Now, Hansen doesn't want to train/compete during non-Olympic years. Well, at least, he is staying in good shape with the triathlon training/competing. I wouldn't like his "Gary Hall, Jr." approach this if he wasn't doing the tri stuff. But, since he is doing some kind of training, it can't hurt to try new things at 28. He has probably tried everything else to win that Olympic gold. Overall, I think that Shanteau is the future of American Breaststrokers. Hansen had his day back in 2004 to 2006. But, who knows what can happen. Dara Torres is America's best sprinter right now and she is in her 40s.
reachforthewall.com/.../
But doing 2 sports at a high level simultaneously? Unlikely.
Absolutely. But I think the whole sports culture has changed significantly over the years. In the 60's it wasn't that unusual for a Div I football player to play basketball and/or baseball, or even wrestling (until many schools dropped it). I can remember a defensive tackle for a major Div I school in 1964-5 who was an All-American for three years and also lettered in Basketball and Baseball his Sophomore year. But he broke his leg sliding into a base and was thereafter only allowed to play football, which eventually got him into the NFL. Now, you see that rarely, and normally not to the delight of the respective coaches. There just isn't any off-season now. And the training has gotten to be so specific, that being prepared in one can often negate the preparation for another, as several have pointed out here from their own experiences.
But I have found that athletes good in one sport usually have a bit of talent in another; there just isn't time to develop that.
But doing 2 sports at a high level simultaneously? Unlikely.
Absolutely. But I think the whole sports culture has changed significantly over the years. In the 60's it wasn't that unusual for a Div I football player to play basketball and/or baseball, or even wrestling (until many schools dropped it). I can remember a defensive tackle for a major Div I school in 1964-5 who was an All-American for three years and also lettered in Basketball and Baseball his Sophomore year. But he broke his leg sliding into a base and was thereafter only allowed to play football, which eventually got him into the NFL. Now, you see that rarely, and normally not to the delight of the respective coaches. There just isn't any off-season now. And the training has gotten to be so specific, that being prepared in one can often negate the preparation for another, as several have pointed out here from their own experiences.
But I have found that athletes good in one sport usually have a bit of talent in another; there just isn't time to develop that.
