This one was pretty close, because British Swimming requires swimmers to make the Olympic A cut to compete. Mark Foster, my favorite swimmer, has qualified to swim the 50 free at the Olympics this summer. He'll be 38 years old.
Here's an interview with Foster where he talks about things like limited training volume, the importance of lifting weights, and staying physically fit for life.
Foster also has a unique way of sprinting. In this video, he dominates a field of sprinters with the slowest stroke rate in the pool.
I find a lot of things to admire about Mark Foster, and I think it's great news that he'll get to swim at the Olympics. Hopefully, when he retires from professional swimming, he'll continue to compete in masters.
Former Member
I don't believe Mark Foster can swim a 100m free the way Dara can.
Ian is right. The reps as a kid, under responsible coaching, help cement the technique that permits specialization later. But not the extremes that were the 'norm' during 1970/80's, that can lead to chronic injury.
An example of this is Ed Moses. From what I've heard he didn't really swim seriously until high school.
That's because he ran......but I get your point. He took it up very late and was a natural.
Another example is Rowdy Gaines. He didn't start competing until he was 17 years old.
Anna Lea
Yeah, I was going to mention that. I don't even think Foster swam the 100 at British Trials, but I couldn't find the results to see for sure. If so, that would be a big difference.
GoodSmith is correct; Foster usually only does the 50 free and 50 fly.
I realize there are plenty of women athletes who have excelled after pregnancies that's why I bring it to the table. Mark is not in that group.
Of course, I'm just responding to your question of major differences between Dara and Mark, this one being by far the most obvious.
Not so much after the Oprah Show I watched about a pregnant man (sorta). :eek:
-- I am no expert on this, but I don't believe heavy weightlifting should be done before the body matures fully.
Absolutely! I remember a case of a 12-year old girl in the DC area in the 80's who had done so much weight work that her very strong muscles were pulling her not so well developed tendons away from the bones.
That said, this old man needs to do a bit of weight training, as should all older folk, to get that weight-bearing exercise we all need.
