When I swam in HS 27yrs ago, girls my age were swimming 100yd free in just under 59.0. Now I look at HS times and I'm blown away on how fast they are swimming and at younger ages.
What has changed?
Technique, training, and size...probably in that order.
Consider this: My daughter is 14 years old, 5' 0", less than 100 lbs. and swims the 100yd free regularly at 56 seconds untapered and unshaved. If technique and training improvements were not made over the past 30 years then you would expect her to be incapable of breaking a minute.
There is no doubt that size (especially height) gives you a distinct advantage, but that would not necessarily explain the improving times of all swimmers. I believe it is a scientific fact that the human race is increasing in size, so you cannot discount this as part of the reason that times as a whole have dropped - I just don't think it's the biggest factor.
Technique, training, and size...probably in that order.
Consider this: My daughter is 14 years old, 5' 0", less than 100 lbs. and swims the 100yd free regularly at 56 seconds untapered and unshaved. If technique and training improvements were not made over the past 30 years then you would expect her to be incapable of breaking a minute.
There is no doubt that size (especially height) gives you a distinct advantage, but that would not necessarily explain the improving times of all swimmers. I believe it is a scientific fact that the human race is increasing in size, so you cannot discount this as part of the reason that times as a whole have dropped - I just don't think it's the biggest factor.
