The Fastest Age

Children learn faster and adapt more readily than adults. Is anybody really going to argue that point? Anyone who learned competitive strokes as a child has an advantage over the "late bloomer". The more you swam as a child (under 18 or so) in a competitive program, the bigger your advantage. Several factors must be considered. 1) Fine Motor skills 2) Muscle memory 3) Feel for the water 4) Core swimming strength 5) And yes, why not - VO2 Max Every organism in nature adapts more readily when young. In most cases, the 10 year old will learn faster. In Psychology studies of adaptation and learning - youth is always a factor. In any highly skilled activity, the "best in class" learned as a youth. Has anyone every heard of a concert pianist that started playing at the age of 40? How many atheletes on the pro tour started playing tennis at the age of 25? If a sport takes a high degree of coordination and skill - you have a distinct advantage if you learned as a youth. We never lose our ability to adapt. Studies show that people in their 90's can improve musclular strength and aerobic capacity. We can improve at any age but someone who is 50 will adapt faster than someone who is 70 and someone 30 will adapt faster than the person who is 50. It is easier to gain strength and endurance as adult than it is to learn fine muscle coordination. Try teaching butterfly to an adult who started swimming at 28. Now try teaching a 10 year old. How about flip turns? Kids can pick up flip turns in a hour. I have watched adults take weeks. Consider sports that require endurance and strength. Age seems to be less of a factor. Many weight lifters and marathon runners are stronger, better and faster at age 40 than at age 20. Scan the results of triathalons and marathons. You will find many people who place in the top 10% that picked up the sport in their 20's or 30's. Swimming is definately an endurance sport but it is also a sport that requires a very high degree of fine motor coordination and technique. I believe you can develop the strength and endurance as an adult but the coordination, feel and technique are going to be more difficult to learn. ION - this is why you are more competitive in the 1000 than you are in the 100. So what's my point? Age does make a difference - but not because of V02 max. Many other things must be considered too. How about body style and weight? I'm short and dense. I'll never have the same potential as someone who is 6'6". ION - congratulations on becoming a competitive swimmer so late in life and posting respectable times. Everyone in USMS admires determination and accomplishment. ION - What exactly would you like to happen? Do you want the USMS to start a second list of top times for "Late Bloomers?" Michael

Children learn faster and adapt more readily than adults. Is anybody really going to argue that point? Anyone who learned competitive strokes as a child has an advantage over the "late bloomer". The more you swam as a child (under 18 or so) in a competitive program, the bigger your advantage. Several factors must be considered. 1) Fine Motor skills 2) Muscle memory 3) Feel for the water 4) Core swimming strength 5) And yes, why not - VO2 Max Every organism in nature adapts more readily when young. In most cases, the 10 year old will learn faster. In Psychology studies of adaptation and learning - youth is always a factor. In any highly skilled activity, the "best in class" learned as a youth. Has anyone every heard of a concert pianist that started playing at the age of 40? How many atheletes on the pro tour started playing tennis at the age of 25? If a sport takes a high degree of coordination and skill - you have a distinct advantage if you learned as a youth. We never lose our ability to adapt. Studies show that people in their 90's can improve musclular strength and aerobic capacity. We can improve at any age but someone who is 50 will adapt faster than someone who is 70 and someone 30 will adapt faster than the person who is 50. It is easier to gain strength and endurance as adult than it is to learn fine muscle coordination. Try teaching butterfly to an adult who started swimming at 28. Now try teaching a 10 year old. How about flip turns? Kids can pick up flip turns in a hour. I have watched adults take weeks. Consider sports that require endurance and strength. Age seems to be less of a factor. Many weight lifters and marathon runners are stronger, better and faster at age 40 than at age 20. Scan the results of triathalons and marathons. You will find many people who place in the top 10% that picked up the sport in their 20's or 30's. Swimming is definately an endurance sport but it is also a sport that requires a very high degree of fine motor coordination and technique. I believe you can develop the strength and endurance as an adult but the coordination, feel and technique are going to be more difficult to learn. ION - this is why you are more competitive in the 1000 than you are in the 100. So what's my point? Age does make a difference - but not because of V02 max. Many other things must be considered too. How about body style and weight? I'm short and dense. I'll never have the same potential as someone who is 6'6". ION - congratulations on becoming a competitive swimmer so late in life and posting respectable times. Everyone in USMS admires determination and accomplishment. ION - What exactly would you like to happen? Do you want the USMS to start a second list of top times for "Late Bloomers?" Michael