It's been cool for me over the last few years seeing and competing against a number of guys from both my age group and collegiate days. However, when I think back to my college team, in particular, I'm struck by how many guys are NOT back swimming and competing in Masters. I realize this is probably the wrong audience to ask (since we're back in the pool), but, since for me swimming & competing go hand in hand and I love swimming, I'm still puzzled why more people don't come back to the sport and to racing?
there's bunches of reasons why former swimmers never get back into it:
+ burn out
+ swearing "I'll never wear a speedo again"
+ ego / fear of sucking
+ being so out of shape they think it's hopeless
each person has to reach threshold, they have to find the reasons and desire to get back into it
People figure out they don't have to do for life what they did when they were 10. They develop and pursue other interests.
Time is a commodity. How you spend it matters.
The last meet he swam in was in 2006 where he did a sub 1:00 100 IM. I only wish I were that fast!
I think a key word is missing here. I think that word is "meters."
:bow:
It also seems to me that there are a (sizeable?) number of "hidden" masters swimmers who are very fast. They train fairly regularly but rarely compete.
Every once in awhile they'll come out of the woodwork for a big meet near them, swim some very fast times, and then disappear.
My daughter's swim coach competes occasionally. She came to a masters SCM meet early on a Saturday morning two years ago, set a masters' world record and was back at a USA-S meet to coach before 10 a.m.
or, they probably don't need to exercise to stay thin! :bitching:
Ha! :)
Or....they run, cycle, lift weights, hike, kayak, play football, play baseball/softball, etc..
I think there are a lot more elites out there than people think. Just because they aren't/weren't a household name doesn't mean they weren't elite. For the women its harder to do because of name changes, but if you go back and look back at Oly Trials results for the 80s and 90s there are a lot of masters in there.
I think there are a lot more elites out there than people think. Just because they aren't/weren't a household name doesn't mean they weren't elite. For the women its harder to do because of name changes, but if you go back and look back at Oly Trials results for the 80s and 90s there are a lot of masters in there.
I find the term "elite" to be kind of elusive. I tend to think of those swimmers who were faster and more successful as "elite." At what point do you reach elite status?
