I guess I intuitively feel we mere mortals lose more in an event like the 200 fly (or the distance frees) with age than we do in the sprints. But maybe not.
I'd like to think that too, but I think other sports prove otherwise -- such as the 38 year old winner of the 2008 marathon gold (en.wikipedia.org/.../Constantina_Diţă-Tomescu). I think what really happens is that we either don't have the time or the inclination to do the training for distance swimming events like we did when we were younger.
You mention Dennis Baker and I hear stories that he does still train like an age grouper. Most of us don't and to do really well at the 800/1500 and even the 400 requires a kind of training I know I'm just not able/willing to do these days. If Janet makes a comeback and has the drive to do that, I think she's got a realistic shot at making the team ... beating the British women and some of the other d-stars, though, is a taller order.
I guess I intuitively feel we mere mortals lose more in an event like the 200 fly (or the distance frees) with age than we do in the sprints. But maybe not.
I'd like to think that too, but I think other sports prove otherwise -- such as the 38 year old winner of the 2008 marathon gold (en.wikipedia.org/.../Constantina_Diţă-Tomescu). I think what really happens is that we either don't have the time or the inclination to do the training for distance swimming events like we did when we were younger.
You mention Dennis Baker and I hear stories that he does still train like an age grouper. Most of us don't and to do really well at the 800/1500 and even the 400 requires a kind of training I know I'm just not able/willing to do these days. If Janet makes a comeback and has the drive to do that, I think she's got a realistic shot at making the team ... beating the British women and some of the other d-stars, though, is a taller order.
