Worthwhile Article That Was Lost in "The Fastest Age" Thread/Saga
Former Member
I put up this post in the "The Fastest Age" thread. I should have put it here in the first place so it would not get buried. Here's what I originally posted for those who might be interested.
To digress a bit if I may, the Baltimore Sun has been running a series of articles on Michael Phelps. On March 8, 2004, the paper ran an article The Measure of a Swimmer. You can access it by clicking here.
It's a fascinating story, IMHO, and I thought that I would share it with my friends in the USMS Forum. Unfortunately, the underwater pictures, which were in color, are not included in the article. They were especially great. It was good to see Doc Counsilman mentioned in the article, too. I submit this article only for your reading interest and not for debate.
Kindest regards,
Mark
Originally posted by Edward The Head
He's never lifted weights? What's going to happen when he does?! I can see a huge difference in my stroke and times since I started working out in October. I'm not all that strong but I've dropped 20 seconds in a 500 free and 25 or so in my 400 IM, plus a lot of time in other races too. I wonder if he ever will start working out.
I doubt lifting weights would help Phelps, especially in the events he primarily swims. For one thing, Phelps is already in the pool an incredible number of hours per week. Would he want to spend even more time lifting weights? I know when I swam in college I hated lifting weights because I was already dead tired from swimming, or didn't want to lift too hard because I had swim practice afterward. I mean, something's got to give eventually. For a masters swimmer swimming a few hours a week, yes you can probably get in the weight room and work fairly hard. I think it's much more difficult for someone who's already working out like Phelps is.
Even if he did start lifting I think it would only help much in 100 meter events. I doubt weights would make him much faster in 200s and the 400 IM or free.
Just my opinion, of course.
Originally posted by Edward The Head
He's never lifted weights? What's going to happen when he does?! I can see a huge difference in my stroke and times since I started working out in October. I'm not all that strong but I've dropped 20 seconds in a 500 free and 25 or so in my 400 IM, plus a lot of time in other races too. I wonder if he ever will start working out.
I doubt lifting weights would help Phelps, especially in the events he primarily swims. For one thing, Phelps is already in the pool an incredible number of hours per week. Would he want to spend even more time lifting weights? I know when I swam in college I hated lifting weights because I was already dead tired from swimming, or didn't want to lift too hard because I had swim practice afterward. I mean, something's got to give eventually. For a masters swimmer swimming a few hours a week, yes you can probably get in the weight room and work fairly hard. I think it's much more difficult for someone who's already working out like Phelps is.
Even if he did start lifting I think it would only help much in 100 meter events. I doubt weights would make him much faster in 200s and the 400 IM or free.
Just my opinion, of course.
