I submit that swimming is one of the worst sports in terms of following fad techniques simply because someone has been successful using that technique.
I submit that talent or genetics, aerobic capacity, workout intensity as well as mental toughness play a far greater roll than mere stroke technique in the end.
Seems like the US latches on to the winner's stroke techniques all too often as the way explain success and teach kids. Front quadrant swimming like Ian Thorpe..... head down sprinting like Popoff..... these guys would be successful in their events with or without these techniques in my opinion.
Except for the latest cheating techniques...... i.e. flip turns on backstroke, underwater dolphin kick on backstroke, head under on breastroke, full body suits, and the soon to be dolphin kick on breastroke pull outs, the sport has not improved a whole lot in the last 25 years.... especially when you compare it to 25 years previous to 1980..... (1955)
Thought for the day...... :-)
John Smith
Parents
Former Member
I think swimming is a very mature sport, so the records are not likely to make much progress going forward (but they will continue to drop over time). But OMG, look at the depth! Things have definitely gotten fater if you look at the depth at, say, NCAAs. I don't have hard data, but whole heats of mens 200 free relays (consolation and championship finals) with virtually every single split under 20 is a lot of depth. And look at the depth in the 100 free...
I am still waiting for someone to break 1:40 in the 200 back and get beat, but it will happen.
I think a comparison of the top 100 times in the US or world would show a tremendous difference from 25 years ago. This would seem to indicate more about the advances in the sport than individual talents/efforts.
I think these days coaching technique has gotten to the point where they can produce lots of fast people. Probably a combination of psychology (you know someone else can go that fast, so you chase higher goals) and training programs/techniques.
I think swimming is a very mature sport, so the records are not likely to make much progress going forward (but they will continue to drop over time). But OMG, look at the depth! Things have definitely gotten fater if you look at the depth at, say, NCAAs. I don't have hard data, but whole heats of mens 200 free relays (consolation and championship finals) with virtually every single split under 20 is a lot of depth. And look at the depth in the 100 free...
I am still waiting for someone to break 1:40 in the 200 back and get beat, but it will happen.
I think a comparison of the top 100 times in the US or world would show a tremendous difference from 25 years ago. This would seem to indicate more about the advances in the sport than individual talents/efforts.
I think these days coaching technique has gotten to the point where they can produce lots of fast people. Probably a combination of psychology (you know someone else can go that fast, so you chase higher goals) and training programs/techniques.
