I think it was Ande that said "it's not how fast you swim, it's how fast you slow down." I read that a few years ago and keep on coming back to it as I have watched my kids grow in their USA Swimming careers. When kids are around 8-10, many of the races are 50s. Lots of kids can swim relatively fast 50s compared to other kids even when their stroke technique is truly awful. But then once the clock strikes 11 (years old), all of the 50s go away (less one) - and magically many of the kids with bad technique who seemed fast start losing to kids in the 100s and 200s with superior strokes. My question is at what age are we masters swimmers when we start thinking 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly and 50 breaststroke are OK to race again? It is not OK. It brings our sport down to a level where people who train only 100s or less and focus on 25s are taking over our pools. No more I say!!! I think USMS rules should only allow these races for people in their 70s and older. Who is with me?!!!
:worms: :bolt:
Former Member
Hmm, I found listings of the top times for Men 13-18 50 SCY Butterfly on the USA Swimming site in about 30 seconds by going here:
www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx
I already conceded that just because I've never seen 50s for anyone other than the under 13 and over 40 masters crowds doesn't mean they are not swum anywhere else.
This thread was supposed to be for fun.
Bk Bk
It seems that there is a sizable group out there that thinks that a good 50 breastroker can take a good 400 IMer any day. Who am I to argue with that?
Who am I to argue with that?
The premise was fun. Please, argue away.
Sprinters are a sensitive bunch. Perhaps they fear if 50s were eliminated they might need to really work out to win a coveted ribbon.
Of course, Freud would say it's probably distance envy.
The premise was fun. Please, argue away.
Sprinters are a sensitive bunch. Perhaps they fear if 50s were eliminated they might need to really work out to win a coveted ribbon.
Or maybe they created distance events for the people formerly known as "those who can't handle sprinting" :bump:
Haha, just messin around. ;)
I always thought there was room for both type of events in this sport. USMS Hata (and a few others' segregating comments) would make it seem otherwise. :confused: Are sprinters really that unwelcome or is it just envy? Why don't we see this kind of seperation on the running track?
FTR i would fear the 50free being eliminated. It's my favorite event. :banana:
OK. Perhaps there are swim meets where 13+ year olds swim 50s. Fine. I haven't seen any of those meets where I live. And I have scowered the USA Swimming web site and can find no indication that anyone over 12 swims 50s other than freestyle. But that doesn't mean that there aren't meets where those races are swum.
See attachement. As far as I can tell, in USA Swimming there are no 50s other than freestyle for 13+ year olds. I understand that does not mean that those races aren't held at some swim meets. I was at a college meet where an event was a 50 x 50 freestyle relay. But that doesn't mean that the 50 x 50 realy is an NCAA event.
Hmm, I found listings of the top times for Men 13-18 50 SCY Butterfly on the USA Swimming site in about 30 seconds by going here:
www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx
You are absolutely right, of course. As the saying goes, "It's not how long you make it, it's how you make it long."
Isn't this a family website? You've gone hog wild the past two days. MODERATOR!
I already conceded that just because I've never seen 50s for anyone other than the under 13 and over 40 masters crowds doesn't mean they are not swum anywhere else.
One quick clarification... Masters swimming is not just for those over 40. While some adult sports (track, I believe) start their Masters classification at age 40, USMS welcomes anyone who is age 18 or older.
Anna Lea
Generally speaking -- there can always be exceptions in specific age-groups or years, of course -- I think the TT rankings for the sprint events are more competitive than those of the distance events, particularly for events that are perceived as the most difficult/painful (eg, 400 IM, 200 fly, 1650 free).
In other words, it's easier to achieve a top ten time in a distance event simply because the fast swimmers (i.e. sprinters) would rather not swim anything that painful or difficult.
In what? MMA?
Nope. Even a "fast" 50 *** stroker wouldn't have the strength or endurance to make it more than 30 seconds into the match. Tally one for the 400 IMer!!
