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?
I am a much smarter swimmer now, but physically there is no comparison to myself in the late teens or early 20s, and the difference cannot be explained by extra weight or less opportunity to train.
I believe that, had I continued to train seriously, I would have probably peaked in the mid-to-late 20s.
Since I began swimming when I was 48, I wonder at what age the upward curve of improvement due to improving technique will merge with the downward age curve? I am now nearly 57 and am still improving and swimming pb's.
I believe if you combine the base you achieve with many years of age-group swimming with some maturity of early adulthood (and of course dispose of the world's view--and your spouse's/children's view--that you need to get on with your life) 25-29 would be the peak.
Former Member
I am a much smarter swimmer now, but physically there is no comparison to myself in the late teens or early 20s, and the difference cannot be explained by extra weight or less opportunity to train.
I believe that, had I continued to train seriously, I would have probably peaked in the mid-to-late 20s.
Ditto - I feel I was still getting faster when I quit at age 22, but there is no chance in hell that I will achieve those times again...
If I had to make the call today I would say 18 - my last year of swimming USA club and High school. At the same time I am only 24, and have only been swimming on a regular basis a bit over 1 year. It's amazing what 4-5 years of no real swimming can do to your speed, but I feel like I am making a steady come back.
Depends on what event, what course, and whether you mean fast in practice or fast in meets. Plenty of low hanging fruit left out there!! What's the rush??!!!
Oh no! Still must do 200 back and 200 *** to finish my 2008 check off challenge. I wonder if I can double count it, like being registered as of Nov 1st for the next year.....heehee! I guess I will be going to practice on Wednesday after all!
Former Member
It's amazing what 4-5 years of no real swimming can do to your speed
Ain't that the truth! Speed and endurance!
Former Member
I think it depends on the invidivual swimmer as well as the coaching! Typically, though, a swimmer will reach their peak performance years in that 20 - 30 age range (unless you are Dara).
However, that's not to say that you won't maintain a plateau for a good 10 - 15 year period after that. So, as for when age will start to truly play a factor; in my opinion, around 50 or so...
Oh no! Still must do 200 back and 200 *** to finish my 2008 check off challenge. I wonder if I can double count it, like being registered as of Nov 1st for the next year.....heehee! I guess I will be going to practice on Wednesday after all!
Do you try to do the checkoff with meet swims only? One of my minor SCY season goals this year is to swim every event in at least one meet. I didn't know I could get a cool t-shirt to go with it!
I swam my fastest times so far in my life when I was 20, in college. But I didn't train year round then and we did crushing amounts of yardage, so I was tired all the time and sick often. I'm within 6% of my PR's now at 47, and am still seeing time drops. I'm refusing to take the poll until I start to slow down.
--mj :bliss:
