I see no basis for this statement. Fat old elite swimmers who havn't done more than lift a beer for 20 years can hop in the pool and swim a couple fast 50s or 100s. Fast being relative to a typical trained non-ex-elite master.
What would logically explain this? They are completely out of shape, but can still attain above average speeds. Would this be base developed years ago that they are still drawing from?
No, it is technique. Swimming is like riding a bicycle. You get a little rusty, but you never forget. Better technique is what allows them to become elites in the first place.
You did say that Base meant pretty much anything, so maybe Base includes technique? :)
I think technique is part of it, but a more important factor is natural ability-genetics. Previous elite swimmers rose to their elite status over a multitude of others who worked as hard and had excellent technique. There are some people who are able to do things that the rest of us can't. I think this is true in any sport. Hard work can help you achieve your potential, but I think everyone has a different potential. There are some people that I swim with/against that will never swim as fast as me - there are many people that I swim with/against that I will never be able to keep up with (at least not consistently).
I trained with elite swimmers when I was in college and I think I put in as much or more effort than they did at work-out. But it was not hard for me to tell, that I would never reach their level.
I don't find this depressing - I enjoy the exercise and the competition, but I know that I am not going to beat Rich Abrahams' 100 free time now, when I'm 60, when I'm 65 nor could I beat it when I was 25.
I see no basis for this statement. Fat old elite swimmers who havn't done more than lift a beer for 20 years can hop in the pool and swim a couple fast 50s or 100s. Fast being relative to a typical trained non-ex-elite master.
What would logically explain this? They are completely out of shape, but can still attain above average speeds. Would this be base developed years ago that they are still drawing from?
No, it is technique. Swimming is like riding a bicycle. You get a little rusty, but you never forget. Better technique is what allows them to become elites in the first place.
You did say that Base meant pretty much anything, so maybe Base includes technique? :)
I think technique is part of it, but a more important factor is natural ability-genetics. Previous elite swimmers rose to their elite status over a multitude of others who worked as hard and had excellent technique. There are some people who are able to do things that the rest of us can't. I think this is true in any sport. Hard work can help you achieve your potential, but I think everyone has a different potential. There are some people that I swim with/against that will never swim as fast as me - there are many people that I swim with/against that I will never be able to keep up with (at least not consistently).
I trained with elite swimmers when I was in college and I think I put in as much or more effort than they did at work-out. But it was not hard for me to tell, that I would never reach their level.
I don't find this depressing - I enjoy the exercise and the competition, but I know that I am not going to beat Rich Abrahams' 100 free time now, when I'm 60, when I'm 65 nor could I beat it when I was 25.
