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.
Fort- Great ponderings on this thread.
I learned to swim when I was almost 10. I've been swimming since then with a couple of years off here and there. I started USMS in 1993 and haven't missed a year (kids and near-death excepted). One thing I've noticed is that Nationals and Top Tens and all of that, are only dependent on who shows up that year. You have some REALLY fast people who show up for a year or two and then they're gone. I think, in the long run, it would be the most interesting to watch a group and see how they do over a decade or more. To me that's what Masters is about- lifelong swimming.
(Another thing to note when looking at rankings would be "life changes" who is divorced, having kids, other challenges. All impact swimming. )
The Masters elite are just like USA-S elite. They are gifted. They may work hard, etc., but they are just gifted and that sets them apart.
I'm noticing now too, that many in my age group (35-39) are doing the kid thing. That, as you know, takes more than a toll! And many of the "elite" in my age group don't have any kids at all. I can guarantee that I would be swimming a lot faster (still not as fast as them perhaps) if I didn't have family commitments. However, I would not trade my family and watching us all grow up together for any sport. Am I frustrated that I'm not swimming faster? Absolutely. But it is a choice I've made. I know my body, my health, and I do all that I can to be as successful as I can, given my life's priorities.
Watching people swim faster in older age groups gives me hope that once my kids are all grown up, I will swim well again. :)
Fort- Great ponderings on this thread.
I learned to swim when I was almost 10. I've been swimming since then with a couple of years off here and there. I started USMS in 1993 and haven't missed a year (kids and near-death excepted). One thing I've noticed is that Nationals and Top Tens and all of that, are only dependent on who shows up that year. You have some REALLY fast people who show up for a year or two and then they're gone. I think, in the long run, it would be the most interesting to watch a group and see how they do over a decade or more. To me that's what Masters is about- lifelong swimming.
(Another thing to note when looking at rankings would be "life changes" who is divorced, having kids, other challenges. All impact swimming. )
The Masters elite are just like USA-S elite. They are gifted. They may work hard, etc., but they are just gifted and that sets them apart.
I'm noticing now too, that many in my age group (35-39) are doing the kid thing. That, as you know, takes more than a toll! And many of the "elite" in my age group don't have any kids at all. I can guarantee that I would be swimming a lot faster (still not as fast as them perhaps) if I didn't have family commitments. However, I would not trade my family and watching us all grow up together for any sport. Am I frustrated that I'm not swimming faster? Absolutely. But it is a choice I've made. I know my body, my health, and I do all that I can to be as successful as I can, given my life's priorities.
Watching people swim faster in older age groups gives me hope that once my kids are all grown up, I will swim well again. :)
