What is the oldest swimmer that you have been on a team with, or had the opportunity to coach?
My personal experience: an 81 year old, and let me tell you that he blew almost everyone else out of the water with regard to endurance! He could go on and on forever (not very fast, though).
Definitely interested in hearing others!
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Former Member
I swim most Saturdays with an 85 year old woman who has lots of energy, but since she is so old, the coaches tend to ignore her training. Last month I explained interval training to her and she was astounded! Apparently, her training technique had been just to do what others were doing, or swim long distances if she were working out alone. I also explained how to swim a race in the build up mode, and she was very impressed with that idea as well. She tends to swim all races like a drop dead sprinter otherwise.
I find that a lot as well, Michael! A lot of the older swimmers are habitually doing "out of date" technique (go figure, right?!). Anyway, when I go to coach these swimmers they are either accepting of the constructive criticism, or they completely just ignore it because they have been doing their own thing for so long. To each their own, I guess!
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Former Member
I swim most Saturdays with an 85 year old woman who has lots of energy, but since she is so old, the coaches tend to ignore her training. Last month I explained interval training to her and she was astounded! Apparently, her training technique had been just to do what others were doing, or swim long distances if she were working out alone. I also explained how to swim a race in the build up mode, and she was very impressed with that idea as well. She tends to swim all races like a drop dead sprinter otherwise.
I find that a lot as well, Michael! A lot of the older swimmers are habitually doing "out of date" technique (go figure, right?!). Anyway, when I go to coach these swimmers they are either accepting of the constructive criticism, or they completely just ignore it because they have been doing their own thing for so long. To each their own, I guess!
