The Fastest Age

Originally posted by lefty ... Also for clarification, Ion, which statement best represents your position: 1) Not swimming in your youth 13-19 is a severe hindrance to your development as a swimmer. Or 2) Not swimming in your youth 13-19 prohibits one from becoming a successful masters swimmer as defined by attaining a top 10 time. Adjust either definition to make it more representative of your thoughts. I go for 1). Absolute fast times, not top 10 in a niche group. I have seen 2) being denied in men 19 to 24 with times slower than mine. I remember a 11:xx in 800 meter free, slower than my ordinary swims in the 800 meter free during the 90s.

Originally posted by lefty ... Also for clarification, Ion, which statement best represents your position: 1) Not swimming in your youth 13-19 is a severe hindrance to your development as a swimmer. Or 2) Not swimming in your youth 13-19 prohibits one from becoming a successful masters swimmer as defined by attaining a top 10 time. Adjust either definition to make it more representative of your thoughts. I go for 1). Absolute fast times, not top 10 in a niche group. I have seen 2) being denied in men 19 to 24 with times slower than mine. I remember a 11:xx in 800 meter free, slower than my ordinary swims in the 800 meter free during the 90s.