In swimming, how is it that one can excel in both sprints and long distance? Is it because the distance games in swimming are only "relatively" distance games but are not really distance games from a physiologic perspective?
In the world of tracks, for example, an athlete cannot excel at both sprints and distance. Even the athletes from the two areas look different - much leaner for the distance runners and muscular for the sprinters.
I am wondering about this because whether I should focus on either the sprint or the distance as I plan to participate in the masters meet, or whether I don't have to sacrifice one for the other.
Parents
Former Member
It's certainly possible to do well in many distances in swimming - one of my friends used to be top 20 in Georgia in her age group for both the 50 free and the 1000 free and in most of the distances in between. In swimming, stroke technique is just as important as fitness, unlike running, where fitness is much more important. So a swimmer can have a very efficient stroke and be able to swim multiple distances well, although most swimmers have a favorite distance or two.
For you, as a new swimmer, try out quite a few events before deciding on a certain event to focus on. I raced every distance and stroke from 50 free to 500 free this year, and it was a good experience. Later, you may even decide to focus on one event one year and a completely different event the next year.
It's certainly possible to do well in many distances in swimming - one of my friends used to be top 20 in Georgia in her age group for both the 50 free and the 1000 free and in most of the distances in between. In swimming, stroke technique is just as important as fitness, unlike running, where fitness is much more important. So a swimmer can have a very efficient stroke and be able to swim multiple distances well, although most swimmers have a favorite distance or two.
For you, as a new swimmer, try out quite a few events before deciding on a certain event to focus on. I raced every distance and stroke from 50 free to 500 free this year, and it was a good experience. Later, you may even decide to focus on one event one year and a completely different event the next year.
