After the I.M. thread and watching my daughter at her meet I got to wondering if being good at certain strokes has anything to do with heredity. If you read the I.M. thread you know that I am terrible at the breaststroke. Today my daughter had to do the 100 I.M. She was second after the fly and doing the backstroke. She had at least a 1/4 of a pool length on the two swimmers behind her. All the parents around me were commenting on how good she looked. I told them to wait and see what happens on the breaststroke. What do you know the two swimmers behind her caught her and past her on the breaststroke. She dropped down to fourth place. Is she destined to be a terrible breaststroker like me? Keep in mind that she has always done lessons at the Y and not with me.
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by Karen Duggan
I do believe that genetics play a role in sprinting vs. mid-distance and distance abilities.
You do not need to believe it. It's a fact ;) Wheter you are a sprinter or a distancetyp is defined by the muscles fibers of the muscels used in this event. There is a difference between Slowtwitching-Fibers and Fasttwichting-Fibers. If you happen to have more ST-Fibers you will be slower using the muscles as if you have more FT-Fibers you will be faster but you will also encounter problems while using these muscles for a longer period of time.
So this is basicly a genetics thing. But here are the good news for all kids out there. In the age of around 10-14 (whould have to check on that again if someone would like to know exactly) kids usally have a third type of muscles fibers called "MidTwichting-Fibers" which you can easily train to become FT-Fibers. If you miss this chance they will turn into ST-Fibers which won't be able to become FT-Fibers again. That's the reason why most good sprinters started young and the older ones of us who start a sport happen to be better on the distance events than becoming a good sprinter.
Brgds
Matthias
Originally posted by Karen Duggan
I do believe that genetics play a role in sprinting vs. mid-distance and distance abilities.
You do not need to believe it. It's a fact ;) Wheter you are a sprinter or a distancetyp is defined by the muscles fibers of the muscels used in this event. There is a difference between Slowtwitching-Fibers and Fasttwichting-Fibers. If you happen to have more ST-Fibers you will be slower using the muscles as if you have more FT-Fibers you will be faster but you will also encounter problems while using these muscles for a longer period of time.
So this is basicly a genetics thing. But here are the good news for all kids out there. In the age of around 10-14 (whould have to check on that again if someone would like to know exactly) kids usally have a third type of muscles fibers called "MidTwichting-Fibers" which you can easily train to become FT-Fibers. If you miss this chance they will turn into ST-Fibers which won't be able to become FT-Fibers again. That's the reason why most good sprinters started young and the older ones of us who start a sport happen to be better on the distance events than becoming a good sprinter.
Brgds
Matthias
