My name is Miriama and I am 33 years old, living in UK. As a kid and during my teenage years I was competitive swimmer in Slovakia. Since then I have stopped swimming, but I miss it so much.
Recently I have joined masters swimming club, .....I have been training with them for over two months and I love it, .....I can feel that I am getting stronger and faster each week ( I swim 5 times per week), as my son is back in school now I have time to go to gym (2 times a week) as well as have my swimming sessions.
My question is
- Is it possible with the right training to swim faster now (33 years old) then when I was 17 y.o.?????? My personal best are -
100m freestyle - 1:03
200m freestyle - 2:14
400m freestyle - 4:42
800m freestyle - 9:42 Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot in advance,
Former Member
I also did personal bests for my 50/100 *** in my mid thirties. I stopped training at 18 and, while I occasionally played at it, only trained regularly from 34 on. I do 3 hours a week in the pool, and try to do the same on land. I'm 40 this year and wouldn't rule out doing more - it's not so much a physical challenge, but one of time and lifestyle. I'd love to get close again over 200 *** - probably don't do enough pool time to actually PB again, but hey ho - other things are important.
Just let you know ......... On Saturday I have swam my first race after 15 years and wow it was great. I did my personal best for 50m breaststroke - 0:39, 57 and also did quite well on 200m freestyle - 2:27, -- (where my 1st 100m was 1:08) ... very pleased , can not wait to do more training ;-) ...
Wonderful news, Miriama! Keep up the training and best of luck! Hope to see you in Europe one of these days.
I found this somewhat interesting:
www.swimmingscience.net/.../theoretical-reasons-for-decreased.html
Fascinating article. Thanks for posting the link.
I've always suspected that one major contributing factor to declines with age is mean time between injuries/illnesses (MTI). This seems to be the demise of many professional basketball players, for example. Each injury or illness leads to performance loss and if these events are more closely spaced, it becomes harder and harder to come back to form, let alone improve
I couldn't do PB in my best events in my thirties, but did get close. I did do a PB at 38 in the 100 back - 59.1. I had never broken a minute before. I nearly equaled my best 200 fly time at age 40.
Wonderful news, Miriama! Keep up the training and best of luck! Hope to see you in Europe one of these days.
Thank you. I will be competing soon again in almost 3 weeks time in British Gas ASA National Masters and Senior Age Group Championships in Sheffield (25-27/10) and then I am planning to swim in Slovakia nationals in April next year.
I couldn't do PB in my best events in my thirties, but did get close. I did do a PB at 38 in the 100 back - 59.1. I had never broken a minute before. I nearly equaled my best 200 fly time at age 40.
Wow that is great, well done.
I have found my old swimming diary and to my surprised all my records has been swam when I was only 14 years old, although I was swimming until I was 17..... I am not sure if that is a good news or bad......., anyway I am still going to try to improve them ;-) hahhahaha
I'm **55** and I am close to my 18 year old time, but not quite there yet. I did not swim competitively between 18 and 53, although I did swim here and there for exercise, so I never lost the muscle memory. At 18, I did about 28.5 in a 50 meter free (admittedly a midling time, which is why I didn't bother in college). I recently did 26.3 in practice in a 50 yard free, which is about 29.2 in meters. Haven't gotten there in a meet yet, though.
Admittedly, I don't have the muscle tone I did then, but there are other factors that partially offset that:
1) I gave up pot, alcohol, and smoking...I used to sometimes get up for practice hung over and while I wasn't a regular smoker, I would smoke when I went to a bar. Giving all that up certainly helps. Not sure it is an issue for everyone...a little weed didn't seem to hurt Michael Phelps.
2) Strength training...I never lifted a weight back then.
3) Much better knowledge of nutrition for pre and post workout and on race day.
4) I swam for a club team back then...we started practicing on Memorial Day and stopped when the season ended in August. I did NO swimming in the off-season (others did, but I didn't). Now, I swim all year round.
5) I have asthma now which is being treated. I am pretty sure I had it then and it was undiagnosed and therefore untreated.
6) Getting some coaching on technique, some formal, and some just by hunting around on the internet. With the internet, you can find all kinds of tips on bettering your technique and on drills. Back then, unless the coach decided to say something, you were pretty much on your own.
Hi Miriama
You are 33 years old, you were competitive swimmer in Slovakia
you recently have joined masters swimming club
Your question is
- Is it possible with the right training to swim faster now (33 years old) then when I was 17 y.o.??????
is it possible? absolutely yes without a doubt
easy, NO, possible yes
Good luck & have fun
