The Fastest Age

Originally posted by Ion Beza I think that muscle physiology allowing to absorb the highest percentage of VO2Max when swimming is developed mostly in the growing years of a person. You can *think* all you want, I've alrady posted medical evidence with references that this is not the case. Pay attention, will ya! :rolleyes:

I am not saying you can't learn as an adult. I just beleive that if you try and teach an adult and a child something at the same time the child will progress faster then the adult. If the same time was put into learning something, what a child might learn in a week the adult might take two.

Agreed, having also learned at an adult I understand what Bob is saying about not having to relearn things. People struggle with bi-lateral breathing, I knew I should do it when I started so I don't struggle with it. Children seem to have an acceptance, or higher comfort factor on certain things. My trouble with flip turns was flipping without plugging my nose with my fingers(yes I did that up to 4 years ago), and learning how to ration the air to streamline. Backstroke flip turns took longer because I just plain could not handle being on my back underwater, it bothered me. So I have taken a lot of time just doing 25's and working on streamlining underwater on my back as long as I can to work on that comfort factor. The technical aspect of turning over and flipping was not the problem, the thought of after the flip being on my back underwater without air was.

Anyone going to Indy bringing a video camera? Would love to get Euro's 1000 on tape so we can all have something to compare the white noise with? Also, I really wonder how spectacular his coaches are if, as Paul says, Euro's techique, diet, and mental prep are so horrendous? They must be glorified lifeguards who moonlight as masters "coaches" at $8/hour.

Well, Bray is like open water swimmer Suzanne Heim-Bowen who can swim a 800 meter freestyle like Debbie Meyer did in 1968. Most master swimmers can't do the yardage these people do because they took 20 years or so breaks and the body has a harder time doing the yardage you did as a teenager in your 40's. As for Ion, he can go on and on about ex-college all americans and A and B age group swimmers beating him in freestyle. We all have different abilities and as a teenager Shirley Bashasoff swim even the 100 meter breaststoke 9 seconds faster than me and she was a freestyler. And breaststoke was usually my best event.

Originally posted by Ion Beza Sure. Take geek's 1,000 free, for example. Even as an age-group swimmer he hasn't learned to do it, so why ask geek for more effort since 25 yards in USMS is good enough? So, Ion, why such an odd distance, a 1000? Is the 1500 or a 1650 too long for you? Or are you7 looking for an event that not many people do, so you'd have a better chance of making the top 10?

Originally posted by old dog Her son goes a 2:02 free at age 10. He's not supposed to begin to develope VO2 Max until age 11 . Could a man who can bench 300+ lbs and has been training for 16 years beat this child? If not, is there some piece of a puzzle that is missing besides "meat and potatoes"? :confused: One thing you're missing is she said her son is 16, not 10 :)

I'm not sure about Ion's theories, but one thing is certain: he's adept at pushing people's buttons. I can't believe this thread has gone on so long to no apparent resolution.

YOU GO GIRL! Keep up the good work. We're pulling for you!

Originally posted by Fritz "With training," Bowman said, "prepubescent children can significantly impact their heart and lung size, more substantially than they can after puberty. The larger the heart and lungs, the bigger the engine." Yes, but what does Bowman base this on? If there is a study, it would be helpful to look at the original paper. If it is from urban legend (established thinking), then we should at least examine how true it is. (If it is from Bowman's personal experience with Phelps, then I am surprised that Ion accepts it. Bowman is dealing with an age group swimmer who is not in the 40-44 age bracket. ;) ) For instance, does the heart and lung size of a prepubescent child grow, *regardless* of training (just from the fact that the body is developing) ? In which case, there would need to be careful analysis to separate the growth due to puberty, versus the growth due to training. Perhaps this second factor is constant, regardless of age! (This is all sheer speculation. Comments from medical doctors would be appreciated. References to studies would be required.)