www.swiminfo.com, in an article about 27-years old Olympic Algerian sprinter Salim Iles who two days ago in France set a new African record in 100 meter freestyle in a 50 meter pool at :49.00, claims that age 29 is now considered the "prime years for male swimming".
One day ago, Franck Esposito (Fra.), age 31, swam 1:54.62 in 200 meter butterfly in a 50 meter pool, second fastest time in history, marginally behind Michael Phelps (US) 1:54.58, age 17.
(As a side note, Esposito is not a giant like 6' 7" Tom Malchow (US), or tall like Phelps' 6' 3", he is 5' 11").
Alex. Popov (Rus.), Mark Foster (GBR), John Miranda (US), Ron Karnaugh (US), Sven Lodziewski (Ger) are clear Olympic-level calibers for male swimmers past the age of 30.
So, age 29 is now considered within the "prime years for male swimming" in this sport that is physically fitness-driven.
Parents
Former Member
Aren't ages quite "relative" in the sense that some people are much less physically mature at any given age?
For example, I'm 18 but people think that I look about 14. I also have a rather fast heart rate for my age even though I'm far more physically fit than the average, and have a large (biologically speaking at least ;) ) heart. I've always been like that; when I was in grade 9 I was about 5 feet tall and 75 lbs and now, probably NOT fully grown, i'm 5'9", 145.
Conversely there are also 14 year-olds who look like they're in their 20s. Both my parents look very young for their ages also.
So I'd think that one person's body at 29 (for ex.) is not necessarily in the same physical strength as another's. It's just genetics I think. Some people seem to age slower. That's probably part of the reason why some live into their 100s and others die 30 years earlier. It's all probably very complicated though...
Aren't ages quite "relative" in the sense that some people are much less physically mature at any given age?
For example, I'm 18 but people think that I look about 14. I also have a rather fast heart rate for my age even though I'm far more physically fit than the average, and have a large (biologically speaking at least ;) ) heart. I've always been like that; when I was in grade 9 I was about 5 feet tall and 75 lbs and now, probably NOT fully grown, i'm 5'9", 145.
Conversely there are also 14 year-olds who look like they're in their 20s. Both my parents look very young for their ages also.
So I'd think that one person's body at 29 (for ex.) is not necessarily in the same physical strength as another's. It's just genetics I think. Some people seem to age slower. That's probably part of the reason why some live into their 100s and others die 30 years earlier. It's all probably very complicated though...
