At the risk of getting beaten up over this, I was wondering how all you 100 free experts would plan a race to beat a 40 year old with crazy strength. I am a fan of Dara Torres, but if I was kid working every day to just a get one shot at the Olympics, I would be super motivated to beat her. From a coach's perspective I would say, "Work to put that old gal back into retirement!!"
Ideas?
That's what would motivate you, who's to say what would motivate someone else, we're all different.
You can't just plan a race to beat Dara. It has to be the entire season from now till Olympic Trials.
I believe it's going to take
54.2 - 54.6 to make the relay and
53.2 - 53.5 to make top 2.
You also need to understand what motivates specific swimmers.
The big motivating factor is to make the US olympic team.
which means
1) qualify for Olympic Trials
2) make top 16 in prelims
3) make top 8 in semis and
4) top 6 in finals
each swimmer has to develop the ability to swim the time it takes when they are rested shaved, and ready. Right now their times need to be within striking range. Someone isn't likely to drop from 58 to 54 in a year, but there may be some 56's & 55's drop to 54 and some who go 54's now might make mistakes and go 55's. Probably, who's ever in this years top 25 in the US, will be in the top 8 then top 6 next year at trials.
It's all about speed, strength, correct splitting and a fast last 25 meters.
If I were a coach I would focus on speed and strength, girls need to be at least 26.3 to their feet at the turn.
At the risk of getting beaten up over this, I was wondering how all you 100 free experts would plan a race to beat a 40 year old with crazy strength. I am a fan of Dara Torres, but if I was kid working every day to just a get one shot at the Olympics, I would be super motivated to beat her. From a coach's perspective I would say, "Work to put that old gal back into retirement!!"
Ideas?
I agree,
There has to be a switch to LCM way out from the olympics. I would think a year out. That is just a guess on my part.
It looked like Dara came up fast with single or double DK's and that was it. I didn't see her have a problem. Perhaps Coughlin will show the way with her underwater perfromance much like Phelps will at the trials.
I would assume all olympic hopefulls only swim LCM.
I think the key ingredient to getting to the olympics is coaching. Knowing how to periodize and peak. As Ande mentioned, it takes multiple good swims and one phenominal one to make the team. Dara has the experience to do that. There is alot to be said for that.
Don't asume all Olympic hopefuls have LCM pools to train in. In certain states they are not very available, even in summer anymore.
For those of us in, ahem, advanced age, think about how you did things in your late teens and early 20's, and think about now. Most of us have learned from our mistakes, do things more efficiently, and have a more internal motivation for things.
I think Dara is playing on a lot of years of experience and has figured out what works well. She also has tons of talent. But there are plenty of young ladies out there with talent, motivation and good work ethic, so it should be an interesting year.
If so, wouldn't it be in the interest of the Sport, for the countries' Olympic or National Organizations (US &/or others) interested in the best preparation possible for the Olympics, to facilitate and make available the opportunity to train in LCM?
Either sponsoring transportation/accomodation/etc..... or even building LCM pools at strategic points across the country.
I know that Swimming is not football/baseball/basketball but then the last two sports count for only One Gold -each- at the Games while Swimming can garner tens of medals (many of them Gold).
Sure it would. But in Illinois LCM pools are getting closed and replaced with water parks. Luckily Indiana seems to know that LCM pools are valuable and have plenty to drive to. Our JO's had to be held in Wisconsin a few years ago because there was not enough pool space in Illinois to host a state meet. Pools are definately not a priority.
