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.
That was hysterical, George. :lmao:
I noticed, BTW, that the adjacent video listing contained a promo for "Breaststroke for Every Body." So I guess we can say Terry is a professional swimmer too. Even professional swimmers, like us non-professionals, get shoulder injuries that prevent us from posting on USMS and competing around the clock.
I am feeling very professional. I did drylands and rotator cuff exercises while watching the American Idol finale last night. :bouncing:
Kirk:
You are probably right about the 50+ women. That's why Laura Val is just crushing all those records.
I just watched this video, Matt is a pro swimmer and coach and I try to use his technique whenever possible.
www.youtube.com/watch
LMAO!
"I pace myself, and I win...every time!"
I have enjoyed everyone's thoughts on this thread. My observation is that those who are tops in their age groups are swimmers who were always fast and possess that talent and determination and even if they did take a few years off to establish careers or have families with a certain amount of training will be able to rise back to the top again. The Olympians among us, even the older ones, are just in another dimension. I have never been a particularly fast swimmer, my strength is in my love of the sport and the strong will to train - I like the challenge of testing myself. I know there are athletes my age who are more talented and have much more potential for improvement and achievement than I do no matter how hard I work at it. Am I inspired by these swimmers? Impressed? A little jealous? Yes to each question. Do I begrudge them their gifts? Absolutely not. We each walk our own paths and I wouldn't give back who I am in this world, any of the life I have lived or the place where I am now. I am also swimming a lot differently than I ever have, my strokes have changed greatly in the last three years. I spend a fair amount of time watching those great athletes of all ages and accomplishments, either live at worlds or nationals such as this weekend, or any video I can find (over and over and over, just ask my family) looking for what they do that I can adopt to help my swims get faster.
And this is partly what I was referring to, this is the type of person well-balanced and striving to better themselves, which I know many of us here are doing; it's just that Ann's words were very favorable in the quest to better swimming skills with balance.
donna
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. :)
Fortress -
Thanks for the very interesting and enduring post idea. I'm not one of the elites, I swim for myself and (mostly) for my health. But the discussion has been very interesting to read.
Perhaps, someday, if I live long enough and others do not, I will make top ten, but simply pushing myself seems reward enough for me.
Thanks again, and best of luck to all the elites, as you make it fun and I learn a ton just watching you swim.
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.
WOW! That's the epitome of what Masters is all about. Each individual excelling in their own private way. The self-satisfaction that comes from setting goals, working to achieve them and hopefully meeting or exceeding our expectations. :cheerleader:
