Why are some people so much faster?

Talent is rarely a determining factor in swimming. At almost every level hard work trumps talent in swimming. For example, Micheal Phelps works out and burns 14,000 calories a day. The average person eats 2,000. He does a heck of a lot more than most people, even most Olympians. One of the reasons you may be having trouble succeeding is the people you're with. Perhaps you're on a really good team? Or competing in a really tough league? You're probably already better than your average person. Personally, I love that type of competition. It pushes me, but it gets frustrating when you never seem to improve. Have you been swimming with the same group the whole time? Perhaps they have been improving with you. Are you doing it five times a week? A lot of people think they're working really hard at something, but in swimming it's pretty standard that you work out five days a week, two hours at a time, if you want to improve by a large amount. Have you had different coaches? Perhaps the flaw is your coach. A lot of coaches don't actually understand the proper stroke mechanics. They can probably work you really hard, but if you're practicing it wrong, you're not going to get better. Are you: reaching, pulling yourself through the water every time, doing flip turns quickly, breathing every 3 strokes, able to dive in and stream line half way, able to do every stroke, do you have a best stroke, make every set, have a coach that makes sets that are next to impossible to make, kicking constantly, not walking, and actually trying to keep up with the people in your lane? If not, do it. You will improve. I really don't know what level of swimmer you're at. But if you're middle school, you could get in about 3,500 yards. High school 5-6k. At the peek of your work outs. Swimming is not about natural talent. It's about how hard you work. Coaches help, talent does help, but working out is the determining factor. Thanks for the advice! To answer a couple of your questions: Yes I am swimming with a team that is really good. Over half the people on my team go to state every year, and my coach qualified for the 1980 Olympic trials. I don't believe the problem is my coach. I have a really good coach. It's encouraging to know that I might be improving with my team, instead of just staying the same. I have been working out 5 days a week, 1.5 to 2 hours at a time. I'm currently in high school. Do you think I should be working out more? I'm not quite sure what reaching and pulling myself through the water means. I do flip turns but I can probably improve on them. I breathe every 4 strokes. I do have a best stroke: freestyle. My coach also has sets that are next to impossible to make (and I never make them!). The rest of the people in my lane can make the sets, but I am SO much slower than them! I guess I should try harder to keep up though. Thanks for the help! I hope this post answers your questions. If anybody has any advice/tips for me, feel free to share. You all seem like really good swimmers and it is really great to be learning from you!

Talent is rarely a determining factor in swimming. At almost every level hard work trumps talent in swimming. For example, Micheal Phelps works out and burns 14,000 calories a day. The average person eats 2,000. He does a heck of a lot more than most people, even most Olympians. One of the reasons you may be having trouble succeeding is the people you're with. Perhaps you're on a really good team? Or competing in a really tough league? You're probably already better than your average person. Personally, I love that type of competition. It pushes me, but it gets frustrating when you never seem to improve. Have you been swimming with the same group the whole time? Perhaps they have been improving with you. Are you doing it five times a week? A lot of people think they're working really hard at something, but in swimming it's pretty standard that you work out five days a week, two hours at a time, if you want to improve by a large amount. Have you had different coaches? Perhaps the flaw is your coach. A lot of coaches don't actually understand the proper stroke mechanics. They can probably work you really hard, but if you're practicing it wrong, you're not going to get better. Are you: reaching, pulling yourself through the water every time, doing flip turns quickly, breathing every 3 strokes, able to dive in and stream line half way, able to do every stroke, do you have a best stroke, make every set, have a coach that makes sets that are next to impossible to make, kicking constantly, not walking, and actually trying to keep up with the people in your lane? If not, do it. You will improve. I really don't know what level of swimmer you're at. But if you're middle school, you could get in about 3,500 yards. High school 5-6k. At the peek of your work outs. Swimming is not about natural talent. It's about how hard you work. Coaches help, talent does help, but working out is the determining factor. Thanks for the advice! To answer a couple of your questions: Yes I am swimming with a team that is really good. Over half the people on my team go to state every year, and my coach qualified for the 1980 Olympic trials. I don't believe the problem is my coach. I have a really good coach. It's encouraging to know that I might be improving with my team, instead of just staying the same. I have been working out 5 days a week, 1.5 to 2 hours at a time. I'm currently in high school. Do you think I should be working out more? I'm not quite sure what reaching and pulling myself through the water means. I do flip turns but I can probably improve on them. I breathe every 4 strokes. I do have a best stroke: freestyle. My coach also has sets that are next to impossible to make (and I never make them!). The rest of the people in my lane can make the sets, but I am SO much slower than them! I guess I should try harder to keep up though. Thanks for the help! I hope this post answers your questions. If anybody has any advice/tips for me, feel free to share. You all seem like really good swimmers and it is really great to be learning from you!