The Fastest Age

So the question for Glenn is how do your workouts today compare to those from College (are you doing less yardage now than you did in college yet swimming faster ? maybe look at the type of workouts (more technique and specific swimming ?). I talked to Loren Myhre, he worked with Doc Counsilman in preparing the swimmers for the Mexico Olympics. The highest VO2 readings come from endurance athletes (mostly marathon runners and cross country skiers) in their late 20's and 30's. I'm still guessing that the major time improvements are coming from technique (ie better starts and turns, stream lining and efficient swimming) IMHO.

Originally posted by gull80 ... This is where, I think, technique and training methods enter the picture. ... And psychology. I read about it in usswim.org and I have seen age-group swimmers that are berated by coaches who think that swimming is akin to working. So many age-group swimmers are repressed and don't express their physiological potential. When older, some of them take charge of enjoying themselves at their developed potential and don't give a damn anymore about past restrictions .

I don't think so about this: Originally posted by kaelonj ... I'm still guessing that the major time improvements are coming from technique (ie better starts and turns, stream lining and efficient swimming) IMHO. with regards to "...ie better starts and turns...". My best 1,000 yards free last year was 12:25, and with better start and flipturns that would drop to 11:59. Efficient swimming and streamlining they come from oxygen in the arms and in the lats, which is the swimmer's VO2Max, and that's the meat and potato of swimmers going under 10:00 in 1,000 free. Heck, looking at sprinter Anthony Ervin, this swimming VO2Max for a sprinter that's the meat and potato of him doing 19.05 in 50 yards free without one single breath, overkicking, churning and pulling water very fast. Nevermind one of his documented poor starts and poor streamlines -less than 2 seconds underwater, arms spread- after the turn. I have doubts that starting swimming from a flat start in his late 20s he would even be able to beat 30 seconds in 50 free.

Originally posted by osterber 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. I don't think this would work becuase swimmers tend to "retire" at their peak. Pro sports are probably a good yardstick to use. Typically players improve at least until their mid-twenties, then stay at this level for several years, before starting to drop off in performance in their 30s.

Originally posted by Ion Beza I have doubts that starting swimming from a flat start in his late 20s he would even be able to beat 30 seconds in 50 free. I'm starting from a flat start at 34 and very out of shape only 7 months ago and my 50 yard free sprint is at :33, and I stil have avery long way to go to even get in a good cardio shape, with my resting pulse still around 70... It gets down to 50 when I'm in shape. And a 30 lb overweight female on top of that. Perhaps you're exaggerating!

Originally posted by Conniekat8 ... Perhaps you're exaggerating! Maybe not. Just do it. Then talk about it. My bet is that you will never do 29 or better. And an Anthony Ervin starting to swim like you at age 34 will have exactly the same obstacles that you just posted that you have, for never doing 29 or better.

The only thing that potentially seperates the elderly and youth is training time. If you put in 10,000yd. a day no matter who you are your going to be in great shape :p

Another old dog, Jim Thorton, is swimming faster 500 yards at 50 years old than he did at high school/college...is he a "late bloomer" , or just wiser and more knowledgeable now??

You never know, Ion, it could be that folks are more humble than you and don't feel like telling the entire world in every post just how great they are despite your handicap of being an Eastern Eurpoean French speaking V02Max depleted late blooming swimmer. Connie showed pride in her improvement and you belittled her. Nice, Ion, real nice. Any other words of encouragement you'd like to give to another late bloomer? I'm also wondering how you track late bloomers with data since that IS NOT A CATEGORY IN SWIMMING.

Originally posted by Ion Beza Just me stepping on the blocks next month in Indianapolis after training for racing, that's a risk taking for good and bad racing that is not prevalent in the American culture. The American culture is into armchair TV. Obviously there's some truth to that statement, but that's not the facet of the American population you're addressing in this forum.