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.
After Nats I had to catch up with my life and by the time I got back to the forum this thread was almost too long for me to tackle with my short attention span.I have been swimming Masters continuously since 1974 and it is MUCH more competative. The time/age group progression seems nearly flat.In other words the mens 25-29 top ten times in 1977 aren't much different than the 55-59 times now. I don't know where to file this in terms of gentics or what,but my friend Collete Crabbe was a 1976 Olympian from Belgium. She trains harder than almost anyone I know.She is 51 and finished 2nd in the 200 BR at Nats. She was also upset she missed her age up year when she turned 50 last year due to chemo for *** cancer.She is a real inspiration to me.
After Nats I had to catch up with my life and by the time I got back to the forum this thread was almost too long for me to tackle with my short attention span.I have been swimming Masters continuously since 1974 and it is MUCH more competative. The time/age group progression seems nearly flat.In other words the mens 25-29 top ten times in 1977 aren't much different than the 55-59 times now. I don't know where to file this in terms of gentics or what,but my friend Collete Crabbe was a 1976 Olympian from Belgium. She trains harder than almost anyone I know.She is 51 and finished 2nd in the 200 BR at Nats. She was also upset she missed her age up year when she turned 50 last year due to chemo for *** cancer.She is a real inspiration to me.
