The article about Pat Schirk's performance at the U.S. Olympic trials, "Penn State swimmer fails to make U.S. Olympic team" (July 2), is a travesty and an absolute injustice to his accomplishments. Only the two fastest swimmers in each backstroke event qualify for the Olympic team. Primarily a 200-meter backstroker, Schirk was seeded 15th in the 100-meter back going into the meet, and finishing in the top eight is something that should be praised, not deemed a failure. He swam a personal best in the semifinal placing him 17th in the world, and seventh in the country. Schirk is the first male Penn State swimmer to final at the U.S. trials.

Schirk's "valiant run at an Olympic bid" is not over, as he has yet to compete in his best event, the 200-meter backstroke, for which he is currently ranked 11th in the world, and sixth in the United States. Whether or not he qualifies for the Olympics in the 200-meter backstroke this Friday, Schirk is an outstanding swimmer whose accomplishments should be praised, rather than critiqued, by his hometown newspaper.

Mike Kaiserian

junior-mechanical engineering