The recent post on David Hasselhoff got me thinking about one hit wonders in Swimming.
Tracy Wickam for 1978's world records in 400 & 800 Free
......4:06 & 8:24 I think....and didn't it take Janet Evans to break these records ?????? Someone may remember this....
Any other one hit wonders ??? (or brief stays at the top?)
Yes, if you look at age group time standards, the girls times are all faster then the boys times through age 12. Then 13 and up, the boys times get considerably faster. It coincides with the growth spurts. The 11-12 girls time standards are quite a bit faster than 10 and under, and then level out from there. 11-12 is the big growth spurt period for girls(don't believe me, visit your closest 7th grade).
At the same time boys are finally getting the satisfaction of getting faster, they are also getting all kinds of school opportunities thrown at them for sports. And starting in Junior High, sports become fairly intense, 5 days a week, 2 hour practices, competitions 2-3 per week(except football), so they participate in that, because there is not Junior High swimming in the schools(at least not in this state).
Girls have the same thing too, so there is a loss of girls at the same time, but because their growth spurt comes earlier, they are getting the pick up of speed to keep them interested. Then in High School, when they are likely to plateau, they get the into the fun of High School team, and continue.
Yes, if you look at age group time standards, the girls times are all faster then the boys times through age 12. Then 13 and up, the boys times get considerably faster. It coincides with the growth spurts. The 11-12 girls time standards are quite a bit faster than 10 and under, and then level out from there. 11-12 is the big growth spurt period for girls(don't believe me, visit your closest 7th grade).
At the same time boys are finally getting the satisfaction of getting faster, they are also getting all kinds of school opportunities thrown at them for sports. And starting in Junior High, sports become fairly intense, 5 days a week, 2 hour practices, competitions 2-3 per week(except football), so they participate in that, because there is not Junior High swimming in the schools(at least not in this state).
Girls have the same thing too, so there is a loss of girls at the same time, but because their growth spurt comes earlier, they are getting the pick up of speed to keep them interested. Then in High School, when they are likely to plateau, they get the into the fun of High School team, and continue.
