Please excuse me if this has been posted before.
It seems that in order to be a National/World class sprinter, you have to be 6ft 3 or better. It would appear that taller is better. Popov was 6' 7", Hall 6'5", Lezak 6'5', Cullen Jones 6' 5", Sabir Mahammed 6'6". our own Smith crew 6'?, An oldy but a goody Robert Peel 6'6 etc, etc. From my TV, it looked as though Phelps was the shortest guy on the WR 400 free relay at 6' 4"
Knowing this, in the future, should shorter, young, potential world class sprinters be redirected to middle distance or other strokes? Do short guys/gals even stand a chance anymore?
It would seem that basketball players would make the best sprinters. They have the height, the strength and the vertical leap down pat.
Originally posted by Paul Smith
George.....sorry to disagree.....but this distance is hands down the single most challenging in our sport.
Sure, anyone can swim it as you describe......but not "fast". The elite athletes at this distance have the rare combination of strength (mental as much as physical) and absolutely flawless technique.
Paul I appreciate the difficulties and challenges sprinting brings to our sport, but don't discount all of our other events. They all have their different challenges. I don't want to get into why or why not one event is more challenging than the other - you could go on for ever. Lets just appreciate that each event will continually be redefined by new athletes every generation.
Originally posted by Paul Smith
George.....sorry to disagree.....but this distance is hands down the single most challenging in our sport.
Sure, anyone can swim it as you describe......but not "fast". The elite athletes at this distance have the rare combination of strength (mental as much as physical) and absolutely flawless technique.
Paul I appreciate the difficulties and challenges sprinting brings to our sport, but don't discount all of our other events. They all have their different challenges. I don't want to get into why or why not one event is more challenging than the other - you could go on for ever. Lets just appreciate that each event will continually be redefined by new athletes every generation.
