Hard question to answer, even scientifically. To best determine the 'fastest age', you should look at the average age of the winners at the US Olympic Trials. Those should at least be the fastest Americans. Or look at the average age of the winners at the Olympics.
For masters swimming, the 19-24 age group can be under-represented with fast swimmers because people that age are often either (a) on a college team and thus not swimming masters, or (b) just graduated from college, and are burnt out and don't want to be swimming. What you see is that bunches of those college swimmers start coming back in their late 20's and early 30's, once they've been away from the sport for a little bit.
-Rick
Hard question to answer, even scientifically. To best determine the 'fastest age', you should look at the average age of the winners at the US Olympic Trials. Those should at least be the fastest Americans. Or look at the average age of the winners at the Olympics.
For masters swimming, the 19-24 age group can be under-represented with fast swimmers because people that age are often either (a) on a college team and thus not swimming masters, or (b) just graduated from college, and are burnt out and don't want to be swimming. What you see is that bunches of those college swimmers start coming back in their late 20's and early 30's, once they've been away from the sport for a little bit.
-Rick
