Record-Holders Threaten to Defy U.S. Swimming Edict

World record-holders Mike Barrowman and Melvin Stewart have threatened to pull out of the Pan Pacific Games, the premier swimming event for the U.S. national team this season, to compete in the U.S. National Championships.

U.S. Swimming Inc., the national governing body of the sport, is requiring members of the Pan Pacific team to pass up the Nationals, Aug. 12-16 at Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in favor of a training camp Aug. 12-20 at Minneapolis, aimed at preparing the team for the Pan Pacific Games Aug. 22-25 at Edmonton, Canada.

U.S. Swimming President Bill Maxson, who is continuing discussions with Barrowman and Stewart, said the issue might be put on the agenda for an executive committee meeting July 6.

Barrowman, who has lowered the world record in the 200-meter breaststroke four times, most recently in the World Championships last January at Perth, Australia, said he will swim in the Nationals regardless of U.S. Swimming’s decision.

“Apparently if you swim in the top meet in America, you may not go to Pan Pacs,” said Barrowman, 22, of Potomac, Md. “Their idea is to work on team unity at the cost of swimming in the National Championships.”

Stewart, who set the 200-meter butterfly world record at Perth, does not know what he will do if U.S. Swimming rejects his and Barrowman’s requests to swim in both meets and miss the first four days of the camp.

As a member of Las Vegas Gold, Stewart, 22, will have $100,000 put in a trust fund if he breaks a world record in the National Championships or the U.S. Open. He is not eligible for money in international meets because he represents the United States, not Las Vegas Gold.

Stewart admitted that he wants the opportunity to earn money, but he is also interested in winning his eighth consecutive 200 butterfly title and taking advantage of being in top condition.

“When you are in that condition, rested and shaved, it is imperative to get racing experience,” he said. “We have less than a year to the Olympic trials.”

Barrowman also would lose money because U.S. Swimming divides $115,000 in cost-of-living stipends among the top performers in the Pan Pacific Games.

“I could lose a lot of money, but it is worth it,” Barrowman said. “You can’t buy a chance at a world record.”

Dennis Pursley, director of the U.S. team, acknowledged that there are “solid” reasons to swim in both meets, but he said: “the top priority is international competition, and that is not to snub our National Championships.”