Dara just one the national title in the 100M Freestyle in 54.4 at the ripe old age of 40. Simply Incredible. :applaud: :woot:
If that's not inspiring I don't know what is.
Parents
Former Member
You seem to be mixing facts to your personal opinions. Most Masters swimmers I know are competitive swimmers, not recreational. No recreational swimmer I know puts in 3-5K workouts 3 or 4 days a week.
I think we have to differentiate between "competitive" and "professional." Dara has been a professional level (i.e. paid to swim and train) athlete off and on for 24 years. She can afford to train as much as her body and mind are able to, and clearly that is a lot, judging from the NYT profile of her methods. She can also afford to spend $100,000 per year on her training, and chooses to. The most competitive swimmer I know, who has multiple masters world records and has been named Swimmer of the Year, still "only" swims 2-4 hours a day, five days a week for part of the year (90 mins a day for other parts of the year). This person could probably afford to spend 100 grand a year but chooses not to.
I think the combination of Dara's training methods, focus and financial resources are unprecedented in a 40-plus female athlete/swimmer... so who really knows what other women could be accomplishing, at even younger ages?
You seem to be mixing facts to your personal opinions. Most Masters swimmers I know are competitive swimmers, not recreational. No recreational swimmer I know puts in 3-5K workouts 3 or 4 days a week.
I think we have to differentiate between "competitive" and "professional." Dara has been a professional level (i.e. paid to swim and train) athlete off and on for 24 years. She can afford to train as much as her body and mind are able to, and clearly that is a lot, judging from the NYT profile of her methods. She can also afford to spend $100,000 per year on her training, and chooses to. The most competitive swimmer I know, who has multiple masters world records and has been named Swimmer of the Year, still "only" swims 2-4 hours a day, five days a week for part of the year (90 mins a day for other parts of the year). This person could probably afford to spend 100 grand a year but chooses not to.
I think the combination of Dara's training methods, focus and financial resources are unprecedented in a 40-plus female athlete/swimmer... so who really knows what other women could be accomplishing, at even younger ages?
