Thought it would be neat to share our stories about the best athlete we ever swam with. Note that it is not necessarily the fastest or best swimmer we have trained with.
The best athlete I ever trained with was a young man that showed up for my masters swim group. He was training to pass the test to be a Navy SEAL officer. Having graduated from a non-Naval Academy college, the standards for making the officers cut were tough. He was, however, a good prospect.
With no prior competitive swim background, he was able to get his 500 yard sidestroke down to a 7:30 in a matter of a few months. However, this was not the main thing that impressed me. It was the times/scores on his practice tests which I helped time him on.
Here is what he could do:
500 yard sidestroke swim: 7:30
8 minute rest
2 minutes of push-ups: # done was 112
2 minute rest
2 minutes of sit-ups: # done was 110
2 minute rest
max number of pull-ups (palms facing away from body): 25
8 minute rest
1.5 mile run done in combat boots and long pants: 9:05.
The guy was a machine. Speed, strength, endurance, and power. Doing 25 pull-ups shortly after a hard swim, pushups, and sit-ups was impressive! The young man decided not to pursue a career in the Navy but chose to stay near family. Last I heard he had started his own business and was doing well.
Parents
Former Member
Having swam at Cal in the mid 1980s, I will let other posters comment on the best swimmer I ever swam with. The list includes but is not limited to:
Bengt Baron
Peter Rocca
Dave Wilson
Pelle Holmertz
Thomas Lejdstrom
Par Arvidsson
Michael Soderlund
Paolo Revelli
Rickie Gill
Adrian Moorhouse
Matt Biondi
John Mykkanen
Sean Killion
Mary T.
Conny van Bentum
My votes:
Most talented - either Biondi, Rickie Gill or Dave Boatwright
Hardest worker - Arvidsson, Lejdstrom, Mykkanen or Killion, though there were lots
Having swam at Cal in the mid 1980s, I will let other posters comment on the best swimmer I ever swam with. The list includes but is not limited to:
Bengt Baron
Peter Rocca
Dave Wilson
Pelle Holmertz
Thomas Lejdstrom
Par Arvidsson
Michael Soderlund
Paolo Revelli
Rickie Gill
Adrian Moorhouse
Matt Biondi
John Mykkanen
Sean Killion
Mary T.
Conny van Bentum
My votes:
Most talented - either Biondi, Rickie Gill or Dave Boatwright
Hardest worker - Arvidsson, Lejdstrom, Mykkanen or Killion, though there were lots