dd wrote:
What I find more interesting is could a 17-year old ever win an olympic running event (or 15 y/o, like the female breast-stroker)? I think no- the junior ethiopians and kenyans perhaps, but even there it's a long-shot. Hagos Gebrhiwet is 18, and ran 12:47, but I have no idea what he did as a 17 y/o.
So is swimming that under-developed as a sport that a youngster like that can be the best in the world? Does the pounding of running demand strength that just isn't there at that age? Not sure, but I think we can all agree no 15 year old will ever win an olympic running event. I'd like to know why.
A 17 year old could win a running event if they had put in two a days - running 4 hours/day, like a lot of these young swimmers have done since they were 6 or 7 years old. It seems like there is so much ignorance on this site as to just how much work these very young kids have put in for years. Most Americans start running much later and after trying many different sports in their youth.
Also, so much much whining and jealousy from American distance runners that are inferior on the world stage compared to the American swimmers. Sorry, Americans and most of the rest of the world prefer the swimmers/divers - their physiques, personalities, and consequently endorsements follow. Most people prefer a toned muscular body to a bony skelteal distance runner.
I never notice such racist, whiny remarks on swimming forums.