Is it fair for relay swim-team members to be "dumped" for finals, so superstars can grab more medals ?

Question

The U.S. and a couple of others used so-called B teams to qualify in swim relay heats and semis then dumped these guys who had swum their hearts out to get their country into the final. I would have respected M. Phelps more if he had forgot his "obsession" over the amount of medals for HIM and let the guys who got to the final have their chance for some glory !

Answer 1

This has been happening as long as I can remember in nearly every level of swimming.  They rest the studs for the finals and let the lower guys qualify for the finals.  It's not just the Olympics where this happens.  The good news is that every swimmer involved in prelims and/or finals of a medal winning team gets a medal.

Added: Actually, if you look at it a different way, the superstars were the ones that qualified for the relays.  So in a way, they get dumped for the prelims.

Added: No, you're wrong.  And you don't seem to grasp the concept.

Added: To be given a medal ON THE STAND, yes they do have to be in the finals.  To be given a medal, period, they must participate in the relay, either in prelims or the finals.  I don't know where you get your information from but it's incorrect.

Answer 2

The guys who swam the heats STILL GET A GOLD MEDAL

Answer 3

Obviously you didn't see the prelims, heats, and semifinals...everyone who was in the finals swam in the prelims, heats, and semis.

Grow up.

You check it again, because I saw him swimming in the semis for the relay.