Heres the scoop. I've been swimming for about 3 years now. My best times (scy) are as follows:
500 free 5:13.something
200 free 157.something else
100 free 52.8
50 free 24.38
100 fly 59.7
I swim between 20,000 and 30,000 yards/week now. I'm 20 years old, (male). My question is, do you think that with the right training and work ethic I could make a cut for the Olympic Trials in 2012? I would expect to train between 2 and 3 hours/day. I know it may sound a little crazy given my times now but I believe that with 6 years to do it, I can. My goal would be to qualify for the 100,200, or 500 free.
I'm talking out my a#$ right now but these are my thoughts. Please, anyone feel free to contradict me.
I would say absolutely persue it, because I don't know you and maybe you dont know you either. You may be great.
Obviously you will need a coach. A real good one. The sooner the better. Your progression will be closely monitored and recorded. You must get the right workouts, technical feedback and know your time progression.
Because you are young and life has not distracted you yet, and if you are serious, I would make a determined effort to get your times down as close to a qualifying standard ASAP. I would say that this hard push would expose your ability to contend at the elite level. With good records of your workouts, time trials etc. Elite coaches should be able to give you the good or bad news. Hopefully you can work under them and be swimming with fast swimmers.
Don't "wonder" for the next 5 years and put your life on standby only to find out you can't do it 5 years from now. Try and have a good idea in 2-3 years from now. Once you know you have the ability, you can relax a bit because you will now have the self confidence and work towards peaking for 2012.
You will need to be able to train without injury, or at least be able to deal with injuries (likely) correctly. This involves a good team of sports physicians intimate with swimming.
Think long and hard about what the sacrifices will be. I don't think working a regular job would really make sense. Certainly not as you get closer to trials. No "job" would be better.
Who is your support group? Will they put up with the training? You will be cranky.
Just some thoughts.
I'm talking out my a#$ right now but these are my thoughts. Please, anyone feel free to contradict me.
I would say absolutely persue it, because I don't know you and maybe you dont know you either. You may be great.
Obviously you will need a coach. A real good one. The sooner the better. Your progression will be closely monitored and recorded. You must get the right workouts, technical feedback and know your time progression.
Because you are young and life has not distracted you yet, and if you are serious, I would make a determined effort to get your times down as close to a qualifying standard ASAP. I would say that this hard push would expose your ability to contend at the elite level. With good records of your workouts, time trials etc. Elite coaches should be able to give you the good or bad news. Hopefully you can work under them and be swimming with fast swimmers.
Don't "wonder" for the next 5 years and put your life on standby only to find out you can't do it 5 years from now. Try and have a good idea in 2-3 years from now. Once you know you have the ability, you can relax a bit because you will now have the self confidence and work towards peaking for 2012.
You will need to be able to train without injury, or at least be able to deal with injuries (likely) correctly. This involves a good team of sports physicians intimate with swimming.
Think long and hard about what the sacrifices will be. I don't think working a regular job would really make sense. Certainly not as you get closer to trials. No "job" would be better.
Who is your support group? Will they put up with the training? You will be cranky.
Just some thoughts.
