Hi All,
I did some analysis of the Ironman Arizona swim, the 2011 1-Hour Postal Swim results, and the 1-Hour Postal Swim world records.
This link includes a chart comparing performance between men and women in those events. www.watergirl.co/.../how-big-gender-gap-swimming.
I'd be interested to hear what you guys have to say on the subject.
Not sure Title IX has much to do with women over 50, atleast not currently. I know that it's been around for a while, but it wasn't until the about 1994 that college programs started to be effected by it.
so I don't think we can truly see the effects of title ix on masters swimming until the 20 somethings of the 90's turn 50yrs old in 2020-2024.
based on the swimmers I know over 50 I would say that life choices are the common factor behind slowing down.
Don't get me started on Title IX :soapbox:- but I think you're looking at this backwards. You seem to be focusing on how colleges decided to respond to Title IX (by cutting men's programs in order to dump resources into football).
Title IX did affect women's college programs and a huge jump in participation of women in sport across all ages way before 1994. Most women over 50 did not have the opportunities in sports that everyone has now. Consequently, I think a gender gap between older women and men in swimming was probably very well influenced by both lack of opportunity in sports for women and societal attitudes that frowned on women who wanted to be athletes.
Not sure Title IX has much to do with women over 50, atleast not currently. I know that it's been around for a while, but it wasn't until the about 1994 that college programs started to be effected by it.
so I don't think we can truly see the effects of title ix on masters swimming until the 20 somethings of the 90's turn 50yrs old in 2020-2024.
based on the swimmers I know over 50 I would say that life choices are the common factor behind slowing down.
Don't get me started on Title IX :soapbox:- but I think you're looking at this backwards. You seem to be focusing on how colleges decided to respond to Title IX (by cutting men's programs in order to dump resources into football).
Title IX did affect women's college programs and a huge jump in participation of women in sport across all ages way before 1994. Most women over 50 did not have the opportunities in sports that everyone has now. Consequently, I think a gender gap between older women and men in swimming was probably very well influenced by both lack of opportunity in sports for women and societal attitudes that frowned on women who wanted to be athletes.
