Masters' swimmers have been proving it for years and Dara proved it with an exclamation point in Beijing that you can go faster at 40-something than you did at 20-something. As someone 15 days older than Dara, what I wonder is this: At what age will the aging process take over and, despite whatever training you do (& without resorting to drug enhancements), you will slow down?
Peak age: physiologically. Behind me.
Peak age: best technique through coaching. Ahead of me.
Peak age: greatest interest and effort, genetic endowment maximized, followed by loathing and slacker existence. More ahead of me.
Dunno how to answer. But pretty sure by 90.
:)
I will be 60 in 5 wk.i have been swimming Masters since 25.My best times were at 31,but then we had kids and it messed up my training for awhile.35-46 times stayed about the same.50-59 not much change either(some of the lack of slowing is better technique,some is smarter training,some is Tech suit.)
If you stay injury free I think you can swim real fast up to 40, but physiologically I think peak speed should be much sooner if the training and coaching is correct. More like 20-30.
You may be still fast when you are older but are you a "better" swimmer? Dara is for sure faster now but she focused on the 50 and stayed away from the 100.
I believe younger sprinters (more like 20-30) can hold up against multiple rounds in multiple events better.
Usually as you age you can hang onto aerobic performance better such as Grant Hacket showed.
Former Member
50-54. I'm factoring in a faith in humanity's steady improvements in the field of medicine over the next 30 years, but that's the science fiction writer in me talking.
Before that, before that inevitable decline into old age, the peak is whatever age you make it. My god, I sound like a guru. I'm a new swimmer, forgive me if all I see are sunny, turquoise pools and limitless blue skies in my future where I will have optimal conditions to meet the most outrageous of goals. :afraid:
edit: holy cow, I thought my guess was high! :confused:
I just wish I had the motivation in my early 20s that I have now.
Former Member
At age 65, I swam 2 1/2 sec faster in the 100 BR at Federal Way (1:12.7) than I did while competing in college. I'm looking to get close to 1:10 when I turn 70. I, for one, don't believe in aging, apart from getting more experienced and finding better wines.
Former Member
My best times were achieved in the 55-59 age group. I was faster then than when 18 years of age.
At the age of 55 I started doing 10,000m per day. That's the answer.
I'm certainly waaaay more disciplined now. After a 30 year hiatus I'm not at PB times yet, but I'm closing in.
Former Member
I stopped improving when I was 19 (sophomore). I was pretty burned out, so water polo took over. I wanted nothing to do with swimming around in a circle.
If I knew then what I know now....
I peaked at 22, but I am really hoping to top those times when I'm 36, otherwise before I hit 40.
I'm already a faster backstroker now than I ever was before.
