Is natural talent largely irrelevant to great success? Or is it "you've either got it or you don't"?
Check out this article at biz.yahoo.com/.../great_1.html called "What It Takes To Be Great."
Former Member
I'm loving this link, by the way.
The average height of a female backstroker, give or take a few, is 5'7. I also think it's strange that backstrokers have the highest weight. that surprises me. interesting too that backstrokers have the longest torsos and shortest legs.
leslie you'll like this: sprinters have a higher vertical jump.
Former Member
I will give it a looksee, swimmerlisa. But tell me, are you a sprinter or a distance backstroker?
leslie - i wish i was best as a 50 swimmer, but i specialize more in the 100/200 back. I wish there were longer distance events for back, like a 1000 or just a 400.
Former Member
leslie - i agree, minus the weight thing I am a typical backstroker. I've never seen a fast heavy backstroker before - I can't really explain how that worked out in the survey. I guess it's just the height thing - if you're taller you will weigh more. that makes sense. natalie coughlin is skinny, and so is ryan lochte and aaron piersol. :D
George:
This isn't a technique thread! This is more philosophical. But I love your videos. I watched some events from the 2004 Olympics on one of your clips. I'll watch these after I go have some nice relaxing coffee and go to my nice taxing workout. I've already gotten that sport of soccer out of the way for the day. Thanks!
P.S. Your daughters are quite lovely!
Former Member
I thought I had made it plain that it was not referring to - nkfrench's post - it just brought back to me that my friend a jewish contractor Al Wiener, from Toronto with the number on his forearm had gone through experiments with the Dr. when he was a child.
In Germany the goal to perfection, in east Germany and in Russia the selection of their athletes.
Former Member
Just thought everyone would like to watch some videos of some good swimmers. I am a little tired of long winded technique discussions. All strokes www.eliteswimming.com/swimvids.shtml
Former Member
I believe talent is derived from good technique and these videos are of great talent.
Former Member
Ok I get your drift, I will take your thoughts under consideration :notworthy:
On second thought (No I will not) In respect for Al Wiener
I hear ya George. I doubt most people would want to be compared to Mengele, though!
Former Member
A further explanation.
I had gone through a very heart wrenching day yesterday. When I was in the Toronto, Hamilton area this past summer my sister gave me two family picture albums. I had opened the albums and went through them selecting pictures and sending copies to my children. There were hundreds of them. I came accross photos that I had not seen in a long time. Many of these were of my family and seeing certain ones of my brothers who are no longer with us brought tears to my eyes.
Also seeing the neighbors, who I found out many have have passed on, we were the only family in the neighborhood that were not Jewish. All my friends were Jewish. I used to go to the Jewish school on Sat mornings with my friend Henry Vine. The Goldblatts, the Goldbergs, Sniders, Ginsbergs and Wieners were are friends. After the war there relatives, kids without parents, parents without their kids came to live on our street. I even worked for Elie Goldberg when I was 12 years old, my brother and I would sell fruits and vegetables from his truck a 6 qt basket of Tomatoes or Peaches $1.00.
When I saw the one word GENES it brought back some memories of these stories from victims I had heard.