Swimming - a sport of fads

Former Member
Former Member
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
  • Originally posted by newmastersswimmer Thanks for correcting my error on the length of the English Channel Kirk......Looks like your intellectual confidence was not "completely" shattered by your one spelling error here in any earlier post. Gotta get right back in the saddle, you know! ;)
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    originally posted by gull80 2.) 30 x 1000's @ 10:30 (Yes, you read that right). For the first 16 repeats, Vendt held his time under 10 minutes, but then fell apart physically and mentally. He found his way back, and on the last one, he went a 9:58. In all reality.....could even one of us masters swimmers make more than 2 or 3 of these on that interval? How bout you Mr. GoodSmith?...How many do you think you could make?....I "might" (on a very very good day) make 1 of them....LOL!! Newmastersswimmer p.s. The entire set of 30 x 1000's is longer than swimming the English Channel BTW
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Originally posted by newmastersswimmer In all reality.....could even one of us masters swimmers make more than 2 or 3 of these on that interval? It all depends on the water temp, of course. Let's see him try to do that in a 75 degree pool.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I was eating lunch and then I remembered hydroplanning. I remember whenit was the new greatest thing to ever happen to swimming in the 80s. then soemone pointed out that was how Johnny Weismiller(sp) swam.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Thanks for correcting my error on the length of the English Channel Kirk......Looks like your intellectual confidence was not "completely" shattered by your one spelling error here in any earlier post. Newmastersswimmer
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I'd probably make 2 of those 1000s on that send off and collapse at my age. Then again I've lived his life twice over.... :-) I was mostly a middle distance man in college. I usually went about 12-14K per day plus weights or dryland. Only in the summers did I venture in the mid teens on a single days yardage back then. However, there were guys like Erik Vendt that could handle that kind of brain drain back then too. Interesting to see this style of training as it closely reflects the Brian Goodell and Salnikov training mentality of the 70s and 80s. Mega yardage for the D-man does not necessarily guarantee success, but it sure as hell develops background. John Smith
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    background and need for serious therapy!
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    30 x 1000 ... that's why I'm a sprinter ... That set would take me days to finish ... and I couldn't go anywhere near that interval ... i hate distance ...
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Then again..... if a man my age took a little EPO...... he might make 5 or 6 of them without blowing a gasket ..... :-) John Smith
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Aaahhhhh.......... 30 x 1000....yummy.... when do I start....???? Eat those yards! :)