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.
Please tell me what is a distance swimmer or a sprint swimmer?
I think you can be whatever you want. First we need technique, can we learn this technique on our own. Yes we can, be a copy cat watch some videos learn to reach then get to the catch then to the finish. Hey you can even do drills which I try not to do anymore. Once you have technique it is a matter of workouts to best fit your style and preferrence.
George is correct......you can do any event you want to.....and just as folks like Fort are "venturing" out into the "D" world by swimming (gasp) a 100 free I think its great to try out as many strokes/distances as you can. I think early season meets are a great place to swim things like the 500/1000, 200 back, basically anything but the "unmentioned" stroke.
Where I do think there is a difference is for those who are looking at competing, making Top 10, WR's, etc......in those cases its rare that someone (even in masters) can go against their physiological strengths/weaknesses and really excel.....improve yes.....
But if the Fort or any other "drop dead" sprinter all of a sudden decided to start swimming the 1650.....although she'd have most likely very good technique....I'm guessing she'd run into a bit more competition than in the 50's!
Please tell me what is a distance swimmer or a sprint swimmer?
I think you can be whatever you want. First we need technique, can we learn this technique on our own. Yes we can, be a copy cat watch some videos learn to reach then get to the catch then to the finish. Hey you can even do drills which I try not to do anymore. Once you have technique it is a matter of workouts to best fit your style and preferrence.
George is correct......you can do any event you want to.....and just as folks like Fort are "venturing" out into the "D" world by swimming (gasp) a 100 free I think its great to try out as many strokes/distances as you can. I think early season meets are a great place to swim things like the 500/1000, 200 back, basically anything but the "unmentioned" stroke.
Where I do think there is a difference is for those who are looking at competing, making Top 10, WR's, etc......in those cases its rare that someone (even in masters) can go against their physiological strengths/weaknesses and really excel.....improve yes.....
But if the Fort or any other "drop dead" sprinter all of a sudden decided to start swimming the 1650.....although she'd have most likely very good technique....I'm guessing she'd run into a bit more competition than in the 50's!
