Some elite masters swimmers appear to be almost quasi "professional" in terms of the time and energy they devote to the sport and my impression is that there are more and more of such swimmers competing in masters now. At least in my two masters age groups to date, women's 40-44 and 45-49, there is a true professional swimmer (KPN), past Olympians swimming amazing times, professional triathletes and professional engine builders. (My spies tell me about their yardage.) Times across the board in my age group were much faster this year than last year. Not sure about the men's times or other women's times. Is it similar?
It seems like a massive amount of time is involved to put in all the yardage, weights, drylands, stretching, RC exercises, cross-training necessary and to go to all the PT, ART, orthopod and massage appointments. Their dedication is admirable. But I have difficulty fitting this all in. :violin: I'm sure most others must too. Life and kids definitely interfere with even getting to practice, wholly apart from a total devotion to swimming. So I can't out-train anyone.
Am I only imagining that masters swimming is getting more competitive? The phenoms are all just genetically talented swimmers? Thoughts anyone?
JUST TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, I AM NOT CRITICIZING ANYONE, JUST ASKING QUESTIONS.
If times are getting faster, could it be partly because Masters swimming is growing, meaning that there is a bigger pool (ha ha) of talent to draw from? Could it also be that we are seeing the benefits of increased opportunities for women in sports as some of the top women in the 40+ age groups represent a group with more opportunities to participate in athletics as kids than those who were in those age groups a decade or more ago? Could the same technique improvements that have allowed USA swimmers to get faster be contributing to better USMS times as well (SDKing, new breaststroke style, etc.)? I don't know the answers to these questions, but thinking back to Fortress's orginial question, I wonder if they might be factors.
As for semi-professionalism in Masters, I think you do see it in triathlon and running, so perhaps it isn't that surprising. I suppose swimming could have separate "elite" divisions of races like running and triathlons do, but for some reason that is hard to articulate I am not sure I really like that idea. There is something cool about being in a heat with an Olympian, even if it means getting creamed. :notworthy:
If times are getting faster, could it be partly because Masters swimming is growing, meaning that there is a bigger pool (ha ha) of talent to draw from? Could it also be that we are seeing the benefits of increased opportunities for women in sports as some of the top women in the 40+ age groups represent a group with more opportunities to participate in athletics as kids than those who were in those age groups a decade or more ago? Could the same technique improvements that have allowed USA swimmers to get faster be contributing to better USMS times as well (SDKing, new breaststroke style, etc.)? I don't know the answers to these questions, but thinking back to Fortress's orginial question, I wonder if they might be factors.
As for semi-professionalism in Masters, I think you do see it in triathlon and running, so perhaps it isn't that surprising. I suppose swimming could have separate "elite" divisions of races like running and triathlons do, but for some reason that is hard to articulate I am not sure I really like that idea. There is something cool about being in a heat with an Olympian, even if it means getting creamed. :notworthy:
