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?
Swimming in general,goggles. Goggles became popular in the early 70s,yardage went up and times went down through the 70s,but have leveled off for men since,except for dropping after a rule change.For women,title IX. Womens times continue to drop,and more girls are swimming(the number of boys swimming has been relatively stagnant.If Michael Phelps and Cullen Davis attract more boys to swimming then the mens times will begin to drop faster again.)
Swimming in general,goggles. Goggles became popular in the early 70s,yardage went up and times went down through the 70s,but have leveled off for men since,except for dropping after a rule change.For women,title IX. Womens times continue to drop,and more girls are swimming(the number of boys swimming has been relatively stagnant.If Michael Phelps and Cullen Davis attract more boys to swimming then the mens times will begin to drop faster again.)
