I watched Leisel Jones's interview on SWM this morning and it got me thinking... Is breaststroke the stroke where we are more likely to see the same athletes at the top of the rankings for the longest time?
If you look at the 2000 Olympics for example, Leisel took silver to Megan Jendrick winning gold. Eight years later, both are still on their respective Olympic teams and the person who took third to them, Penny Heyns, was around for many years. Further in that 2000 100-metres event you had Sylvia Gerasch who swam at Euro champs back in 1983, won world championships in 1986 and still finaled in 2000 (even after serving a doping ban). Sarah Poewe also swam in that final and also is still competing at the Olympic level.
Other names seem like they've been around forever too...
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As a counterpoint - Dara Torres is the best example of a free/fly swimmer competing at an elite level longer than anyone so far.
Neil Walker and Jason Lezak are not breaststrokers and competed at an elite level for 14+ years.
Based on anectdotal observations of Masters only - the number of older athletes swimming breaststroke is much smaller than those swimming freestyle or backstroke. Many seem to have knee problems.
As a counterpoint - Dara Torres is the best example of a free/fly swimmer competing at an elite level longer than anyone so far.
Neil Walker and Jason Lezak are not breaststrokers and competed at an elite level for 14+ years.
Based on anectdotal observations of Masters only - the number of older athletes swimming breaststroke is much smaller than those swimming freestyle or backstroke. Many seem to have knee problems.
