the idea and that the 7yo had to prove he was dedicated to doing it.

[GRIDWNC]

Originally Posted by zakk

Women can't drive worth crap BUT IF they put down the cell phones and stop putting on make-up while they drive, there would be less accidents.

Good thing I don't where make-up, now about that cell phone thing . . . . .

[GRIDWNC]

Originally Posted by Travis Waldher

Asked what the hardest part was, he replied: "The swimming."

Hell he's got me beat there . . . . for me it would just be the breathing!

Originally Posted by Travis Waldher

If you follow the link to the CNN/AP article it shows the mother wasn't too keen on the idea and that the 7yo had to prove he was dedicated to doing it.

Read it and a couple others. Perhaps the made for tv movie will set aside all my fears . . . . .!?

[DEnd]

Originally Posted by GRIDWNC

And Lance Armstrong was training for what race at age 7??

He pretty much was, hell when I was 7 I was training for swim meets. He was doing triathalons in his teenage years beating adults. He wasn't racing to win but racing to see how badly he could beat everyone. He was damn snooty about it too. And his attitude didn't really change much untill he got cancer.

[Chister]

Originally Posted by GRIDWNC

And Lance Armstrong was training for what race at age 7??

Well.. at 13, he won the Kids Iron Triathlon....
at 15 he was a professional trathlete and won over $20,000 per race.
When he was a senior at Plano High, he qualified for the Olympic Triathlon team. He was told by Plano ISD that he could not be out of school and study on his own for the 42 days required... (At the end of his senior year) so he dropped out and graduated from a private school the next year.
By age 22 he had won 10 titles.
at age 25 he was the top ranked cyclist in the world.
Then he got cancer and won a bronze in the olympics.
age 27, won the TdF
age 28, won the TdF
age 29, won the TdF
age 30, won the TdF
age 31, won the TdF
age 32, won the TdF
age 33, won the TdF, and 'retired' from Professional Cycling.

[GRIDWNC]

Originally Posted by DEnd

He wasn't racing to win but racing to see how badly he could beat everyone. He was damn snooty about it too. And his attitude didn't really change much untill he got cancer.

And this was healthy how?

[Chister]

Originally Posted by DEnd

he got cancer.

Originally Posted by GRIDWNC

And this was healthy how?

:snark: