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.
Former Member
That piddely 50 has only been recognized for a very short time. It is as I said many years ago its a dive, no breath, a few strokes and touch the wall.
Former Member
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. Hate admit it but true.
Former Member
Well, from what I saw in D1 swimming....
Keep in mind, I am female, and I am about 5'11. I was a sprinter and most people in my training group were close to my same build. Most girls on our team were 5'8 and up.
When we went to meets, I was about the average heights for the sprinters. Now, granted, we were not "world class sprinters", but I do see being tall as a trend. The tallest girl on our team was about 6'4 and she was a sprinter, too. We didn't have a mens team, but when there were men at meets, they were all very tall.
-Stacy
I thought this was a no braiiner. Short swimmers only do ***. When I was in high school inthe 70s, most of our team was made up of average height., Now it is all tall guys.
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.
Former Member
Originally posted by Racer X
It would seem that basketball players would make the best sprinters. They have the height, the strength and the vertical leap down pat.
Cullen Jones...who's been dubbed by the media as the new "Tiger Woods" of swimming...is a good example of this. Not that he played basketball...but he very well could. Recently he went 21.94 for the 50M free...and he was the last guy off the blocks! Rowdy Gaines told him in the televised aftermath...that if he worked on his start...the world record is toast.
www.usaswimming.org/.../ViewNewsArticle.aspx
USA Swimming - Home
www.ncsu.edu/.../cullen_jones.html
The Nubian Message
Former Member
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.
Just wondered have you ever tried to swim across Lake Ontario where the water starts out at 70 degrees and drops to 48 degrees halfway there and a storm breaks out. The wind comes up and blows you 12 miles off course. And no wet suit to keep you warm. It is more challenging then a 50 free. I still think it is a dive, a few dolphin kicks,and a few strokes. Sure some are faster than others, challenging, I don,t think so.
Originally posted by geochuck
Just wondered have you ever tried to swim across Lake Ontario...
I have seen a moose swim across Ontario, and still have enough energy to sprint up a hill at the end to outrun the animal control experts.
I have yet to see a moose do the 50 free.
Former Member
Mark,
Did that moose use a track start or grab start and did he swim with open or closed hooves?:)
