has anyone gotten under 60 sec (100yd) as a new swimmer?

OK, Poolraat proves it can be done. I noticed the top ten times for 40-44 are around 50. Has anyone gotten will into the 50's after starting late in life? The times for that age group are all under 50. I had similar questions when I joined masters and from what I've read here then, the general consensus would be that its nearly impossible to crack the top ten in those events without a solid swimming background. That would be age group, High school team, and swam at a four year college. But personally, I disagree with that. I think with some competative swimming its possible. With out any, it is highly unlikely. Kevin

As a new swimmer some 45 years ago, I couldn't do it. As an older swimmer now, I can't do it. But I did go a 1:01.63 for a 100 yd back? Is that close enough? My freestyle 100 was always around a 1:05 to 1:07. My backstroke was faster :dunno:. But of course not anymore so I do distance, I mean distance. Donna

I was having a little fun with you on this one!! I can break a minute, but at 57 I have been swimming masters for 25 years and swam in HS and college. I am not a "late bloomer" (OOOPPPS). Although conditioning is important, there is no question that technique - streamlining, hand position, elbow position, poping turns etc is even more important. And it is important to have goals. You do have goals. Keep working hard and you will improve! I made a dramatic improvement when I went from working out 3 days per week to 5 days per week. Glenn:D

yards or meters? It's very difficult for a person who never swam to start at 40 and develop the ability to go under 1:00 in the 100 free no swimmers go under 1:00 in the 200, but I think you were implying if a non swimmer could go under 2:00 in the 200 which is way more difficult because of fatigue, the general rule of thumb to figure out a swimmers 200 time from a 100 time is to double the swimmers 100 time and add 10 seconds ie if a swimmer goes 54.99 in the 100 free 54.99 + 54.99 + 10 = 1:59.99 so it's much harder for a swimmer to go under 2:00 in the 200 than 1:00 in the 100 most masters swimmers have some swimming back ground summer league, age group, high school, college how fast a person is now is a factor of 1) how good they were at their peak, 2) how many years they did not train 3) how out of shape and over weight they are, 4) how strong they are, 5) how old they are, 6) how good their technique is 7) how good the person was at other sports 8) how determined and mentally tough the swimmer is 9) how correctly the swimmer split their swim what else It would be very impressive to me if a person never swam, started at 40 then went under 1:00 in the 100 yard free ande Just curious how many have started swimming over the age 40 and been able to get under 60 sec in the 100. If so, just how fast and after how many years training? How about the 200 yd? Looking to see what can be done for inspiration!!

It's very difficult for a person who never swam to start at 40 and develop the ability to go under 1:00 in the 100 free Ande, I started swimming at 47 with no prior swimming background other than knowing how to swim from Red Cross, Boy Scouts etc. My goal was to do a 59 and attained that in June of 2005. Can't seem to get below that though, seem to be at 60-61 every time since. BTW Thanks for posting the links to the Texas meet. One of our local swimmers (now at Ariz.) is there and we can follow his progress.

I didn't swim, and I mean not at all, for over 24 years. After 4 months of training maybe 3-4x week of not that impressive yardage, I hopped in and swam a 26 in the 50 free. I'm 45 now, 44 then (last October). You are inspiring me! :bow: I've swam for 3 months after a 22 year break. I swim 3 days a week for almost an hour. In no way do I feel like I could swim a :26 or break a minute in the 100, but maybe one day soon... Very cool.

I have been swimming for about 2.5 years, am 32 years old, and practice about twice a week now (not enough, I know...family comes first though). My last meet was in January of this year and my 100 Free time back then was 1:04 with a 50 Free time of :28. I was in decent shape at the time but was not really in the "zone" if you know what I mean. As I recall a cold fell upon me later that night. I think I can break a minute by now in a meet but I won't know for sure until our local meet again in January. I could time myself in practice but I kinda want it to be a surprise at the meet for me. I just practice when I can and as hard as I can...the results will be whatever they will be. As for the 200, I rarely swim those distances aside from in warmup and never in competition. My workouts primarily consist of 100 and 50 repeats on intervals.

I started swimming for the first time in my life at the age of 42. I am now 43. Right after my 43rd birthday I went 1:04 in the 100 Yd Free at Nationals with a toe touch on the last flip turn. (I had only done a couple of dozen flip turns ever at that time just to give you an idea of how novice my approach was). My technique, in general, was pretty weak at that time. I have improved my aerobic fitness quite a bit since then and certainly my technique is better. I am sure that I have a chance of going under a minute this year, but probably won't swim in a meet until January. My wife, who started swimming at about 35 and is now 40 has a best time of around 1:00.5 (earlier this year). She shares my goal of breaking a minute in the 100 free this year. There's been alot of discussion about who is going to get there first.

As a follow up to my previous post: Incidentally, I am by no means a physical specimen transitioning from another sport. I played baseball and hockey when I was younger. I stopped playing hockey at about 32 after a serious knee injury and put on 70 pounds over the next 10 years when my fairly active life style was curtailed. I started swimming out of desperation, since my knee would not allow me to participate in any other sports (including walking). I dropped 35 pounds, but still have a long way to go. I am 5' 10", 215 lbs (not exactly a swimming prototype). I like to think of myself more as a "swimming brick". I may never be top 10 in any swim event, but that's the great thing about swimming. You can compete with your own best times and set goals for yourself and still feel like you have accomplished something.

My wife, who started swimming at about 35 and is now 40 has a best time of around 1:00.5 (earlier this year). She shares my goal of breaking a minute in the 100 free this year. There's been alot of discussion about who is going to get there first. Hey, my wife got there first awhile ago, but I'm closing in on her latest times fast. My excuse is that she was an age group swimmer. And hockey is a serious sport. I used to play deck hockey myself, but it really tore me up. Good luck beating her to the punch.