The Fastest Age

No Michael, he just wants a praise Ion list. Michael in this long, long thread I said what you just said, so I agree. My son was pushed up into the higher training levels because of his speed at 10. Because of that at 16 he is fighting some technique issues. His "VO2" is probably great based on ION's theory, but what he is lacking is some technique that is holding him back from achieving things like Y-nat cuts. The coach recognizes this, is working hard to correct it, and I see some improvements, and with these improvements has come a drop in time 200 free 2:02 to 1:56 this year. Just this year my son has told me he can now feel when the stroke goes bad and that makes him correct. Sometimes though he just gets too tired! He can churn out the yards and do 8000 yard practice every night, he is strong. But he will not go sub 1:50 in the 200 until he can hold his stroke technique throughout the whole race. So there are many reasons why an age group swimmer has an advantage, but I don't believe VO2 is the top reason. That muscle memory and good technique can make a person who has not stepped into the water for 10 years, still jump in and be able to skim across the water with ease. They may feel out of shape, but to the average adult beginner, they are speedy. And Connie, my son plays soccer in the fall. When he starts swimming in November, it is like he was not out of the water. Soccer is a tremendous cross training tool and conditioning wise he does not lose much. What he loses is the "feel"(technique) for the water. That takes longer for him to get back. Go get em Connie, I want to watch the head to head race some day!

No Michael, he just wants a praise Ion list. Michael in this long, long thread I said what you just said, so I agree. My son was pushed up into the higher training levels because of his speed at 10. Because of that at 16 he is fighting some technique issues. His "VO2" is probably great based on ION's theory, but what he is lacking is some technique that is holding him back from achieving things like Y-nat cuts. The coach recognizes this, is working hard to correct it, and I see some improvements, and with these improvements has come a drop in time 200 free 2:02 to 1:56 this year. Just this year my son has told me he can now feel when the stroke goes bad and that makes him correct. Sometimes though he just gets too tired! He can churn out the yards and do 8000 yard practice every night, he is strong. But he will not go sub 1:50 in the 200 until he can hold his stroke technique throughout the whole race. So there are many reasons why an age group swimmer has an advantage, but I don't believe VO2 is the top reason. That muscle memory and good technique can make a person who has not stepped into the water for 10 years, still jump in and be able to skim across the water with ease. They may feel out of shape, but to the average adult beginner, they are speedy. And Connie, my son plays soccer in the fall. When he starts swimming in November, it is like he was not out of the water. Soccer is a tremendous cross training tool and conditioning wise he does not lose much. What he loses is the "feel"(technique) for the water. That takes longer for him to get back. Go get em Connie, I want to watch the head to head race some day!