How many yrs off and still this fast!

It also looks like from the finishing times that Armstrong was in the front group of 3 and was dumped by the other two toward the end of the race. Seeing that Armstrong is one of the craftiest athletes that has ever competed, and one that drafted behind others for weeks at a time, I'm bet the other 2 guys did all the work. Nothing wrong with that of course, but that is a reflection of how smart he is. Open water times are irrelevant (except a cable swim). It's all about the competition.

i imagine swimming with armstrong was a considerable boost too... it seems as though armstrong could be a USMS all-american easily

i imagine swimming with armstrong was a considerable boost too... it seems as though armstrong could be a USMS all-american easily Me thinks that conclusion is a bit premature. USMS All American does not come easy unless you go to an open water competition and the top people in your AG don't show.

It appears so. This was supposedly taken right after the race. I wonder if that is the same James Bonney from Pine Crest (FL)? If so, I remember that guy from High School. BTW, there is NO way, NO way I'd let Lance Armstrong come out of the water before me. No matter what.

Me thinks that conclusion is a bit premature. I agree. It's sounds like a good swim, but not exceptional.

NOPE

is 49+ really considered fast for a 2.4mile OW race with a wetsuit? this could be important information if I ever can plan a trip back home around an OW event. without a wetsuit the top 20 at worlds in Sweden age 40-44 in a lake swim was 40:20 for a 3km but I would assume most of them could have swam the extra .84km under 12min for a time about 52, again without a wetsuit. I don't consider myself a fast OW swimmmer and I swam a 5km with wetsuit in 1:08 which would be roughly 52:15 for 3.84km (2.4mi) assuming I wouldn't have swam faster knowing it was a shorter race.

it is my thought that the better swimmer you are the less impact a wetsuit has, that is average to below-average swimmers - both skills & fitness levels - benefit from a wetsuit most. Possibly true, but that doesn't mean good swimmers DON'T benefit from wetsuits. Review the times for the USMS open water national championship events... I don't understand how someone argues my post is 'premature.' Because you've made it sound like it's a forgone conclusion that Lance would be an OW All-American. I'm pretty confident Lance could be an outstanding OW swimmer if he wanted to be, but the results of this single race don't convince me that he would be if he just decided to enter a USMS championship event now.

you three are hilarious - 2.4 miles in open water in 50 minutes is hauling ass. bob - you make quite a few assumptions there too. We might suppose armstrong and the two triathletes have trained together too... I have never thought 'drafting' was the easiest skill to come by.

I reviewed results for the 2010 2-mile cable swim... CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT: 2-Mile Cable Championship EVENT NAME: USMS 2-Mile Cable Open Water National Championship LOCATION: Charlottesville, VA www.usms.org/.../2micblresults.pdf I am well aware no two open water swims are the same... I'll stand by my post... he might make 'all-american' honors if he entered a season of championship open waters